The Train Ride from Curitiba to Paranaguá - The End

Few destinations in Brazil have the historical value like this train ride has. In the State of Parana, only Foz do Iguaçu exceeds the number of 150 thousand visitors annually. About 20% of the passengers are foreign tourists, who will never forget that they have visited one of the most daring works of the engineering in the world, which crosses the largest preserved area of Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

OK folks! Thank you for joining me on this ride. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Next stop: Morretes Station. Choose the restaurant you believe is the best, order a "Barreado" and after that, lay yourself under a nice tree and watch the kids jump into the river "Nhundiaquara".

If you want to, you can continue the trip to Paranaguá to know our main port and this historical city, that almost took from Curitiba the condition of state capital.

You can return to Curitiba by another important attraction: The Graciosa Road. Prepare to go crazy again! It is simply amazing!

The Train Ride from Curitiba to Paranaguá - Part 6

In its 110 km, the railway guard hundreds of engineering works of art : there are 14 tunnels, 30 bridges and several large viaducts.

The highlights include the St. John Bridge, 55 meters high; the Carvalho Viaduct; The Rochedo Tunnel, settled on five pillars of masonry on the side of the rock - on this passage leads to the feeling of a journey by air, as if the train was floating.

The Train Ride from Curitiba to Paranaguá - Part 5

The effort and boldness of laborers, engineers and other professionals, resulted in one of the most daring works of the engineering in the world. After five years, the railway was inaugurated on February 02, 1885. Participated in the first trip engineers, federal and local authorities, journalists and others.

The Train Ride from Curitiba to Paranaguá - Part 4

Over 9,000 men were recruited to build the railway. Most of them lived in Curitiba and in the coastal cities, and most of them were immigrants who worked in the field. More than half of these men died during construction of the railroad, facing the poor security conditions. The location marked by the cross of the photo, the 65 km of the Serra do Mar, indicates where the Baron of Cerro Azul (a Curitiba hero during the federalist revolution) was cowardly executed by the army of Marshal Floriano Peixoto on the night of May 15, 1894.

The Train Ride from Curitiba to Paranaguá - Part 3

The purpose of the railroad Curitiba - Paranaguá was to promote a closer relationship between the coastal cities and Curitiba, aiming the social development of the coast. Moreover, it was essential to link the Port of Paranaguá to the southern states of Brazil, allowing the flow of grain production of the states and providing support to the region's economic development.

The Train Ride from Curitiba to Paranaguá - Part 2

The construction of Curitiba-Paranaguá railway officially began in February 1880. Considered impractical by many European engineers at the time, the construction began on three fronts: between Paranaguá and Morretes (42 km) between Roça Nova and Morretes (38 km) and between Roça Nova and Curitiba (30 km).

The house in ruins shown in the picture above what was once the Ipiranga house, which has served as lodging for the Emperor Dom Pedro II.

The Train Ride from Curitiba to Paranaguá - Part 1

Another “must do” in Curitiba is the train ride from Curitiba to Paranagua (city that holds our main port).

It is a 3 hours fantastic trip on a railway built in the decade of 1880, based on a defying engineering project, crossing mountains of rock and preserving the native Atlantic forest. It is a trip to the past with breathtaking views of the nature.
The recommendation for beginners is to choose the trains that best suits your budget (there are expensive ones that stops at the best places), buy the tickets in advance, dress light, choose the right side of the train for the best pictures, enjoy the view, jump the train in the station of Morretes city, visit this very cool city and have your lunch there ordering a "Barreado" the typical food of the region.

I have so many images of the trip to show and some stories to tell that I decided to split this post in 7 parts. So, take your seat and enjoy the ride!! The train is about to leave.