Campos do Jordão is Brazil's mountain-resort version of a winter town, high in the Serra da Mantiqueira north-east of São Paulo. Brazilians come for cool air, fondue, chalet-like architecture, and the novelty of wearing a coat in a country better known abroad for beaches.
The town can feel artificial in Capivari, its busiest tourist quarter, but the setting is real. The mountains rise above 1,600 metres, araucaria trees and Atlantic Forest cover the slopes, and the best days are spent in gardens, state park trails, or viewpoints rather than only in cafes.
Amantikir Park and Campos do Jordão State Park give the town its strongest outdoor anchors. Morro do Elefante and Pico do Itapeva are easier viewpoint stops. Come midweek if you can; winter weekends can be crowded and expensive.