Mata

Mata is a town in the Central West of Rio Grande do Sul. It is part of the Paleorrota Geopark, having a large deposit of petrified wood.

Petrified wood in the Paleo-Botanical Garden

Get in

• RS-532 connects with RS-287 about 10 miles south of town, providing access from Santa Maria

See

Exhibits in the Padre Cargnin Museum

• 1 Fragments of Time Museum (Museu Fragmentos do Tempo). (updated Aug 2021)
• Nossa Senhora de Lurdes Grotto (Gruta do Morro), Rua da Matriz, no number. With steps constructed of plant fossils, the grotto is adorned with images of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. 
• 2 Museum Daniel Cargnin (Museu Padre Daniel Cargnin), Rua do Comércio, 825, ☏ +55 55 3259-1272. Hosts a collection of more than 2500 fossil plants and animals collected in the area. (updated Aug 2021)
• 3 Palaeobotanical Garden in Mata (Jardim Paleobotânico de Mata), Rua do Sertão, 67. 36,000-square-meter garden with many petrified trees. (updated Aug 2021)
• Praça Nossa Senhora da Medianeira, Rua Gen. Osório, at RS-532. A plaza decorated with plant fossils and used for outdoor religious masses in January and February. 

Waterfalls

• Boa Esperança Cascade (Cascata da Boa Esperança). 
• Laje Cascade (Cascata da Laje). 
• Linha Canoa Cascade (Cascata da Linha Canoa). 
• Sertão Cascade (Cascata do Sertão). 

Do

• Hiking trails. 
• Horse riding. 

Eat

• Restaurante Paleon Hotel, Rua da Matriz, 295, ☏ +55 55 3259-1165. 

Drink

• Bar do Grêmio Matense, Rua do Comércio, 476. 10AM-midnight. 

Sleep

• Balneário Municipal Valdi Bataglin, Rua Rincão dos Fontanas, ☏ +55 55 3259-1122. Camping in a park with tennis courts and other sporting facilities. 
• Hotel Paleon, Rua da Matriz, 295, ☏ +55 55 3259-1165. 

Go next

• Santa Maria