Scenic Train ride to historical cities of Morretes and Antonina

The best part of this full-day outing is the historic train ride from Curitiba to Morretes, where a nineteenth-century railway threads through Serra do Mar’s Atlantic rainforest. I especially like the combination of dramatic scenery and a proper local meal, rather than a train ride that ends at a station with little to do.

I also like that the day includes Morretes, the Nhundiaquara River, HISGEOPAR, and Antonina, so you see more than one pretty view. The main drawback is pace: the day covers a lot of ground, and the short Antonina stop may feel unnecessary if you would rather spend more time in Morretes.

Key points to know before booking

• The train is the star: You pass bridges, tunnels, waterfalls, gorges, and mountain valleys on the Paranaguá-Curitiba Railway.
• Barreado comes with lunch: This Paraná specialty is slow-cooked beef served with rice, bananas, oranges, and manioc flour, with breaded fish on the side.
• Morretes gets the most useful sightseeing time: Allow about 1 hour and 30 minutes for its colonial center, churches, market, and riverfront area.
• Language service needs attention: Portuguese is used by the main guide, while English or Spanish commentary is available in the train carriage if selected when booking.
• The ride home is by road: The return normally follows scenic Estrada da Graciosa and reaches Curitiba around 4:30 p.m., weather permitting.
• The value is strongest for first-time visitors: At $128.40 per person, the price covers transport, train tickets, onboard refreshments, lunch, guides, and several stops.

The railway from Curitiba to Morretes

Your day begins early, usually with hotel pickup around 7:00 a.m. A bus takes you to the station, where you board the train toward Morretes. The exact departure time is confirmed after booking, so check your final information rather than relying only on the advertised start time.

The Paranaguá-Curitiba Railway opened in the nineteenth century, with its inaugural trip made by Princess Isabel in 1884. Its engineering remains part of the attraction. The route includes more than 41 bridges, hundreds of smaller bridge structures, 13 tunnels, and notable works such as Ponte São João and Viaduto do Carvalho.

The train passes through the Serra do Mar ecological reserve, a broad area of Atlantic rainforest. You will see steep forested slopes, deep valleys, waterfalls, rocky cuts, rivers, and occasional glimpses of the railway winding through the mountains. On a sunny day, the views are much clearer. Cloud and rain can hide some of the distant scenery, but the forest still gives the ride plenty to look at.

This is not a fast transport link designed simply to get you to Morretes. The train is the main event, and the journey takes time. Some passengers have found the opening and closing sections less interesting than the central mountain stretch. That is normal for a railway excursion: the most memorable views tend to arrive in sections rather than continuously.

An onboard snack and a soft drink or bottled water are included. You can move around within your section of the train, although boarding can take time and the train may be busy. Bring a phone or camera, but also leave time to watch the scenery without trying to record every bridge.

Language support is an important detail. The principal tour guide speaks Portuguese, while a bilingual guide is available in the train carriage in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. You must select your preferred language when you book. The language service appears to be strongest on the train, so if you need detailed explanations throughout the day, confirm exactly what is included.

What to expect in Morretes

Morretes is the most appealing town stop for many people on this route. The old center has colonial homes, churches, craft stalls, and streets that are easy to explore on foot. The tour allows about 1 hour and 30 minutes here, including time around lunch.

I would use this stop carefully. You have enough time to get a feel for the town, look at local crafts, and take photographs, but not enough for a leisurely, unplanned afternoon. If you like small historic towns, you may wish the schedule gave Morretes a longer visit. The town has more character than the very short Antonina stop later in the day.

The guide may lead a walking tour, but the amount of commentary can vary with the language arrangement and the day’s timing. If you want to understand the background of the churches and colonial buildings, stay near the guide and ask questions early. If you prefer to wander, the central streets are compact enough to explore without getting lost.

Morretes is also the best place to notice how the mountain railway trip connects with local food. The town is known for barreado, a slow-cooked beef dish from the coast of Paraná. It is not a light snack. It is hearty, soft, savory, and designed to be eaten with rice, manioc flour, sliced bananas, and oranges.

Lunch beside the Nhundiaquara River

Lunch is served near the Nhundiaquara River and is included in the tour price. The main dish, barreado, is made by cooking several cuts of beef for many hours in a clay pot. The pot is sealed with manioc flour and water so steam stays inside, allowing the meat to become very tender.

The plate also includes breaded fish, rice, bananas, oranges, and manioc flour. It is a useful introduction to regional cooking because the meal is tied to Paraná rather than being a generic buffet offered anywhere in Brazil.

Beverages and dessert are not included. This is worth remembering because the lunch inclusion can make the price look more all-inclusive than it really is. You should expect to pay separately for drinks and anything sweet after the meal.

The meal takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. That gives you time to eat without turning lunch into a long restaurant stop, though it leaves little room for a slow riverside break. Some schedules may allow a little time near the water, and putting your feet in the river can be a pleasant surprise, but you should not count on a long rest here.

HISGEOPAR and the miniature Paraná

After Morretes, the tour visits Parana Encantado HISGEOPAR, a small theme and history attraction devoted to Paraná. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and includes animated miniature scenes showing colonization, local work, railway structures, and major places in the state.

The models include the railway from Curitiba to Morretes, a working train with locomotive, the Itaipu Dam with an opening and closing system, the former Seven Falls area, and Iguazu Falls. Dozens of small figures depict colonists and daily work during the colonization period.

The name theme park may suggest rides or a large recreational site. In practice, think of HISGEOPAR as a moving miniature exhibition with historical and geographic displays. It is a useful stop for families and anyone who enjoys models, but it is not likely to be the highlight if your main interests are nature, architecture, or food.

