A distinctive landmark in Muçum is the Ponte Rodo-Ferroviária Brochado da Rocha. It spans the Rio Taquari and is 289 m long. Both the RS 129 highway and a railway line cross the bridge. River, road and rail come together here in a single structure. Those interested in transport infrastructure can also understand the bridge in terms of its position over the river and the routes taken by road and rail.
Bridge, train ride and regional orientation
Muçum is 154 km from the capital, Porto Alegre. Another travel option is the Trem dos Vales, a tourist train ride between Guaporé and Muçum on the Ferrovia do Trigo. If this ride is one of the reasons for your trip, check the departure dates in advance and plan your overnight stay around a suitable date.
Mirante: a view with a steep approach
At Mirante Nossa Senhora da Salete, there is a statue of Mary about five metres tall; the main attraction is the panoramic view of Muçum. The viewpoint is reached by a steep, stone-paved footpath about 500 metres long, which requires physical effort. The relatively short distance should therefore not be mistaken for an easy stroll: the incline and exertion are part of the decision to visit. If you are coming mainly for the panorama, plan for the climb as part of your visit.
Hike in the Comunidade Santo Isidoro
In the surrounding community, the Caminhada Ecológica in the Comunidade Santo Isidoro leads through natural forest to the Cascata Arroio Brava. The round-trip hike on foot is considered a four-hour excursion. It is also possible to visit the Gruta Nossa Senhora das Vitórias along the way. This hike brings together three different ways to experience nature in a single outing: the forest as the trail setting, the waterfall as the destination and the grotto as a possible stop. The four hours refer to the full round trip; this gives the day a different time frame from the steep, roughly 500-metre approach to the Mirante. At the viewpoint, physical exertion is the main consideration; for the Caminhada, it is the several-hour time commitment.
A visit shaped by timing
Another reason to visit the surrounding community is the rural property of Avelino Bassani and Gilmar Banhara. Visitors can take part in milking the animals, provided they arrive while milking is taking place. This offers an activity to join alongside the viewpoint and hike, with the opportunity dependent on the time of arrival.
If you choose Muçum as your overnight destination, first decide what brings you there. For the Trem dos Vales, departure dates are the priority; for the Caminhada, the four-hour round trip; for the Mirante, the strenuous approach; and for a visit to the property, arriving while milking is taking place.
Discover more destinations: Nova Pádua, Nova Petrópolis, Dois Irmãos, Ibirubá, Taquari, Bagé, Cruz Alta, Flores Da Cunha
For the broader travel overview: Rio Grande Do Sul.
