Before you go
Your trip to Rio Claro.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Rio Claro – RJ Destination Costa Verde about 132 km from Rio de Janeiro
How to get there
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Aeroporto Internacional do Galeão (GIG) Rio de Janeiro
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Aeroporto Santos Dumont (SDU) Rio de Janeiro
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Terminal Rodoviário de Rio Claro
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Rio Claro is 132 km from Rio de Janeiro, on the Dutra highway to Piraí and then the RJ-145, about two hours by car. There's no direct bus from Rio: change in Piraí, Volta Redonda or Barra Mansa. From Angra there's a line to the town via Lídice. The nearest airport is Galeão.
How many days
A day by car covers the ruins of São João Marcos, the church in town and the waterfalls of Lídice. Stay overnight in Lídice if you want more time at the district's pools and waterfalls.
When to go
Year-round; the waterfalls are fuller in summer, the rainy season. Lídice holds the Festa da Paz in June, on the district's anniversary, and the town center celebrates Nossa Senhora da Piedade in September.
Do you need a car?
Yes. The attractions are far from one another, and São João Marcos is on the Serra do Piloto road, with dirt and stone stretches. The bus is for getting there, not for getting around.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Rio Claro
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Morning
Parque Arqueológico e Ambiental de São João Marcos
The ruins of the town demolished in the 1940s for a reservoir. The park isn't open every day: check before you go.
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Afternoon
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Piedade
On the main square in town, built by enslaved labor between the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Afternoon
Lídice
The mountain district named after the Czech village destroyed in World War II, and the Phoenix statue.
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Late afternoon
Cachoeira Sebastião Marinho
Near Lídice, paved up to the entrance and with a lawn by the river. Good for families.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is the São João Marcos park open every day?
No. The park opens only on some days of the week, and sources disagree on which. Check the park's website before you go. Admission and parking are free.
Can I go without a car?
You can get there, with a bus change. Getting around, no: São João Marcos, the town center and Lídice are far apart, and there's no transportation between the attractions.
Can I combine it with Angra dos Reis?
Yes. The road linking Barra Mansa to Angra passes through Lídice, and there are buses from Angra to Rio Claro on that route. It's a mountain detour for those heading down to the coast.