Teresopolis Tourist Attractions

Teresópolis

Situation and Characteristics

The altitude and thermal resort of Teresópolis, situated in the Serra dos Orgãos amid waterfalls, springs and mountain streams, is 90km/56mi north-east of Rio de Janeiro, 60km/37mi south-west of Petrópolis (BR 495) and 77km/48mi south-west of Nova Friburgo (BR 495 to shortly after Bom Sucesso, then another 38km/24mi). Along with Petrópolis and Nova Friburgo it is one of the most important tourist centers in the mountains inland from Rio de Janeiro and the gateway to the Serra dos Orgãos National Park (Brazil's third National Park, established in 1939).

Bus station

Rua 1 de Maio 100

Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgãos

The Serra dos Orgãos National Park extends over an area of 4000 hectares/10,000 acres in the communes of Teresópolis, Petrópolis and Magé. The main entrance to the park is 12km/7.5mi from Teresópolis on the Rio de Janeiro road. There are hourly buses from Rio de Janeiro to Teresópolis; the best views on the way there are on the left-hand side.

The park is watered by a number of streams and by the Rio Soberbo, which forms a number of lakes and ponds, the most beautiful of which, enclosed by crags, is the Poço Verde ("Green Pond"). Just below this is the Museum of Natural History, which displays books, stuffed birds and landscape paintings which belonged to the German natural scientist K. F. P. von Martius (1798-1868), who visited Brazil. Also of interest is the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (1713).

The park has preserved valuable eco-systems, though these areas are not open to visitors. There are, however, various trails leading into the forest, in which, in addition to a great variety of low-growing plants, there are numerous endemic species of tree, including jequitibas, cedars and perobas. As regards the fauna, the commonest animals are pakas, armadillos and deer.

Mountains

The most rewarding peaks for climbers are the Dedo de Deus ("Finger of God"; 1692m/5551ft), the Dedo de Nossa Senhora ("Our Lady's Finger"; 1320m/4331ft), the Nariz do Frade ("Friar's Nose"; 1980m/6496ft), the Agulha do Diabo ("Devil's Needle"; 2050m/6726ft) and the Pedra do Sino ("Bell Rock"; 2263m/7425ft).

Viewpoints

Although the town is situated in a valley it has a number of viewpoints (mirantes), notably the Colina dos Mirantes (1054m/3458ft), the Mirante do Dedo de Deus and the Mirante do Soberbo, from which there are prospects of the whole surrounding area.

Cascata do Imbuí

6km/4mi from the town on the road to Petrópolis is the Cascata do Imbuí, a waterfall on the Rio Paquequer.

Amélia (Judith Mineral Springs)

Mineral springs

The most important of the town's mineral springs are Amélia (in the Ponta do Ingá district) and Judith (radioactive; in Bairro do Alto).

Cascata dos Amores

The Cascata dos Amores ("Lovers' Waterfall") is within the town.