The South of São Paulo

PETAR, Ilha Comprida and Iguape

PETAR (Parque Estadual Turístico Alta Ribeira)

In the south of the state São Paulo was founded a national park in the year 1958, which is nowadays part of UNESCO – world heritage. It is the largest area of Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica), with many waterfalls, also Quilombos (settlements of slaves that flew) and about 300 caves, of which twelve can be visited. Some of them have rivers, and the cave Casa de Pedra has the largest entry with a height of 215m. It can be visited, but not entered.

An unique flora and fauna expects the visitor in this region: bromelias, orchidees, fruits, monkees, many other animals and birds. You have the possibility to see everything by foot (as the caves and waterfalls), but also sportive activities await you: swimming in the natural swimming pools under waterfalls, boia-cross (on a river on floating tires), descending waterfalls and tours by bike.

You may not enter the park alone, you do need a guide (called monitor) that accompanies up to eight persons. A booking in time is better as also the daily number of visitors in the caves is limited

The region has cheap and rather simple guest houses, being in the nature. As not highly developed for tourism yet it is better to make a reservation in advance, especially at long weekends or during vacations.

Optimal is a stay of three to four days. You need shoes for walking (tennis shoes for example), trousers and torches would be good, too.

The main attractions are at the road Iporanga – Apiai. Close to PETAR, in the city Apiai are the rests of an old gold mill, which is museum nowadays.

- photo gallery at the end of the page -

Ilha Compida, Iguape and Cananeia

Also interesting is a tour to Ilha Comprida (Long Islandl) at the south coast of the state of São Paulo, which is about three hours of driving away from PETAR and also Sao Paulo. And, different as at the north coast of São Paulo there are only simple but comfortable guest houses available.

There you have the possibility to watch tucuxi (dolphins), which live in the ocean as well as in rivers.

Iguape is one of the oldest cities of Brazil, it was in the beginning because of the contract of Tordesilhas spanish. Finding gold in the region the city grew very fast, in the 17th century here was produced the first Brazilian money. After the gold rush the city survived by planting a very good rice, which was exported to Europe. It is said that each week ten ships with rice left for Europe. When shortening the way to the sea port by a channel, the river Ribeira left a lot of sand in the harbor, which meant the end of the importance of Iguape. Today, Iguape with its basilica and historic center is a place to relax, life is passing slow there.

Cananeia is the city most South in the State of SãoPaulo and only has 13 thousand inhabitants. Cananeia is the oldest portuguese settlement of Brazil, the first settlers arrived in 1502 – before the foundation of the officially oldest city in Brazil, São Vicente. There are not many tourists here, in summer 2010 only 30 thousand visitors came tovisit the UN nature heritage. From Cananeia you can make tours by boat to the Ilha Cardoso and make tours in the rain forest. In the area there are many tucuxi-dolfins, the only ones that live in rivers as well as in the ocean.

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Hotels

Especially in this region we offer a package with an English speaking guide and a car as it is not very easy without some knowledge of portuguese. We can arrange everything, the search and booking of a hotel as well as the transfer to and from the region or to other places in Brazil.

- please click on the photo to open the site of the hotel -

Pousada Fazenda Caacupé, PETAR

Gamboa Eco Refugio, PETAR

Pousada da Diva, PETAR

Photos

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