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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Venda Nova do Imigrante
A half-day stop for waterfalls and Italian heritage on the BR-262 route between Vitória and Belo Horizonte; not a base.
Venda Nova do Imigrante is a small town in central Espírito Santo, settled by Italian immigrants in the 19th century. Its main draw is the Alto Bananeira Falls, a set of seven connected waterfalls, and the Polenta Festival in October. Most travellers pass through on the BR-262 between Vitória and Belo Horizonte, stopping for a few hours. The town has a handful of colonial houses and a short hiking trail to Filleti Hill (1110 m) or Pedra do Já 7 (1211 m).
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (heavy rain, waterfalls may be muddy)
- Stay
- 0–1 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$80–150 excl. bed · Mid R$150–300 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee (cafézinho) | R$4–8 |
| Polenta dish (restaurant) | R$25–45 |
| Beer (long neck) | R$6–12 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | R$25–40 |
| Alto Bananeira Falls entry | check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VIX · Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport (Vitória)
- About 1.5 h by car via BR-262
Typical fares
- Vitória (VIX) → Venda Nova by car
- about R$60–80 in fuel, 1.5 h
- Taxi from BR-262 to Alto Bananeira Falls
- R$30–50 one way (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
By car or taxi; the waterfalls and viewpoints are 4–8 km (2.5–5 mi) from the highway. No public transport within the town.By car or taxi; the waterfalls and viewpoints are 2.5–5 mi (4–8 km) from the highway. No public transport within the town.
See and do
Known for
- Alto Bananeira Falls
- Polenta Festival (Festa da Polenta)
- Italian colonial houses
- BR-262 stopover
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Domingos Martins | BR-262 west, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Santa Maria de Jetibá | BR-262 then ES-264, about 40 min | About 50 min |
| Vitória | BR-262 east, about 1.5 h | About 1.5 h |
| Guarapari | BR-262 then ES-060, about 1.5 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few pousadas (guesthouses) near the main square; book ahead during the Polenta Festival.
- BR-262 roadside
- Basic motels and inns along the highway; convenient for a one-night stop.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Bom diabohm DEE-ah |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAHN-too KOOS-tah |
| Where is the waterfall? | Onde fica a cachoeira?OHN-jee FEE-kah ah kah-SHWAY-rah |
| Can I pay by card? | Posso pagar com cartão?POH-soo pah-GAR kohm kar-TAHN |
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
- BR-262 is a two-lane highway with heavy truck traffic; drive carefully, especially at night.
- The Polenta Festival requires advance accommodation booking; the town fills up.
- Alto Bananeira Falls access road is unpaved; a 4x4 is helpful after rain.
Generally safe; petty theft is rare. The main risk is traffic on BR-262. Keep valuables out of sight when parked at trailheads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Venda Nova do Imigrante yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Alto Bananeira Falls
- Polenta Festival (Festa da Polenta)
- Italian colonial houses
- BR-262 stopover
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: Venda Nova do Imigrante, revision 3510601 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3510601
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/venda-nova-do-imigrante). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.