Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil's southernmost gaucho state, with the mountain town of Gramado, wine country and canyon scenery, all with a distinctly European flavor.

Rio Grande do Sul lies at Brazil's southern tip, bordering Uruguay and Argentina. It has four distinct seasons and is strongly shaped by gaucho cowboy culture and by German and Italian immigrants. The capital, Porto Alegre, is the regional hub. In the northern highlands, Gramado and Canela are known for their European-style architecture, chocolate and festivals, and the winter Christmas lights festival draws large crowds. The surrounding Vale dos Vinhedos is Brazil's main wine region, and the northeast has spectacular canyon national parks. Summers are warm and winters cold, with occasional frost in the mountains. The gateway is Porto Alegre International Airport.

Destinations

• Gramado & Canela
• Bento Gonçalves
• Cambará do Sul

Itineraries

• Serra Gaúcha Wine & Canyons – A loop from Porto Alegre through Gramado, Canela, the Canyon region, and Vale dos Vinhedos, combining mountain towns, c…
• Southern Brazil: Falls to Canyons 14-Day Overland – Journey south from Iguazu through Curitiba, German-heritage valleys, coastal islands, and high plateaus, ending at the…