São Joaquim has two distinct reasons to visit and they fall at opposite ends of the calendar.
Winter (June–August) is when the cold is most intense and snow is possible. Temperatures regularly drop below zero overnight, frost covers the ground, and in some years snow falls on the town itself. The chance of seeing snow draws visitors from across Brazil — it is a genuine novelty for a country where most people live in subtropical or tropical heat. Pack warm layers: even a mild winter day can turn very cold by late afternoon. The Morro da Igreja summit is at its most dramatic in winter, often dusted with ice or frost.
Autumn (March–May) brings the apple harvest, with orchards open for visits and local markets piled with fruit. The temperature is more moderate, the landscape is colourful, and the roads are less crowded than in the peak winter-snow-chasing season.
Summer (December–February) sees the most rainfall and warmer temperatures, but even in summer the altitude keeps things cool enough that a light jacket is useful in the evenings.