Scenic Train ride to historical cities of Morretes and Antonina

The star here is the train ride from Curitiba to Morretes, a slow, scenic journey through the Serra do Mar on railway tracks built in the 19th century. Bridges, tunnels, waterfalls, steep valleys, and Atlantic rainforest unfold outside the windows, making this one of the most memorable day trips from Curitiba.

I especially like the combination of old railway engineering and regional food. You get a snack and soft drink or bottled water on the train, then a proper lunch of barreado, tender beef cooked for hours in a clay pot, with rice, cassava flour, fruit, and breaded fish. The drawback is the packed schedule. Morretes deserves more than 90 minutes, while Antonina receives only about 20 minutes.

Key points to know

• The railway is the main event: The Paranaguá-Curitiba line includes more than 41 bridges, 13 tunnels, viaducts, and hundreds of smaller bridge structures.
• The best scenery comes by train: The route crosses the Serra do Mar Atlantic rainforest, with views of gorges, rivers, waterfalls, and dramatic valleys.
• Barreado is included: Lunch beside the Nhundiaquara River gives you a chance to try Paraná’s signature coastal dish.
• Morretes gets the useful sightseeing time: You have about 1 hour and 30 minutes for colonial buildings, churches, crafts, and a walk through town.
• Antonina is a short stop: The visit lasts about 20 minutes, so expect a quick look rather than a full town tour.
• The return road can be scenic or slow: The van normally uses the Estrada da Graciosa, but bad weather can send the group back by BR-277.

Why the Curitiba to Morretes train is worth your day

The trip begins early, usually with hotel pickup around 7:00 a.m. A bus takes you from Curitiba to the station, where you board the train for Morretes. The exact pickup time is reconfirmed after booking, so check your final instructions carefully.

This railway is not just a convenient way to reach the coast. It is a historic piece of Brazilian infrastructure. The Paranaguá-Curitiba Railway had its inaugural journey in 1884, made by Princess Isabel. Its route still passes through the Serra do Mar, one of the few places where you can see substantial Atlantic rainforest from a passenger train.

The line includes more than 41 bridges, 13 tunnels, and major structures such as Ponte São João and Viaduto do Carvalho. You will also pass rivers, waterfalls, cliffs, and deep valleys. The train moves slowly enough for you to watch the scenery change, though the best views can depend on weather and your seat position.

Onboard service includes a snack and either a soft drink or bottled water. The train section has commentary in the language selected at purchase, with Portuguese, English, or Spanish available. This language arrangement matters. The bilingual service is specifically available in the carriage during the rail journey, while the wider tour guide is listed as Portuguese-speaking.

That means you should not assume every explanation during the road portions will be in your chosen language. Several language problems have occurred on past departures, particularly when an English or Spanish guide was unavailable. If clear commentary is important to you, confirm the language and listen for instructions at the station before boarding.

What the Serra do Mar railway route looks like

The train journey is the emotional center of the day. The route climbs and descends through thick forest, crossing old bridges and slipping through tunnels cut into the mountains. The scenery is at its best on a clear day, when you can see farther into the valleys and pick out waterfalls and riverbeds below.

Cloudy or rainy weather does not ruin the ride, but it can hide distant views. In wet conditions, the forest itself becomes the subject, with mist, dark rock, and dripping vegetation close to the tracks. If you want photographs, keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire ride looking at a screen.

The train can be busy, and boarding may take time. It may also stop unexpectedly or arrive later than planned. One past departure reached Morretes around 2:00 p.m. instead of noon after several stops, so you should not schedule an evening flight or tight connection based on the advertised return time.

The return journey is by road, not by train. This is important when comparing the experience with a simple rail excursion. You get the historic train in one direction, then a long drive back to Curitiba, normally along the Estrada da Graciosa.

Morretes, colonial streets and a short town walk

Morretes is the most rewarding town stop. You have about 1 hour and 30 minutes to walk through the historic center, see colonial homes and churches, browse the craft market, and get a feel for this small Paraná town.

