Aparados da Serra National Park, National Park in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Aparados da Serra National Park is a protected reserve straddling Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, defined by steep rock walls and deep gorges carved into the landscape. Dense Atlantic Forest covers the terrain, with waterfalls descending from high elevations and feeding into rivers that run through the valleys.
The park was established in 1959 to protect the canyons and forests of this remote region. Over the following decades, government decisions reshaped the boundaries as authorities balanced conservation with other regional interests.
The name Itaimbezinho comes from Tupi-Guarani: ita (stone) and aí'be (sharp). The park lies on the border of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, and the state line runs along the canyon rims: the plateau top is in Rio Grande do Sul, while the cliffs, the Andorinhas Waterfall, the Véu de Noiva Cascade and the Rio do Boi valley floor are in Santa Catarina. Nearby towns are Cambará do Sul and Praia Grande.
The park is best explored on foot, with several trails of varying difficulty leading visitors through the terrain. Proper footwear is essential since paths are rocky and steep elevation changes demand some physical endurance.
The name Itaimbezinho comes from Tupi-Guarani: ita (stone) and aí'be (sharp). The canyon runs 5,800 m, is 600 to 2,000 m wide and drops about 600 m, reaching 750 m at its deepest. The Perdizes stream runs along its floor, and the Rio do Boi trail is the only route into the gorge itself.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,783 contributors worldwide.
