The city is located on the "do Peixe" River and in Mantiqueira Mountains, bordering the state of Minas Gerais to the north and east.

Socorro was settled in 1738 by Simão Toledo Pizza, after the local indigenous people (Carajás) left the place due to the Bandeirantes incursions.

When the slavery was brought down and the so-called Old Republic begun, Italian immigrants arrived in São Paulo to replace the now-free slaves in the coffee farms.

The adventure sports was the most difficult part, since the creation of appropriate equipments would be also required, apart from ramps, wheelchairs and altered toilets.

As the ministry, local NGOs and companies and the city hall joined forces, the studies required for such adaptations were conducted.

(45%), industry (35%) and agriculture (20%)[6] The city attracts tourists specially because of its extreme sports facilities and parks located on its outskirts.