Parque Stadual da Vila Velha
Parque Estadual da Vila Velha
26km/16mi south-east of Ponta Grossa and 93km/58mi north-west of Curitiba is the Parque Estadual (State Park) de Vila Velha, which the native Indians and Portuguese settlers believed was a ruined city. In fact the "ruins" are the result of tectonic movements and erosion, which over millions of years have carved out caves and created bizarre rock formations, sometimes resembling human figures or animals.
26km/16mi south-east of Ponta Grossa and 93km/58mi north-west of Curitiba is the Parque Estadual (State Park) de Vila Velha, which the native Indians and Portuguese settlers believed was a ruined city. In fact the "ruins" are the result of tectonic movements and erosion, which over millions of years have carved out caves and created bizarre rock formations, sometimes resembling human figures or animals.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Related Attractions
Parque Estadual da Vila Velha - Caldeirões do Inferno
Caldeirões do Inferno
22km/13.5mi from Ponta Grossa, 2km/1.3mi off the motor road, are the Caldeirões do Inferno ("Cauldrons of Hell"): round openings up to 107m/350ft deep with an average diameter of 80m/260ft. In one of them is a lift which takes visitors down to a depth of 54m/177ft, from which they can walk to an underground lake.
22km/13.5mi from Ponta Grossa, 2km/1.3mi off the motor road, are the Caldeirões do Inferno ("Cauldrons of Hell"): round openings up to 107m/350ft deep with an average diameter of 80m/260ft. In one of them is a lift which takes visitors down to a depth of 54m/177ft, from which they can walk to an underground lake.
Parque Estadual da Vila Velha - Lagoa Dourada
Lagoa Dourada
The tree-fringed Lagoa Dourada ("Golden Lagoon"), a paradise for the local aquatic fauna, is fed by an underground river whose erosive action has undermined the rocks and led to the formation of the caves. The bed of the lake is covered by a layer of mica which in sunlight gives the water a shimmer of gold. The lake is 2km/1.3mi off BR 376, on the opposite side from the Caldeirões do Inferno.
The tree-fringed Lagoa Dourada ("Golden Lagoon"), a paradise for the local aquatic fauna, is fed by an underground river whose erosive action has undermined the rocks and led to the formation of the caves. The bed of the lake is covered by a layer of mica which in sunlight gives the water a shimmer of gold. The lake is 2km/1.3mi off BR 376, on the opposite side from the Caldeirões do Inferno.
Parque Estadual da Vila Velha - Rock Formations
Rock formations
From the entrance to the park a road leads direct to the caves and overhanging rocks; and from there signposted paths lead to the other rock formations, which bear a variety of names according to their form. Among them, easily recognizable, are the Bottle, the Camel, the Indian and the Sparrowhawk.
From the entrance to the park a road leads direct to the caves and overhanging rocks; and from there signposted paths lead to the other rock formations, which bear a variety of names according to their form. Among them, easily recognizable, are the Bottle, the Camel, the Indian and the Sparrowhawk.
