Três Coroas

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Três Coroas is a city in Grande Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The surrounding hills and the Paranhana River flowing through are good for rafting and other outdoor activities but the main sight here is something unusual in this part of the world - a Tibetan Buddhist temple.

The first recorded settlement in this hilly region was a lot of land (sesmaria) granted by the Portuguese Crown to a certain Antônio Borges de Almeide Leães in 1814, a few years before Brazil became independent. Since the mid-19th century German and later Italian immigrants settled here forming the colony of Santa Maria do Mundo Novo, divided in three parts that today make up the towns of Três Coroas, Igrejinha and Taquara.

Over the next century the town was known by half a dozen of different names, but in 1944 the name of was established as Três Coroas, after an araucaria tree with three crowns that was used as a landmark. Starting out as a farming colony with the river as the only way in and out, Três Coroas is today a city of 24,000 inhabitants (as of 2024) and together with nearby towns a center of footwear industry.

In 1995 Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, a teacher of Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhism, established the Khadro Ling Temple on a hill a few kilometers northeast of Três Coroas. While it was not intended as a tourist attraction, the beautiful complex is a major attraction in the region and visitors are welcome.

• Visit Três Coroas

The closest airports are Aeroporto Salgado Filho in Porto Alegre, and Aeroporto Hugo Cantergiani in Caxias do Sul. The former also has international flights.

The main way in is state highway BR-115 following the river valley. Starting from Porto Alegre, the straightest way is RS-020 to Taquara, a short bit RS-239 and join the BR-115 from there. The driving distance from Porto Alegre is around 100 km.

The -29.5162-50.77341 bus station (Rodoviária de Três Coroas) is at the intersection of Av. Santa Maria and R. América just east of the river and in practice just a bus stop outside a small commercial building.

Citral operates a few buses a day from Porto Alegre (2h), Gramado (30 min) and Novo Hamburgo (2h 45min).

Downtown is a little over 1 km across, and as such walkable (there are sidewalks along the streets). For locations further out, drive or take a taxi/Uber.

• -29.49217201 Chagdud Gonpa Khadro Ling Temple (Templo Budista de Três Coroas), Estrada Linha Águas Brancas, 1211 - Zona Rural, ☏ +55 51 3546-8201, info@chagdud.org. The first Tibetan Buddhist temple in the country, featuring several beautiful religious buildings. It was established in 1995 by teacher Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1930-2002) who settled here for the final years of his life. Featuring the temple itself, eight stupas, a statue of Akshobhya Buddha and a large set of prayer wheels, the complex is the main sight in Três Coroas. Visitors are welcome, but keep in mind that this is a religious site and not a tourist attraction and visitors need to behave respectfully.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.517042-50.7731862 Museu Armindo Lauffer, R. Henrique Juergensen, 139, ☏ +55 51 3546-3257, museuadm@pmtcoroas.com.br. Museum presenting the history of the colony that grew into the present-day town of Três Coroas as well as the history of the Lauffer family.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.514272-50.7739563 Ponte Coberta Armindo Lauffer, R. Mundo Novo. A covered bridge across the Paranhana River, one of the few covered bridges in Rio Grande do Sul. The current bridge is the third one at this place, earlier ones were destroyed by floods and storms.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.515302-50.7796224 Prefeitura Municipal de Três Coroas, Av. João Corrêa, 380, ☏ +55 51 3546-7800. A rather grand building (compared to other buildings in town) at the junction of two main streets housing the local government.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.5168-50.778895 Monumento ao Calçado, Av. João Correia, 552-632. A high-heel shoe monument, probably celebrating the main industry of the region ie. shoe making.  (updated Jul 2026)

There are several rafting parks up the Paranhana river:

• -29.415828-50.7699361 Parque das Laranjeiras, RS 115, Linha Café Alta, ☏ +55 51 3546-7800, contato@parquedaslaranjeiras.com.br. Rafting park that also has other activities like ziplining and rappelling.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.425621-50.7656932 Raft Adventure, Estrada Barro Preto, 3-155 - Zona Rural, ☏ +55 51 3546-5731. Rafting park that also has a restaurant.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.427669-50.7714793 Brasil Raft Park, Estrada Geral Linha Café, ☏ +55 51 3546-1066. Rafting park.  (updated Jul 2026)

• Três Coroas em Festa. May. Celebrating the establishment of the town; Três Coroas became an independent municipality on 12 May 1959. The 2026 edition featured music and theater performances, a fashion show and street food stalls. (updated Jul 2026)

As a small town, Três Coroas unsurprisingly isn't exactly a shopping destination. There are supermarkets, pharmacies, opticians, banks and similar everyday businesses.

