Page Type:
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Canyon |
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Activities:
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Hiking, Via Ferrata, Canyoneering |
Season:
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Spring, Summer |
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The Caracol canyon and it's waterfall are located in Caracol State Park, Canela county, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.
With dense woods in its vicinity, is formed by the creek of the same name, and plummets into free fall of 430 feet by basaltic rocks of the Sierra Geral Formation, forming a landscape of rare beauty. It was built a staircase with a total of 751 steps to reach the base of the waterfall. The canyon is around 300 meters deep (985 feet) and unfortunately, no trails marked around its walls.
The great beauty of Caracol waterfall is so known that millions of tourists visit it each year, and are dazzled by the sheer perfection of nature which is this huge waterfall. Following the marked trails in the park you can visit the top and bottom of the hill and enjoy this natural beauty.
The city of Canela, Sounthern Sierra (aka Serra Gaucha), has many attractions, the most creative theme parks and museums, through an extensive network of restaurants and shops. But what really gets people are the fantastic chocolate factories, but the better show that nature of its surroundings is indeed performed by Caracol waterfall and Ferradura Park.
Perhaps not a place for adventure, but certainly a place to admire such beauty, even in steel stairs...Hundreds f them!
The better season to visit the waterfall and to see it's power is rain season (between december and march), since I got there in april, the rains are almost gone and the water volume is not so good right now.
Getting There
Caracol State Park is located in the last brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul, at Canela county, 80 kms northwest of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande's capital.
I assume who wants to come to know that beauty will fly to Porto Alegre International Airport, so from there you can rent a car and follow the RS020 road heading northwest for about 50 kms. At some point you'll reach a three ways junction, make a left turn and after that a right turn, that will get you to another road, RS235. Follow that road north all the way to Canela county.
By bus, take a direct bus to the small city at the main bus station of Porto Alegre, the trip takes about 90 minutes and it's cheap.
Red Tape
>Forbidden to camp;>Forbidden to walk outside the stairs;
>Park Fee: R$ 12,00 (around US$ 7.00) each one, above 60 years old half the price;
>There is plenty of bathrooms;
>There is a restaurant for good meals;
>Parking lot for around 200 spots.
751 steel stairs
"you got down 130 steps and there is 621 to go/ Check your conditions, get some rest/ Keep on the track and don't throw garbage on the woods"
The Prize...
This is...well...you get the point. Vertical panorama composed by 5 shots to get it.
External Links
A brazilian website to get mountains info, including gps files to download:http://www.rumos.net.br/rumos/My youtube channel: www.youtube.com/parofes - Now with 250+ videos online!
The biggest brazilian website about climbing and mountaineering, for which I'm a columnist:
