The Atlantic Forest Trail (CMA) is a long-distance trail that crosses the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. With approximately 4,000 km in length, it is divided into fifteen planning and voluntary coordination hubs, five of which are in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The municipality of Rio Claro (RJ) and its districts occupy a strategic position on the Trail, establishing itself as a connection point and sustainable tourism destination. The region links conservation areas between the Serra do Mar and the Coffee Valley, functioning as a natural corridor that connects mountain landscapes and protected areas.
Upon completing the Coffee Hub or continuing through the Costa Verde Hub, hikers and cyclists find mountains, numerous waterfalls, ruins, historic tunnels, and plenty of history along the route. The municipality also integrates the Atlantic Forest Bike Route, the cycling tourism version of the Trail, recognized in 2025 by Bikepacking as one of the best long-distance cycling routes.
“Rio Claro is at a central point between two well-structured hubs, and can be a starting or ending point for different crossings along the Atlantic Forest Trail. It is a section that combines history and nature like few others in the state of Rio de Janeiro,” explains Chico Schnoor, one of the CMA coordinators.
Among the various routes to explore, we list those recommended by volunteers in the region.
Coffee Valley Hub: finishing point in Rio Claro
For those coming through the Coffee Valley Hub, the route is approximately 226 km and passes through Petrópolis, Paty do Alferes, Miguel Pereira, Vassouras, Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin, Paracambi, and Cacaria in Piraí, until reaching the municipality of Rio Claro.
Access to Rio Claro is via Serra do Matoso, a section marked by natural landscapes, trails, and viewpoints. “There, it is possible to stay at Sítio Pousada Beija-Flor, which preserves remnants of an old farm, and take advantage of Cláudio Cordeiro’s facilities, featuring a restaurant, swimming pool, and horseback riding,” recommends Gisele Ferreira, nature tourism guide and coordinator of the hub between Cacaria (Piraí), Mangaratiba, and Rio Claro of the CMA.
The next day, the route continues to Barro Branco Reservoir, via roads that cross farms and offer lunch stops, such as the historic Fazenda Palmeiras, located on Estrada do Sertão. The path continues through Sertão da Boa Vista, passing by the upper part of Bálsamo Waterfall, already in Rio Claro territory. “This is an important support point, with residents who open their homes to welcome hikers after climbing Serra do Matoso, which is quite demanding,” explains Gisele.
Bálsamo Waterfall – Photo: Gisele Ferreira
Fazenda Palmeiras
From Bálsamo Waterfall, it is possible to continue for approximately 5 miles on paved road to the São João Marcos Archaeological and Environmental Park, where historic ruins stand out amid the landscape. An alternative under development is to do this section by boat across the reservoir, departing from Ponta da Caneta to the park, shortening the route.
Julieta Santamaria, the first person to traverse the entire Atlantic Forest Trail, passed through Serra do Matoso and entered Rio Claro via São João Marcos, where she continued to the park. “It is a historic place that houses one of the few open-air museums. The city was abandoned for the creation of the hydroelectric plant and holds many stories from the slavery era. It is a very interesting region to learn about Brazil’s past.”
From São João Marcos Park, there are still two continuation options:
- Descending Serra do Piloto, between Rio Claro and Mangaratiba, via a historic section that passes through a quilombo and waterfalls. From there, it is possible to continue to Ilha Grande, explore the beaches, and continue to Angra dos Reis, where the Angra–Lídice Crossing begins.
- For those who prefer not to head to the coast and learn more about the region, there is the option to go to Lídice via a rural road, connecting with new sections of the Atlantic Forest Trail.
São João Marcos Park – Photo: Gisele Ferreira
Rural landscape on the road between São João Marcos and Lídice
For those departing from São João Marcos, a rural road of approximately 10.5 miles connects the region to the center of Lídice. The route passes through mountains, being more suitable for those on bicycles, but still viable, though more demanding, for those traveling on foot. Julieta walked the road and met a local resident who provided water and accompanied her for a stretch, riding on his horse.
Maria de Lurdes Pena Campos, volunteer for the Caminho da Mata Atlântica in Lídice, who maintains a camping area and lodge in the rural area, shares some attractions of the region:
“From my house in the rural area to the center of Lídice, there are five waterfalls, many still little known and located on private properties: Sr. Antônio’s Waterfall, the Swiss one, on Ângelo’s land, on Patrícia’s farm, and Sebastião Marinho’s, the most visited in the region.”
