Bananal Voyage Tips and guide

Bananal is a town and municipality in the Vale do Paraíba region, in the extreme east of the São Paulo state. One of the richest cities during the Coffee Cycle, it preserves many historical buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as farms, churches and urban mansions with their Portuguese tiles, Belgian crystals and imported furniture. It attracts tourists from all over Brazil, mainly in the sectors of historical, cultural and architectural tourism, as well as ecotourism, since the municipality has natural pools of clear water and white sand bottom, and adventure tourism, as it is surrounded by the mountains of the Bocaina and Mantiqueira ranges.

The city is small and relatively poor, being nicknamed "The Capital of Dead Cities". However, testimonies of the city's past nobility are vivid in its historical center and its historical farms in the rural area. It is home to about 10,000 people (census, 2022)

• From São Paulo, 330 km away, the route is via BR-116/Via Dutra to Queluz, then SP-058 to Areias, and finally SP-068 to Bananal.
• From Rio de Janeiro, 153 km away, take BR-116/Via Dutra to Barra Mansa , then RJ-157/SP-064 to Bananal.

• Pássaro Marrom Bus Company – departures from São Paulo to Bananal (Fridays and Saturdays), Bananal to São Paulo (Sundays and Mondays), Guaratinguetá to Bananal (daily), Bananal to Guaratinguetá (daily).
• Colitur Bus Company – departures from Bananal and Barra Mansa (daily).
• Penedo Bus Company – departures from Bananal and Resende (via Arapeí – Rodovia dos Tropeiros) (daily).

Map of Bananal

• Bracuí Waterfall (accessible by trail from km 38 of the SP-247 highway.)
• Power Plant
• Waterfall Farm
• -22.679957-44.3195291 Railway Station (Estação Ferroviária de Bananal). Inaugurated in 1889. Brought from Belgium and assembled on . (updated Nov 2025)
• Church of St. Good Jesus of Deliverance
• Pedro Ramos Square. 1811.
• Our Lady of the Rosary Church Rubião Junior Square. 19th century
• Church of Our Lady of Good Death. 19th century
• Waterfall, on Highway SP-247, km 9
• Friar's Stone (Bocaina Mountain Range). At an altitude of approximately 1750 m. Access is via SP-247, Km 33 (start of the trail, 8-hour hike, difficult access).
• -22.684099-44.3246822 Popular Pharmacy. Former Imperial pharmacy, 1830. (updated Nov 2025)
• Santa Cecilia Theater Manoel de Aguiar Valim Street, 38. 1918 - a Center for Culture and Tourism.
• Solar Comendador Aguiar Valim . 1855 - Listed as a historical landmark
• Santa Casa and cemetery Bom Jesus Avenue, 93. 1851.

• -22.6902-44.31671 Pousada Béni, Rua José Gonçalves Valiante 60, Lot Quintas Sto André. Outdoor pool, garden, bar, sauna. 600 reais. (updated Nov 2025)

• Serra da Bocaina National Park protectis the largest continuous expanse of the country's Atlantic Forest inside Serra do Mar