Natural beauty, charm and elegance are characteristics that come to mind when describing Campos do Jordao. Located above the Valley of Paraiba, in the green hills of the Mantiqueira mountain range, it is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Brazil”. Campos possesses all the exuberance of a quintessential mountain city with its alpine-like architecture surrounded by fertile valleys and lush green forests. At an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,576 feet), the mountain’s tropical climate pretty much guarantees its ever-present sunny skies.

Campos do Jordao was founded in 1874. During the first half of the 20th century, European scientists praised its climate and, therefore, the city became an important center for the treatment of respiratory diseases. In 1941 a State Park was created, the first nature reserve in the Country, it has an area of 8,341m². During the 70’s a cable car was inaugurated, the first mono-cable system in Brazil. At the same period the first Winter Festival took place. Today, it is considered one of the most respected classical music events in Brazil and Latin America. The Festival is the city’s most important cultural events.

With a cold and dry climate, Campos do Jordao received the title of “the world’s best climate” at the Climatologic Conference in Paris in 1957. The city’s temperate tropical climate is not conducive to cloudy skies, high humidity, constant winds, or excessive rain. Its annual average temperature is 13.1ºC (56.6ºF) ranging from an average low in July of 8.6ºC (47.5ºF) to an average high in February of 16.6ºC (61.9ºF).

The city offers its visitors a vast selection of leisure activities with scenic areas for recreational walks and more rugged terrain for hiking and trekking. It has parks, lakes, waterfalls and trails. Campos do Jordao is also replete with excellent restaurants, lovely teahouses, and a variety of interesting shops selling typical winter products. Because of all these attractions, the city of 269 square kilometers and roughly 50,000 inhabitants receives, annually more than 1.5 million tourists, making it one of the favorite destinations in the State of São Paulo and Brazil.

For more information about Campos do Jordao and its many diversions, you can access these sites: www.camposdojordao.com; www.guiacampos.com and www.camposdojordao.com.br which provide detailed information about ecotourism, day tours, and extreme sports like motocross and hang-gliding.