One of the first national parks in Brazil, Serra dos Orgaos National Park was named due to the resemblance of its hilltops to cathedral organ pipes. Its rugged landscapes are crisscrossed by more than 200 kilometres of hiking trails and have gained a reputation for their climbing and rappelling opportunities.
Photograph the iconic Dedo de Deus (God’s Finger), a 1,692-metre-high peak that resembles a hand with its index finger outstretched. Don’t miss the Agulha do Diabo (Devil’s Needle), an elongated formation regularly voted one of the best rock climbs in the world.
Walk along the hiking trail to the beautiful Veu da Noiva Waterfall or soak up the views of Rio de Janeiro from the peak of Pedra do Sino. Serious walkers can tackle the three-day Petropolis-Teresopolis crossing, a 36-kilometre-long trail that winds through the park’s lowland rainforest, cloud forest and high montane vegetation.
Getting there
Serra dos Orgaos National Park is around 1.5 hours’ drive north of Rio de Janeiro and best accessed by private vehicle. Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport is just over an hour’s drive away.