Brazil is one of the most famous countries in the world because of so many iconic tourist attractions, internationally renowned celebrities in various fields, amazing coffee and cocktail drinks, and for the biggest carnival in the world. The country may be known as the Land of the Palms but this South American country is more than just its trees.
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of land area with 8.5 million square kilometers (2.1 billion acres). With more than 208 million people, the country is also the fifth most populous in the world. From large population emerged some of the most celebrities in the world, mostly in the field of football (soccer in America) and modeling. Neymar, Pele, and Kaka, who are among the most popular football players in the world, came from Brazil, a country that takes football seriously. Brazil is the only team that has participated in all World Cup games. Brazil is also the home country of the world’s most famous models: Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Brazilians also know how to party. Tourists flock to this amazing nation for the annual Rio Carnival just before Lent. It is a day filled with street dancing and colorful costumes. It is no surprise that Brazilians love to dance, after all, samba was discovered here. While tourists party, they might as well have a Caipirinha, the country’s national cocktail mix.
The next day, tourists can then perk up with the country’s famous coffee. Brazil is the largest exporter of instant coffee in the world. After all, the many tropical rainforests in the country grow the best coffee. That’s another thing Brazil is known for: rainforest. A major part of the Amazon Rainforest lies in Brazil. So it is not surprising that Brazil has over 72 national parks—some of which are ensconced in the Amazon Rainforest.
But here are other national parks that tourists should visit when in Brazil:
1. Abrolhos Marine National Park
Established in 1983, this park covers most of the Abrolhos Archipelago, which has a volcanic origin. The archipelago has five islands but only Siriba is open for public visits. The other islands that form part of the park are the Ilha Guarita, Ilha Redonda and Ilha Sueste. The fifth island in the archipelago is Ilha Santa Barbara but this is no longer covered by the park.
The centerpiece of the park is, of course, the marine resources. The pristine blue waters are so inviting. The underwater treasures are perfect for scuba divers and snorkelers. There are beautiful corals, abundant shells, colorful fish species, and other unique marine critters. There is great diversity in the waters of Abrolhos. One of the areas with a picturesque image is the Abrolhos Parcel with its beautiful coral formations. These are visible even from tourists on boats because of the clear waters. Sea turtles often wander into this area.
Tourists who happen to be in Brazil between July and November should drop by this park to see an abundance of humpback whales. They drop by the park to breed. Siriba is also home to some beautiful rock formations. Several seabirds stay in this area.
2. Campos Gerais National Park
This park was established in 2006 and is located in the state of Parana. It is part of the Atlantic Forest biome, which is a large forest community from the Atlantic coast in Brazil traversing through the Rio Grande do Norte to Rio de Grande do Sul, to some parts of Paraguay and Argentina. Vegetation in the park is characterized by broad leaves, grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, and some mangrove forests. Among the most important plants in Campos Gerais are the ball cactus and the Sinningia leucotricha because these are endemic.
The landforms in Campos Gerais can be characterized as rugged. Tourists can enjoy hiking through cliffs and canyons. The top of the cliffs provides a great vista of the entire park. One of the most beautiful spots in the park is the cave. There is a hole in the cave that gives a perfect view of the sky above. The park also has the main sources for the Ribeira de Igaupe and Tibagi Rivers.
3. Emas National Park
Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park translates to rhea national park. Rhea is a large flightless bird that is generally native to South America. The Rhea is also the largest bird in South America and is related to the ostrich and emu. There is a need to protect Rhea because it is mostly found in South America and if its population goes down, the world’s Rhea population goes down—although, there were reports that a good number of rheas are populating a part of Germany.
Rheas are not the only birds that flock to this park, though. The park is generally grasslands, woodlands, and gallery forests. It also has a vast marshland. So basically, the park is a bird’s home and a paradise among birders. Among the birds that can be seen in this park are the black- and blue-masked finches, dwarf, and red-winged tinamous spotted and lesser northuras, tyrants, white-winged nightjar (endemic), and woodpeckers.
The park also has a good jaguar habitat. There are only about a dozen of them in the park but that is a good enough number. Other animal residents of the park are the black howler monkeys, Brazilian tapirs, capybaras, collared and white-lipped peccaries, maned wolves, marsh deer, ocelots, pumas, and red and gray brockets.
4. Grande Sertao Veredas National Park
One of the most popular novels in Brazil is “The Devil to Pay in the Backlands” by Joao Guimaraes Rosa in 1956. The novel vividly and most beautifully described the savannah, forests, streams, lakes, and rivers. Since books last forever, the landscape and natural beauty described in Rosa’s books should also last forever.