• -29.514648-50.7792121 Rissul, Av. João Corrêa, 275, ☏ +55 51 3546-5420. Large supermarket in the middle of the town, part of the Unidasul group.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.499855-50.7850362 Supermercado Filler, R. 7 de Setembro, 700 - Sander, ☏ +55 51 3546-1228. Supermarket.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.482051-50.7677793 Mercado Muller (Mercado do Gaúcho), R. Carlos Sauer, 1920 - Linha Café Baixa, ☏ +55 51 3546-4010. Supermarket.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.5157-50.77744 Hipster Store, Av. Santa Maria, 130. Shoes and clothing.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.515531-50.7678021 Espaço Tibet, R. Alagoas, 361 - Águas Brancas, ☏ +55 51 3546-5763. Tibetan restaurant with traditional and modern dishes. There is also a small shop selling Tibetan objects.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -29.495662-50.7258672 Gawa Ling, RS-020, ☏ +55 51 99679-4032. Tibetan and Thai cuisine, near the Buddhist temple.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -29.514003-50.7795483 Guga Panquecas, Av. João Corrêa, 232, ☏ +55 51 3546-5280. Pancake place with over 80 different sweet and savory pancakes.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -29.497118-50.7873454 Restaurante e Pizzaria Alfredo, R. 7 de Setembro, 1081 - Sander, ☏ +55 51 3546-1679. Buffet restaurant and pizzeria.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -29.515527-50.7786675 Pizzaria Esperanza, R. Jorge Augusto Dreher, 50, ☏ +55 51 3546-1450. Pizzeria.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -29.500981-50.7274826 Restaurante Meu Cantinho, RS-020, ☏ +55 51 99903-6062. Home-style food made on a wooden stove. Outdoor seating with a playing area for kids.  (updated Jul 2026)
• -29.515645-50.7718457 Trigu's Restaurante e Churrascaria, Av. Santa Maria, 659, ☏ +55 51 3546-2223. Buffet restaurant.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.513928-50.7809341 Holt Pizza Bar, R. Tristão Monteiro, 147, ☏ +55 51 3546-5470. Pizza and different drinks.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.489452-50.7985082 Café Colonial Riegel, R. Visc. Mauá, 2170, ☏ +55 51 3546-1936. Coffee and traditional small bites.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.527982-50.7798151 Hotel Caminhos da Serra, Av. João Corrêa, 1800 - Vila Nova, ☏ +55 51 3546-6267, atendimento@hotelcaminhosdaserra.com.br. Hotel with 35 rooms. Rooms have tv, AC and free Wi-FI. $255.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.527975-50.7747232 Pousada Cidade Verde, RS-115, 1100, ☏ +55 51 99657-0521, contato@pousadacidadeverde.com.br. Guesthouse. Rooms have AC, tv and private bathrooms. Free Wi-Fi. $178.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.500142-50.7772713 Pousada Paranhana, RS-115, 1375, ☏ +55 51 3546-1890. A calm guesthouse with 22 rooms next to the river. Rooms have AC, tv and private bathrooms. $189.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.514194-50.7808764 Pousada Raio de Sol 2, R. Luís Volkart, 753, ☏ +55 51 3546-3273. Guesthouse. There is also another guesthouse with the same name in the city.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.486787-50.7299715 Pousada Refúgio do Pomar, Estrada do Laticínio, 1330, ☏ +55 51 99975-6463. Guesthouse out in the nature. Free Wi-Fi in the rooms. There's a restaurant, and breakfast is included.  (updated Jul 2026)

• -29.517535-50.7785061 Hospital Oswaldo Diesel, R. Doze de Maio, 513, ☏ +55 51 3546-1236. The main hospital of the city, named after its founder.  

• -29.515392-50.7801972 Centro Municipal de Saúde de Três Coroas, R. Felipe Bender, 170 - Centro, ☏ +55 51 3546-7700 , saúde@pmtcoroas.com.br. Mon-Fri 7:30-18:00. Municipal health center.  

• -29.514554-50.7984453 Posto Municipal de Saúde da Linha 28, R. Augusto Becker, 1462 - Linha 28, ☏ +55 51 3546-3914, psf_linha28@pmtcoroas.com.br. Mon-Fri 7:30-11:30 and 13:00-17:00. Municipal health center.  

Operators Claro and TIM have 4G coverage, Vivo 5G coverage in and around Três Coroas. There may not be mobile coverage outside populated areas and main roads. In addition some accommodations offer free Wi-Fi.

• Canela - Also on the Paranaha River, with a Gothic-style cathedral.
• Caxias do Sul - The second largest city in the state.
• Gramado - The nearest major city, famous for its film festival.
• Nova Petrópolis -Famous for its German heritage, this is a starting point to explore the Serra Gaúcha region.

• Igrejinha - The next town south, another part of the Santa Maria do Mundo Novo colony.
• Novo Hamburgo - The "national footwear capital" with German heritage.
• Porto Alegre - The state capital of Rio Grande do Sul and Brazil's fourth largest city.
• São Leopoldo - Yet another city famous for its German heritage, halfway between Novo Hamburgo and Porto Alegre.