Day 3- Tijuca National Park- Environmental

Mirante da Cascatinha

After our adventures of yesterday, we decided to explore more of Rio, but instead of being in the city, we went to explore Tijuana National Park. That morning, we all woke up at 7 o'clock, with the intentions of leaving around 8 o'clock so we could get there around 9 o'clock. We all got dressed, packed a picnic lunch, packed our hiking bags full of water and snacks, and ate breakfast and then were on our way to the park. It took 54 minutes to get from the Air B&B to the national park. We arrived at the gate of the park and did not have to pay and entrance fee, since the par is free. After we parked our car, we found a map and decided to hike along the Cova da Onca trail,much to Zoe's dismay because she did not want to hike all the 2 miles out and 2 miles back that made up the trail. Emma convinced her, telling her how pretty it would be and how we would never get the chance to see anything like it ever again. The trail incorporates many scenic areas, such as the Mirante da Cascatinha which gives you a unique view of the national park. After walking for about fifteen minutes, we arrived at the parks most famous waterfall, the Cachoeiro do Horto, or Horto's Waterfall. The fall is 20 meters high and comes down onto two rocks, where it forms a natural pool. Here we stopped and at a snack of granola bars and took a break. Once we were ready to keep walking, we walked about another mile before coming up on the Mirante da Cascatinha to eat lunch. We ate a lunch of sandwiches, apples and water. At the two mile mark, there was a bridge, or ponte which literally means 'bridge' in English.. We went across the bridge and turned back and walked all the way back. On the way back we saw the Sagui, which is considered to be the smallest monkey in the world.  My favorite memory from the hike was when Libby was startled by a squirrel in a tree, screamed, turned around to run the other way, but ended up running strait into Kalynn, knocking them both over. We left the park at 3:30 and spent the rest of the day relaxing and sleeping, so exhausted from the hours we spent hiking. When we got back to where we were staying, Dawn looked through the pictures he took, and chose his favorite:

There are thirty waterfalls in the park but the most famous is the Cachoeiro do Horto
waterfall, which is pictured above.

Christ the Redeemer statue, which is apart of the park. It stand on the Corcovado mountains, and is 98 feet tall.

The park's entrance

The Sagui monkey, indigenous to Brazil and the smallest monkey on the planet

The Tijuca National Park is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and was established in 1967. It covers an area of 8300 acres, with a multitude of trails, waterfalls and historical ruins. This park is the first major restoration project in the world when it was started in 1861 and is the largest urban rain-forest on the planet.. More than 100,000 trees were replanted after the forest was destroyed because of coal and coffee planting and the water sources that supplied the city began to dry up. It is recommended that you go during the summer, the rainy season, but the park can be visited all year round. The park contains more than 1,600 plant species and more than 350 different species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. There are thirty waterfalls in the park, but the most famous is Cachoeiro do Horto.  It is home to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue on the Corcovado summit. The park opens everyday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. There is a well mapped out hiking system, where families can have easy strolls and serious hikers can climb the 1012m to the summit of Pico da Tijuca.