Urubici and the Serra Catarinense: canyons, cold, snow

Urubici is a town of about 11,000 people at 915 m in the Serra Catarinense, 170 km (106 mi) and about 3 hours by car from Florianópolis. Morro da Igreja, at 1,822 m, is inside the Parque Nacional de São Joaquim and needs a booking and a guide. Winter is cold, with the best snow chances in July and August.

Why go

Urubici is the best base for the highlands of Santa Catarina, the coldest corner of Brazil. The landscape is open grassland, araucaria pine forest, sheer canyon walls and dozens of waterfalls. It looks more like southern Chile than the Brazil of beaches and rainforest.

Brazilians come in winter for frost, fireplaces and the small chance of snow. In the warmer months the trails are easier, the days are longer and the waterfalls run strong. The town itself is small and practical, with lodging, restaurants and agencies spread along the valley.

Getting there

Florianópolis is the nearest airport, about 170 km (106 mi) and about 3 hours away by car via BR-282 and SC-370. The drive climbs from the coast onto the plateau, with steep curves in the final stretch. Drive it in daylight, and allow more time in fog or rain.

Rent the car in Florianópolis. Once you arrive, the sights are far apart and many are on dirt roads, so a car is the most practical way to see the area.

If you cannot drive, look for a bus from Florianópolis to the Serra region at the Florianópolis rodoviária, or ask your lodging in Urubici how guests usually arrive. Several Urubici agencies run guided tours, so you can arrive by bus and book day trips on the spot.

For rental and licensing rules, see Car rental in Brazil and Driving in Brazil with a foreign license.

When to go

Urubici is a winter destination for frost and cold, from June to August. Town temperatures can fall to about -5°C (23°F). The high parts of the range get snow in some winters, with the best chances in July and August. Morro da Igreja has had some of the coldest readings ever reported in Brazil, and wind chill on the summit can be extreme.

Spring, summer and autumn bring longer days, greener hills and easier trail conditions. Summer afternoons can bring storms and fog, which may hide the views from the high points. Autumn (April and May) is also the season for pinhão, the seed of the araucaria pine, roasted or cooked in local dishes.

Book at least a month ahead for winter weekends and long holidays.

Check before you go: snow is never guaranteed. Watch the Climatempo or INMET forecast in the days before you drive up, and pack for freezing nights even if snow does not come.

Where to stay

Stay in or near the town of Urubici. Options range from simple inns to hotels and resorts, plus cabins with fireplaces in the valley around town. Cabins are popular in winter, so book them early.

Heating matters. Ask whether the room has a heater or fireplace and whether firewood is included before you book for June to August.

The ICMBio park office is in town, at Avenida Pedro Bernardo Warmling 1542. You collect your printed Morro da Igreja ticket there before the visit, so a base in town saves time.

What to do

Morro da Igreja and Pedra Furada

Morro da Igreja is one of the highest accessible points in southern Brazil, at 1,822 m. From the top you look down on Pedra Furada, a large natural hole through a rock wall. The site is inside the Parque Nacional de São Joaquim.

Booking with ICMBio is mandatory. It opens about a week before the visit and is valid for one date and shift only, with one form per vehicle. Hiring a guide is mandatory for the Pedra Furada trail. Entry is free. Pets and drones are not allowed.

The site is 26 km (16 mi) from Urubici on asphalt. The Pedra Furada trail is an 8.5 km (5.3 mi) round trip of about 5 hours, rated moderate. Go early, since clouds often build later in the day.

Serra do Corvo Branco

The Corvo Branco is a deep cut through the rock on the SC-370, where the road drops off the plateau toward the coast. It is one of the most photographed roads in Brazil. The viewpoint is about 30 km (19 mi) from Urubici, mostly paved with a short dirt section.

The road through the cut has been under paving works since March 2025, between Urubici and Grão-Pará. Partial single-lane opening at set hours was planned for mid-2026, with full completion planned for the end of 2026. The crack viewpoint has stayed reachable from the Urubici side. Park carefully, as the roadside has little room.

Check before you go: ask the Prefeitura de Urubici or your lodging whether the road is open and at what hours before you plan to drive down it.

Cânion Espraiado

The Cânion Espraiado has cliffs rising over 1,000 m. It is about 35 km (22 mi) from the town center: 23 km on SC-439 with the last 3 km unpaved, then a 12 km track to the canyon top. An ordinary car can manage the first 3 km of that track, as far as Pedra da Águia. The last 9 km (5.6 mi) are steep and rough, for a high 4x4 or on foot (about 3 hours uphill). From the end of the track, the canyon edge is about 500 m on foot.

Most visitors go with a local 4x4 tour. Ask your host about road conditions before you go, especially after rain.

Waterfalls

The valley is full of falls. The Rio dos Bugres falls drop 220 m, Avencal 100 m and Véu de Noiva 65 m. Most sit on private land with short trails and small entry fees.

Other stops

The city viewpoint, 4 km (2.5 mi) from the center, gives a quick overview of the valley. The Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes is a small grotto shrine 11 km (7 mi) from town. The Santa Bárbara sector of the Parque Nacional de São Joaquim is 22 km (14 mi) away and free. Urubici is also known for rock carvings left by the region’s earlier inhabitants.

Costs

Each private site charges its own fee, so budget for several small entries a day. Fees below are as of late 2025.

Private sites set their own prices and can change them each season. Carry cash and a card. Lodging costs most on winter weekends and holidays, so ask the lodging directly and compare midweek rates.

Practical tips

• Pack for real cold. Bring a warm jacket, hat, gloves and thermal layers in winter. Summer nights are cool too.
• Start early. Fog and cloud often close in on the high points by afternoon.
• Fill up before dirt roads. Fuel stations are in town, not out at the sights.
• Drive slowly on gravel. Rain turns dirt roads to mud, and frost makes curves slippery.
• Contact the park office. For Morro da Igreja questions, call ICMBio on (48) 98821-2718 or write to parna.saojoaquim@icmbio.gov.br. The Parque Nacional de São Joaquim, created in 1961, covers 49,800 hectares.
• Respect the land. The Xokleng were among the Indigenous peoples of this region. Today the economy rests on farming and tourism, and many sites are on working family land.

Skip it if

Skip Urubici if you do not drive and a guided day does not suit you. Several sights are on dirt roads or need a 4x4. Skip it if you want certain snow, because snow comes some years and not others. Skip it on a weekend in July if you dislike crowds, since lodging fills. Skip Morro da Igreja if you cannot commit to one date and shift. The booking covers only that slot, and the printed ticket is collected at the park office in town. Skip it if you want beaches or nightlife, which the Santa Catarina coast does far better.