Serra do Rio do Rastro
Brazil, south-america
8 km
1,460 m
hard
April-October (dry season, clearer skies)
The Serra do Rio do Rastro is an 8-kilometer mountain road in the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil that descends 1,460 meters through a series of over 250 tight curves and hairpin bends carved into the face of a dramatic escarpment. Often called the most beautiful road in Brazil, SC-438 connects the highland town of Bom Jardim da Serra to the lowlands below in a dizzying sequence of switchbacks that seems to defy engineering logic.
The road clings to the near-vertical face of the Serra Catarinense, and on clear days the views from the upper sections extend for over 100 kilometers across the coastal plain. Clouds frequently sit at mid-level on the escarpment, meaning drivers descend through a cloud layer and emerge into sunshine below. The microclimate at the top is cold enough for frost and occasional snow in winter, while the base is subtropical. A viewpoint platform near the summit offers one of the most photographed road panoramas in South America.
Where is it?
Serra do Rio do Rastro is located in Santa Catarina, Brazil (south-america). Coordinates: -28.0736, -49.5461
Driving Tips
Drive up rather than down for the best views and safer handling. The road closes in fog and ice conditions, which are common in winter mornings. Use low gear and be extremely cautious on the hairpins. Avoid weekends and holidays when motorcycle groups crowd the road. The viewpoint at the top is worth a longer stop.
Road Surface
Paved, very narrow with tight hairpins and no guardrails in sections
Road Details
- Country
- Brazil
- Continent
- south-america
- Region
- Santa Catarina
- Length
- 8 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,460 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Surface
- Paved, very narrow with tight hairpins and no guardrails in sections
- Best Season
- April-October (dry season, clearer skies)
- Coordinates
- -28.0736, -49.5461
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