Paddle boats circle the Lago dos Patos in Vila Galvão while families stroll its shaded shore. North of downtown, streams from the Cantareira forest feed the old Cabuçu reservoir, deep in the trees. To the south, planes from GRU climb out over the wide river plain.
Beyond the water, Guarulhos is a working city of factories, commuters and corner bakeries, with the Bosque Maia for weekend runs and picnics under tall trees. Summers are warm with afternoon storms, and winters are mild and mostly dry. A Local Friend can turn your scattered list of lakes, parks and lookouts into a day that makes sense, with lunch in the right neighborhood.
