Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
In the destination Serra da Mantiqueira.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The city
Itatiaia brings together forest and high-altitude grasslands in southern Rio de Janeiro state. The national park offers a range of outings, from waterfall areas to mountain trails.
5 places to stay in Itatiaia.
3 places picked to eat.
What to know before you go.
The local experience
A settlement founded in 1929 by Finnish immigrants led by Toivo Uuskallio, it is the main Finnish colony in the country. Nordic-style houses, the Clube Finlândia, founded in 1943, and the Finnish museum preserve this heritage.
In the lower part of the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, the waterfall runs down a rock wall in the middle of the Atlantic Forest. Access is by a short, easy trail from the park's internal road, a few kilometers from the visitor center.
Discover Cachoeira Véu de Noiva
A natural pool formed by the Rio Campo Belo (river) in the lower part of the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, about 500 meters from the visitor center. The clear water over rounded rocks draws families for a swim, and there is an alternative, easier access path.
A low, wide waterfall in Visconde de Mauá whose sloping rock slab works as a natural slide, with easy access from the road. It is very popular and surrounded by rustic bars and restaurants.
Discover Cachoeira do Escorrega
One of the highest points in Brazil, in the upper section of the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, the country's first national park, created in 1937. Reaching the summit requires stretches of rock scrambling and rewards you with a 360-degree view.
Discover Pico das Agulhas Negras
A group of granite slabs stacked like shelves in the upper part of the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, with a trail of moderate difficulty. The landscape of high-altitude grasslands and rocks is unlike anything else in Southeast Brazil.
