Guaricana National Park

Guaricana National Park is a protected natural area in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba that covers roughly 49,000 hectares of mountainous terrain. The landscape rises from lowlands at 100 meters to higher elevations reaching 1,680 meters, with diverse forest types distributed across these different altitude zones.

Brazil established this national park through presidential action in 2014 to protect dense tropical forests in the region. The creation reflected growing efforts to preserve remaining woodland areas from further habitat loss.

The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation manages the park, implementing strategies to balance environmental protection with scientific research opportunities.

The park can be reached by car from Curitiba in about two hours, with the main entrances accessible along established routes. Visiting during the dry months from May to September makes trails and access points significantly easier to navigate.

The park encompasses mixed forests with Araucaria trees alongside Atlantic rainforest sections, creating ecologically distinct zones across its elevation ranges. This forest mix supports specialized wildlife that inhabits only specific altitude bands within the protected area.