Umuarama
Introduction
Umuarama is a municipality in the state of Paraná, in southern Brazil, and it is known as "The Capital of Friendship." The city sits at an elevation of about 430 metres above sea level, and rain is a regular feature of its year, with roughly 1600 mm falling annually.
Umuarama is regarded as one of the most important cities in Paraná, one of the three states that make up southern Brazil. Use it as a base for exploring this part of the state, and expect a warm welcome in keeping with its nickname.
Getting around
Umuarama is compact and walkable for many day-to-day needs, and several of its attractions — Expo Umuarama, Aratimbó Lake, Uirapuru Park, the Park of Xetas (also known as Indian's Park), the street markets, the replica of the Eiffel Tower at Estância Paris and Tucuruvi Lake — are typically reached on foot or with a short local trip. Because the city sits at an elevation of about 430 m above sea level, expect some uneven terrain rather than a completely flat walk. For longer hops between the Central Bus Station, your hotel and the attractions, taxis and ride-hailing are the practical choice.
- There is no rail, metro or tram network, so don't count on trains or a subway for local trips or arrivals.
- Bus infrastructure is oriented mainly toward intercity travel: most services arrive at and depart from the Central Bus Station (Rodoviária Central), with Praça Doná Bíblia the other listed stop.
- Numerous operators connect the city across Paraná and neighbouring states, including Viação Garcia, Expresso Nordeste, Viação Planalto, Cantelle, Viação Penha, Brasil Sul, Viação Cruzeiro do Sul, Lopes Sul, Viação Umuarama, Viação Valtur and Andorinha.
- Book intercity tickets in advance — roughly three to seven days ahead is typical, and booking earlier usually means cheaper fares. Air conditioning, power sockets and Wi-Fi are common onboard, and hand and checked luggage are often free, while drinks and extra legroom may cost extra.
- Whether a route is direct depends on your origin city and travel date, and connections may be reduced on certain dates. Regional destinations served by bus include Cianorte, Goioerê, Palotina, Querência do Norte, Altônia and Tapejara.
- Carpooling is used on some regional routes — for example, trips between Maringá and Umuarama are listed through BlaBlaCar.
- From Orlando de Carvalho Airport, plan on a taxi or ride-hailing service into the city; if continuing by bus, the Central Bus Station is the natural point to connect to regional and long-distance routes.
Note that local time is UTC−3.
Three days in Umuarama
Day one: Start your stay in Umuarama by getting your bearings in the centre, where Praça Doná Bíblia makes an easy orientation point. From there, head out to Aratimbó Lake for a relaxed walk and a sense of how the city opens onto the water. If your visit coincides with Expo Umuarama, plan the afternoon around it, since the event is one of the city's main draws.
Day two: Give the day over to green space. Uirapuru Park is the place to stretch your legs and enjoy the warm, humid weather that characterises this part of Paran. Later, seek out Estância Paris, where the Eiffel Tower is a local landmark worth a look. Keep the pace easy and let the heat set your rhythm.
Day three: Use your final day to sort out onward travel. Rodoviária Central, the central bus station, is served by numerous operators, among them Viação Garcia, Expresso Nordeste, Viação Planalto, Cantelle, Viação Penha, Brasil Sul, Viação Cruzeiro, Lopes Sul, Viação Umuarama, Viação Valtur and Andorinha. Book your ticket, then spend any remaining time around Tucuruvi Lake before you leave.