Cidade Turismo
Search

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Get it on Google Play

Travel for your moment in life · Nature · Ecotourism

National and state parks

Ecotourism

National and state parks

Protected areas open to visitors, with marked trails, viewpoints and their own rules.

Parks are protected areas designed to receive visitors. Brazilian law creates them to preserve nature and allows, within them, research, environmental education, and tourism. Waterfalls, canyons, dunes, caves, and well-known peaks in the country are inside parks.

Visiting one is different from going to a beach or a town square. There are gates, rules, marked trails, and sometimes a daily visitor limit. Knowing how they operate prevents a wasted trip.

National and state parks: National, state and municipal park

National, state and municipal park

The difference is who manages them. A national park is federal and is under the responsibility of ICMBio, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. A state park is managed by the state environmental agency, and a municipal natural park by the city government. General rules are the same; the details vary for each unit.

In many parks, visitor services such as ticket office, internal transport, snack bar and visitor center are operated by a concession company. The environmental agency remains the manager and supervises the contract.

There are other categories of protected area, such as reserves, natural monuments and environmental protection areas. Some receive visitors, others do not. The park is the category in which visitation is part of the objective.

National and state parks: How visits work

How visits work

Infrastructure varies widely. Few parks have boardwalks, internal transport and a restaurant. Most offer rustic trails, viewpoints and a simple entrance station, and some are in remote areas, accessible via dirt road or by boat.

Some parks charge an entrance fee, with different rates for local residents, Brazilians and foreigners. Others do not charge admission but require a reservation, which can be made online through the managing agency’s systems. Popular attractions have a limited number of daily spots, and crossing trails require reservations weeks in advance during holidays.

Each trail has its own rule: some are free, others only with an authorized guide. The visitor center, when available, is the first stop, offering a map, information about the day’s conditions and exhibits about fauna and flora.

National and state parks: What you can and cannot do

What you can and cannot do

Visitors may walk the open trails, bathe at permitted spots, observe animals and take photographs. In some parks it is possible to camp in defined areas with a reservation.

It is not allowed to feed animals, remove plants, rocks or shells, take shortcuts, make fires outside authorized locations or leave trash, including food scraps. Domestic animals, loud music and drones are usually prohibited or require authorization.

Entry and exit times are controlled, and late arrivals may not have time to complete the trail. On days of heavy rain or high fire risk, management may close attractions. Check before you go.

National and state parks: Parks in the Central-West, Southeast and South

Parks in the Central-West, Southeast and South

In Goiás, Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park has its headquarters in Alto Paraíso de Goiás, and Emas National Park, in Chapadão do Céu, protects Cerrado grasslands. In Mato Grosso, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park is located in the municipality of the same name.

Minas Gerais has Serra do Cipó National Park in Santana do Riacho, Peruaçu Caves in Januária, and Serra da Canastra National Park headquartered in São Roque de Minas. Itatiaia National Park is divided between the lower part, in Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, and the higher part, near Itamonte, Minas Gerais.

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, Serra dos Órgãos National Park has more than 200 km of trails with entrances in Teresópolis, Petrópolis and Guapimirim, and Tijuca National Park is inside the capital. In the South, Foz do Iguaçu hosts Iguaçu National Park, and Cambará do Sul hosts Aparados da Serra National Park.

National and state parks: Parks in the Northeast and North

Parks in the Northeast and North

In Maranhão, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, with dunes and freshwater lagoons, has entrances in Barreirinhas and Santo Amaro do Maranhão; Chapada das Mesas National Park is in Carolina. In Piauí, São Raimundo Nonato is the gateway to Serra da Capivara National Park, known for archaeological sites.

In Ceará, Ubajara has Ubajara Cave Park, and Jijoca de Jericoacoara has Jericoacoara National Park. In Pernambuco, Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park protects most of the archipelago.

In Amazonas, Novo Airão is the gateway to Anavilhanas National Park, of river islands in the Negro River. Tijuca, Iguaçu and Jericoacoara are among the national parks most visited in the country, according to ICMBio.

National and state parks: How to plan and who to hire

How to plan and who to hire

Start with the park’s official page, which lists open attractions, tickets, reservations and whether a guide is required. Then choose your base town: the park entrance can be many kilometers from the municipal seat.

Local agencies arrange transport, tickets and a guide in a single contact. Check their registration in Cadastur, from the Ministry of Tourism, and whether the guide is on the park’s list of authorized guides. Ask what is included: ticket, transport, snack and insurance.

The price varies according to the park, the itinerary, group size, transport and season. The ticket is paid separately: check the current table.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a national park and a state park?

A national park is federal, administered by ICMBio. A state park is managed by the state environmental agency. Both protect nature and receive visitors, each with its own rules.

Do national parks charge admission?

Some charge a fee, with different rates for local residents, Brazilians and foreigners. Others do not charge but require a reservation. Check the current rates on the park’s official page.

