Head to Rio and go on a rainforest adventure You don’t have to go far from Rio to enter into Brazil’s famous rainforest. Here we take you through some of the most impressive National Parks and protected areas bordering Rio, that provide sanctuary to some of the world’s most unique ecosystems. Contact Brightsun Travel about our wide range of cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro so you can access some of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes this holiday.
Parque Nacional da Tijuca The Parque Nacional da Tijuca surrounding the city, even now only 39 square metres square, is a tropical jungle with incredibly beautiful plant life and wildlife that you can explore from well kept walking trails. You could take the 1012 metre climb to the top of Pico da Tijuca, or take a leisurely stroll around the park’s many waterfalls and caves. Here, you can also spot monkeys and iguanas roaming free, and take in incredible views from fantastic lookout points.
Serra dos Orgaos National Park About an hour’s drive from Rio is the incredible Serra dos Orgaos National Park, the third National Park to be established in Brazil, protecting the Serra dos Orgaos mountain range, where you can hike to the top of ‘God’s finger’. The park is in the Atlantic Forest biome and has unique landscapes, including patches of lowland rainforest, and thousands of species of plants, including tress that soar 40 metres above the ground.
Serra da Bocaina National Park Located between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the Serra da Bocaina National Park is a place where you can spot cats, sloth bears and deer in their natural habitat, plus a wide range of bird species. The park is part of the Bocaina Mosaic, 10 conservation units that cover the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro and the northern coast of Sao Paulo. The area is covered by dense rainforest and is part of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO.
The Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, or Mata Atlantica Biosphere Reserve (MABR) The Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, extending for 3000 kilometres along the coast of Brazil, includes remnants of the Atlantic Forest (93% of the forest has been destroyed) in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the largest forested biosphere reserve in the world, and is home to indigenous tribes, and contains a range of ecosystems, including forests, meadows and mangroves. The reserve uniquely provides sanctuary to almost 85% of threatened wildlife in Brazil.
Flights Brightsun Travel has several Rio de Janeiro flights from UK, including direct flights into the city from London with British Airways several times a week.