Morretes: Full Day Colonial Town Tour from Curitiba

The best part of this day is the train ride through Paraná’s Atlantic rainforest, where steep mountains, thick greenery, and open views turn the journey into the main event. I like the combination of scenery and food: you get a slow rail trip, then a generous lunch of Barreado beside the Nhundiaquara River. The old streets of Morretes and Antonina add a useful dose of colonial Brazil.

I also like that the tour returns by road instead of sending you back on the train. That lets you see two historic towns in one day and makes the schedule practical. The main drawback is the train itself: on hot days, poor ventilation can make the carriage uncomfortable, and the short stops in Morretes and Antonina leave limited time for lingering.

Key points to know

• The train is the star attraction: Expect Atlantic rainforest, mountain views, onboard service, and a slow route toward Morretes.
• Barreado is included: This soft, slow-cooked beef dish comes with rice, fruit, manioc flour, and breaded fish.
• Morretes gets the longest town visit: You have about 90 minutes for colonial streets, churches, old houses, and crafts.
• Antonina adds a second historic stop: The visit lasts about an hour, so keep your pace brisk.
• The return uses the road: You head back to Curitiba by bus, van, or minibus, usually via the Estrada da Graciosa.
• The tour is good value for a full day: The $176 price includes hotel transfer, rail ticket, guide, lunch, town tours, and Hisgeopar.

Why the Curitiba to Morretes train ride matters

Curitiba sits on a high plateau, while Morretes lies much lower near the Serra do Mar mountains. The train journey links those two settings in a way a highway transfer cannot. You watch the scenery shift from city and upland country toward forested slopes and the Atlantic rainforest.

This is not simply transport between two stops. It is the reason many people choose the excursion. The railway gives you time to watch the scenery without worrying about driving, directions, or winding roads. You can settle in, take photographs, and follow the changing terrain from your seat.

The onboard service includes a snack and a drink, either bottled water or a soft drink. A bilingual guide is available in the carriage, but you need to choose Portuguese, English, or Spanish when booking. That detail matters if you want commentary during the rail section rather than only at the town stops.

The train has one clear weakness. A Brazilian visitor described the carriage as poorly equipped and extremely hot, with no fan to offer relief. If the weather is warm, dress lightly and bring sensible expectations. The scenery may be superb, but the carriage is not presented as a luxury rail experience.

The morning pickup and transfer from Curitiba

Pickup is available from several central locations, including Av. Cândido de Abreu, Rua XV de Novembro, Av. do Batel, and Rua do Herval. Hotel transfer is included for most hotels in Curitiba, but your exact pickup point and time are confirmed after booking.

The initial van transfer takes about 35 minutes. This part of the morning is functional rather than scenic, moving you toward the rail departure point. Since the full outing lasts nine hours, an early start is likely, and you should keep the morning free rather than plan another activity around it.

You must provide each passenger’s full name, birth date, and passport number. Brazilian passengers can use an ID or CPF instead. This information is required for the official passenger list, so have the details ready before booking.

Morretes: colonial streets and the craft market

Morretes is the heart of the day. The town sits at the foot of the Serra do Mar and has a compact center filled with old colonial houses, churches, and traditional streets. The guided walk lasts about an hour and a half, including time for sightseeing and the arts and crafts market.

I like this stop because it gives the train ride a clear destination. You are not simply admiring forest from a carriage window. You arrive in a small historic town where the architecture, riverfront setting, and local crafts show how the region developed around the mountains and waterways.

The schedule is fairly tight. Ninety minutes is enough for a guided introduction, photographs, and a look through the market, but not enough for a slow, unplanned wander. Stay with the guide at the start so you understand the town’s layout and do not spend your whole visit searching for the group.

The craft market is useful for browsing local work and small souvenirs. Since the visit is guided, you can expect an overview rather than a long shopping session. If you care most about buying crafts, use free moments efficiently and ask the guide where the market visit fits into the walking route.

Barreado beside the Nhundiaquara River

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You eat beside the Nhundiaquara River and try Barreado, Paraná’s signature regional dish. The beef is cooked slowly in a clay pot for several hours until the meat becomes very soft.

It is served over rice with sliced bananas, oranges, and manioc flour. Breaded fish comes on the side. This is a substantial meal, not a light tasting plate, and it gives you a direct connection to the food traditions of the coastal Paraná region.

A lunch stop with a river view also gives the day a welcome pause. After the train and walking tour, you can sit down, eat at an unhurried pace, and enjoy the setting. The meal is included, but drinks beyond the stated train service and dessert are not. Budget for those separately if you want them.

The lunch stop is scheduled for about an hour. That is enough for the included meal, though you should not expect a long restaurant visit with time for extended browsing afterward. If you are unfamiliar with Barreado, the texture is the key feature: the long cooking time makes the beef very tender.

Hisgeopar Theme Park in 30 minutes

The Hisgeopar Theme Park is a short stop of about 30 minutes. It adds another angle to the day after the town walk and meal, though it is not given the same amount of time as Morretes or Antonina.

Because the stop is brief, treat it as a compact visit rather than a major attraction. It works well for people who like to add a small cultural or educational stop to a town tour. If you prefer long, slow visits at historic sites, this may feel rushed.

