ES · Brazil
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
This is the mountain region of Espírito Santo, settled by Germans and Italians, where the accent changes, polenta becomes a festival and coffee is served on the porch of the farm that grew it. You tour by car along winding roads between plantations, stopping at coffee farms, breweries and cheese makers that open their gates to visitors. At the center of it all is Pedra Azul, a monolith that changes color with the daylight.
This destination brings together 8 cities: Domingos Martins, Venda Nova do Imigrante, Marechal Floriano, Castelo, Alfredo Chaves, Conceição do Castelo, Afonso Cláudio, Vargem Alta.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Domingos Martins brings together European-settled communities and mountain scenery in Espírito Santo. A trip here combines rural outings, food and hikes in the Pedra Azul area.
Venda Nova do Imigrante keeps Italian traditions tied to family farming. Farm visits and agritourism experiences bring you close to the local cooking and way of life.
Marechal Floriano grew up along the railroad in the Espírito Santo mountains and keeps traces of European immigration. You will find gardens, farms and places that preserve local memory.
Castelo has mountain scenery and a history tied to the farms of inland Espírito Santo. A trip here can combine rural heritage, hikes and food produced in the region.
Alfredo Chaves combines rural valleys and rivers between the mountains and the Espírito Santo coast. In Matilde, outings bring you close to the waterfalls and the history of the railroad.
Conceição do Castelo has a small center surrounded by mountains and coffee fields. Rural roads let you see farm life and take in the mountain scenery.
Afonso Cláudio brings together rural areas and rock formations in the Espírito Santo mountains. You can visit farms and explore trails with views of the Três Pontões (rock peaks).
Vargem Alta lies in a region of mountains and forest in southern Espírito Santo. Waterfalls and rural roads offer outings for anyone who wants to see the landscape and everyday life of the countryside.
The local experience
A fall of about 40 meters in the village of Castelinho, next to the ES-164 highway, said to be the highest in the municipality. It has a picnic area, and visits require booking.
A village settled by Italians, with a 1903 railroad station from the old Leopoldina line, now used for craft exhibitions. It also has the Casa Rosa, with immigrant furniture, and a cultural center with a museum.
A protected area that safeguards the monolith that symbolizes Espírito Santo, with a guided trail of about six kilometers to natural pools carved into the rock. Entry is free and requires booking because the number of daily visitors is limited.
Discover Parque Estadual da Pedra Azul
A rock formation with three peaks separated by deep clefts, about 8 km from downtown, used for hang gliding, rappelling and climbing. It is on private property, and the trail to the base requires good fitness.
Discover Pedra dos Três Pontões
A valley between the communities of Monforte Quente and Monforte Frio, about 15 km from town, crossed by old mule-driver routes. It has waterfalls, natural pools and rural trails among the mountains.
A waterfall of about 30 meters beside km 69.5 of the BR-262, near the district of Victor Hugo. Access is through the grounds of the Casa da Bica restaurant, where wooden bridges over the stream let you see the waterfall up close.
Its main fall is about 70 meters high, and it is on Fazenda Breda, owned by a long-established family. Below it, a stretch of rapids forms areas used for swimming.
Discover Cachoeira de Santa Luzia
A waterfall near town, reached via the ES-375 highway toward Iconha. It forms a clear-water pool used for swimming, reached by an easy trail.
Opened in 1910 in the district of Matilde, it was part of the railroad that carried the region's coffee to the port of Vitória. Today it is a memorial space and preserves the iron water tank and the bridge over the Rio Benevente.
Discover Estação Ferroviária de Matilde
A peak about 1,110 meters above sea level, a few kilometers from downtown, reached by a dirt road. It has a launch ramp for hang gliding and paragliding, with sweeping views of the region's valleys and mountains.
A charming road in the Pedra Azul area, lined with restaurants, cafés, artist studios and craft breweries. The name comes from the angle at which Pedra Azul looks like a lizard climbing the mountain.
