Itatiaia National Park

Rio de Janeiro & Minas Gerais, Brazil

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Itatiaia National Park, straddling the border between the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, holds the distinction of being Brazil’s first national park, established in 1937. Nestled within the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range, the park spans altitudes from 540 to 2,791 meters, offering a dramatic landscape of rocky peaks, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls.

Its most iconic summit, Pico das Agulhas Negras, rises to 2,878 meters, making it one of the highest points in Brazil and a magnet for climbers and trekkers. The park is divided into two main areas: the lower part, closer to the town of Itatiaia, is rich in Atlantic Forest vegetation and features accessible trails, natural pools, and waterfalls like the 45-meter-high Véu da Noiva.

This area also houses a Natural History Museum and visitor facilities. The upper part, known as the Itatiaia Plateau, is more remote and rugged, with alpine meadows, suspended valleys, and the origins of twelve river basins that feed major waterways such as the Paraíba do Sul and Rio Grande. Itatiaia is a haven for biodiversity, home to over 350 species of birds, including toucans, hummingbirds, and owls, as well as mammals like sloths, coatis, and the elusive maned wolf.

The park’s varied ecosystems make it a hotspot for ecotourism, birdwatching, and scientific research.