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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Nova Venécia
Half a day to one night: see the Pedra do Elefante park and waterfalls, then move on to Colatina or the coast.
Nova Venécia is a small city in northwest Espírito Santo, best known for the Pedra do Elefante Environmental Protection Area — a 2,563-hectare park with hiking, waterfalls and rock formations. The town itself has a few sights and basic services. Most travellers use it as a half-day stop between Colatina and the coast, or a one-night base for the park.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (heavy rain, trails slippery)
- 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$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$ 80–120 excl. bed · Mid R$ 150–250 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$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (cafezinho) | R$ 4–7 |
| Lunch (prato feito) | R$ 20–35 |
| Beer (600 ml) | R$ 8–15 |
| Taxi from centre to park entrance | R$ 40–60 |
| Bus Vitória–Nova Venécia | R$ 40–60 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VIX · Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport (Vitória)
- About 2.5 h by car; buses from Vitória to Nova Venécia take about 3.5 h
Typical fares
- Taxi centre → Pedra do Elefante park
- R$ 40–60 one way (check)
- Bus Vitória → Nova Venécia
- R$ 40–60, about 3.5 h (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
The town is walkable. To reach the Pedra do Elefante park (about 10 km (6.2 mi)), take a taxi or arrange a transfer through your accommodation. A car is useful for visiting multiple waterfalls in one day.The town is walkable. To reach the Pedra do Elefante park (about 6.2 mi (10 km)), take a taxi or arrange a transfer through your accommodation. A car is useful for visiting multiple waterfalls in one day.
See and do
Known for
- Pedra do Elefante Environmental Protection Area
- Pedra da Fortaleza (964 m viewpoint)
- Waterfalls: Boa Vista, Cravo
- Santuário Nossa Senhora Mãe dos Peregrinos
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colatina | Bus or car, about 1 h | 1 h |
| Pedra da Fortaleza | Car or taxi, about 20 min from town centre | 30 min |
Sleep
- Centro (town centre)
- A few pousadas and budget hotels; walking distance to restaurants and bus stop.
- Near Pedra do Elefante park entrance
- Rural lodges; quieter, closer to trails, but no restaurants within walking distance.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAHN-too KOOS-tah |
| Where is the park? | Onde fica o parque?OHN-jee FEE-kah oo PAR-kee |
| Can I pay by card? | Posso pagar com cartão?POH-soo pah-GAR kohm 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
- Trails in the park can be muddy after rain; wear sturdy shoes.
- No ATM inside the park; bring cash for entrance fees or small purchases.
- Cell reception is patchy in the park; download offline maps.
- Check the park's opening hours before going; they may change seasonally.
Nova Venécia is generally safe for daytime visits. Usual precautions: lock your car, don't leave valuables visible. The park trails are remote; go with a guide or a group if you're not experienced.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nova Venécia yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pedra do Elefante Environmental Protection Area
- Pedra da Fortaleza (964 m viewpoint)
- Waterfalls: Boa Vista, Cravo
- Santuário Nossa Senhora Mãe dos Peregrinos
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: Nova Venécia, revision 3513154 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3513154
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Nova Venécia
Para este endereço, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has an embassy in Brasília and consulates in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife and Belo Horizonte. Most other countries have embassies in Brasília.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nova-venecia). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.