We can even understand why our city is called a stone jungle. After all, buildings and more buildings fill the city streets. But did you know that you can see the sea without leaving São Paulo? The Serra do Mar State Park is one of those surprises.
The far south of the capital is the greatest example of how São Paulo still holds secrets. Some examples of this are the million-year-old crater that exists there, waterfalls where you can relax in São Paulo, and even an “island”. This time, we’re going to introduce you to another hidden treasure in the neighborhood of Engenheiro Marsilac (about 70km from the center). And give you all the tips on how to get around!
Serra do Mar State Park: where is the sea without leaving São Paulo?
Serra do Mar State Park is the largest in the state of São Paulo. To give you an idea of its size, it covers more than 332,000 hectares, 25 municipalities and ten centers. In the capital of São Paulo, we have access to the Curucutu Nucleus.
The São Paulo center opened to the public next to the park in 1977. Since then, it has protected around a fifth of all bird species in Brazil, some of which are threatened with extinction. There are also 270 species of mammals, 20% of which are exclusive to the Atlantic Forest, including the puma.
But beyond all the environmental riches, there is one attraction that wins visitors over. The trail that leads to the only part of the city of São Paulo that is at sea level and from where you can see some of the cities on the south coast.
Curucutu Lookout Trail
The Curucutu Viewpoint trail is 1.6 km long and of medium difficulty. It takes about three hours to complete the route, while you can observe the diversity of landscapes.
The trail reaches the top of the mountain on the border between the municipalities of Itanhaém and São Paulo. On clear days, you can see the coastline of the cities of Mongaguá, Peruíbe and Itanhaém.
In other words, this is exactly where you can see the sea without leaving São Paulo. If you like adventure, this is an excellent option for exploring the city’s nature.
How do I get to the park?
Núcleo Curucutu is in the far south of São Paulo, about 70km from Praça da Sé. The address is Estrada da Bela Vista, 7090, Emburá do Alto neighborhood, in Marsilac.
Visits are free and take place from Wednesday to Sunday, from 9am to 4pm. All you have to do is book in advance on the park’s website and enjoy the day!
If you have any questions or would like more information, please get in touch via the Center’s social networks or by emailing pesm.curucutu@fflorestal.sp.gov.br.
