The Serra dos Órgaos National Park is located in Teresópolis, the sierra region of the state, at 90 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro and has an area of 11 thousand hectares.

The place is visited by thousands of tourists that make good use of the natural pool and the cascade during the southern hemisphere's summer.

The area is propitious for hikes through rustic roads while admiring peculiar ecosystems in remote places.

The famous route Petrópolis - Teresópolis is a 42 kilometre long hike, a proposal that can take as much as four days.

Another option is a visit to the sub-site, situated along the highway connecting Guapimirim with Teresópolis, a true paradise of waterfalls.

You need to be aware of one phenomenon called "head of water" only, which inundates the natural pits in a sudden manner.

For those seeking a much radical experience, the park offers diverse mountains for the practice of scaling such as the Finger of God, symbol of the region.

But you have to be careful because there are many dangerous ways due to the rotten staples. Besides, the tracks to access these rocks are very slippery and some even bear the risk of detaching.

Weather

The weather varies between hot and warm and is quite humid, with medium sub-dry periods. The high part of the park has a weather called soft mid-thermal, with temperatures ranging between 18° and 19° C.

Vegetation

The park has an Atlantic pluvial tropical forest rich in palm trees, Cipó Cabeludo (Mikania hirsutissima), epiphytes and tall trees. In spite of their primitive looks, the forest forms are secondary and well evolved shrubs in reality, regarding the sequence of the forest.

The fauna of the park is similar to that of other parks in the region, with a great number of small mammals. There are diverse bird species, among the endangered ones are the Vinaceous-breasted parrot (Amazona vinacea), the Large-billed Seed-Finch (Oryzoborus crassirostris) and the Black-fronted Piping Guan (Pipile jacutinga).

The Serra dos Órgaos National Park opens Tuesdays through Sundays and charges a US 3.00 dollar entrance fee to visitors, and has a lodge inside with daily fees of US 18.00 dollars.