Skip to content
Compare destinations

Which is better: Caldas Novas or Campos do Jordão?

Short answer

Caldas Novas is in the state of Goiás (GO), while Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP): different regions of Brazil. Caldas Novas: the largest hot springs in the world; Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira. For this month's weather, Caldas Novas has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Campos do JordãoCampos do Jordão Sightseeing Tour★ 9.1 · 72 reviews · from US$ 20 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Caldas Novas Campos do Jordão
Best time to visit May → Aug Jun → Sep
Weather this month 33° · 11 days of rain 21° · 12 days of rain
By car R$ 113 · from Goiânia R$ 94 + tolls · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 3–4 days
Best for Family, Relax, Romantic Romantic, Food, Family, Relax
Choose Caldas Novas if

you want a trip for families and relaxation: naturally hot pools, water parks and the perfect contrast of a dry Cerrado winter.

See guide
Choose Campos do Jordão if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: the "Brazilian Switzerland" of cold weather, pine nuts and the Winter Festival.

See guide
Comparison tool
Compare Caldas Novas and Campos do Jordão with any other destination
Build your own side-by-side table with up to 3 destinations.
Open the comparison tool
Where to stay

Where to stay: Caldas Novas or Campos do Jordão

The average nightly rate is around R$ 298 in Caldas Novas and R$ 197 in Campos do Jordão; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Caldas Novas on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Best Western Suites Le Jardin Caldas Novas in Caldas Novas 9 · 26 reviews Best Western Suites Le Jardin Caldas Novas See on Booking → Acqua Bella Thermas Hotel in Caldas Novas 8.7 ★★★ · 39 reviews Acqua Bella Thermas Hotel See on Booking →
See all hotels in Caldas Novas

Compare hotels and places to stay in Campos do Jordão on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.5 ★★★ · 85 reviews Hotel Dan Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking → Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao in Campos do Jordão 8.6 ★★★★ · 35 reviews Hotel Castelo Nacional Inn Campos do Jordao See on Booking →
See all hotels in Campos do Jordão

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Caldas Novas or Campos do Jordão: which is better?
Caldas Novas is in the state of Goiás (GO), while Campos do Jordão is in the Serra da Mantiqueira (SP): different regions of Brazil. Caldas Novas: the largest hot springs in the world; Campos do Jordão: Brazil's highest town, at 1,628 m in the Serra da Mantiqueira. For this month's weather, Caldas Novas has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Caldas Novas and Campos do Jordão?
The best time to visit Caldas Novas is from May to August; for Campos do Jordão, it is from June to September, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from Goiânia, Caldas Novas is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 113 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Paulo, Campos do Jordão is 170 km (106 mi) and costs about R$ 94 each way (fuel only, tolls not included). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Caldas Novas or Campos do Jordão?
Averaged over the year, Caldas Novas has 9 rainy days a month and Campos do Jordão has 11. Caldas Novas is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Caldas Novas is December and in Campos do Jordão, January. For temperature, Caldas Novas is the warmer one (average high of 31° versus 21°).
How many days should you spend in Caldas Novas and in Campos do Jordão?
To see the main sights without rushing, Caldas Novas calls for 3–4 days and Campos do Jordão, 3–4 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Caldas Novas or Campos do Jordão with kids?
Both work with kids: Caldas Novas (hot springs, hot pools, and water parks) and Campos do Jordão (Brazil's highest town, mountain cold, and Winter Festival). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Caldas Novas has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Caldas Novas: Hot Park, diRoma Acqua Park, Lagoa Termas Parque. In Campos do Jordão: Campos do Jordão State Park (Horto Florestal), Morro do Elefante, Pico do Itapeva. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.