huckepack

Caminho da Fé

Length

This trail
299.5 km
How
Measured on our OpenStreetMap map line (data of 5 Nov 2026): the main route
Official
302.8 km, sum of the 13 main stages (Associação dos Amigos do Caminho da Fé)

300km

Ascent · descent

This trail
7,330 m up, 7,600 m down, estimated
How
Estimated from the GEDTM30 terrain model along our OpenStreetMap line: every main stage's climbs and drops along samples 100 m apart, each counted once it reaches 10 m
Keep in mind
A 30 m terrain model: short climbs between the samples are missed

estimated: 7,330m ↑7,600m ↓

Difficulty

What
How hard the trail is, in three ways: the terrain, the climate in season and the length of the days
Scale
Easy to Hard, with the same thresholds for every trail; each takes its hardest measure
Keep in mind
It describes the trail, not how it will feel to you: that depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather you get
  • Terrain: ModerateClimbing: ≈ 24 m per km
  • Climate: Moderate in Apr–SepHeat: 27 °C by day (September)
  • Effort: HardLongest day: ≈ 12 h (stage 10)

All measures

Terrain: Moderate; Climate: Moderate in Apr–Sep; Effort: Hard

Days

This trail
13 days, one per stage of Associação dos Amigos do Caminho da Fé's stage list
Why
No source suggests days for the route as listed here

13days

Per day

This trail
23 km · ≈ 560 m ↑
How
The trail's length (our measurement, 300 km) ÷ its days (13, one day per stage of Associação dos Amigos do Caminho da Fé's stage list); ascent likewise
Keep in mind
Stages vary in length; see the stage table

23km· about 560 m ↑
Season

Landscape

Source
ESA WorldCover satellite land cover, along the main route
  • Grassland and shrubs: 45%
  • Forest: 34%
  • Farmland and villages: 21%
  • Bare rock and sand: 0%

Landscape along the route

Mainly Grassland

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons by Pessoabsurda, FRANCISCO CARLOS CECCON CECCON, IsmaelSilva, Mateussf and joao batista Shimoto; each photo's licence in the gallery

Location

Country
Brazil
Regions
São Paulo, Minas Gerais
Start
Águas da Prata
Finish
Aparecida
Route type
Point to point
Travel hubs
  • Estação Rodoviária de Águas da Prata0.9 km by road · 1 min
  • Viracopos International Airport, Campinas (VCP)157.3 km by road · 119 min
Protected areas
Área de Proteção Ambiental Serra da Mantiqueira; Área de Proteção Ambiental Bacia do Paraíba do Sul; Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão
Managed by
Associação dos Amigos do Caminho da FéOfficial website (opens in a new tab)
Waymarking
Yellow arrows on posts and fence posts throughout, and signs every 2 km with the distance left to the Basilica
GPX
GPX trackOur tracing from OpenStreetMap
  • Trail
  • Start
  • Stage start
  • Finish
  • Contour lines

Difficulty

Terrain

Rates
How hard is the ground to walk: the path, the climbing, the steep bits, the ground underfoot?
How
Rated over the whole main route.
Level
The hardest measure sets it
Path grade
the trail's SAC grade, stated, converted or estimated
  1. EasyT1
  2. ModerateT2
  3. DemandingT3
  4. HardT4 to T6
Climbing
the trail's ascent (the terrain model's estimate) over the main stages' length
  1. Easyunder 15 m per km
  2. Moderate15–30 m
  3. Demanding30–50 m
  4. Hard50 m or more
Steep stretches
share of the route steeper than 15 %, up or down (terrain model)
  1. Easyunder 5 %
  2. Moderate5–15 %
  3. Demanding15–30 %
  4. Hard30 % or more
Natural ground
share on footpaths and trails (OpenStreetMap); never Hard on its own
  1. Easyunder a third
  2. Moderatea third to two thirds
  3. Demandingtwo thirds or more

