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Back to Cunha

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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil

Cunha

Spend 2 days in Cunha: walk to waterfalls and lavender farms, then depart; reachable by car 2.5 h from São Paulo.

Cunha is a small historic town on the São Paulo–Rio de Janeiro border, known for lavender fields, mountain views and waterfalls. It is best explored on foot and fits a short 2‑day stay.

AbadiâniaAçailândiaAfonso CláudioÁguas de LindóiaÁguas de São PedroAlagoinhasAlcântaraAlter do ChãoAlto Paraíso de GoiásAmparoAngra dos ReisAntoninaAparecidaAquirazCunha1,000 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Brazil
Best months
Apr–Oct
Avoid
Jun–Aug (heavy rain in the park)
Stay
2 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
BRL
Money
Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
Daily spend
Budget R$120–180 excl. bed · Mid R$180–300 excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
Emergency
Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
Plugs
Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
Tipping
Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
Water
Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
Toilets
Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Coffee at a caféR$5–8
Local lunch (rice, beans, meat)R$15–25
Bottle of wineR$30–60
Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))R$30–40

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

CGH · São Paulo–Congonhas Airport
≈ 70 km (43 mi), 1 h 30 min by car via SP‑171

Typical fares

São Paulo → Cunha (car rental, 2 days)
≈ R$200 total, fuel extra
Bus Guaratinguetá → Cunha
≈ R$15 one‑way, limited service
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Walk is the easiest; roads are narrow. Car rental from São Paulo or Rio recommended for day trips.

See and do

Known for

  • Lavender production
  • Desterro Waterfall
  • Pedra da Macela viewpoint
  • Serra do Mar State Park

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Desterro WaterfallDrive 10 km (6.2 mi) south on SP‑171, park near trailhead≈30 min each way
Pedra da MacelaDrive 15 km (9.3 mi) north, park at viewpoint≈40 min each way
Serra do Mar State ParkDrive 20 km (12 mi) east on SP‑171, enter park at trailhead≈1 h each way

Sleep

Hotel Fazenda Alvorada
Rural setting, access via SP‑171 km (106 mi) 22
Pousada dos Anjos
Near road to Paraty, km 57
Pousada Vale das Cachoeiras
Close to Monjolo Highway waterfalls

Language

Brazilians speak Portuguese, and Spanish is not a substitute, though many understand it when spoken slowly. English is limited outside upscale hotels and tours. A few Portuguese phrases change how you are treated.

  • The thumbs-up is used for everything; the OK hand sign is rude.
  • Download offline Portuguese in your translation app.

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
  • Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
  • Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
  • Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
  • Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended

Scams and watch-outs

  • Bus service ends at Guaratinguetá; check Viação São José schedule.
  • Roads can be slippery in rainy season; drive cautiously.

Cunha is generally safe; keep valuables hidden, especially on buses and in markets.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Cunha yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Lavender production
  • Desterro Waterfall
  • Pedra da Macela viewpoint
  • Serra do Mar State Park

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Cunha

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/cunha). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.