Birdwatching
Expert local guides.
Leticia P. Alves — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Renato Laurindo de Paiva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · João P. Burini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Claudio JJ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Luciano Thomazelli — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Claudio JJ — CC BY-SA 4.0
Intervales State Park is a reserve of more than forty-one thousand hectares on top of the Serra de Paranapiacaba in southern São Paulo state. Its name means «between the valleys», as it lies between the basins of the Ribeira de Iguape and Paranapanema rivers. It is the heart of a group of reserves that also includes the neighbouring PETAR park, together forming the largest continuous surviving stretch of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The land was once a farm owned by the São Paulo state bank; the forestry foundation took over its management in 1987, and it formally became a state park in 1995. In 1999 UNESCO listed it with the neighbouring reserves as a natural World Heritage Site. Altitudes range from eighty to 1,200 metres, with many caves and rich biodiversity. Intervales was a pioneer of organised ecotourism in the state, with a short self-guided trail around a lake and more than twenty trails with local guides to caves and waterfalls. Its guides are local people, sought out by birdwatchers from around the world for their sharp knowledge of rare species, and the park has lodging on site.
Expert local guides.
Guided trails.
The largest continuous tract.
Serra de Paranapiacaba, headquarters in Ribeirão Grande, southern São Paulo state
Yes, the park has lodging; book ahead.