Sr. Antônio Waterfall – Sertão Rio das Pedras – Photo: Maria de Lourdes
Those heading to Lídice to experience the Costa Verde Nucleus travel mostly on dirt roads, and a good tip, according to Chico, is to visit Zé Claro’s Waterfall, which offers bathing in the midst of the Atlantic Forest, with waterfalls and pools, plus facilities for meals and overnight stays at the local camping area.
Lídice: starting point for the Costa Verde Nucleus
Lídice and its surroundings bring together diverse natural beauties. The municipality, which will host in October 2026 the 5th Cultural and Scientific Mountaineering Conference, marks the starting point of the Costa Verde Nucleus, conceived as a forest corridor that connects Cunhambebe State Park to Tinguá Biological Reserve.
It is the second largest nucleus of the Caminho da Mata Atlântica, with approximately 290 miles. The route integrates areas of preserved Atlantic Forest, including the buffer zone of Serra da Bocaina National Park and the historic Volta da Juatinga, in Paraty.
A mandatory stop for those traveling the Trail is Pedra Chata, accessed by a trail of approximately 5 miles (round trip) and approximately 4,920 feet of elevation gain.
At the summit, the view opens up to the Costa Verde, with the sea stretching from Mangaratiba to Paraty, including Ilha Grande. Nearby, it’s also possible to climb Pico do Papagaio, which offers a view of the mountains of Rio Claro and a striking sunrise.
Summit of Pedra Chata – Photo: Maria de Lourdes
The trail to Pedra Chata is located within Cunhambebe State Park, in Rio Claro (RJ), which encompasses areas of Atlantic Forest, especially in the districts of Lídice and São João Marcos. The conservation unit connects to Serra da Bocaina National Park, and access to mountain attractions is facilitated by trails in the Lídice region.
Reginaldo Honorato, mountaineer and biodiversity coordinator of the Caminho da Mata Atlântica, highlights the diversity of vegetation along the Pedra Chata trail: “You start in an environment of dense forest, with a waterfall. As you climb, the vegetation changes. Up there, the trees are already sparse and, at the summit, lower-growing vegetation predominates. Every mountaineer should visit.”
Angra–Lídice Crossing
From Lídice, it is possible to start the Angra–Lídice Crossing, a historic trail considered one of the most beautiful in the state of Rio de Janeiro, marked by bridges and tunnels along the route.
“It’s approximately 12.5 miles. During the crossing, you pass through 14 tunnels, traveling sections of an old railroad line. The route alternates between rural areas and railway until reaching the coast,” explains Maria de Lurdes.
Tunnel on the Angra–Lídice Crossing. Photo: Maria de Lourdes
The route crosses preserved Atlantic Forest areas, with stretches of forest, rivers, and small waterfalls along the way. Biodiversity is a highlight, with the possibility of spotting birds, small mammals, and a wide variety of native plant species.
As the trail advances toward Angra dos Reis, the vegetation transforms and the climate becomes more humid. The transition between mountains and coast marks a crossing that unites history, nature, and diverse landscapes.
Biodiversity: the region’s role in the ecological corridor
The regions of Rio Claro and Lídice are home to important stretches of Atlantic Forest through which the Trail passes, playing a strategic role in the connectivity of this biome.
The area functions as a link between large blocks of preserved forest. On one side is Cunhambebe State Park, connected to Serra da Bocaina National Park. On the other, the Tinguá Biological Reserve, forming an important ecological corridor. Additionally, Rio Claro is located in a stretch that crosses the Serra do Mar, an essential region for maintaining biodiversity.
“Connecting the Rio Claro and Lídice region is fundamental for wildlife, especially for large mammals, as it facilitates species movement and contributes to population health. That’s why this area is so relevant as a biodiversity corridor,” explains Reginaldo Honorato.
Recently, in partnership with WWF, monitoring work was conducted using camera traps in the region, including locations in Lídice, Barro Branco, and São João Marcos. The data obtained reinforces the importance of landscape connectivity for conservation and helps better understand wildlife population dynamics.
The region is home to a rich diversity of species, including felines such as the cougar, the kodkod, and the margay, as well as other mammals like the coati and the tayra, among many others.
Image from the camera deployed by the Atlantic Forest Trail
On the Atlantic Forest Trail’s website there is an interactive map for you to consult these and other routes, as well as support points, such as food, lodging, tourism partners, and attractions, which facilitates planning.