Tourist Destination in Serra da Mantiqueira, Brazil's "Switzerland", to Charge Environmental Fee to Visitors
Key takeaways
- The charge was regulated by a decree published by the city government in May, based on a municipal law approved in December 2024.
- The district, with 4,132 residents, was described as the "Switzerland of Brazil" in a 2022 publication by the Booking platform because of its cold climate and European-influenced architecture.
- The fee will be charged per vehicle, regardless of length of stay, and license plate reading will be automatic.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The charge was regulated by a decree published by the city government in May, based on a municipal law approved in December 2024.
The district, with 4,132 residents, was described as the "Switzerland of Brazil" in a 2022 publication by the Booking platform because of its cold climate and European-influenced architecture. Monte Verde was founded in 1938 by Latvian immigrant Verner Grinberg.
The fee will be charged per vehicle, regardless of length of stay, and license plate reading will be automatic. According to current rates, motorcycles will pay R$4.60 ($0.90); passenger vehicles, R$9.20 ($1.7); utility vehicles, R$13.80 ($2.6); vans and tour vehicles, R$32.20 ($6.20); minibuses and trucks, R$46 ($9); and buses, R$73.60 ($14.12). Payment can be made online starting July 1, as well as at physical service points.