Arenitos
The Cup rock.
Guilherme Scharf — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Robert Marques — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Flora de Oliveira Benedito — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Maria Helena de Almeida Cilli — CC BY-SA 4.0
Vila Velha State Park, «Old Village», lies in Ponta Grossa about 100 km from Curitiba. It was created in 1966 to protect sandstone formations sculpted by wind and rain over vast spans of time until they looked like the ruins of a medieval town with castles and towers, hence the name. It covers 3,803 hectares. A visit takes in three neighbouring sites: the Arenitos, huge sandstone blocks in strange shapes, some named after animals such as the Turtle and the Camel, the best known being the Cup, the park's symbol; the Furnas, three deep craters with sheer walls, the largest about 100 metres deep and half filled with water; and Lagoa Dourada, the Golden Lagoon, named for the glow of its clear water and sand at sunset. Internal transport between the sites is included in the ticket. Tickets are R$148 (R$74 reduced), and it opens daily 9:00-17:00 except Tuesdays, with the ticket office closing at 15:00; arrive before 13:00 to see all three sites.
The Cup rock.
100 m craters.
Lagoa Dourada.
BR-376 highway, Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná
About half a day for the three sites; tickets are sold until 15:00, so arrive before 13:00, and it closes on Tuesdays.