Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hang
Gliding
A very popular
hang-gliding spot
(right),
the Pedra
Bonita (another
monolith) is next to
Pedra da Gávea and
is accessible by
road and a short
trail. Flights can be
fixed through tour
operators
(see p50)
.
%
$
Pedra da Gávea
Said to be the world's
largest coastal monolith, this
granite boulder
(above)
on the
forest's edge overlooks Rio's
suburbs and the Atlantic Ocean.
^
Wildlife
The endemic wildlife
in Parque Nacional da
Tijuca includes primates
such as the tiny tufted-
eared marmoset, as
well as 200 species of
birds, many of which
are endangered.
&
The Mayrink
Chapel
This tiny chapel
(above)
was built in 1863. The
panels inside are replicas
of paintings by the
Brazilian Modernist artist
Cândido Portinari. The
original works are in the
Museu Nacional de Belas
Artes
(see pp16-17).
(
Mirante
*
Park Roads
Dona Marta
This lookout, which
is perched above the
beachfront neighborhood
of Botafogo, boasts
breathtaking views of
the Sugar Loaf
(see
pp12-13)
. Note that this
area is not safe to visit
after 5pm.
)
Mirante Andaime
A series of roads
(below)
run through the
park, connecting the
neighborhoods of Santa
Teresa, Jardim Botânico,
and Barra da Tijuca.
Route maps are available
in the visitors' center.
Reforestation in
Imperial Rio
Deforestation of Tijuca
to make room for sugar
and coffee plantations
during the early years of
colonial rule led to such
bad flooding that
Emperor Dom Pedro II
commissioned its
reforestation in 1861. It
took 13 years for army
major Manuel Gomes
Archer and six unnamed
African slaves to re-
plant the forest with
native and exotic trees.
Pequeno
This is another fantastic
lookout point, which
looms over the Jardim
Botânico neighborhood.
It offers sweeping vistas
across emerald-green
treetops to the striking
Corcovado and Cristo
Redentor.
11
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