Parque Nacional de Itatiaia 
Parque Nacional de Itatiaia
Some 9km/5.6mi from Itatiaia is the entrance to Itatiaia National Park, which lies partly in Rio de Janeiro state and partly in Minas Gerais. This very hilly region rises in four stages at average altitudes of 816km/2677ft, 1100m/3610ft, 1900/6235ft and 2450m/8040ft. Mighty peaks rear up from the highest level, such as the Pico das Prateleiras (2540m/8335ft) and the Pico das Agulhas Negras (2787m/9144ft). Temperatures never rise above 20°C/68°F, and in winter may fall below freezing point; then there may be frost and hail, though snow is very rare.
Some 9km/5.6mi from Itatiaia is the entrance to Itatiaia National Park, which lies partly in Rio de Janeiro state and partly in Minas Gerais. This very hilly region rises in four stages at average altitudes of 816km/2677ft, 1100m/3610ft, 1900/6235ft and 2450m/8040ft. Mighty peaks rear up from the highest level, such as the Pico das Prateleiras (2540m/8335ft) and the Pico das Agulhas Negras (2787m/9144ft). Temperatures never rise above 20°C/68°F, and in winter may fall below freezing point; then there may be frost and hail, though snow is very rare.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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At lower levels there are cedars, jequitibás, cinnamon-trees and various species of palm; at higher altitudes highland stepped country predominates, with smaller, daintier but thick-barked trees. Gallery forests are found mainly round waterfalls and rivers. The rivers are either tributaries of the Rio Grande (MG) or flow through the Paraíba basin (Campo Belo, Flores, Bonito, Aiuruoca, Preto, Santa Maria, Penedo, etc.). The animals include ocelots, pumas, monkeys, bush dogs, bush pigs and some other species. There are estimated to be some 600 species of birds.
In the local hotels visitors can get information about hiking trails in the National Park or hire guides for excursions - either walks in the virgin forest or climbing trips for experienced climbers.
Accommodation
Within the park there are hotels and small inns with accommodation for up to 120 people. The Abrigo Rebouças (mountain hut), reached from the Engenheiro Passos-São Lourenço road, is 17km/10.5mi (on an unsurfaced road) from the boundary between Rio de Janeiro state and Minas Gerais. At Penedo in the Serrinha de Alambari, 15km/9.3mi from the Via Dutra, is a camping site run by CCB-RJ (the Rio de Janeiro branch of the Camping Clube do Brasil), and there are other camping sites at Itatiaia, Penedo, Mauá and Resende.
In the local hotels visitors can get information about hiking trails in the National Park or hire guides for excursions - either walks in the virgin forest or climbing trips for experienced climbers.
Accommodation
Within the park there are hotels and small inns with accommodation for up to 120 people. The Abrigo Rebouças (mountain hut), reached from the Engenheiro Passos-São Lourenço road, is 17km/10.5mi (on an unsurfaced road) from the boundary between Rio de Janeiro state and Minas Gerais. At Penedo in the Serrinha de Alambari, 15km/9.3mi from the Via Dutra, is a camping site run by CCB-RJ (the Rio de Janeiro branch of the Camping Clube do Brasil), and there are other camping sites at Itatiaia, Penedo, Mauá and Resende.
Related Attractions
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Fauna and Flora Museum
The road running through the park leads directly to the Fauna and Flora Museum, which displays specimens of the fauna of the region, from insects to large mammals, and of the local flora, as well as material illustrating the history of the National Park. Below the museum is a track leading to a lake which receives sunlight only around midday.
Itaporani Falls
From the car park at the end of the park road, a 7km/4.3mi long track leads to a fork; to the right the Cachoeira de Itaporani.
Pico das Prateleiras
Pico das Prateleiras
Hotel buses take visitors to the foot of the Pico das Prateleiras. From there it is only a short walk to the crags known as Tartaruga (Tortoise) and Maçã (Apple), from which there are views of the valleys in the region. Access by the Engenheiro Passos-São Lourenço road (70km/43mi).
Hotel buses take visitors to the foot of the Pico das Prateleiras. From there it is only a short walk to the crags known as Tartaruga (Tortoise) and Maçã (Apple), from which there are views of the valleys in the region. Access by the Engenheiro Passos-São Lourenço road (70km/43mi).
Três Picos
The ascent of the Tràs Picos (Three Peaks), 7km/4.3mi from the center of the park, takes a full day.
Véu de Noiva
From the car park at the end of the park road, a 7km/4.3mi long track leads to a fork; to the left is the Véu da Noiva ("Bridal Veil") waterfall, which has a particularly abundant flow in summer.
Maromba Falls
At the end of the road running through the park is a car park, from which there are tracks to the Maromba, Itaporani and Véu da Noiva waterfalls and the Pico das Agulhas Negras. The Cachoeira de Maromba is immediately below the car park, down a few stone steps.