Moderate

  • SAC hiking scale

    This trail
    T1 (our estimate)
    Basis
    The Associação describes some 400 km across the Mantiqueira mountains "por estradas vicinais, trilhas, bosques e asfalto", marked by yellow arrows all the way and walked at 25 to 30 km a day; its profile climbs from about 550 m in the Paraíba valley to 1,820 m at Campista. Long days on country roads and tracks with steep climbs, but no alpine terrain (T1).
    Scale
    The Swiss Alpine Club's hiking scale, from T1 (easy) to T6 (very hard)
    Why
    Trails rate difficulty in many local scales, or only in words; we translate each into this one so trails compare
    Keep in mind
    An estimate: how hard a trail feels depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather
    T1 · Hiking
    Well-made paths, mostly flat or gently sloping. No risk of falling; trainers are enough.
    T2 · Mountain hiking
    A continuous path, steep in places, where a fall can't be ruled out. Be sure-footed; wear hiking boots.
    T3 · Demanding mountain hiking
    The path is not always visible; exposed spots may have chains or ropes, and you may need your hands for balance.
    T4 · Alpine hiking
    Often no path. Hands are needed in places, terrain is exposed, and there can be easy snowfields.
    T5 · Demanding alpine hiking
    Mostly pathless, with easy climbing and exposed, demanding terrain. Needs alpine experience.
    T6 · Difficult alpine hiking
    Pathless, very exposed, with climbing and glaciers. For experienced mountaineers only.

    The scale at the Swiss Alpine Club (opens in a new tab)

    estimated T1
  • Climbingestimated 24 m per km
  • Steep stretches6 % of the way
  • Natural ground50 %

Climate

Rates
How hot, cold, wet and windy does it get?
How
From 30 years of daily weather (ERA5), rated per month. Without months picked: the trail's best run of at least two season months, each measure at its hardest month. Pick months in the search to rate it for yours.
Level
The hardest measure sets it
Heat
mean daily high at the lowest point
  1. Easyunder 22 °C
  2. Moderate22–27 °C
  3. Demanding27–32 °C
  4. Hard32 °C or more
Cold
mean nightly low at the highest point
  1. Easy8 °C or more
  2. Moderate3–8 °C
  3. Demanding−2 to 3 °C
  4. Hardbelow −2 °C
Wet days
days a month with 1 mm of rain or more, the wetter of both points
  1. Easyunder 10
  2. Moderate10–14
  3. Demanding14–18
  4. Hard18 or more
Snow
days a month with 1 cm of snow or more at the highest point
  1. Easyunder 1 day
  2. Moderate1–3 days
  3. Demanding3–6 days
  4. Hard6 days or more
Wind
mean of the day's strongest wind (hourly mean, 10 m above ground), the windier of both points; over land: a point whose 25 km weather cell is mostly sea takes the nearest mostly-land cell's
  1. Easyunder 15 km/h
  2. Moderate15–20 km/h
  3. Demanding20–25 km/h
  4. Hard25 km/h or more

Moderate in Apr–Sep

  • Heat · September27 °C by day
  • Cold · July5 °C at night
  • Wet days · April12 days
  • Snow · April0 days
  • Wind · September10 km/h

Effort

Rates
How long are the days?
How
Rated by the longest main stage; a time range counts its upper end.
Level
The hardest measure sets it
Longest day
walking time of the longest main stage, stated or by DIN 33466
  1. Easyup to 4 h
  2. Moderate4–6 h
  3. Demanding6–8 h
  4. Hardmore than 8 h

Hard

  • Longest day · stage 10estimated 12 h

Climate

Days in season · lowest point
23–28°C
Nights in season · highest point
5–12°C
Wet days a month
5–25
Daylight
10.7–13.5h
SeasonDay high and night low0 °C10 °C20 °C30 °C40 °CWet days, at the highest point51015202530Daylight13.4 h12.9 h12.3 h11.6 h11.0 h10.7 h10.9 h11.3 h12.0 h12.7 h13.2 h13.5 hJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Climate by month, 1995–2024 average
MonthLowest point, day high / night low (°C)Highest point, day high / night low (°C)Wet daysSnow daysFrost nights at the highest pointDaylight (h)
January28.1 / 19.920.1 / 12.325.40013.4
February28.4 / 19.920.2 / 12.121.50012.9
March27.5 / 19.319.4 / 11.521.50012.3
April26.1 / 17.818 / 9.811.90011.6
May23.7 / 1515.7 / 6.98.800.111
June23.3 / 13.715.3 / 5.66.100.110.7
July23.4 / 13.215.3 / 4.95.300.410.9
August25.1 / 1417 / 5.96.200.211.3
September26.7 / 15.818.9 / 8.210.80012
October27.1 / 17.419.2 / 10.118.20012.7
November26.7 / 17.918.8 / 10.520.30013.2
December27.7 / 19.219.7 / 11.823.90013.5

