Canela is smaller, lower (in altitude), and less touristy (as well as more down-to-earth) than its ostentatious sister city, Gramado [1], 10 kilometers (6 miles) away. Although the town itself is not as picturesque as Gramado, it serves as a better base for adventure sports enthusiasts as it is much closer to two natural parks: Parque Ferradura [2] and Parque Estadual do Caracol [3].
If you don’t have your own wheels, Vida Livre (Av. Oswaldo Aranha 450, tel. 54/3282-1518, www.vidalivreturismo.com.br [4]) offers half-day tours to the parks as well as full-day trips to the magnificent canyons of the Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra [5].
During the day a Canela/Gramado bus circulates between the two towns at regular 20-minute intervals. From Porto Alegre [6], Citral (tel. 51/3228-5128, www.citral.tur.br [7]) operates buses to Canela. By car, from Porto Alegre, follow the RS-020.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/brazil/the-south/rio-grande-do-sul/serra-gaucha/gramado
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/brazil/the-south/rio-grande-do-sul/serra-gaucha/canela/parque-da-ferradura
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/brazil/the-south/rio-grande-do-sul/serra-gaucha/canela/parque-estadual-do-caracol
[4] http://www.vidalivreturismo.com.br
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/brazil/the-south/rio-grande-do-sul/parque-nacional-de-aparados-da-serra
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/brazil/the-south/rio-grande-do-sul/porto-alegre
[7] http://www.citral.tur.br