A Brazilian Municipality, Guarulhos is one of the most populous city in the state of the state of Sao Paulo, and the 13th most populous city in Brazil.
Located in the metropolitan city of Sao Paulo, it has deeply outgrown the Campinas.
The name comes from the original Tupi Language and refers to the big bellied people and translates to “eaters”.
Ranked the number 2 settlement in Sao Paulo, the International airport here is a sight to visit.
In fact, the tourism starts from the airport itself.
This city has a rich cultural heritage and is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Guarulhos.
It was officially founded in 1560 by a Jesus Priest by the name of Manuel de Paiva and the origin is linked to five smaller villages that were linked to each other.
Basically these warrior and religious villages were charged with the responsibility of guarding against foreign invasions and external captivating attacks.
The name Guarulhos was adopted in 1960 and the city was then embellished with an excellent network of roads and trains.
The rail network here is very efficient and the power electricity system one of the most efficient in the world.
A huge regional library called the Lobato Municipal library was also founded for the local use which is also one of the must visit sites in this area.
The major livelihood options are the huge array of industries of metallurgy, plastics, food, rubber, vehicles and leather tanning as well.
The presence of a huge industrial sector is also a major reason for the huge population here.
There is also an old Rotary club here, right in the heart of the city which has loyal members who have been visiting it from generations.
The international airport is the second largest airport in Latin America and this place is a socially active area of Latin America.
The city is also home to many legends that have cracked it big in the world.
Right from footballers to painters, this city does not have a dearth of talent.
Guarulhos is one of the places in Latin America that has everything, from tourist attractions, to adventure sports and well settled households.
The city is also completed by a staunch religious sect following and the simple people living here adhere to the traditional ways of living making a visit to this place a very comforting one.
Best time to visit Guarulhos?
The summers are too hot and humid making them avoidable if you are planning a vacation.
Categorized by a Koppen Climate Classification, this climate here is humid and subtropical.
The rainfall is distributed evenly throughout the year but the summer months from November to February should be avoided.
Best things to do in Guarulhos
These are my favorite things to do and beautiful places to visit on your next holiday to Guarulhos.
Bosque Maia
Commonly known as the Hall Tree corner the Bosque Maia is the largest urban park in this municipality.
A sprawling area of 17000 square meters, this place is considered to be the breathing system of the city.
This park was founded within a farm belonging to a doctor with the Maia surname and opens every day.
It has been declared a site of national heritage and offers to its visitors a stretch of 3 Kms to practice jogging and Walking, trails also lead to four sports courts which are called the Capoeira Court.
There is a magnificent skating rink and space to practice free BMX.
An outdoor gym has been made with all the modern facilities.
The presence of an artificial lake along with the other things is almost like an added bonus.
There is also a bridge that has been made over the artificial lake which makes it look like scene right out of Hollywood movies.
A huge square in the middle is the common gathering place for the local and tourists alike for all the festivals and fests that are celebrated.
Many sports and leisure events are also a part of the city’s schedule making it one of the best spots in the city.
This space is also used by the Environmental Education Center and many art exhibitions are held along with extensive meetings to make sure that all the people participate in saving the community.
My favorite stuff to do in Guarulhos
Lagos Dos Patos
Popularly known as the Lake of the ducks, this beauty of a place is located in a small village.
Whether you drop in by the Jacana or use the Highway Fernao Dias, this place will not disappoint you.
With a leisure area of around 20000 square kilometers, the jogging track is one of the best in the world and also has the latest equipment to keep you fit and kicking while you are here.
A perfect getaway for the residents and the visitors to enjoy the scenic landscapes and countryside!
No matter that the industries may be doing, the generations here cannot complain of having the adequate health facilities to keep healthy.
Apart from spending a wonderful day of fun and frolic, the square also houses the hub of arts and exhibitions.
Called the Permanent center for Arts Exhibition, there is a stage of Cultural exhibits and various kiosks of food.