Climate by month

Source
ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, averages for 1995–2024
Places
The trail's lowest and highest point, adjusted to their height
Bars
From the mean night low to the mean day high
Wet days
At least 1 mm of rain; snow days at least 1 cm of snow
Daylight
Sunrise to sunset in the middle of the month
Shading
The trail's season

Stages

RouteDistanceAscentDescentElevation
1Águas da Prata Andradas30.0 km730 m ↑660 m ↓830 → 900 m
2Andradas Barra22.0 km530 m ↑520 m ↓890 → 900 m
3Barra Inconfidentes30.0 km560 m ↑600 m ↓900 → 870 m
4Inconfidentes Borda da Mata20.0 km430 m ↑410 m ↓870 → 900 m
5Borda da Mata Tocos do Moji18.0 km610 m ↑470 m ↓900 → 1,030 m
6Tocos do Moji Estiva22.0 km690 m ↑820 m ↓1,040 → 900 m
7Estiva Consolação19.0 km560 m ↑420 m ↓890 → 1,020 m
8Consolação Paraisópolis21.0 km460 m ↑550 m ↓1,020 → 930 m
9Paraisópolis Luminosa25.0 km600 m ↑630 m ↓920 → 900 m
10Luminosa Campos do Jordão35.0 km1,490 m ↑780 m ↓900 → 1,610 m
11Campos do Jordão Gomeral32.0 km630 m ↑1,160 m ↓1,600 → 1,070 m
12Gomeral Potim26.0 km40 m ↑580 m ↓1,070 → 530 m
13Potim Aparecida2.8 km0 m ↑0 m ↓530 → 540 m

Totals and averages count the main stages only. Stage 11 from Associação dos Amigos do Caminho da Fé. Stage 12 from Associação dos Amigos do Caminho da Fé. Stage 13 from huckepack. ≈ marks our estimates where the source gives no figure: ascent and descent and heights from the terrain model (GEDTM30, 30 m grid, sampled every 100 m; climbs and drops counted once they reach 10 m), to the nearest 10 m.

Terrain

Highest · lowest point
1,964m high526m low

Gradient

Steepest climb
21 % (12°), 104 m up over 500 m, stage 10
Steepest descent
−20 % (11°), 98 m down over 500 m, stage 7
Gradient
Height per distance: 20 % is 20 m up per 100 m forward; 100 % is 45°, not 90°
Keep in mind
Averages over 500 m from a 30 m terrain model: steps and ladders within them are steeper
GradientAngleFeels like
10 %6°Noticeable on a road
20 %11°A steep path, slow going
30 %17°Very steep, often steps
100 %45°Scrambling

21% ↑−20% ↓

Steep stretches

This trail
8.4 km up, 10 km down: the darkest parts of the profile
Steep
15 % or more (9°, 15 m of height per 100 m), in 200 m stretches
Why it matters
Slow going uphill, hard on the knees downhill

18.4km

Surfaces

  • Natural ground: 50%, 147.6 km. Earth, grass, rock and roots: footpaths and forest trails. Can be muddy after rain.
  • Gravel: 28%, 82.8 km. Gravel, compacted and stony surfaces: mostly forest roads and farm tracks.
  • Paved: 22%, 65.8 km. Asphalt, concrete and cobbles: roads and village streets.
  • Unknown: 0%, 0.9 km. Stretches whose surface OpenStreetMap doesn't record.

50% natural28% gravel22% paved
800 m1,200 m1,600 m2,000 m1,964 mStage 12Stage 34567Stage 8Stage 9Stage 10Stage 11Stage 12130 km297.1 km

Terrain along the route

Heights
GEDTM30 terrain model (OpenGeoHub, from Copernicus and other elevation data), 30 m grid, the bare ground under the trees, every 100 m along the main route
Colours
Each 200 m by its gradient in walking direction: climbs warm, descents violet, darker when steeper (to ±30 %)
Ground
The strip below, from OpenStreetMap; the 27% without a surface tag is read from the way type (footpaths natural, tracks gravel)

Landscape

Forest34%Grassland and shrubs45%Bare rock and sand0%Farmland and villages21%Stage 12Stage 3456789Stage 10Stage 1112130 km297.1 km

Landscape along the route

Source
ESA WorldCover 2021, a 10 m satellite map
Points
Every 100 m along the main route; each takes the most common class within 30 m, so the path itself doesn't count as bare ground
Groups
Its eleven classes, folded into the six shown
Keep in mind
What the landscape looks like, not which plants grow there

Sleeping

36.1 km without a bedCamping6Huts2Hostels16Rooms113Stage 12Stage 3456789Stage 10Stage 1112130 km297.1 km

