Paranagua

Paranaguá is a colonial port town on the coast of Paraná state in southern Brazil. The old town has cobblestoned streets, pastel-coloured buildings, and a handful of churches from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia is housed in a former Jesuit college. The waterfront has fishing boats and a few seafood restaurants. The main excursion is the Serra Verde Express train, which climbs from the coast into the Serra do Mar mountains to Curitiba. The route passes through Atlantic Forest, over viaducts, and through tunnels, and is considered one of the most scenic train rides in South America. Ilha do Mel (Honey Island), accessible by boat, has beaches, trails, and a 19th-century fort with no cars allowed on the island. Barreado, a slow-cooked beef stew sealed in a clay pot, is the traditional local dish. The Brazilian Real is the currency.