A route of about 9.5 km that follows stretches of an old stone-paved road from the imperial period. The highlight is a centuries-old jequitibá tree whose trunk takes at least nine people to hug.
Discover Trilha Imperial do Jequitibá Centenário
A rural community with a lake surrounded by mountains and a waterfall made up of a series of seven drops. The area has roads and walking trails between farms.
A small fall of about 6 meters that slides for 30 meters over the rocks in the district of Soturno, near the border with Itapemirim. The shallow, calm water makes it popular with families with children.
Discover Cachoeira da Concórdia
A waterfall on Fazenda Viçosa (farm), near town, open to visitors. The name comes from the mist of droplets that forms when the water crashes against the rocks.
A fall of about 90 meters, roughly 21 km from the town center. It has a camping area and is popular for rappelling down the rock wall.
Discover Cachoeira do Pedregulho
A town center with German heritage, with the Rua do Lazer, the Casa da Cultura, a Lutheran church and shops selling local crafts and preserves. It is where the town's German-tradition festivals take place.
Discover Centro histórico de Domingos Martins
A natural rock shelter that was home to the first settler of Santa Maria de Marechal. Today it holds images of Nossa Senhora de Lourdes and Santa Bernadete and receives devotees year-round.
Discover Gruta de Nossa Senhora de Lourdes
A rock massif about 1,200 meters above sea level in the Vale do Empoçado, in the rural area. It has a climbing route more than 1 km long, and the mountain trail to the top is done with a local guide.
An arched stone gallery built in the early 20th century near the Matilde station to divert a stream that flowed over the railroad tracks. The crossing, dark and damp, has 65 stone steps.
A small chapel built in 1902 on a large rock outcrop, about 450 meters above sea level, by the Italian immigrant Amadio Partele. Every year, in August, it hosts the festival in honor of the saint.
A space dedicated to the memory of Italian immigration, with a collection of more than 600 items linked to the settlers who arrived in the region in 1892. It is downtown, a few meters from the Paróquia São Pedro Apóstolo (church).
A waterfall more than 70 meters high, about 10 km from downtown, part of the Circuito Turístico do Galo (tourist route). The way there passes through rural communities and is used for hiking, cycling and rappelling.
A group of farms run by families of Italian descent that welcome visitors to taste socol (cured pork loin), cheeses, wines, jams and farm coffee. The town is recognized by federal law as Brazil's National Capital of Agritourism.
Discover Circuito de agroturismo de Venda Nova do Imigrante
It stands on the site of an original 1887 chapel and was inaugurated in 1949, in the town center. It is the main church of the parish dedicated to São Sebastião, the town's patron saint.
Discover Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião
A peak about 1,400 meters above sea level in the community of Estreito, reached by a steep dirt road. From the top you get a panoramic view of the town and the surrounding mountains.
A hang gliding ramp about 900 meters above sea level, in the community of Córrego de Ubá, with a drop of about 860 meters to the valley. It has hosted Brazilian championships and Paragliding World Cup events.
A chapel on a hilltop in the village of Carolina, about 860 meters above sea level, built more than a century ago by an Italian immigrant. You reach it on a trail of about 30 minutes through the forest, and the top has an 11-meter cross.
The core of the old Colônia de Santa Isabel, founded by the first families of German immigrants who arrived in the province in 1846. It is a few kilometers from town and preserves the Igreja Matriz de Santa Isabel, built in 1852.
A cave with large chambers formed in granite rock, also an archaeological site with traces of ancient Indigenous occupation. Visits are guided and include a climb up a staircase to the entrance.
A protected area created in 1992, with about 800 hectares of Atlantic Forest 4 km from town. It protects endangered species such as the jequitibá-rosa tree and has an 800-meter loop trail, walked by appointment.
Discover Parque Estadual Mata das Flores
A high-altitude park with rounded rock formations, high-altitude grasslands and trails leading to viewpoints overlooking much of the Espírito Santo mountains. It is one of the best places in the state to watch the sunset.