And for those who are romantic, this is just the place to be in.
There is a beautiful sunset that would accompany you while you bask in the glory of your company.
Near the Lagos dos Patos , there is also the theatre called the Nelson Rodrigues Theatre.
This place is always filled with presentations of humor.
Plays, dances, talks and humor sand satire dominate the themes of the cultural activities at the theatre.
One of the gems the city has, a visit to this lake area is a must for those who want to feel refreshed again.
Fun things to do in Guarulhos
Matriz catedral Nossa Senhora da Conception
This cathedral of our Lady of Conception was built and founded in 1665 and is the current seat of the Diocese of Guarulhos.
The architecture of the Matriz Catedral Nossa Senhora da Conception is considered to be the most beautiful in the city of Sao Paulo.
This Cathedral has two communities – the Praca Tereza Cristina and the Rosary Square.
The architecture is distinctly in the baroque style and can be identified through the framework.
Considered to be one of the first churches in this area, the single tower symbolizes the commercial setting of the area.
The first chapel was built in daub and vine and served to be the core of the villagers.
The second building was made out of mud mortar and dates to be as old as 1743.
The current building is quite contemporary with the old skeleton created in 1960; the two wider aisles were also made and are a symbol of this place today.
Though the Altar also underwent many changes, the big concern at the time of the renovation was the conservation of the building.
This Church also houses some of the most important architectural remains of the area.
Well preserved images and paintings that have been carved in stone is one sight to see.
The removal of the statues and the ornaments tipped of the entire community and is now a well-known Catholic seat.
A must visit for those who enjoy exploring the old Christian histories.
Lot of stories to unfold!
Popular Guarulhos tourist attractions
Natural Science Museum
This is one place that you all would enjoy irrespective of your choice of the outing or your age.
The museum is placed inside the Zoo.
The first thing that you would notice about the place is the meticulous way in which the whole area has been constructed.
Planned and schematic, standing at any place inside the museum, you can still have the entire museum in sight.
The best part and the most surprising part is the huge collection of stuffed animals that greet you when you get in.
This place brings you very close to Mother Nature and you get to interact with many natural concepts that are very well within our reaches.
Brilliant for the children, this Natural Science Museum explains the little concepts about the normal day to day life which we ignore and do not each to our children!
One of the best things to look out for is the guided tours that acquaint you with the natural phenomena present in this geography.
The collection of animals is complete with almost all the types covered.
The full knowledge imparted about the animals makes this tour enlightening.
What else to do in Guarulhos?
Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos
Established in 1981, the Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos is located on a vast area of 70000 square meters.
Also situated in the area called the Rose Garden of France, the exhibits include various species of 400 animals and 100 different birds.
The mammals, birds and the reptiles live in close harmony with each other and the presence of many lakes, native trees and bordered reconstructed areas; provide a natural habitat for the flora and the fauna to thrive at par.
While most of the species that are held here may be native to Brazil but many imported living creatures are also present and special attention is imparted to the endangered species.
The puma, the hyacinth and the king vulture are the common sightings here.
The area which has been reconstructed as the park has free living animal shelters.
Most of these lovely animals frequent the lakes for food and shelter and give the visitors many opportunities to observe various species closely.
A visitor to this place tour is a must for the complete lifecycle review of the tanagers, parakeets, herons and migratory birds.
While a zoo may show you caged animals but those animals are never in their natural habitat and so they stay much deviated from their normal living routines.
But here, you would be able to find most of the creatures in their natural habitats granting them the liberty to move around in their natural ways, making the sights as wild as possible.
A must visit for the animal lovers; reach her early morning to capture the most perfect pictures of animal and birds just waking up.
Is Guarulhos worth visiting?
The answer is Yes.
Guarulhos is worth visiting.
This is because it is such a magical place
full of beauty and adventours.
Make sure you visit the following stunning place:
The Nelson Rodrigues Theater
Nelson Rodrigues was a playwright, journalist and a novelist.