Thirty minutes is enough to see the display and understand its purpose. It also breaks up the road journey between Morretes and Antonina. The attraction provides context for the state, but the train views and Morretes meal are the stronger parts of the day.

A brief look at Antonina

Antonina is a small coastal town with old streets, a shoreline, shops, and local products. Banana sweets are one of the regional specialties sold here. The planned stop is only about 20 minutes, which makes this more of a quick look than a town visit.

You may walk a short stretch, see the waterfront, and browse a shop. That is about all the schedule allows. If you enjoy buying small food gifts, the banana products may interest you, but do not expect a full guided tour or a long chance to explore.

This is the stop I would be most willing to trade for extra time in Morretes. Antonina can be pleasant, but the short visit may feel like a commercial stop rather than a meaningful look at the town. Some schedules have also included a brief stop at a shop or ice cream outlet, so the exact experience can vary.

If you have been hoping to photograph the coast, ask how much time is planned at the waterfront. The tour does include Antonina, but it does not promise an extended shore walk.

Returning to Curitiba by Estrada da Graciosa

The return to Curitiba is by van, bus, or minibus rather than train. Under good weather conditions, the route follows Estrada da Graciosa, one of Brazil’s most picturesque roads, with a scheduled arrival in Curitiba around 4:30 p.m.

This creates a nice contrast with the morning. You travel down through the mountains by historic railway and return by road, seeing the region from another angle. The old road can be bumpy, with many bends and stone sections, so anyone prone to motion sickness may want to prepare.

Rain and poor conditions can change the return route. For safety, the operator may use the BR-277 highway instead of Estrada da Graciosa. If the scenic road is a major reason you are booking, understand that it is weather-dependent and not guaranteed.

The ride back can feel long after an early start. By this point, you have spent hours on a train, walked around Morretes, eaten lunch, and made several stops. The return is useful and necessary, but it is not another major attraction in the same way as the railway.

Guides, group size, and language

The tour allows a maximum of 30 people. That is small enough to keep the day organized, but it is not a private tour. You will need to stay aware of meeting times, especially after the free time in Morretes and Antonina.

The included professional guide is Portuguese-speaking for the main tour. English and Spanish support is available in the train carriage when requested at purchase. This distinction matters. A language option on the train does not necessarily mean that every road transfer, walking segment, restaurant explanation, and town stop will receive full interpretation.

Several language-related problems have occurred on individual departures, including a missing interpreter, unclear announcements, or a guide who could not continue in the requested language. This is not a reason to dismiss the tour, but it is a reason to confirm your language choice carefully and keep your booking information handy.

Some guides and staff have received especially warm praise for being patient and attentive. Alex and Josiane were singled out for kind, careful service, and Flavia was praised for clear help in the train carriage. Staff can change from one departure to another, so treat these names as useful examples rather than a promise that they will lead your tour.

Is $128.40 a fair price?

At $128.40 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Morretes. It is a full package, though. The price includes hotel transfers in Curitiba, the train ticket, onboard snack and drink, a professional guide, lunch, city visits, the HISGEOPAR admission, and the road transfer back.

Buying each element separately would require more planning and would leave you responsible for coordinating the station, train, restaurant, and return transport. For a first visit to Curitiba, that convenience gives the package solid value.

The value is lower if you mainly want the railway. In that case, the extra stops can make the day feel padded, especially the short Antonina visit and the miniature park. The price also excludes beverages and dessert, and the language service needs to be selected carefully.

The tour is booked an average of 35 days ahead, so popular dates may fill early. You must provide each passenger’s full name, birth date, and passport number, or Brazilian ID or CPF, because the information is required for the passenger list. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time.

Who will enjoy this day most?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want one organized day that combines scenery, history, local food, and transport. It works particularly well for first-time visitors who do not want to arrange a one-way train ticket and a separate return journey.

Families may enjoy the train, the miniature displays at HISGEOPAR, and the variety of stops. Food-focused visitors should appreciate the barreado lunch, while photographers will want a clear-weather forecast and a seat with a good view from the train carriage.

You may prefer another arrangement if you dislike early starts, long transport days, or tightly timed stops. Independent visitors who want several hours in Morretes should consider traveling there separately and returning on their own schedule.

Should you book the Curitiba to Morretes train tour?

Book it if the railway through Serra do Mar is your priority and you also want lunch and transport handled for you. The historic bridges, tunnels, waterfalls, and rainforest are the reason to go, while Morretes and barreado make the day feel connected to the region rather than just scenic.

Go in with realistic expectations. Antonina is brief, the return drive may be tiring, the train can be crowded, and full-day language support is not guaranteed beyond the carriage. If you accept those limits, this is a worthwhile Curitiba day trip with a strong central attraction and good practical value.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about 9 hours. Pickup is usually around 7:00 a.m., with arrival back in Curitiba expected around 4:30 p.m.

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is provided at most hotels in Curitiba. The exact departure time is confirmed after booking.

Is the train ride round trip?

No. The train takes you from Curitiba to Morretes. You return to Curitiba by van, bus, or minibus.

What is included with lunch?

Lunch includes barreado, rice, sliced bananas, oranges, manioc flour, and breaded fish. Beverages and dessert cost extra.

What is barreado?

Barreado is a traditional Paraná dish made from several cuts of beef cooked slowly for many hours in a sealed clay pot. The meat is served with rice, fruit, and manioc flour.

Is an English-speaking guide available?

English commentary is available in the train carriage if you select English when booking. Spanish is also available there, along with Portuguese.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The return may use the BR-277 highway instead of Estrada da Graciosa for safety. Cloud and rain can also reduce visibility during the train ride.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 30 people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.