Discover Parque Estadual do Forno Grande
A tall waterfall in the Atlantic Forest in the district of Matilde, with a pool and visitor facilities. The district also has a historic railroad viaduct and roadside cafés.
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A hotel in the district of Aracuí, home to the shrine that receives thousands of pilgrims a month. It is on the Castelo town hall's official lodging list and suits visitors to the shrine.
A hotel in an Atlantic Forest area linked to the Reserva Ambiental Águia Branca, with heated pools, courts, a spa, trails and access to a waterfall. It suits families and anyone doing the Rota Caminhos da Mata Atlântica Capixaba.
A town pousada (guesthouse) on Rua Quintino Bocaiúva, in downtown Afonso Cláudio, with simple rooms. It is practical for business travelers or anyone who wants to use downtown as a base to explore the countryside.
A pousada with chalets spread across the mountains facing a lake, with a restaurant serving regional and Italian food and the Cervejaria Aurora (brewery). It suits families who want green space with paddle boats, a playground and a trail.
A pousada in Santa Maria de Marechal, reached via the BR-262, offering full board with home-style food prepared by the owners. It has suites and a pool and accepts pets, which makes it an option for families.
A small pousada in the village of Matilde, in Alfredo Chaves, with a pool and parking. It is a base for families who want to see the Matilde waterfalls and go cycling and on ecotourism outings.
A Sesc hotel about two kilometers from downtown Domingos Martins, with five blocks of rooms in German-style architecture, heated pools, lakes and trails. It serves commerce workers and their dependents and welcomes the general public subject to availability.
A hotel in the style of a classic mansion on a hilltop beside the BR-262, in Pedra Azul, inside an Atlantic Forest reserve. It suits anyone looking for a stay with a restaurant, wine cellar and birdwatching and nature activities.
Chalet lodging at km 102 of the BR-262, in the village of Tapera, in Venda Nova do Imigrante. It suits anyone who wants to stay close to the highway and the municipality's agritourism farms.
A rural pousada beside the ES-484, in Afonso Cláudio, with a restaurant serving food cooked on a wood-burning stove, a farm breakfast and pools. It caters to families and travelers driving across the mountains.
A rural pousada in the village of São José do Alto Viçosa, which also appears among the places to eat listed by the town hall. It suits anyone who wants to stay in the Castelo countryside, away from downtown.
A pousada in Santa Maria de Marechal that combines lodging, a restaurant and a pizzeria at the same address. It is on the town hall's lodging list and suits anyone who wants to stay close to the area's breweries and waterfalls.
A pousada in the village of Carolina, in the rural area of Alfredo Chaves, with suites and chalets among coffee fields, forest and waterfalls, pools, a lake with paddle boats and a kids' area. It is designed for families.
A pousada with a restaurant and café in the village of Richimond, in Vargem Alta, beside the road linking Vargem Alta to Cachoeiro. It has a pool and a rural setting and caters to couples and families who want to relax close to nature.
A rural pousada with rustic architecture in the countryside of Venda Nova do Imigrante, reached via the ES-165, with mountain views. Recommended for couples and families looking for peace and quiet, trails and breakfast made on a wood-burning stove.
A rural pousada in the village of Alto Chapéu, listed by the town hall both as lodging and as a place to eat. It suits anyone who wants to stay in the mountain countryside of Castelo.
A pousada on Rua Nicolau Monteiro, in downtown Vargem Alta, with air-conditioned rooms and its own restaurant and pizzeria. It is a practical option if you need a base in town or are traveling for work.
A pousada in Araguaia, the Italian-settled village of Marechal Floriano. It is on the town hall's official lodging list and suits anyone who wants to stay close to the village's Italian restaurants and brewery.
A pousada at km 88 of the BR-262, on the Rota do Lagarto, with suites, a chalet and the Restaurante Lago Negro, beside an inner lake with swans. It suits couples, families and anyone planning a wedding with a view of Pedra Azul.
A pousada with a view of Pedra dos Três Pontões, on the tourist route of the same name, in Afonso Cláudio, which also hosts events. Recommended if you want to stay close to the municipality's signature sight.