He was the one who helped in a new era of Brazilian theater with his most famous play Vesitdo de Noiva.
Translated to as “the wedding dress” this play helped him climb the fame.
He is considered to be a revolutionary in the history of Sao Paulo and the Theater has been built to revere him.
This theatre is the hub of cultural and artistic activity here.
And is never empty!
Something or the other keeps on happening to keep the locals and the tourists busy.
The artistic plays are filed with color and dramatics and the drama sequences are well rehearsed skits that are performed by artists throughout Latin America.
The dances are pretty scintillating with the contemporary and the ancient dance forms in play.
An exemplary performance for dance here includes the modern and older dance forms morphed together on fusion music.
This is one performance area at Nelson Rodrigues Theatre that you have to see for sure.
What else to see in Guarulhos?
Praca IV Centenario
Located in the Garden St Frances, this square of the Praca IV Centenario is at the main entrance of the city.
Consisting of a biking path and a playground, the jogging track here will blow your thoughts with extreme synchronization with beauty.
Considered to be one of the oldest establishments of the city, this square sees the maximum foot fall of the locals and the tourists alike.
Today the station here is gone but its facilities have been restored and placed in the square for public display.
A locomotive called the Smokey Mary which is very similar to the Railroad Guarulhos train pulling engine has also been displayed.
The other priceless locomotives were scrapped and sold to other junkyards.
The house where the head of the old train station lived has been preserved and is in perfect condition.
Because it has been painted yellow, it is known as the yellow house.
You can spend hours at this place looking at the nature surrounding the area and enjoying the rich past of the city.
You can also seek knowledge about the Gabriel Angel sculpture, which has been placed here.
Standing upright almost as if protecting everybody beneath it, this statue was named to give some identity to it.
And he was chosen to be called the Angel Gabriel because traditionally the Statue has been a harbinger of good messages and fortune to mankind.
There are some things which are totally unique to this statue.
The mask for example has been an artist’s rendition of the face of Gabriel and the other thing is the dove resting on the shoulder, the left shoulder of Gabriel to be precise.
Popular places to visit in Guarulhos
Hobby Time
Indulge in a game of pool, swimming, tennis or football at many places here.
You can even rent bicycles and explore the old town on a cycle ride.
The narrow alleys and road ways have many things to do.
You could happily make friends with the locals here and play around with them while you enjoy your hobby time activities.
Indulge in a good game of basketball to tire yourself out completely and then eat and drink at any one of the many places that are available here.
Things to do in Guarulhos with kids
Getúlio Vargas Square
One of the oldest squares of the city, it was earlier a football field and was later declared to be a place of public utility.
There were planning to build the city hall here.
But it was again later constructed in to a square.
Many traders donated benches made of concrete to beautify the square and the Gazebo where the musical Lira Guarulhense played on the weekends was constructed.
This was also the beginning of the many light and dance shows that happened across the stretch.
The square received a monument statue in 1960 and made this a generously donated Nipponese colony of the city.
Things to do around Guarulhos
Getulio Vargas Square
was later converted into a museum for public viewing and now remains an open square for all.
A must visit for those who wish to see the different transformations of the city.
Guarulhos is one of the places of Latin America that are self-sufficient and moderated.
With ample spaces dedicated to nature, this place is very urbanized yet in the lap of nature.
You can go for extensive shopping tours in this area and shop for many local and international things at very affordable prices.
Considering the leather tanning industry is considered to be the best here, shop of leather goods and if you find a good pair of boots, make sure that you buy them.
The many places they have been listed for dining and drinking are excellent and offer multinational food.
While you may be able to find a seat in almost all the restaurants, making a reservation beforehand is suggested.
Try the local transport her and catch a bus to take a tour of the city.
Merging with the locals will give you an insight about their lives and tell you the relativity of their lifestyles with the present scenarios.
A must visit for people who wish to travel through a city exploring the wildness of nature throughout!
