A place for those who love nature, enjoy hiking or cycling, love a chill and are looking to spend a few days disconnecting.
Waking up at 6 a.m. to the festival of colors as the sun rises over the mountains at an altitude of more than 1,800 meters is breathtaking, and for yogis, it’s the perfect place to open your mat. 
- Where it is: Located on the border between the states of São Paulo and Rio, it lies in the Paraíba Valley, right between the Serra do Mar and Mantiqueira mountains.
Serra da Bocaina is also the name of the national park – one of the largest reserves of Atlantic forest in the country, with 104,000 hectares.
- Which cities are part of Serra da Bocaina: It covers areas in 4 municipalities in São Paulo (Ubatuba, Cunha, São José do Barreiro and Areias) and two in Rio de Janeiro (Angra dos Reis and Paraty), totaling approximately 104,000 hectares.
In addition to these 6 municipalities, another three are covered by its buffer zone: Bananal, Arapeí and Silveiras, all in the state of São Paulo.
- National Park Headquarters and Sub-Headquarters: The main headquarters of the PNSB is located in São José do Barreiro (SP), where several of the Park‘ s attractions are located, such as the start of the Mambucaba Trail (better known as the Gold Trail), the Santo Isidro waterfall and the Veado Waterfall.
In addition to the main office, the PNSB also has a sub-office in Trindade, Paraty, where it shares the same facilities with APA Cairuçu.
- Highest point: Pico do Tira o Chapéu, which reaches 2,088 meters (6,850 feet) above sea level, one of the highest points in the state of São Paulo.
- Security level: 4/5
- Main attractions: Santo Isidro Waterfall, Veado Waterfall, free flight ramp, Gold Trail, Morro do Tira Chapéu.
- What to do: Explore the National Park, swim in the waterfalls, hike in the mountains, ride bikes and horses, disconnect and feel the peace of the place.
- For the more adventurous: The Gold Trail, which connects Sao José do Barreiro to Paraty, offers a 3-day hike among wonderful waterfalls and closed forest.
However, it is not recommended to do the trail alone and you need to book your accommodation (which is inside the park) in advance.
Na Serra da Bocaina você se conecta com a sua paz
- Where to stay: In Airbnbs or pousadas that are close to the main headquarters of the National Park, in the rural areas of São José do Barreiro and Bananal.
My parents recently put their house up for rent on Airbnb.
It’s a very cozy and well-located chalet, close to the National Park, and we spent many wonderful moments there. Here’s the link
- Access: The only access is by car or motorcycle.
There is no public transport in the region.
The road is dirt but the most difficult stretches are asphalted.
Taller cars have an easier time on the road, but all cars can pass on most roads.
Women travelers: It’s very quiet and safe for women who want to travel in a group of friends or alone.
The only things to watch out for if you’re alone are the lack of cell phone signal, the empty (but well marked) trails and the few places to socialize with other people, but if that’s what you’re looking for, perfect. Advice from a friend: There’s no cell phone signal, so download an offline map of the place and let someone know when you’re going.
Some pousadas offer lunch, but you need to book in advance.
Bring your own food for the hike.