The schedule usually divides the time between sightseeing and lunch, so do not expect a slow, unplanned wander. You may have enough time to take photographs, browse local products, and walk near the river, but not enough to visit every shop or sit down for a long coffee.

I would prefer more time here. Morretes has the strongest sense of place on the itinerary, and it is where the food, architecture, river, and mountain route come together. If you enjoy small historic towns, the 90-minute stop may feel rushed.

The guide is meant to help with the town visit, but the quality of spoken commentary can vary with the language arrangement. In some departures, the guide has been informative and friendly on the van and in the restaurant but less present during the walking portion. Keep track of the meeting point and departure time yourself.

Barreado beside the Nhundiaquara River

Lunch is included and takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The setting beside the Nhundiaquara River adds more than scenery. It connects the meal to the coastal culture of Paraná, where barreado is a traditional dish rather than just another item on a tourist menu.

Barreado consists of beef cooked slowly for many hours in a clay pot. The pot is sealed with manioc flour and water so steam stays inside, leaving the meat soft enough to fall apart. It is served with rice, cassava flour, sliced bananas, and oranges. Breaded fish is also served on the side.

This is a filling meal, and it gives you a useful introduction to local food without requiring a separate restaurant search. Drinks and dessert are not included, so budget extra if you want them. One practical point deserves attention: the meal itself is covered, but beverages and sweets cost more.

The riverbank setting also gives you a welcome pause after the train ride. Some people may want to put their feet in the water or linger outside, but the fixed schedule limits how long you can stay. If food is one of your reasons for booking, this is one of the tour’s strongest parts.

Hisgeopar, a miniature Paraná in motion

After lunch, the route includes about 30 minutes at Parana Encantado HISGEOPAR. Despite its park-like name, this is better understood as a miniature history and geography exhibition.

The models show Paraná’s colonization period with moving figures representing settlers and work systems. You will also see miniature versions of the railway route, including a locomotive, as well as models connected with Itaipu Dam, the former Seven Falls, and Iguaçu Falls.

This stop is useful if you enjoy scale models, engineering, and regional history. It also gives you context for the railway and for major sights elsewhere in Paraná. If you are expecting an amusement park or outdoor adventure, adjust your expectations. The visit is short and focused on displays.

For families, the moving models can be an easy way to make regional history more understandable. For adults, the railway model is the most relevant piece because you can compare it with the route you have just taken.

Antonina in only 20 minutes

Antonina is the briefest town stop, with about 20 minutes to walk along its streets and waterfront. You may see local shops and products such as handmade banana sweets, a fitting detail in a region known for banana growing.

The problem is time. Twenty minutes is enough for a quick look, a few photographs, or a purchase, but not enough for a serious visit. In practice, the stop can feel like a short commercial break rather than a full exploration of the town.

If you would rather have more time in Morretes, this is the part of the schedule most likely to frustrate you. Morretes offers more architecture, food, and atmosphere, while Antonina can feel like a quick pass through town. The route has also included a brief visit to a banana shop on some departures, so the exact rhythm of this section may feel more shopping-oriented than historical.

Returning through the Estrada da Graciosa

At the end of the day, you return to Curitiba by van, minibus, or bus. The normal route is the Estrada da Graciosa, one of Brazil’s most picturesque roads, with a winding course through the mountains.

This drive is a pleasant way to finish the loop, but it can also be long and bumpy. The old road has many turns and stretches of stone paving, so anyone prone to motion sickness should plan accordingly. A few passengers have found the return tiring, especially after the early start and full day.

Rain changes the plan. For safety, the operator may use the BR-277 instead of the Estrada da Graciosa in bad weather. That means the scenic road is part of the plan, not an absolute guarantee.

Arrival in Curitiba is expected around 4:30 p.m., though delays on the train, road conditions, or weather can push that later. I would keep the evening flexible.

Does the $128.40 price make sense?

