Located in Campos Gerais, 93km west of Curitiba, Parque Estadual de Vila Velha is known as the ‘stone city'. The park’s centerpieces are the 23 aretinhas (sandstone pillars), created over millions of years. The mysterious red-earth rock formations – some taking recognizable shapes such as boots and bottles – create striking silhouettes against the blue sky and green foliage.
Within the boundaries of the same park, visitors can witness another geological marvel: a series of furnas (craters) that are the result of underground erosion. A 90-minute bus tour stops first at the Lagoa Dourada, a lovely lagoon that attracts ample birdlife. The next stop features two yawning craters that reach depths of 54m.
From Curitiba, catch a Princesa dos Campos (www.princesadoscampos.com.br) bus to Vila Velha (R$27.42 1½ hours, 7:45am or 5:15pm); any bus to Ponta Grossa will stop here, but the prevailing wisdom is that you should take the earliest buses at 6am, 7am, 8:15am or 9:45am to arrive early enough to see the whole park. Stop first at the park center, where you can watch an introductory video and buy tickets for the various tours.