Places to sleep along the route

Ticks
One per place to sleep: 6 campsites, 2 huts, 16 hostels, 113 guest houses
Counted
Within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end (stage towns often lie off the trail); no hotels or day shelters
Shaded
The longest stretch without any, km 0.4–36.5
Source
OpenStreetMap: it may miss places or list closed ones, so book or check locally

Water & Supply

Clean water

This trail
27.2 km without clean water, km 22.9–50.1, stages 1–2
Rating
  1. Frequentup to 10 km
  2. Regularup to 20 km
  3. Scarcebeyond
Counted
Within 500 m: 8 taps, fountains and drinking springs, 117 refills at huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites
Refills
Guests come first and many close out of season: ask, and carry a little extra. Places marked without drinking water are left out
Source
OpenStreetMap; the counts include the approach and variant, the chart shows the main route

27.2kmScarce

Any water

This trail
27.2 km without any water, km 22.9–50.1
Rating
  1. Frequentup to 10 km
  2. Regularup to 20 km
  3. Scarcebeyond
Counted
Clean water, plus the 1 springs within 500 m
Keep in mind
Spring water's quality is unknown: filter, boil or treat it, and expect some springs to run dry in late summer

27.2kmScarce

Shops

This trail
133.1 km without a shop, km 100.1–233.2
Counted
23 supermarkets, convenience and general stores and petrol station shops, within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end
Keep in mind
Small village shops are often missing in OpenStreetMap, and opening hours vary: check before relying on one

133.1km
Water · 27.2 km withoutPublic drinking water · 153.6 km withoutSprings (treat before drinking) · 206.1 km withoutRefills at places to sleep · 49.7 km withoutShops · 133.1 km withoutSupermarkets · 153.6 km withoutConvenience and general stores · 135.7 km withoutStage 12Stage 345678Stage 9Stage 10Stage 11Stage 12130 km297.1 km

Water and shops along the route

Ticks
One per place along the main route
Counted
Drinking water and springs within 500 m; refills at huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites within 500 m; shops within 1 km, or 3 km of a stage's end
Shaded
Each lane's longest stretch without. "Water" counts every kind and opens into one lane per kind, each with its own
Source
OpenStreetMap: it may miss places or list ones that have closed or run dry, so check locally

Wildlife

Wildlife

Shows
Animals that can be dangerous to hikers on this trail: large animals, venomous snakes, scorpions and spiders, ticks, and plants that harm on touch
Level
Ours, read from the official source
High
A bite of a species it calls common can be life-threatening within hours
Moderate
It warns of attacks or serious harm, or places the trail in a risk area for tick-borne encephalitis
Low
The harm is mostly minor or treatable, or avoidable by how you behave
What to do
From the official sources: Ministério da Saúde; Ministério da Saúde
Pictures
Silhouettes from PhyloPic, not to scale, each maker named with its advice; the landscape is the trail's own, drawn by us

Ticks ModerateVenomous snakes Low

Ticks (Brazilian spotted fever)

Moderate danger

Brazilian spotted fever, a severe form with a high death rate, is carried by tick bites and recorded in the states of the South-East; doctors ask whether a patient has been in woods, on farms or on hiking trails.

If you meet one

  • Wear light clothes, so the dark ticks show
  • Wear long trousers, boots and long sleeves in wooded and grassy areas, and use tick repellent
  • Check yourself for ticks and pull an attached one out with tweezers, carefully and firmly; then wash the bite
  • See a doctor at once with fever after a tick bite

Don't

  • Walk through tall grass and vegetation
  • Squeeze or crush the tick

Advice: Ministério da Saúde. Level: ours. Silhouette: Guillaume Dera (Ixodes ricinus), PhyloPic, public domain.

Venomous snakes (jararaca, rattlesnake, coral snake)

Low danger

Jararacas and their kin cause most snakebites in Brazil, in many settings from riverbanks to farmland and open country; rattlesnakes live in open country and fields, coral snakes all over the country. A bite needs the specific antivenom, given only in hospital.

If you meet one

  • Wear high boots or leather gaiters, which prevent about 75 % of snakebites
  • Take care around woodpiles, straw and termite mounds, where snakes shelter
  • After a bite, call SAMU (192) or the fire brigade (193) and get to a hospital

Don't

  • Put your hands into holes

Advice: Ministério da Saúde. Level: ours. Silhouette: Blair Perry (Crotalus viridis), PhyloPic, public domain.