A small farm with chalets for couples and families in the community of São Bento de Urânia, in Alfredo Chaves, with horse stables, strawberry picking and a forest trail to a waterfall. It suits anyone looking for peace and quiet in the countryside.
Pousada Rabo do Lagarto is 100 m from the entrance to the Rota do Lagarto, in Domingos Martins. It has a restaurant; Petit SPA; rooms with air conditioning, fireplace and whirlpool tub or ofurô (Japanese soaking tub).
Pousada Vila do Loro is in the Santa Isabel neighborhood, in Domingos Martins. It has a pool; wet deck; barbecue area; trails; small beach; breakfast; dinner service; minibar; private bathroom.
China Park Eco Resort is in Domingos Martins. It has Wi-Fi; air conditioning; minibar; balcony; options with whirlpool tub.
Pousada Lusitânia is in the Pedra Azul neighborhood, in Domingos Martins. It has options with air conditioning, fireplace and whirlpool tub.
Pousada Vale Du’Carmo is reached via the BR-262, km 90, in Pedra Azul, Domingos Martins. It has Wi-Fi; balcony; minibar; TV; fan; breakfast.
Estalagem Petra is in Pedra Azul, Domingos Martins, a few minutes from the Rota do Lagarto. It has a minibar; fan; coat rack.
Pouso do Barão is in downtown Domingos Martins. It has Wi-Fi; breakfast; air conditioning in the Deluxe suites; suite adapted for reduced mobility.
Hotel Esmig is less than 500 m from the Polentão, in Venda Nova do Imigrante. It has breakfast included; parking; garage; elevator; rooms with fan or air conditioning; minibar in the Superior and Deluxe categories.
Alpes Hotel is 1 km from the Polentão and 15.5 km from the start of the Rota do Lagarto, in Venda Nova do Imigrante. It has breakfast included; first-come parking with 14 spaces for small cars; air conditioning; Wi-Fi; minibar; small pets allowed in specific rooms; no longer has an outdoor pool or sauna.
Pousada Tonoli is in Venda Nova do Imigrante – ES. It has a pool; hammock area; game room; barbecue area; trails; restaurant with a wood-burning stove.
Hotel Venturim is in the São João de Viçosa neighborhood, in Venda Nova do Imigrante. It has a restaurant and snack bar.
Seu Paraíso nas Montanhas is in Marechal Floriano. It has a tree house with Wi-Fi, parking and bathtub; a house with private pool, kitchen and barbecue grill; an A-frame chalet with whirlpool tub, kitchen and barbecue grill.
Hotel Estrela do Sul is in Castelo – ES. It has breakfast included; Wi-Fi.
Pousada e Restaurante Recanto Som das Águas is in São Marcos, 10.3 km from the town of Alfredo Chaves and 7.1 km from the Matilde turnoff. It has breakfast; restaurant; pools; paddle boats; playground equipment; game room; air conditioning and minibar in the listed suites and chalets; options with whirlpool tub.
Sítio Retiro is in Conceição do Castelo.
Pousada Rural Acapulco is 2 km from downtown Afonso Cláudio. It has a TV; private bathroom; fan; balcony.
Flavors of the destination
A bistro in the rural area of Vargem Alta opened by chef Ricardo Silva and Cidineia Pandolfi, with a menu inspired by Atlantic Forest ingredients. Besides pizzas and burgers, it has dishes with native fruits such as guabiroba, juçara and brejaúba.
An agritourism farm in Forno Grande with hydroponic strawberry growing, a snack bar and a shop. Besides lunch, you can pick strawberries straight from the greenhouses on a pick-and-pay basis.
A restaurant in the village of Araguaia serving home-style Italian food cooked on a wood-burning stove, with handmade pasta and polenta with stewed chicken. It suits visitors to Marechal Floriano's Italian-heritage village.
A restaurant serving Brazilian food straight from the wood-burning stove, led by chef Rosi Reis, on the ES-164 in Pedra Azul. The buffet includes dishes such as feijoada (black bean and pork stew), free-range rooster and chicken with okra, in a setting surrounded by forest.
