German Origins Tour from Canela: Nova Petrópolis culture and beer

Walk through German heritage carved in stone, then taste what the settlers built

A full-day tour from Canela into Nova Petrópolis, following the route German immigrants took through the city's architecture, sculpture parks and food traditions. You start at Pedras do Silencio, a 400-meter walk among over 80 sandstone works, then move through the Immigrant Village, Flowers Square with its cypress labyrinth, Casa Sander's jellies and juices, and Edelbrau Brewery. The tour includes a tasting of three traditional jellies with cookies and tea at Casa Sander, a Portuguese-speaking guide, and air-conditioned transport from your meeting point in Canela.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore German culture in Nova Petrópolis

• Visit Pedras do Silencio Sculpture Park
• Tour the Immigrant Village
• Explore Praça das Flores and Green Labyrinth
• Learn about fruit and juice production at Casa Sander
• Discover beer culture at Edelbrau Brewery
• Shop for alfajores at Mukli Alfajores

The Experience

If you've just arrived in Canela or have a free day and want to understand the region's German roots without arranging your own transport, this tour builds the story through the places themselves. You leave from Matriz Square downtown at 8:30 am (or 8:50 am from Gramado if you're staying there) and spend the morning at Pedras do Silencio, where three gaucho sculptors carved over 80 sandstone pieces set into the landscape. The walk is 400 meters through natural surroundings, with benches placed so you can sit and absorb the quiet.

The afternoon moves through the city's immigrant history: the Aldeia do Imigrante (Immigrant Village) documents the arrival and settlement of German families, while Praça das Flores (Flowers Square) shows what they built. Seasonal flower beds and a cypress maze that winds through the grounds. At Casa Sander in the Nine Colonies region, you taste three house-made jellies with cookies, toast, juice and tea, learning how the settlers turned local fruit into a tradition still running today. Edelbrau Brewery follows, a themed space that walks you through beer production from hops to glass, with the scents and stories of the region woven through. The tour ends at Mukli Alfajores, where you can buy handcrafted alfajores made with authentic Uruguayan Dulce de Leche.

The full day runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off. A professional guide in Portuguese leads the whole route. You arrange your own way to the meeting point (Matriz Square in downtown Canela, or the Gramado pickup if that's closer), and the same applies for your return to your hotel afterward. The tour does not include round-trip hotel transport. Bring your passport or ID number when you book. The operator needs it to confirm the reservation.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport from the meeting point to Nova Petrópolis.
• a professional guide in Portuguese for the full day.
• a tasting of three traditional jellies with cookies, toast, juice and tea at Casa Sander.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line Brazil

Is this one for you?The nine-hour day means an early start and a full afternoon on your feet walking through parks and visiting sites, so it suits someone with a free day who wants the German heritage story told through places rather than a quick highlights run. You meet the guide at a downtown square rather than your hotel, so factor in your own transport to the pickup point.

Traveler reviews

4.69★★★★★★★★★★

16 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is Pedras do Silencio and how much time do we spend there?

Pedras do Silencio is a sculpture park holding over 80 sandstone works created by three gaucho sculptors. The walk through the park is 400 meters and takes place among nature, with benches placed along the path so you can stop and sit.

Do we get to taste anything on this tour?

Yes. At Casa Sander, you taste three traditional jellies served with cookies, toast, juice and tea. The brewery visit includes the story of beer production but is not a tasting of multiple beers.

What is Praça das Flores and what makes it worth visiting?

Praça das Flores (Flowers Square) is known for its seasonal flower beds and for hosting the Green Labyrinth, a cypress maze that challenges visitors to find the secret path through it.

What time does the tour leave Canela and how long is the whole day?

The tour departs at 8:30 am from Matriz Square downtown, or 8:50 am from Gramado if you're staying there. The full tour runs nine hours from pickup to drop-off.

Does the tour include transport to and from my hotel?

The tour includes air-conditioned transport from the meeting point in Canela (or Gramado) to Nova Petrópolis and back to the meeting point. You arrange your own way to the pickup location and from the drop-off point to your hotel.