Brazil by train: Vitória-Minas line and Serra Verde Express

Brazil has few passenger trains, and most are slow, scenic and best treated as an experience. Vale’s Vitória-Minas line covers 664 km (413 mi) between Belo Horizonte and Cariacica in about 13.5 hours, with full-trip fares of R$ 87 in economy and R$ 125 in executive. The Serra Verde Express runs Curitiba to Morretes in about 4.5 hours from R$ 206 (about US$41, checked Oct 2026).

Why take a train in Brazil

Brazil moves by bus and plane, and its rail network mostly carries iron ore and grain. The few passenger lines that remain are worth riding for what you see from the window. They pass through river valleys, mountain forest and small towns that roads skip.

Three rides stand out for travelers. The Vitória-Minas line is a real working train, used by locals across two states. The Serra Verde Express drops down the Serra do Mar through Atlantic Forest. The Maria Fumaça is a short steam ride between two colonial towns in Minas Gerais.

Vitória-Minas line (Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo)

Vale, the mining company, operates the Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas. It is the only daily passenger train in Brazil. It connects Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, with 30 boarding points serving about 50 cities. It runs regular daytime trips, plus night trips in January, July and December.

Route. The line runs from Belo Horizonte to Cariacica (Pedro Nolasco station), 664 km (413 mi), in an average of 13 hours 30 minutes. Stops include Itabira, Ipatinga, Governador Valadares, Resplendor, Colatina and Aimorés. Much of the route follows the Rio Doce valley, past farms, small towns and forested hills.

Day train. The day train leaves Belo Horizonte in the morning and reaches Pedro Nolasco in the early evening. Trains run in both directions every day.

Night trains. Night trips run only in January, July and December, and serve 14 stations. In July 2026 the key times were Belo Horizonte 19:00 to Pedro Nolasco 8:15, and Pedro Nolasco 18:00 to Belo Horizonte 7:50.

Check before you go: exact departure times and the stations served can change by day and season. Check Vale’s passenger train portal or call Alô Vale at 0800 285 7000 before you book.

Fares. Full trip, Belo Horizonte to Cariacica:

These fares have applied since 10 December 2025, up about 8% from R$ 81 and R$ 116. USD checked Oct 2026. Shorter trips cost less, and fares can vary by date.

Classes. Both classes use the same route and timetable. Executive has 2+1 seating instead of 2+2, bigger reclining seats, footrests, power outlets and video monitors. Meals are served at the seat, and a snack car sells extras.

Rules. You need an official photo ID, such as your passport. Boarding closes 15 minutes before departure. Tickets are not sold on board or for same-day travel. Buy on Vale’s portal, through the Passenger Train app, or at station ticket offices during business hours.

Serra Verde Express (Curitiba to Morretes, Paraná)

This tourist train runs in Paraná, in the south. Serra Verde Express was founded in 1997, when private investors took over a historic stretch of the Curitiba to Paranaguá railway through the Serra do Mar. The line drops from the Curitiba plateau toward the coast over bridges and viaducts, through some of the best-preserved Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The trip is about 110 km (68 mi).

Morretes. The train ends in Morretes, a small colonial river town. It is known for barreado, a slow-cooked beef stew served with cassava flour and banana. Many travelers eat lunch there and return by van, or continue to the nearby colonial port town of Antonina.

Schedule. Curitiba departures are at 8:30, and Morretes departures at 15:00. Luxo litorinas leave Curitiba between 8:30 and 9:30, depending on the date. From 1 January to 1 March 2026, Morretes departures left at 16:00. Arrive one hour early. Allow about 4.5 hours for the trip.

The train runs daily in high season: January, February, the second half of July and December. In other months it runs on fewer days, usually with weekend service.

Check before you go: confirm the running days for your date on the operator’s departure calendar, or call (41) 3888-3488 in Curitiba. The Curitiba ticket office is open Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 17:30, Friday 7:00 to 17:30, Saturday 7:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 7:00 to 10:00.

Classes. The operator offers Boutique wagons, Litorina Luxo cars, Turística and Econômica. Turística has comfortable seats, snacks, one drink and a Portuguese-speaking guide. Econômica has plastic seats and no service, and is aimed at hikers going to Pico do Marumbi. The train stops at Pico do Marumbi and may stop briefly for freight trains.

Prices (from, 2026):

USD checked Oct 2026. A standalone ticket covers one direction only.

Rules. Luggage is allowed if you tell staff at boarding. Under-16s need a parent or an authorized guardian and ID. Online purchases can be cancelled within 7 days with no fee, and a 20% fee applies after that.

Maria Fumaça (Tiradentes to São João del-Rei)

The Maria Fumaça is a steam train on a 12 km (7.5 mi) narrow-gauge line between Tiradentes and São João del-Rei, in Minas Gerais. The ride is short and slow, through hills and past the Rio das Mortes. It suits a half day in Tiradentes.

VLI ran the line until 30 September 2026. Since 1 October 2026, ABPF, the Brazilian railway preservation association, has operated it. Fares in October 2026 were R$ 110 in first class, R$ 90 in second and R$ 80 in third (about US$22, US$18 and US$16, checked Oct 2026) per person and direction, with half price for students, people aged 60 or over and people with disabilities. Extra trips ran in holiday periods, including 16 trips over Carnival 2026.

Check before you go: ABPF listed these fares as valid to 30 October 2026, so confirm the current price and the holiday timetable on efom.org.br. Buy at the station in Tiradentes or São João del-Rei, and check the Tiradentes and the Estrada Real page, which carries the ABPF timetable and fares.

When to go

Ride in the dry months for the clearest views. In the southeast and south, that usually means about April to September. Summer brings heavy afternoon rain and mist in the Serra do Mar, which can hide the views.

Vale’s night trips run in January, July and December, school-holiday months when demand is high, so book early. For the Serra Verde Express, buy at least 7 days ahead in peak season. Weekends fill faster than weekdays on all three lines.

Costs

Train fares in Brazil are low for working lines and high for tourist trains. The Vitória-Minas line is cheaper than a long-distance bus for the same distance. The Serra Verde Express is a tourist product, priced like a day tour.

Budget extra for meals on board, which are sold at the seat or in the snack car. Add transfers to and from the stations, which sit away from some city centers. Pedro Nolasco station, for example, is in Cariacica, not central Vitória, so plan an app taxi. For paying by card or cash, see money in Brazil.

Practical tips

• Carry your passport. Photo ID is required on the Vitória-Minas line.
• Sit on the side with the view. On the Serra Verde Express, ask staff which side faces the gorge.
• Bring snacks and water for the long Vitória-Minas ride, and a warm layer for air-conditioned cars.
• Download your ticket or keep a screenshot. Signal drops in the mountains.
• Plan onward transport before you arrive. Late-evening arrivals leave fewer options.

Skip it if

• You need to be somewhere fast. The Vitória-Minas train takes about 13.5 hours, so compare domestic flights in Brazil and long-distance buses.
• You want to choose a window seat. The Serra Verde Express assigns seats automatically, and you cannot choose the window side at checkout.
• You are traveling in the rainy season to see the Serra do Mar. Mist can hide the views.
• You want a big rail network. Brazil has only a handful of routes, and none links the major tourist cities.

Read the Minas Gerais hub to plan around the Vitória-Minas line.