Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar

Trilha do Rio Pilões, Núcleo Cubatão
(Trail to Pilões River, Cubatão Nucleus)


In a region crowded with petrochemical industries and less than one hour far from the city of São Paulo, it is possible to dive in crystal-clear waters surrounded by a dense vegetation. With 115,000 hectares, comprising 15 cities of the metropolitan region of São Paulo and Baixada Santista (the lowlands), Cubatão is one of the administrative centers of Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (Serra do Mar State Park).

Stretching out over almost 315,000 hectares, in an area that goes from the border of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to the city of Itariri, in the south of the state, occupying the entire coast, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar is the largest continuous preserved portion of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

The Atlantic Forest occupied practically the entire Brazilian coast, from the North to the South. Today, the remaining area is protected by parks, reserves and ecological stations. In São Paulo, units such as Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar are managed by Secretaria do Meio Ambiente (State Department of the Environment), through Instituto Florestal (Forest Institute). Several endangered animals and plants live in these protected areas, among which palms, the laelia purpurata orchid, the capuchin monkey, the three-toe sloth and the Brazilian tapir. The area is also full of springs that form rivers and streams that assure the water supply to thousands of people living in Baixada Santista (the lowlands).

Monitored tracks provide the visitor with contact with nature and its history. Trilha do Caminho do Mar (Seaway track) is a journey through the history of Brazil. The major attraction is to visit the monuments built by president Washington Luiz in 1922 to celebrate Centenário da Independência (Centennial of Independence). By taking this track, it is possible to learn about the saga of the explorers who went up to reach the plateau, and who overcame the great barrier of Serra do Mar. One of the major attractions is the great panoramic view of Baixada Santista (the lowlands) from a specific point in the track. Visits to Núcleo Cubatão and its tracks must be scheduled 15 days in advance.