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Sabaúna is a now quiet village founded in the 19th century around the train station of the same name, by immigrants and workers that settled in that area. It used to ship minerals from the local quarry and vegetables produced by the immigrants. Now, the quarry is deactivated but can be visited. There is a small waterfall in the quarry (Pedreira e Cachoeira De Sabaúna).
It is located about 16.5 km from the city center. The main landmark of the village is its train station, inaugurated in 1893 and deactivated in 1986. You can enjoy the local food like rustic bread or feijoada, and chill in the laidback atmosphere sitting on the tables inside the small bakeries, bars, or restaurants. It is possible to walk from Sabaúna to Guararema, the neighboring town, which is more touristy.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Travessia Sabaúna - Guararema
It is possible to hike from Sabaúna district to Guararema, the neighboring town which was used to be connected by the railway line. The distance to the closest village, Luis Carlos is only 5km, and the hike is easy. It has a small museum and some restaurants with local unique food, like coxinha with cassava dough. This path is part of the Rota da Luz Pilgrimage Route, which connects Mogi das Cruzes to Aparecida.
Parque Centenário da Imigração Japonesa
Commemorating 100 years of Japanese immigration to Brazil, this 215,000-m² park has 4 lakes, walking trails, playgrounds, a Museum of Japanese Immigration, and a replica of the Kasato Maru, the first ship to disembark at the port at Santos with Japanese immigrants.
Much less popular than Pico do Urubu, Pedra do Lagarto is a good option for those who prefer hiking in natural, quieter, narrower trails. It is still part of the Itapety mountain range that Urubu is part of, offering a partial view of the city. There are two big rocks on the top, where the vegetation differs from the one on most of the trail. From early spring to late autumn, the road that leads to the trailhead is full of different types of butterflies. When hiking up on quiet days, you can also see wild animals and birds like toucans, penelopes, woodpeckers, and more. Average time of 1h to the top in a moderate pace.
There are several places where you can cross the Tietê river, and in some of the points, you can see birds and capivaras. The spot indicated on the map is one of the quietest, although it goes along a road that has cars passing by. You can stop on the bridge or go to the river bank to see the birds. If you keep walking, you'll be in the avenue that takes to the Pedra do Lagarto trailhead.
It takes you to a valley, the other side of Pico do Urubu. Steep, rough path.
Pico do Urubu
The highest point in the city. You can have a panoramic view of Mogi das Cruzes and the surrounding areas, such as the Itapeti mountain range, the neighboring cities, and, in clear days, you can get to see the coastal mountain range, Serra do Mar. There are paragliding groups on the weekends. You can get to the top either by car, bicycle, or climb it up hiking, and there are alternative natural trails.