The highest inhabited point in southern Brazil is also its most dramatic viewpoint: from the 1,822 meters of the Morro da Igreja, in Urubici, the view drops away down the valleys until it meets the Pedra Furada — the 30-meter rock arch that became the symbol of the Serra Catarinense, suspended on the cliff like a window onto nothing.
How to visit
The summit sits inside a military area (an Air Force base) within the Parque Nacional de São Joaquim, and access is free with an online booking (ICMBio) plus collection of an authorization — daily places are limited, so secure yours days ahead. From the gate you drive up to the viewpoint (a steep road; on ice, only with chains). The visiting window tends to be short: make the most of every minute of open sky.
The spectacle
Between 10am and 1pm the chance of a clear sky is highest — before and after, the mist swallows the Pedra Furada in minutes (and gives it back, and swallows it again: the cloud show is half the charm). In winter the viewpoint wakes up coated in ice; in summer the green valleys stretch out to the coast. Wind ALWAYS: the coat that seemed excessive becomes your best friend.
For hikers
The trail to the base of the Pedra Furada (8 km, moderate to hard, with an accredited guide setting out from Urubici) leads you underneath the arch — a rare perspective that few visitors know. A full-day outing for well-traveled legs, with highland field landscapes along the way.
Tips
- Book, then watch the forecast; a closed day = rebook without regret.
- Layers of warm clothing even in January (at 1,800 m, summer is a theory).
- Binoculars lift the Pedra Furada experience.
- Pair it with the Cascata Véu de Noiva on the way back — it rounds off the perfect day.
🥾 Who is it for?
Effort: light at the viewpoint (vehicle plus a few short steps); intense on the trail to the base. Children: the viewpoint suits all ages (with wind and cold under control); the trail 12+. Older travelers and people with reduced mobility: the viewpoint is one of the most accessible great sights in the South — you drive to within meters of the view; rough ground and wind call for an arm to lean on. The trail to the base is for the well prepared.