One of the most important parts of the park is the Carinhanha River, which has its upper basin within the park. The park also aims to protect a large population of animals like the Brazilian merganser, colocolo, cougars, giant anteater, giant armadillo, jaguar, maned wolf, marsh deer, ocelot, and Owl’s spiny rat.
5. Ilha Grande National Park
This park was established in 1997 to protect the upper Parana River as well as its biodiversity. This river runs through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The park comprises islands, islets, wetlands, floodplains, lakes, and lagoons. The alternating green from the forests and grassy plains and the blue from the lakes, rivers, and lagoons provide a stunning vista from above.
The multiple bodies of water in the park make it viable for boat rides and kayaking. A boat ride to the Parana River shows the various landscapes and beauty of the park. The park also has some beaches for swimming and picnicking. There are also archeological sites that the park is trying to protect—these sites provide a historical glimpse into the lives of Guarani Indians and Xetas.
The residents of the park include alligators, giant anteaters, jaguars, marsh deer, and tapirs. There are also several species of aquatic birds due to the presence of various bodies of water.
6. Nascentes do Rio Parnaiba National Park
Like a lot of the Brazilian national parks, this one also has a generally savannah landscape. One of the most interesting things in this park is the intelligent capuchin monkeys that abound. These monkeys are often referred to as the Einstein monkeys. The endangered hyacinth macaws and wild wolves also found a home in the park, which aims to protect the population of cougars, giant armadillos, and jaguars. The park is home to Camp Wolfsfelsen, which is known for its tamed maned wolves. Interestingly, some of them would even pose for photos with tourists.
The park is not publicly open as most national parks should be. Tourists who want to visit the park have to ask permission from the authorities. They will be allowed to tour the park with a guide, which is preferable anyway because a guide can help explain the cultural, historical, and biological significance of various tourist attractions.
7. Pantanal Matogrossense National Park
Located within the Pantanal biome, this park was also listed in the Ramsar Convention of 1993 as a Wetland of International Importance. The Cuiaba River runs through the park’s wetlands. The park is home to great biodiversity and the best way to spot them—both flora and fauna—is through a boat ride.
Both sides of the river are lined with vibrant green vegetation where wildlife and birds thrive. The water is also pristine and is peppered with lilypads. Jaguars may be elusive but there are a good number of them live in the park. Lucky tourists could spot one of them or more during the boat trip. Some tourists prefer to check out the place through horseback. For those not lucky enough to see jaguars may spot some caimans, capybaras, giant anteaters, and tapirs.
The river is also a good place to fish for some piranhas and other river monsters. The waters not populated with piranhas have some aquatic birds. Various places are great for hiking in the park.
8. Serra das Confusoes National Park
This park is located in the state of Piaui and it provides a different vista of Brazil. It is mostly composed of rugged terrain with sandstone plateaus and depressions. There are also some rocky outcrops in the area that hold small caves with refreshing springs. Among the most popular activities in the park are rock climbing and some cave explorations. The springs are also enticing enough for swimming.
The park also has various elevations with distinctive vegetation—although in general, it is quite sparse because of the rocky terrain. The lower elevation is home to some rainforest vegetation with the valleys containing ferns and bromeliads. There are various endemic species found in the park: at least three new species of lizard, one new species of amphibian, and another species of turtle.
The park also aims to protect its resident animals like bearded bellbirds, cougars, giant and Brazilian three-banded armadillos, jaguars, and white-browed guans.
9. Tumucumaque Mountains National Park
This park is located within the Amazon Rainforest, which is quite large. It was declared a national park in 2002 and forms part of the Amapa Biodiversity Corridor, which is supported by the Amazon Region Protected Areas Program. At 38,800 square kilometers (9.6 million acres), this is the largest national park that is a tropical forest in nature.
A lot of aquatic birds and fish species found in this park are not found anywhere else in the world. They are native and should be protected. The park is also a great habitat for jaguars, different kinds of primates, aquatic turtles, and harpy eagles.
10. Virua National Park
Infertile lands can still hold great biodiversity—this park certainly proves that. This is why the area needs to be protected because it is an anomaly. This park is characterized by infertile sandy soil that is frequently flooded. The main body of water in the park is the Virua Igarape, from which it got its name. The river flows through the Anaua River, which is in the southern part of the park. The Anaua also runs through the Branco River, which is in the west of the park.
The park adapts the campinarana vegetation of savannah, scrub, and forest. There is a high endemism of plant life in the park and campinarana regions in general. The park is also significant because it allows researchers to have a venue to look into how campinaranas host its biodiversity. According to experts, there are over 2,000 plant species documented in the park. There are even more species that have not been identified, which means there are around 5,000 plant species supported in this park. It is then one of the most botanically diverse conservation units in Brazil.