Brazil Tours

Rio de Janeiro Tours / Brazil - The Juatinga Ecological Reserve is an integral protection conservation unit of the Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve in the State of Rio de Janeiro. It can be accessed from colonial Paraty or directly from Saco do Mamanguá (see map).

Apart from protecting several ecosystems of the Atlantic Rainforest, such as submontane and montane tropical rainforest, mangroves and restinga, it aims to preserve the existence of about 400 caiçara families (apr. 2.000 people), who live without electric energy in little villages along the coast, such as Praia do Sono, Ponta Negra, Pouso da Cajaiba, Calhaus, Ponta da Juatinga or Mamanguá.

Geologically, the peninsula of Juatinga is located in the northern Ribeira belt and composed of several Neoproterozoic granites (500 Ma) with peaks above 1.000 m (Cairuçu and Jamanta). The primary rainforest around these peaks protects many animals threatened by extinction such as the spider monkey (Brachyteles arachnoides) or the jaguar (Onça pintada).

Juatinga is considered one of the most beautiful eco tour destinations in the state of Rio de Janeiro, particularly for hiking & trekking along the secret rainforest trails of the reserve.

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