A restaurant and pousada (guesthouse) by a lake in the community of São Marcos, in Alfredo Chaves, with home-style food cooked on a wood-burning stove. It is a lunch option if you are driving around the countryside of the municipality.
A family-friendly restaurant in the Vale do Empoçado, in Afonso Cláudio, with regional food and snacks. The standout dish is pork knuckle, and there is live music, good for lunch with family or friends.
A restaurant in a 1904 wooden mansion with porches, in the Bananeiras neighborhood. It serves home-style food with family recipes tied to the Italian immigration of the late 19th century, with ingredients almost all from the region.
An Italian cantina in the Vale do Empoçado, in Afonso Cláudio, that uses artisanal cheeses from the neighboring Queijaria Quintas do Vale. A good stop if you are doing the municipality's agritourism route.
An Italian restaurant in the Vale da Pedra, along the BR-262, that makes its own pasta and risottos in-house. It has a view of the Pedra do Lagarto and works with ingredients from local producers.
A family restaurant at km 66 of the BR-262 with a pay-by-weight buffet, grilled barbecue, specialty coffee and a shop selling homemade products. It uses vegetables from its own garden and keeps recipes of German origin, such as the house beef stew.
A farm at km 98 of the BR-262 that combines a restaurant serving country food cooked on a wood-burning stove, with polenta as its signature dish, and catch-and-release fishing. It suits families who want to spend the day with paddle boats, a zip line and gardens.
A cheese maker in Forno Grande that is part of the Rota Caminhos da Mata Atlântica Capixaba, launched in 2026. It is on the town hall's list of places to eat and suits anyone who wants to taste cheeses made on the farm.
The restaurant of Pousada Yracema, in the village of Carolina, in the rural area of Alfredo Chaves, also open to non-guests. It is a lunch stop for anyone visiting the area's waterfalls.
A restaurant opened in July 2026 at the Hotel Natureza Eco Lodge, with a menu by consulting chef Suely Faiçal focused on vegetables. It has a fireplace, wine cellar, bar and two dining rooms, one overlooking the pool and the golf course.
A restaurant along the BR-262, by the south branch of the Rio Jucu, rebuilt after a fire in 2016. It is on the town hall's restaurant list and suits travelers stopping on the way up into the mountains.
A craft brewery in the rural area of São José do Alto Viçosa, in Castelo, reached by a dirt road through the forest. Besides its own beers, it serves Italian food, with pasta and starters, and is a good stop if you are driving around the municipality's mountains.
A restaurant and café beside the ES-164, near downtown Vargem Alta, on a private reserve with trails and a lake. The restaurant is a self-service buffet, with barbecue and griddled tilapia with cheese, and is good for families.
The Fiorese family's restaurant and café colonial (farmhouse tea spread) on the Rodovia Pedro Cola, 12 km from downtown, formerly an event space. It serves home-style lunch cooked on a wood-burning stove and a café colonial, with mountain views.
A restaurant next to the Cachoeira de Piripitinga (waterfall), in the village of São Francisco do Batatal, in Alfredo Chaves, in an area that also has camping and pools. A lunch option if you are spending the day at the waterfall.
The restaurant of the Parada da Serra pousada, beside the ES-484, in Afonso Cláudio, with food cooked on a wood-burning stove and a snack bar. It is a stop for travelers crossing the mountains and for families.
A craft brewery with a taproom and kitchen in the Vale da Pedra, in Pedra Azul. It serves its own beers with dishes such as pork knuckle with rustic potatoes and sauerkraut, for anyone who wants to stop along the route with a view of the rock.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
It is about one to two hours from Vitória Airport, via the BR-262, which cuts across the region, linking Vitória to Domingos Martins, Pedra Azul and Venda Nova do Imigrante.
From May to August, the Espírito Santo winter, when the mountain chill goes well with the food festivals and the Festa da Polenta in Venda Nova do Imigrante.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
