After the Santa Maria Marathon: Itaara

The Route: Santa Maria → Itaara → Santa Maria Logistics: Itaara is about 10 km from Santa Maria. Arrange a taxi or private car both ways, and agree the return time before you leave. Marathon Month: September Duration: 1 night

Santa Maria hotel ──(about 10 km)──> Itaara pousada
                                          │
                              Cosmos observatory (by appointment)
                                          │
Santa Maria ◄──(next morning, arranged)────┘

Itaara is a small town in the hills to the north-east of Santa Maria, and its reason to exist on a recovery trip is the Observatório Bioastronômico Cosmos. The visit is by prior appointment, so a night in town lets you take an evening slot without a late drive back.

September in Itaara: September is spring in southern Brazil. Rain and wind are possible, and the 2026 race started an hour late because of both. Cloud cannot be promised at any observatory, so treat a clear sky as a bonus.

Getting There

Itaara is about 10 km from Santa Maria, according to a municipal reference page. Ask your hotel about bus times, and treat a taxi or driver as the dependable option, with the return agreed in advance. Do not rely on finding a car in town late at night.

The Observatory

The state tourism listing describes guided astronomy and space exhibitions and telescope observations, available by prior appointment. The municipal listing places the complex on Rua Vanderlei Almeida 1010, while the state entry is less exact, so confirm the entrance when you book. If the sky is cloudy, ask what the indoor programme offers.

Where to Stay

Itaara has a small number of pousadas, and some have very few online reviews, so read recent ones and ask about breakfast.

Pousada Quinta São Pedro is a luxury-positioned pousada with a perfect score from a handful of reviews.
Pousada Taiani is a budget-positioned option with a perfect score from a single review.

Both are thinly reviewed, so confirm directly that rooms and breakfast are as described.

Where to Eat

Ask your pousada for dinner before you arrive. Small hill towns often serve fewer hours than the city, and the observatory visit may fall at the usual dinner time.

Getting Home