Fazenda Pau D'Alho, in São José do Barreiro Disclosure/City Hall of São José do Barreiro São José do Barreiro, in the interior of São Paulo, is among the seven Brazilian destinations nominated by the Ministry of Tourism to compete for the Best Tourism Villages 2026 seal, granted by UN Tourism. The title is given to rural locations that stand out for preserving cultural and natural heritage, sustainability and promoting local development. São José do Barreiro, for example, has 3,853 residents, according to the latest 2022 Census, and is a tourist resort located in Serra da Bocaina, in the Paraíba Valley. The municipality has a strong connection with the history of Brazil: it emerged as a stopping point for drovers and developed during the coffee cycle, preserving historic farms and mansions from the 19th century - such as Fazenda Pau D'Alho. Today, it is known for nature and adventure tourism.
São José do Barreiro, in the interior of SP, competes for the UN's international seal of best tourist village
Fazenda Pau D'Alho, in São José do Barreiro Disclosure/City Hall of São José do Barreiro São José do Barreiro, in the interior of São Paulo, is among the seven Brazilian destinations nominated by the Ministry of Tourism...
Representatives The choice of Brazilian representatives took place through a public call promoted by the Ministry of Tourism. In total, ten locations signed up and seven were qualified to represent Brazil after meeting the technical criteria and presenting all the required documentation - see below. Conceição de Ibitipoca (MG) Araçá, in Porto Belo (SC) Delfinópolis (MG) Holambra (SP) Lençóis (BA) São José do Barreiro (SP) Vila Flores (RS) Parish Church of São José do Barreiro. Disclosure What the selection is like Created in 2021, the initiative seeks to recognize villages where tourism contributes to rural development, the preservation of traditions and the improvement of the communities' quality of life. To participate in the selection, destinations needed to have up to 15 thousand inhabitants, be located in a region with a strong presence of traditional activities, such as agriculture, livestock, fishing or forestry, and preserve the values ??and way of life of the local community. In addition to the mandatory requirements established by UN Tourism, the Ministry of Tourism evaluated additional criteria, such as the destination's digital presence, community-based tourism initiatives and the holding of traditional events with tourism potential. With the end of the national stage, it is up to the Ministry of Tourism to forward Brazilian applications to UN Tourism. Each member country can nominate up to eight destinations per edition. The Brazilian villages will compete with 261 others spread across all continents. From that moment on, applications will be evaluated exclusively by UN Tourism. The analysis is carried out by an independent advisory board, made up of international experts, which considers nine areas, including cultural and natural resources, heritage preservation, economic, social and environmental sustainability, tourism development, governance, infrastructure, connectivity and health, safety and security. Deadline and choice The deadline for countries to officially submit applications to UN Tourism ended on June 9, 2026. After this stage, the organization began the international evaluation of destinations. According to UN Tourism, the recognized municipalities will be announced during an official organization event scheduled for the third quarter of this year. The Ministry of Tourism informs that official recognition will be granted at an event scheduled for December, in Buenos Aires. See more news from Vale do Paraíba and the Bragantina region
