PB · Brazil
Serras, lajedos and memory of popular culture in the interior of Paraíba.
In the photo: Serra da Matarina, in the landscape of the Cariri de Prata.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
In the Cariri paraibano, the caatinga accompanies serras, lajedos and towns linked to the rio Paraíba. Taperoá preserves references to Ariano Suassuna; Sumé has spaces dedicated to Miguel Guilherme and Zé Marcolino; Monteiro keeps the memory of Zabé da Loca. The routes between the main towns and the rural areas bring landscapes and traditions of renda renascença, the pífano and popular poetry closer together. Cultural visits and the mountain circuits have separate access points, which help distribute stays among the towns.
This destination brings together 10 cities: Taperoá, Sumé, Prata, Monteiro, São Sebastião do Umbuzeiro, São João do Tigre, Camalaú, Congo, Coxixola, Caraúbas.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Mapa: @svg-maps/brazil, CC BY 4.0
Campina Grande can serve as a starting point, with connections via the BR-230 and BR-412 highways. The southern bases are connected by the Anel do Cariri. Define the cultural branches and the trail entry points before planning transfers.
Ariano Suassuna lived part of his childhood in Taperoá and revisited the city in his work. The Museu Casa Ariano Suassuna and the group of streets, sobrados and churches in the town center bring visitors closer to that memory, on the town's cultural route.
The sacred art of Miguel Guilherme and the compositions of Zé Marcolino each have their own spaces in Sumé. The Museu/Escola Miguel Guilherme, the local history memorial and the Casa da Cultura Poeta Zé Marcolino provide distinct themes for a stop before heading west.
Serra da Matarina rises in the landscape of Prata, a municipality linked to goat farming and milk production. Its trail complex is part of the town's rural route, with paths that require accompaniment and an access agreement.
The memory of Zabé da Loca remains at sítio Tungão in Monteiro, where the fife is part of the place's cultural history. Laje das Moças adds the rocky landscape to the stop; the municipality is also a service hub in the western Cariri.
São Sebastião do Umbuzeiro is in the southern Cariri, at the junction of PB-264 and PB-240. The access road from Monteiro goes through Zabelê and proceeds toward São João do Tigre, linking this municipal seat to the southern cultural route.
Renascença lace characterizes the handicraft work of São João do Tigre, a municipality that also hosts the APA das Onças. Along the route, the municipal seat links PB-240 to PB-224; the natural areas have their own accesses that require separate planning.
The rio Paraíba and the Camalaú dam help situate this town in the Cariri. The town is located at the junction of PB-224 and PB-196, bringing together the roads that come from São João do Tigre and head to Congo.
Serra da Engabelada and the course of the Paraíba River are landmarks of Congo. The trail route adds to the local popular culture traditions; arrange the visit to the serra before choosing the rural access points for the next stretch.
Coxixola is part of the cultural route on the spur between the PB-200 and PB-204. North of Congo and west of Caraúbas, the town marks the passage along rural caatinga roads, with sections that require checking access before the trip.
The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário preserves part of Caraúbas's religious memory. The Cangati waterfront connects with the town center's landscape and local cuisine; arrange entry to the temple before you go.
The local experience
Memorial place of the fife player Zabé da Loca at sítio Tungão, a rural area of Monteiro.
Group of streets, sobrados and churches in the town center, linked to the urban history and to Ariano Suassuna's references.
Discover Centro Histórico de Taperoá
Mountain circuit in the rural area of Prata, with rock formations and trails in the caatinga landscape.
Discover Complexo Serra da Matarina
Temple linked to Caraúbas's religious memory, in the historic core of the town center beside the Paraíba River.
Discover Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Memory and art space linked to Miguel Guilherme, a Sumé artist with work in painting, sculpture and sacred art.
Discover Museu/Escola Miguel Guilherme
Serra in the rural area of Congo, with walking circuits among rock formations and caatinga.
Rock formation in Monteiro's rural area that is part of walking circuits in the caatinga.
Facility dedicated to Sumé's local memory, distinct from the collections of Miguel Guilherme and Zé Marcolino.
Discover Memorial São Thomé dos Sucurus
House of memory in Taperoá's town center with references to the life and work of Ariano Suassuna.
Discover Museu Casa Ariano Suassuna
House of memory with a collection and references to the life and work of composer Zé Marcolino, in Sumé.
Discover Museu Casa da Cultura Poeta Zé Marcolino
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From June to September the Cariri usually has less rain, which helps when travelling rural roads and lajedos. Between February and May the rains tend to make the caatinga greener. Hikes require water, sun protection and choosing routes suitable for the participants.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Allow four to seven days to select museums, places of memory and mountain circuits. Splitting the stay between the west of the Cariri and the southern branches reduces long returns.
Monteiro and Sumé offer bases for cultural visits and travel in the west. Taperoá brings the stay closer to the places linked to Ariano Suassuna. The choice of another base depends on the branch and the entry point for rural activities.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Choose a few hubs according to your interest. Taperoá, Sumé and Monteiro concentrate cultural visits; the mountain circuits and the southern branches can make up other stages.
There are federal axes, state highways and rural branches. The route changes with the municipalities and places chosen, and may include unpaved sections.
Separate visits to museum collections from rural circuits. Trails require an entry arrangement and a guide, while each museum organizes its own service.
Campina Grande is located in the Serra da Borborema and serves as the starting point for this trip. The Cariri Paraibano brings together the ten inland municipalities selected in the Rota Cariri Cultural.
Brazilian routes
Between the Cariri mountain ranges and the towns of Ariano, Zé Marcolino and Zabé da Loca.
