Serra da Bocaina | BANANAL

​​​The Serra da Bocaina, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2019, is the second-largest protected area of the Atlantic Forest. It is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna across various landscapes, offering a peaceful and lush natural environment. The area provides refuge for a variety of animals, including rare and endemic birds, ocelots, wild pigs, howler monkeys, and pumas – one of the largest felines in the Americas.

​Situated on the border between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Serra da Bocaina stretches from sea level to altitudes above 2,000 meters. This diverse topography gives rise to stunning waterfalls, peaks, and viewpoints. The Serra da Bocaina is a natural sanctuary where untamed beauty merges with history and culture, promising an enriching and unforgettable experience for all who explore its trails and hidden treasures.

​​​Fauna and flora

​The region is estimated to consist of 60% native vegetation, mainly from the Atlantic Forest biome. The area is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including araucaria, cedars, palm hearts, bromeliads, and various palm trees. The vegetation features large trees such as murici, canela, and baguaçu. Along the riverbanks, rare orchids and bromeliads, like the micro-orchids of the Barbosella and Capanemia genera, can be found.

​The region also hosts endangered birds such as the harpy eagle, black-billed hawk, guan, cuiú-cuiú, macuco, black-billed toucan, and crested hawk. Other animals include tapirs, agoutis, marmosets, capuchin monkeys, sloths, snakes, jaguars, cougars, maned sloths, dark-shouldered marmosets, hedgehogs, deer, and numerous bird species.