Map - Matinhos

Matinhos is a municipality in Brazil that arose in 1920s. It is considered the "Girlfriend of Paraná" as the date of its emancipation was June 12, Lovers' Day in Brazil.

The colonization of Matinhos started in the mid-19th century, when the Carijó Indians used to live in the coastal part of Paraná, discovered in 1820 by a French explorer named Augustin Saint-Hilaire. The first name was Matinho, after a river in town, and the first colonists were Portuguese and Italians, who founded an agricultural colony.

In 1927 the "sea road" was inaugurated, connecting Paranaguá and Praia de Leste (Pontal do Paraná). It brought many families, mostly German, including the family of Augusto Blitzkow, responsible for the urbanization of Caiobá.

In August 1931 the region received a visit from the governor of Paraná, Carlos Cavalcanti, who went from Paranaguá to Caiobá in a waggon.

On January 27, 1951, by law n.613, Matinhos became a district belonging to Paranaguá, and on June 12, 1967, it became a municipality, no longer attached to Paranaguá.

The municipality contains the 1660 ha Rio da Onça State Park, created in 1984. It contains 1% of the 199587 ha Guaratuba Environmental Protection Area, created in 1992.