Serra do Rio do Rastro

The SC-390 climbs the escarpment of the Serra Geral in Santa Catarina, from the coastal plain at Lauro Müller to the plateau at Bom Jardim da Serra at 1,421 m. The upper section is a stack of concrete hairpins carved into a rainforest-covered wall, with a lookout at the top that sees to the coast on a clear day.

The drive

The lower part is a fast, winding climb through forest. The last 8 km are the famous section: very tight, very steep hairpins, one directly above the next, on a concrete surface. It is lit at night, and the view of the lights from the top is a local attraction.

The neighbouring Serra do Corvo Branco, with its deep rock cutting, makes a loop, though part of that road is unsealed and not suitable for a low car.

In your Lotus

Brazil's Lotus community is small, but this road draws sports car owners from across the south of the country. The hairpins are so tight that lorries need several shunts, and the concrete is slippery when wet. Cloud forms on the escarpment most afternoons, so go in the morning.