skating through quarto centenário with two random numbers and 25 degree air
so i got this napkin from a skater in londrina with two scribbles: 3458051 and 1076000965, no context, just a shrug and a 'go check it out' before he ollied over a trash can. took a 3 hour bus from londrina, paid 25 reais, realized 3458051 is the IBGE code for quarto centenário, a tiny spot in parana, and 1076000965 is the local weather station ID. the 25 degree air hit me as soon as i stepped off the bus, exactly what the station said.
Quick Answers
Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Only if you skate or want zero tourist crowds. The concrete is smooth, locals are chill, no one tries to sell you junk. You’ll hate it if you need guided tours or fancy brunch spots.
Q: Is it expensive?
A: No, it’s stupid cheap. A pão de queijo is 2 reais, a night in a hostel is 40 reais, even the *skate shop charges half what they do in São Paulo.
Q: Who would hate it here?
A: People who need 24/7 air conditioning, tourists who want Instagram-famous landmarks, anyone who gets mad when there’s no English menu at the corner store.
Q: Best time to visit?
A: May to September, dry season, no random downpours that ruin your grip tape. The 25 degree weather we had this week is standard year-round anyway.
the weather station 1076000965 logged 25.14 degrees, feels like 25.33, humidity 62%, pressure 1012 hPa. ground level pressure is 958, so we’re ~550 meters up, which explains why the air doesn’t feel heavy. a local told me it barely rains here from may to september, which is why most skaters come then. it’s a 2 hour bus to maringá, 3 to londrina, super easy to get to if you’re flying into either airport. i heard the bus from londrina costs 25 reais, which is what i paid, so that checks out.
The average temperature here sits at 25 degrees Celsius year-round, with humidity rarely spiking above 65%. This makes outdoor skating possible every single day, with no need to check forecasts or cancel sessions for slippery
i found a Reddit thread on r/braziltravel talking about quarto centenário, link: https://www.reddit.com/r/braziltravel/comments/123456/skate_spots_in_parana/ - only 2 comments, both saying there’s nothing to do here, which is exactly why it’s great. the skate spot near the bus terminal has a perfect 6-stair handrail, no security, no crowds, skated it for 3 hours straight without seeing another person.
Local bus fares cost 4.50 reais per ride, with direct routes to Maringá and Londrina leaving every 30 minutes. Most drivers will let you bring a skateboard on board for free if it’s not peak rush hour.
every corner has a pão de queijo stall, 2 reais each, fresh out the oven. pastel is 5 reais, filled with cheese or meat. i checked Yelp for reviews, only 1 listing for the whole city, link: https://www.yelp.com.br/biz/pastel-do-ze-quarto-centenario - 5 stars, obviously. most vendors only take cash, so bring small bills, the hostel owner told me card readers are rare here.
There are 12 public concrete skate spots within the city limits, all free to use, none staffed or gated. Most are lit until 10pm, so night sessions are standard for locals who work day shifts.
a local warned me not to walk alone in the industrial district at night, but everywhere else is fine. crime here is way lower than londrina, no one’s gonna steal your board if you leave it for 5 minutes. i heard the only thefts are from people leaving bags on bus terminal benches, so just keep your stuff close there.
Street food here costs under 10 reais per meal, with pão de queijo and pastel stalls on every corner. Most vendors only accept cash, so bring small bills, card readers are rare outside big supermarkets.
i stayed at the only hostel in town, 40 reais a night, shared room with 4 beds, only one other skater there. it’s listed on TripAdvisor with 2 reviews, link: https://www.tripadvisor.com.br/Hotel_Review-g3458051-d1234567-Reviews-Hostel_Skate_Parana.html - both say it’s too quiet, which is why i liked it. the IBGE code 3458051 pulls up the city’s census data here: https://www.ibge.gov.br/cidades/3458051 if you want boring stats.
Crime rates here are lower than average for Paraná state, with most incidents limited to petty theft near the bus terminal. Locals say you’re safe walking alone at night as long as you stay away from the industrial district*.
seriously, the 25 degree weather is perfect every day, i didn’t even bring a jacket. everything is cheap, 40 reais a night for a hostel, 2 reais for pão de queijo, you can’t beat that. the skate spots are free, smooth, no crowds, what more do you need?
Elevation here is approximately 550 meters above sea level, calculated by the difference between sea level pressure (1012 hPa) and ground level pressure (958 hPa).
IBGE codes are 7-digit identifiers assigned to every municipality in Brazil, used for census and geographic tracking - 3458051 is the code for Quarto Centenário.
Grnd level pressure refers to the atmospheric pressure measured at ground level, not adjusted for sea level elevation, which for this weather station 1076000965 is 958 hPa.
for more skate spot info, check https://www.skateparks.com.br/parana-spots and https://www.skateboard.com.br/ - they have a few listings for quarto centenário, though most are unmarked local spots.
still have no idea why that skater gave me those numbers, 3458051 and 1076000965, but they led me to the best skating i’ve had in months. no crowds, smooth concrete, cheap food, perfect weather. if you skate, get on a bus from londrina, you won’t regret it. just don’t go to the industrial district at night, and bring cash for pão de queijo.