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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Maquiné
Half-day stop for waterfalls and polenta, not a base: one night if you want to hike three falls and eat at the festival.
Maquiné is a quiet town in Rio Grande do Sul's coastal mountains, 2 hours from Porto Alegre. Its draw is three waterfalls within 12 km of the centre, plus an August polenta-and-wine festival. Most travellers pass through on the BR-101; a half-day covers Escangalho and Forqueta falls, and a meal of local polenta.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (heavy rain, high humidity), Jul (cold, fewer daylight hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 · High R$ 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$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Polenta dish (local restaurant) | R$ 25–45 |
| Beer (600 ml bottle) | R$ 8–12 |
| Coffee (cafézinho) | R$ 5–8 |
| Taxi from town centre to Escangalho Falls | R$ 40–60 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- POA · Salgado Filho International Airport (Porto Alegre)
- 2 h drive via BR-101; check road conditions after rain.
Typical fares
- Porto Alegre → Maquiné by car
- about 2 h, R$ 60 in fuel (check)
- Taxi town centre → Escangalho Falls
- R$ 40–60 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car or taxi; the three falls are 6–12 km (3.7–7.5 mi) from the centre on unpaved roads. No public transport to the falls.Car or taxi; the three falls are 3.7–7.5 mi (6–12 km) from the centre on unpaved roads. No public transport to the falls.
See and do
Known for
- Escangalho Falls (70 m)
- Forqueta Falls (40 m)
- Polenta and Wine Festival (early August)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Torres | BR-101 north, about 1 h | 1 h |
| Osório | BR-101 south, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Gramado | BR-101 then RS-235, about 1.5 h | 1.5 h |
| Porto Alegre | BR-101 south, about 2 h | 2 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Near the main square and restaurants; limited options.
- Barra do Ouro
- Rural area 8 km (5 mi) from centre; Baite Della Luna is here.Rural area 5 mi (8 km) from centre; Baite Della Luna is here.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Bom diabohm DEE-ah |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigadaoh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAN-toh KOOS-tah |
| Where is the waterfall? | Onde fica a cachoeira?OHN-deh FEE-kah ah kah-SHOE-ay-rah |
| Can I pay by card? | Aceita cartão?ah-SAY-tah kar-TOWN |
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
- Unpaved roads to the falls become slippery after rain; a 4×2 car is fine in dry weather.
- No ATM in town; bring cash (BRL) for restaurants and small shops.
- The Polenta and Wine Festival is a single weekend in early August; book accommodation ahead.
Maquiné is a low-crime rural town. The main risk is the unpaved roads to the falls after heavy rain: check the forecast and avoid driving at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Maquiné yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Escangalho Falls (70 m)
- Forqueta Falls (40 m)
- Polenta and Wine Festival (early August)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Maquiné, revision 5093398 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5093398
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Maquiné
Para este endereço, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US consulate is in Porto Alegre; most other countries have consulates in Porto Alegre or São Paulo.
No ATM in Maquiné; bring cash from Osório or Porto Alegre.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/maquine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.