- Select a touristic point
- . Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins
- . Parque Est. da Serra do Mar
- . Estação Ecológica de Bananal
- . Estação Ecológica dos Chauás
- . Parque Est. da Ilha do Cardoso
- . Parque Est. da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Santa Virgínia
- . Parque Est. da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Picinguaba
- . Parque Est. da Serra do Mar, Caraguatatuba
- . Parque Est. de Ilhabela
- . Parque Est. Pariquera Abaixo
- . Parque Est. Intervales
- . Cavernas
- . Vale do Ribeira
- . Iporanga
- . Apiaí
Estação Ecológica de Bananal
A walk through the history and the beauties of a tropical forest, with its great variety of plants and animals. This is the itinerary of a visit to Estação Ecológica de Bananal (Bananal Ecologic Station), in the region of Serra da Bocaina, border between the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in the city of Bananal. Part of Unidades de Conservação (Preservation Units), a network run by Secretaria do Meio Ambiente (State Department of the Environment) by means of Instituto Florestal (Forest Institute), Estação Ecológica doe Bananal is home to part of what is left from the Atlantic Forest, which used to stretch out over the entire Brazilian seacoast. These woods are so important that Unesco considered them a World Heritage. Estação Ecológica's 884 hectares are in an area whose altitude ranges from 1,200 to 1,900 meters. This geographical factor, together with climate factors, such as high rain levels and average temperatures that go from 20º to 33ºC but that, during the winter, go down to 0ºC, transform Serra da Bocaina into a mosaic of special environments. One of the roads bordering the station is the historic Trilha do Ouro (Gold Track), which was built by slaves to transport goods from the countryside mines to the seaside region. This track was once used to transport gold extracted from the mines of the state of Minas Gerais and sent to Portugal through the port of Rio de Janeiro.
For those who like waterfalls, Estação Ecológica do Bananal offers Trilha da Cachoeira (Waterfall Track). It is an easy track to walk, with about 300 meters, and which takes to the last level of Cachoeira Sete Quedas (Seven Falls), one of the most beautiful landscapes in the region. To walk through Trilha da Cachoeira, it is necessary to get the authorization from the station's management, which makes available an employee to guide visitors.