Major city · Brazil
Mata
Visit Mata for a half‑day of fossils and waterfalls; stay overnight if you want camping or a hotel, otherwise use as a day stop from Santa Maria.
Mata is a small town in Rio Grande do Sul’s Central West, known for its petrified‑wood deposits and museums. It can be explored in a few hours, but a night adds camping or a modest hotel stay and more time for nearby cascades.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BRL
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (check)
- avoid Jun–Aug (cool, occasional rain, check)
- Airport
- RIA
- Nights
- 0–1 (optional overnight for camping or hotel)
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
- Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
- Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
- Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide8 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Mata190 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mata, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$).Brazil-wide
- SIM or eSIMVivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.Brazil-wide
- Tap waterDo not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.Brazil-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.Brazil-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/N. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Brazil-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe; watch personal belongings in small crowds and be careful on wet waterfall paths.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPut toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.Brazil-wide
- Emergency numbers190 police · 192 ambulance · 193 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysCarnival shuts many businesses for several days; museums often close on Mondays.Brazil-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportRIA Santa Maria Airport (Regional airport; about 30 km (19 mi) north, connect via RS‑287 road).RIA Santa Maria Airport (Regional airport; about 19 mi (30 km) north, connect via RS‑287 road).
- Getting aroundRS‑532 road connects to RS‑287; most sites are within walking distance from town centre.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- RIA Santa Maria Airport (Regional airport; about 30 km (19 mi) north, connect via RS‑287 road)RIA Santa Maria Airport (Regional airport; about 19 mi (30 km) north, connect via RS‑287 road)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jun
Care
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Care
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Aug
Care
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Sep
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Nov
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Dec
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Mixed: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jul (9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C) low), wettest Jul (12 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mata: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7 rd
Mar
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
9 rd
May
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
10 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Jul
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
12 rd
Aug
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
9 rd
Oct
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
Nov
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7 rd
Dec
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
RS‑532 road connects to RS‑287; most sites are within walking distance from town centre.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Boa Esperança Cascade
goDoor to door: ≈ 1 h
Drive RS‑532 from Mata, about 30 min; short walk to trailhead
Easy walk, no facilities
Laje Cascade
goDoor to door: ≈ 1 h
Drive RS‑532 then local road, 35 min; brief hike
Steeper path, bring water
Linha Canoa Cascade
goDoor to door: ≈ 1 h 15 min
Drive RS‑532, turn onto rural road, 40 min; short walk
Seasonal flow, check water level
Sertão Cascade
goDoor to door: ≈ 1 h 30 min
Drive RS‑532, local road, 45 min; moderate hike
Potentially slippery after rain
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Hotel Paleon
Simple rooms on Rua da Matriz; basic amenities.
Balneário Municipal Valdi Bataglin
Camping area with sports facilities; suitable for budget overnight.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- R$70–120 (≈ US$13–25) (check)
- Mid
- R$120–200 (≈ US$25–40) (check)
Watch out
Safety
- Limited dining and shop hours; verify opening times before arrival.
- Waterfalls may have no safety railings; use caution.
- Phone coverage can be spotty in remote trail areas.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 190
- Ambulance
- 192
- Fire
- 193
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mata. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Oct (check) · avoid Jun–Aug (cool, occasional rain, check) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialWikidata – Mata
- secondaryWikivoyage: Mata, revision 5053388 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Mata
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