Pedra Azul State Park, State park in Domingos Martins, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Pedra Azul State Park is a 1,240-hectare state park in Espírito Santo, Brazil, spanning parts of Domingos Martins and Vargem Alta. Its main feature is Pedra Azul, a granite and gneiss peak rising to 1,822 meters, with a protrusion resembling a climbing lizard. Behind it, Pedra das Flores reaches 1,909 meters, the park's highest point. The park protects dense antimontane rainforest and is part of the Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor.
Decree 312 of 31 October 1960 created the Pedra Azul Forest Reserve. Law 4,503 of 2 January 1991 converted it into Pedra Azul State Park with 1,240 hectares, to protect the Atlantic Forest around the Pedra Azul massif. In 2002 the park became part of the Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor.
The park's name comes from the Pedra Azul, whose granite face shifts between blue, green, yellow and grey with the sunlight; locals say it changes colour 36 times a day. A protrusion on the same rock resembles an animal climbing the slope, earning it the nickname Pedra do Lagarto (Lizard Stone).
Visits must be booked at least one day ahead and are always led by an IEMA forest guard. Tours leave at 9:00 and 13:30; the natural pools take 2.5–3 hours round trip, while the Base and Lizard/Lookout trails take 1–1.5 hours. Wear closed shoes with good grip; on the rope section to the pools, two people at a time and a minimum age of 10 apply.
The main granite formation shifts colors throughout the day, displaying shades of blue, green, yellow, and gray depending on sunlight and viewing angle. This optical effect means the rocks appear to transform, making each visit a different visual experience.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,282 contributors worldwide.