Gurupi Biological Reserve

The Gurupi Biological Reserve covers around 271,000 hectares of dense Amazon rainforest in Maranhão state with varied terrain and elevation. The landscape contains different forest types and habitats that support a wide range of plant and animal life.

Brazil established this protected area in 1988 as a federal reserve to safeguard the remaining rainforest in eastern Maranhão. The creation marked an important effort to preserve large continuous forest territories in the Amazon region.

The reserve sits alongside indigenous territories, creating a large protected zone where forest and local communities coexist. Visitors can observe how conservation efforts work together with the presence of people who depend on these lands.

Access to the reserve requires authorization from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, which handles permits through its office in Centro Novo do Maranhão. Visitors should inquire in advance about the permission process and prepare accordingly for their visit.

The reserve is one of only twelve Pleistocene refuge areas in the Brazilian Amazon where ancient forest types and specialized species have persisted over time. Rare animals like the Kaapori capuchin monkey live here and are found in very few other places.