Blumenau and Pomerode are a different Brazil: towns in the Vale Europeu settled by German immigrants in the nineteenth century, a little over two hours inland from Florianópolis. This guide is for you if you are thinking of giving a whole day to them. It covers the length of the day, October and the Oktoberfest, how to split the time between the two towns, and the beer question.
Be honest about the length of the day
This is the longest of our days from Florianópolis: eleven hours, from a 07:00 pick-up to an early-evening return at about 18:00. Pomerode is about 170 kilometres from the island, and the drive is a little over two hours each way. More than four hours of the day are spent in the car.
That is worth it if the German valley is something you specifically want to see. It is less worth it as a way to fill a cloudy day: for that, the city, bridge and Lagoa half day keeps you on the island. If anyone in your group dislikes long drives, plan a quiet next day.
Blumenau or Pomerode: where the time goes
The plan gives Blumenau the morning. You see the Vila Germânica, where the Oktoberfest is held, and walk along the Rua XV de Novembro through the old centre. Pomerode has the rest: lunch in town, two hours on the Rota do Enxaimel, and a last walk in the centre past the Lutheran church.
The Rota do Enxaimel is the reason many people come. It is a 16-kilometre country road in Testo Alto with about fifty half-timbered houses and barns, and in 2021 the UN tourism agency named it in its Best Tourism Villages programme. Pomerode itself was founded by Pomeranian immigrants in 1863, and many families still speak German at home.
If the countryside interests you more than the city, you can see only Pomerode. Tell your driver on the day, and we spend the extra time on the Rota do Enxaimel. That shortens the morning in Blumenau rather than the drive, which stays the same.
October and the Oktoberfest
October changes the day. The Oktoberfest in Blumenau fills the Parque Vila Germânica, which has hosted the festival since 1984, and the town around it. The organisers announce each year's dates, so check them before you plan.
Some things to know if your date falls during the festival:
- Opening times. The park has opened at 11:00 on weekdays and 10:00 at weekends, after the time you reach Blumenau on the standard plan; check this year's hours. Tell us when you book if you want to go in, and we will plan around it.
- Entry. Some days have had free entry, and on others entry has been free before a set time, with children up to 12 free with their parents. The rules change with each festival, so check them for your day.
- Paying inside. Everything in the park is paid with the festival's own card, the Oktober Karte, which you load at kiosks and from staff walking the grounds.
- Parades. The parades run along the Rua XV de Novembro, about two kilometres from the park, on several days of the festival. Traffic slows to a crawl on parade days, so a parade day needs more time in Blumenau and a looser plan.
During the festival the town fills up. If you want the half-timbered houses at a quieter time, pick another month.
The beer question
The valley has several breweries, and you can ask for a brewery visit. Tell us when you book. The rule is simple: someone other than the driver does the tasting. At the Oktoberfest, drinking water is free at hydration points in the park, which helps on a warm afternoon.
On your own, or with a driver
You can rent a car and drive to the valley yourself. It is a long way to drive and then drive back, and the person at the wheel cannot join a tasting. Connecting Blumenau, Pomerode and a country road like the Rota do Enxaimel in one day without a car is hard. A private car and driver covers the distance and waits while you walk. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes for walking in both town centres and along the Rota do Enxaimel.
- A light jacket for the early start and the evening return.
- A card or local cash for lunch, drinks and any entrances, which are not included.
- Something to read or watch for the drive, and a phone charger.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits travellers curious about the German side of southern Brazil, people who like architecture and old farmhouses, and anyone in Florianópolis in October who wants the festival. Think twice if you have only two or three days on the island and have not yet seen its beaches: the south of the island tour or the north of the island tour keep you close. Our guide to private tours in Florianópolis compares all five.
Groups of more than 16 travel in two vehicles on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Questions people ask
Can we do the Oktoberfest at night?
The tour is a day visit, back in Florianópolis at about 18:00. If the festival is the point of your day, tell us when you book and we will plan the day around it.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Decide whether you want the festival or the quiet valley, then pick your month. If you want a brewery or only Pomerode, say so when you book. Times, stops and what is included are on the Blumenau and Pomerode private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
