The largest urban forest in the world blends species of fauna and flora found only in the Atlantic Forest.
In the heart of the city of Rio de Janeiro, just minutes from most local neighborhoods, lies Tijuca National Park. Covering 3,200 hectares, it is considered the first major reforestation project in the world.
Over the years, efforts have transformed the forest into a public leisure area, incorporating works of art and buildings, as well as restaurants and other services. In 1961, the Tijuca Forest became a National Park, a privileged setting where nature and culture harmonize and complement each other.
Divided into sectors, the Park features historical attractions dating back to the coffee production era and the empire, such as the Mayrink Chapel, the Solidão Dam, and the Cascatinha. A good starting point is the Visitor Center in Sector A (Forest), which organizes hikes. In Sector B (Serra da Carioca) are the main viewpoints, such as the Chinese View. For the more adventurous, Sector C (Pedra Bonita/Pedra da Gávea) is ideal.
Piauí (Serra da Capivara and Sete Cidades)
Tourists visiting the state of Piauí can now visit the Serra da Capivara and Sete Cidades Parks. The units reopened on September 9, by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. The resumption of activities at these locations occurs gradually, adhering to all prevention and control measures as recommended by health authorities.
At this initial stage, the Serra da Capivara Park will be open from 7 AM to 5 PM. For visits, it is recommended that groups of up to eight people be formed, including children from the same family group or traveling together; in the case of school excursions, up to 24 people may enter, with three groups of eight visiting the same circuit at a time, respecting social distancing. Additionally, for the next 60 days, only five circuits will be reopened.
The Sete Cidades unit is open from 8 AM to 5 PM, limited to 200 visitors per day for the next 30 days. Starting on the 31st day, the number may be doubled. Trails will be open only for hiking, and cycling will not be allowed in the first month.
In both parks, the mandatory use of facial masks, availability of 70% alcohol gel or hand sanitizing products, temperature measurement of visitors at the entrance and exit of the parks, and periodic disinfection of environments must be respected.
Rio de Janeiro (Tijuca National Park)
Tijuca National Park reopened for public visitation on September 15.
The park protects the largest urban forest in the world replanted by humans and features 26 waterfalls and natural showers, 47 trails open to the public, historical ruins from the coffee plantation era, and houses one of the seven wonders of the world: Christ the Redeemer, located on the Corcovado Mountain.
All reopened federal conservation units have reduced public capacity and must follow safety rules against the new coronavirus. In total, 10 national parks have already reopened.
Visitors must follow safety rules to access Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer.
Reopened Parks
The national parks of Iguaçu (PR); Aparados da Serra (RS); Serra Geral (RS); Brasília (DF); Lençóis Maranhenses; Tijuca (RJ); APA Costa dos Corais (AL); Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge (SP); Fernando de Noronha National Park; and Itatiaia National Park (RJ/MG) are now open to receive visitors.
Reopening rules:
• Mandatory use of facial masks, even homemade, throughout the time spent inside the park;
• Provide alcohol gel or hand sanitizing products in areas open to visitation and on land and water transport;
• For attractions that require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), these cannot be shared without prior cleaning and disinfection of the equipment;
• Keep environments well-ventilated;
• Frequently promote cleaning and disinfection of environments;
• Remove newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and books from common access areas to avoid indirect transmission;
• Debit and credit machines must be fixed or wrapped in plastic film and disinfected after each use;
Photo: Caio Pederneiras/www.shutterstock.com[/caption>
• Maintain a minimum distance of 2 meters between sofas, tables, chairs, and benches in common areas of the establishment;
• In the case of restaurants, it is necessary to maintain a minimum distance between tables (2 meters) and chairs (1 meter), as well as in waiting areas and checkout lines, with markings on the floor. For places with fixed tables or where removal is not possible, alternate tables should be closed, visually communicating which are free and which are closed;
• Ground and water transport for visitors should prioritize natural ventilation. At the end of each trip, cleaning and disinfection of the vehicles must be carried out;
• Respect the transport capacity of each type of vehicle and avoid overcrowding or gatherings.
Source: www.turismo.gov.br