Parque Nacional das Sete Cidades

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Here there are more than 600 species of birds (toucans, parrots, tangaras and many more) and numerous species of other animals - pakas, mazama deer, Paraguayan foxes, wild pigs, bush cats, raccoons, spotted and black jaguars.

Sete Cidades

The main attractions of the park are its cave paintings and the striking natural features known as the Sete Cidades ("Seven Cities"). So far as the ordinary visitor is concerned there are only six "cities", since only archeologists and specialists are admitted to the seventh, the "forbidden city", which contains many of the cave and rock paintings, dating from at least 3000 years ago (though some experts believe that they may be between 7000 and 14,000 years old). Many other paintings, however, can be seen in the areas open to the public.

The "Seven Cities" are isolated rocks and crags carved out over thousands of years by erosion. Some visitors, convinced that these are the remains of settlements built by Phoenicians, Vikings or even extra-terrestrial creatures, have seen them as towers, squares, streets and statues.

Some of the rock formations resemble human figures, animals or objects and have been named accordingly - the Cabeça de Cachorro ("Dog's Head"), the Urso Subindo na Pedra ("Bear Climbing a Rock"), the Tràs Reis Magos ("Three Kings"). Another bizarrely shaped rock, the Mapa do Brasil ("Map of Brazil"), has cracks which appear to mark out the frontiers of Brazil.

In the Second City is a "Library", with "Books" (smooth flat stones) opposite it. The Third City has a "Turtle" (Tartaruga), a "Camel" (Camelo) and a "Bridge" (Ponte).

Between the Fourth and Fifth Cities are the Arco de Triunfo ("Triumphal Arch") and numerous cave paintings. In the Fifth City is the Mirante ("Viewpoint"). Between the Second and Sixth Cities is the Pedra do Rei ("King's Rock").

There is a hotel within the park, but many visitors prefer to stay in the hostels run by the Guarda Florestal (Forest Guard).