The stop also breaks up the return route. You are not moving directly from lunch to Antonina or straight back to Curitiba. The variety is useful on a long day, especially if you like tours that combine nature, food, architecture, and local attractions.

Antonina adds another colonial town

Antonina receives about an hour of guided sightseeing. Like Morretes, it offers old streets and historic character, but the shorter visit means you should focus on the guide’s route rather than trying to see everything.

I see Antonina as a bonus rather than the central reason to book. Morretes gets more time and includes the main meal, while Antonina gives you a second look at the region’s colonial towns. The two stops work well together if you want a broad introduction to the coast of Paraná in one day.

The tradeoff is clear: you get variety, but not much depth. If you want a detailed cultural study of either town, a separate visit would give you more freedom. On this tour, Antonina is best viewed as a concise final town stop before the road journey home.

Returning to Curitiba by the Estrada da Graciosa

The return is by bus, van, or minibus rather than train. Under normal conditions, the route uses the Estrada da Graciosa, with arrival in Curitiba expected around 5:30 p.m.

This road return is a practical strength. You experience the railway in one direction and avoid repeating the same route. The road also gives you another way to see the region after spending the morning among the mountains and rainforest.

Weather can change the plan. For safety, the tour may use the BR-277 instead if conditions are poor. That means the exact return scenery and road route are not guaranteed, but the change is made to keep the journey safe.

The total duration is about nine hours, so you should not schedule a demanding evening activity with a fixed start time. Traffic, weather, and the day’s operation can affect the return, even though the expected arrival is late afternoon.

What the $176 price includes

At $176 per person, this is not a cheap city outing. It is a full-day regional excursion with several cost-heavy pieces included:

• Roundtrip transfer to most Curitiba hotels
• Train ticket to Morretes
• Snack and bottled water or soft drink on the train
• Guide service
• Guided visits in Morretes and Antonina
• Hisgeopar Theme Park visit
• Typical regional lunch
• Return transportation by road

The value improves if you would otherwise need to arrange separate transport, rail tickets, meals, and a guide. The train route is the difficult part to organize independently, and the tour removes that planning burden.

The price makes less sense if you only want to see Morretes at your own pace. The fixed schedule gives you convenience and variety, but it also limits free time. You are paying for a coordinated day, not an open-ended town visit.

A rating of 4.4 from 36 bookings fits the experience well. The most praised elements are the rainforest train ride, the scenery, the generous Barreado lunch, and the attentive guide service. The main criticism concerns train comfort, with heat and limited ventilation being a real issue on warm days.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend the tour to you if you want to see more than Curitiba without renting a car or working out the train system yourself. It suits first-time visitors who want a broad taste of Paraná: rainforest, mountains, historic towns, local food, and a regional attraction.

It is also a good match for people who value scenery and food as much as museums. You do not need to be deeply interested in colonial architecture to enjoy the day, since the train and lunch carry much of the experience.

You may want to think twice if you dislike long organized days, warm train carriages, or short guided visits. The schedule keeps moving, and Antonina in particular may leave you wishing for more time. If you need a Spanish-speaking guide, select Spanish at purchase. English and Portuguese are also available, with the bilingual rail guide assigned in the carriage.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The exact start time is confirmed after reconfirmation, so check your messages before the travel date.

Should you book the Morretes tour?

Book it if the train through the Atlantic rainforest is high on your list and you want a simple way to combine it with Morretes, Barreado, Hisgeopar, and Antonina. The strongest parts are the scenery, the regional meal, and the variety packed into one day.

Skip it if your main goal is slow exploration or a comfortable luxury rail trip. The carriage can become hot, and the town visits are brisk. For most visitors with one free day from Curitiba, though, the $176 cost is reasonable for the transport, guide, lunch, and rail experience bundled together.

FAQ

How long does the Morretes tour from Curitiba last?

The tour lasts about nine hours. Return to Curitiba is expected around 5:30 p.m., although weather and road conditions can affect the schedule.

Is hotel pickup included?

Roundtrip transfer is included for most hotels in Curitiba. Pickup is also available from several listed central locations, and the exact meeting place and time are confirmed after reconfirmation.

What languages are available?

The tour is available in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. You must choose your preferred language when purchasing because the bilingual guide on the train is assigned by language.

Is the train ticket included?

Yes. The train ticket to Morretes is included, along with onboard service consisting of a snack and bottled water or a soft drink.

What food is served at lunch?

Lunch includes Barreado, a beef dish cooked slowly in a clay pot for several hours. It is served with rice, sliced bananas, oranges, manioc flour, and breaded fish.

Are drinks and dessert included at lunch?

Beverages and dessert are not included. The included drink refers to the train service, which provides bottled water or a soft drink.

How do you return to Curitiba?

The return is by bus, van, or minibus by road. The planned route is the Estrada da Graciosa, but the BR-277 may be used in adverse weather conditions.

What information is needed when booking?

You must provide the full name, birth date, and passport number for every passenger. Brazilian passengers can provide an ID or CPF instead. This is required for the official passenger listing.