Do you need to reserve to visit a national park?

In many, yes, especially for trails with daily visitor limits and for crossing trails. Reservations are usually made online. During holidays, book in advance.

Which are the most visited national parks in Brazil?

According to ICMBio, Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu National Park in Paraná, and Jericoacoara National Park in Ceará are among those receiving the most visitors.

Can you take a dog to a national park?

Generally no. Domestic animals are usually prohibited, to protect wildlife. Check the park’s rule before you travel.

Can you camp inside parks?

Only in parks that have defined camping areas and by reservation. Overnight stays outside those areas are not allowed.

Is a guide required to enter a park?

It depends on the trail. Many are open; others, such as crossings and caves, require an authorized guide. The rule is shown on each park’s official page.

Where to go: National and state parks

Pick a region or a state on the map, or type what you are looking for, to see the cities and who offers it in each.

Amazonas Bahia Ceará Distrito Federal Espírito Santo Goiás Maranhão Mato Grosso Mato Grosso do Sul Minas Gerais Pará Paraná Pernambuco Rio de Janeiro Rio Grande do Norte Rio Grande do Sul Rondônia Roraima Santa Catarina São Paulo Tocantins Águas da Prata - SP Alto Caparaó - MG Alto Paraíso de Goiás - GO Andaraí - BA Angra dos Reis - RJ Apiúna - SC Aveiro - PA Barreirinhas - MA Beberibe - CE Belterra - PA Biribiri - MG Blumenau - SC Boa Vista - RR Bodoquena - MS Bom Jardim da Serra - SC Bombinhas - SC Bonito - MS Brasília - DF Cachoeiras de Macacu - RJ Caeté - MG Caldas Novas - GO Cambará do Sul - RS Campo Grande - MS Campos do Jordão - SP Canela - RS Capitólio - MG Carambeí - PR Castelo - ES Castro - PR Cavalcante - GO Chapada dos Guimarães - MT Conceição do Ibitipoca - MG Cruz - CE Cuiabá - MT Cunha - SP Delfinópolis - MG Diamantina - MG Domingos Martins - ES Fernando de Noronha - PE Fortaleza - CE Foz do Iguaçu - PR Guapimirim - RJ Guarapari - ES Guaraqueçaba - PR Guaratuba - PR Ibicoara - BA Indaial - SC Itabirito - MG Itacarambi - MG Itaetê - BA Itambé do Mato Dentro - MG Itamonte - MG Itatiaia - RJ Jacinto Machado - SC Jaguariaíva - PR Januária - MG Jaraguá - GO Jardim - MS Jijoca de Jericoacoara - CE Lagoa Santa - MG Lambari - MG Lauro Müller - SC Lençóis - BA Magé - RJ Manaus - AM Mariana - MG Marituba - PA Mateiros - TO Matinhos - PR Morretes - PR Morro do Pilar - MG Mucugê - BA Natal - RN Nova Friburgo - RJ Nova Lima - MG Novo Airão - AM Ouro Preto - MG Palhoça - SC Palmas - TO Palmeiras - BA Paranaguá - PR Paraty - RJ Petrópolis - RJ Poconé - MT Ponta Grossa - PR Pontal do Paraná - PR Porto Murtinho - MS Porto Seguro - BA Porto Velho - RO Praia Grande - SC Primeira Cruz - MA Quatro Barras - PR Raposos - MG Resende - RJ Rio Acima - MG Rio de Janeiro - RJ Santa Bárbara - MG Santa Vitória do Palmar - RS Santana do Riacho - MG Santo Amaro do Maranhão - MA São Félix do Tocantins - TO São Francisco de Paula - RS São Gabriel da Cachoeira - AM São Joaquim - SC São Miguel do Iguaçu - PR São Paulo - SP São Roque de Minas - MG Serra do Cipó - MG Teresina de Goiás - GO Teresópolis - RJ Tianguá - CE Tibagi - PR Torres - RS Ubajara - CE Ubatuba - SP Uiramutã - RR Urubici - SC Vargem Bonita - MG Vitória - ES
Tap a state or a region to see the cities. Mapa: @svg-maps/brazil, CC BY 4.0

More activities in Ecotourism

← Ecotourism

Guided trails Guided trails Waterfalls Waterfalls Floating trips Floating trips Wildlife watching Wildlife watching Birdwatching Birdwatching

Beyond the guide

Cidade Turismo around the world: Brazil

South America

Colombia Peru Bolivia Venezuela Suriname Ecuador Argentina Uruguay See more →

Europe

Poland Switzerland Sweden Ireland Belgium Slovenia Slovakia Iceland See more →

North America

Bermuda the United States Greenland Mexico Canada Saint Pierre and Miquelon See more →

Central America and the Caribbean

the Dominican Republic See more →

Asia

Japan Turkey See more →

Africa

South Africa Egypt See more →

Oceania

Papua New Guinea Australia New Zealand Fiji See more →