At $128.40 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Morretes, but the price includes a lot: hotel transfers in Curitiba, the train ticket, onboard snack and drink, a professional guide, lunch, the Morretes and Antonina visits, Hisgeopar admission, and the return road transfer.

The value is strongest if you want a fully arranged day. You avoid sorting out transport to the station, buying a rail ticket, finding a restaurant, and arranging a return vehicle from the coast. You also get a meal and several stops without paying separate admission at each one.

The value is weaker if your priority is independent sightseeing. The schedule gives you little freedom, and you may pay for stops you would personally skip. Morretes is the place where I would want extra time, while Antonina and Hisgeopar may feel less essential to someone focused mainly on the railway and town center.

The tour is normally booked about 35 days ahead, which suggests that popular departures can fill early. If your dates are fixed, book ahead and provide the required full name, birth date, and passport number for every passenger. Brazilian citizens should provide an ID or CPF. This information is required for the passenger list.

The group can have up to 30 people. That is large enough for boarding and meeting points to feel busy, but small enough to remain manageable when everyone follows the schedule.

Language, guides, and practical comfort

The tour is listed with a Portuguese-speaking professional guide, while English or Spanish commentary is available in the train carriage if selected at purchase. Do not treat that as a guarantee of a full-language guide for every part of the day.

Language support has been excellent on some departures and disappointing on others. A guide named Flavia has been singled out for patient, attentive service in the train carriage, while Alex and Josiane have been praised for caring and helpful work on another departure. Those names show what good service can look like, but staffing is not fixed, so you may meet different guides.

The train can become hot, especially on sunny days, and the full day is long. Wear light clothing, bring sun protection, and carry any personal snacks or medication you need. The included onboard drink helps, but it is wise not to depend on one small service for the whole day.

Hotel pickup is included for most Curitiba hotels. Pickup errors have occasionally caused serious problems, including passengers being left behind or listed under incorrect names. Check your voucher, confirm the pickup point, and be ready early. If the driver has not arrived, contact the operator promptly rather than waiting without communication.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this Morretes train tour?

I recommend it most strongly to you if you want one organized day combining rail history, rainforest scenery, local food, and small-town sightseeing. It suits first-time visitors to Curitiba who do not want to manage transport on their own.

It is also a good fit for families, couples, and solo visitors who value structure. Most people can participate, and the group size is capped at 30.

I would hesitate if you want a relaxed pace, extensive time in Morretes, or a detailed walking tour in English or Spanish throughout the day. I would also think twice if you dislike long road transfers or are sensitive to winding roads.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if the railway journey is your main reason for visiting Paraná and you like having lunch, tickets, transfers, and sightseeing arranged in one package. The train through the Serra do Mar is the part you are least likely to regret, and barreado gives the day a genuine regional flavor.

Skip it if you want to set your own pace. In that case, the short Antonina visit, limited Morretes time, variable language support, and possible delays may outweigh the convenience. If you do book, choose a clear-weather date if possible, confirm your language preference, arrive early for pickup, and leave your evening open.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

Hotel pickups usually begin around 7:00 a.m. The specific departure time is confirmed after booking.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about nine hours. Return to Curitiba is expected around 4:30 p.m., but delays are possible.

Is hotel pickup included?

Round-trip transport is included for most hotels in Curitiba.

What is included on the train?

The train ticket, onboard service, a snack, and a soft drink or bottled water are included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes barreado, rice, banana, oranges, cassava flour, and breaded fish. Beverages and dessert are not included.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The professional tour guide is Portuguese-speaking. Bilingual commentary in Portuguese, English, or Spanish is available in the train carriage, and you must select your preferred language when booking.

How much time is spent in Morretes?

The Morretes visit lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This time includes the town visit and the surrounding lunch schedule.

How long is the Antonina stop?

The Antonina stop lasts about 20 minutes.

What happens if the weather is bad?

For safety, the return may use the BR-277 instead of the Estrada da Graciosa. Rain or cloud can also reduce the views from the train.