The Serra de Bocaina National Park was created to protect Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo from a potential nuclear accident in the power stations of Angra I and II.

The objective was to insert a protective vegetal wall on the outskirts of the Sierra del Mar, between the cities and the nuclear power stations. On this regard, in the early 1970s the authorities resolved to demarcate this conservation area which has currently 110000 hectares and constitutes the richest display of the Atlantic forest in the country.

The area is located between the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo and comprises lands from the municipalities of Parati, Angra dos Reis, Sao José do Barreiro, Arenas, Cuña and Ubatuba.

The park includes places such as inlets with sandy beaches, like is the case of the Cachadaço and Medio beaches, and an ocean island, like the Scissors (Tijeras) Island, up to cliffs, caves and deep valleys with mountains over 1800 metres high in the region of Trinidad.

Likewise, it contains various rivers with cascades of cold and crystalline waters. The main river basin is that of the Mambucada River. The Paraitinga River, one of the main tributaries of the Paraiba do Sul River, is born in the park.

Flora

A diverse vegetation with an ample biodiversity develops in the coastal and estuary zones, at the Atlantic pluvial tropical forest, and at the higher grounds of the sierra.

There are groups of pine trees of the Paraná type and of the brave pine tree. Various rare epiphytes exist in the area, especially at the riverbanks, such as the micro orchids belonging to the Barbosella and the Capanemia species; and plenty of hard wood species endangered due to their commercial value.

Fauna

The Atlantic fauna is predominant in here, with the carnivore and the bearded monkeys, the sagui from the sierra, the jaguatirica, the wildcat, the lontra, the flag-tamandúa, the macuco, the crested sparrow-hawk, the monkey catcher sparrow-hawk, the regal sparrow-hawk, the purple chest parrot, and the tiriba, amongst others.

Rides

You need to obtain a permit from the entity in charge of the park, the IBAMA, to get inside the area. There are excellent conditions for the practice of trekking through diverse and amusing rural roads leading to the cascades.

Amongst the most visited waterfalls is the San Isidro, close to the main entrance to the park, and the cascade of the Deer, at the Mombucaba River, between the sierra and the coastline.

The Track of Gold is an old colonial road built with slave manpower and stones from the river. It cuts the park in the direction of Sao Jose do Barreiro - Parati. It was used by the workers to transport the gold coming from Minas Gerais to the ports of Mambucaba and Parati since the XVII century.

It is one of the best spots for taking a hike or a horseback ride. There are camping areas along the Track of Gold.

How to get there

It is recommendable to use a four by four vehicle and drive through the Presidente Dutra highway up to Qué luz / SP; then follow the road bound to Arenas and finally to Sao Jose do Barreiro. You will reach the park's entrance continuing through the SP-221 road for another 27 kilometres. A sports utility vehicle is of much help during the rainy season.