Jacareí is shaped by the Rio Paraíba and the Represa do Jaguari. Railway history, collections and outdoor offerings add further highlights. This means a stay can encompass cultural interests as well as leisure by the water or outdoor activities.
Railway History and the City’s Memory
The Estação Cultural is located in a revitalised area at the Pátio dos Trilhos. It is dedicated to Jacareí’s history and houses the “Memórias dos Trilhos” exhibition on the city’s railway history. The Pátio dos Trilhos itself is a former railway station where cultural events are held. Here, an exhibition on the railway past meets contemporary cultural events.
Parque Cassununga also has a railway connection: it was created in 2019 by revitalising a site in the Campo Grande neighbourhood where the tracks of the RFFSA railway network once ran. The park thus complements the exhibition’s perspective with the history of a former railway site.
The Museu de Antropologia do Vale do Paraíba (MAV) is housed in the historic Solar Gomes Leitão. An inscription dates the construction of the manor house to 1857. The museum has a Baroque collection of more than 4,000 objects, including Paulistinhas and portraits of historical figures from the city. The Igreja Matriz Imaculada Conceição was Jacareí’s first church and a centre of urban development. The Capela São Sebastião is an 18th-century religious monument; its construction is believed to have been commissioned by Jesuits who were based in the Vale do Paraíba.
The city’s institutions also offer different insights into the past: the Arquivo Público e Histórico do Município de Jacareí (APHMJ) preserves the city’s documentary heritage and records from the 17th to the 20th century. At the Centro de Memória de Jacareí, you can consult its two collections free of charge and open to the public. Check the opening hours before your visit. The Teatro Municipal Ariano Suassuna, a venue with 700 seats, is located in the Complexo Educacional Paulo Freire.
Water and Outdoor Activities
Swimming and canoeing competitions are held at the Represa do Jaguari, which also offers leisure opportunities for families. The dates of individual competitions may vary. If you are visiting for a particular competition, check its date in advance.
Parque dos Eucaliptos has a skate park, a multipurpose stage for performances and a playground. It also features a mini-town where visitors can learn traffic rules, as well as other leisure activities. Those interested in environmental education can find activities such as planting seedlings at the Viveiro Municipal “Seo Moura”. There are also forest trails, intended for small groups. On Sundays, the “Viver o Viveiro” programme takes place there, with activities in environmental education and ecotourism. Check the date before your visit.
Cycling Route and Getting Around
The Rota Cicloturística passes through the Campo Grande and Bom Jesus de Jacareí neighbourhoods. It starts at Parque da Cidade and passes Parque Linear Cassununga. For road navigation, it is also useful to know that the Presidente Dutra highway runs through Jacareí.
Market and Brewery Tour
The Mercado Municipal de Jacareí has 120 market stalls. Products on offer include fruit and vegetables, flowers, fish, meat, grains, herbs and handicrafts. The vendors and products you find may vary.
Another option is Inside the Star, an immersive tour of the brewery in Jacareí. It tells the story of the brands and includes access to areas of the brewery and a brand shop; the tour concludes with a tasting. Dates and booking conditions may change. Check both in advance if you are planning to include the tour in your trip.
Discover more destinations: Braúna, Ituverava, Pindamonhangaba, Guaraci, Barra Bonita, Novais, Iguape, Araras.
For the broader travel overview: São Paulo.
