Brazil operates 74 national parks under Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, known as ICMBio. The national park system began in 1937 with the creation of Itatiaia National Park, which protects 28,084 hectares in the Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states. Brazil's protected area network also includes approximately 2,446 federal, state, and municipal conservation units covering roughly 2.5 million square kilometers, which represents about 30 percent of the country's total land area. The legal framework dividing these areas into twelve categories stems from the Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação, enacted in 2000 under Law 9,985. The categories split between proteção integral units where only indirect use is permitted and uso sustentável areas allowing regulated resource extraction by resident populations.
Iguaçu National Park on the border with Argentina protects 185,262 hectares of Atlantic Forest and contains the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. UNESCO designated the park a World Heritage Site in 1986. The falls extend 2.7 kilometers and comprise 275 individual drops, with the tallest reaching 82 meters at Garganta do Diabo, though that specific cascade lies on the Argentine side. The park receives approximately 1.8 million visitors annually according to ICMBio's 2019 figures, making it Brazil's second most visited national park. The protected forest hosts 68 mammal species including jaguar, puma, and giant otter. The Brazilian side offers a panoramic walkway extending 1,200 meters along the lower canyon, providing frontal views of the falls. Park infrastructure includes a visitor center opened in 2008, a 12-kilometer paved access road, and boat tours operated by concessionaire Macuco Safari that approach the base of the falls.
Tijuca National Park covers 3,953 hectares entirely within Rio de Janeiro's municipal boundaries, making it one of the world's largest urban protected forests. The park was established in 1961 but its reforestation history extends to 1861 when Emperor Dom Pedro II ordered the replanting of watersheds that had been cleared for coffee cultivation. Major Manuel Gomes Archer directed the planting of approximately 100,000 trees between 1861 and 1874, primarily native Atlantic Forest species. The park contains Cristo Redentor at 710 meters elevation, Pico da Tijuca at 1,021 meters which is the park's highest point, and Pedra Bonita at 696 meters used for hang gliding launches. Visitor count reached 3.3 million in 2019 according to ICMBio, making Tijuca Brazil's most visited national park, though most visitors access only the Cristo Redentor monument rather than the forest trails. The park maintains 80 kilometers of hiking trails including the route to Pico da Tijuca summit, which covers 3.5 kilometers with elevation gain of approximately 300 meters.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park protects 155,000 hectares of coastal dunes and seasonal lagoons in Maranhão state. The park was created in 1981. Annual rainfall averages 1,200 millimeters concentrated between January and June, filling thousands of interdune lagoons that reach peak levels between July and September. The dunes extend up to 40 kilometers inland from the Atlantic coast and reach heights of 40 meters. The two principal lagoon systems accessible to visitors are Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita near the settlement of Barreirinhas, which serves as the main access point. The park recorded 65,000 visitors in 2018 according to ICMBio figures. The ecosystem appears barren but supports fish populations including the killifish Rivulus dapazi, which survives dry season periods as eggs in moist sand and hatches when rains return. Access requires four-wheel drive vehicles and most visitors arrange tours through operators in Barreirinhas, located 260 kilometers east of São Luís.
Chapada Diamantina National Park in Bahia state covers 152,142 hectares of highlands established as a national park in 1985. The plateau reaches elevations above 1,200 meters with the highest point at Pico do Barbado measuring 2,033 meters, making it the tallest peak in Bahia state. The park contains Cachoeira da Fumaça, a waterfall with a reported free-fall height of 340 meters, though measurements vary between sources from 340 to 380 meters. During dry season months from August through December, wind disperses the water before it reaches the base, creating the smoke effect that gives the falls its name. The Vale do Pati trek is a three to five day route covering approximately 70 kilometers through the park's interior, passing through river valleys between mesa formations. The town of Lençóis serves as the primary access point and base for guides. The park maintains limited infrastructure with no paved internal roads and requires hikers to arrange private guides for most routes beyond day-hike destinations.
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park protects 240,611 hectares of cerrado ecosystem in Goiás state at elevations between 600 and 1,650 meters. UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 2001. The park was originally established in 1961 as Tocantins National Park covering 625,000 hectares, reduced to 171,924 hectares in 1972, then expanded to current size in 2017. The cerrado biome covers approximately 2 million square kilometers of central Brazil and contains estimated 10,000 plant species with 4,400 endemic to the region. The park receives approximately 25,000 visitors annually according to 2018 ICMBio data. Primary attractions include Cachoeira Almécegas I with 45-meter drop, Cachoeira Almécegas II with two tiers totaling 15 meters, and Vale da Lua, a rock formation of gray quartzite carved by the São Miguel River. The town of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, located 36 kilometers from the main park entrance, serves as visitor base. The park allows unguided access on designated trails including the 11-kilometer round trip to Cariocas and Cânions waterfall complex.
Jaú National Park covers 2,272,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in Amazonas state, making it one of South America's largest protected forest areas. The park was established in 1980 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 as part of the Central Amazon Conservation Complex along with three other protected areas totaling 6 million hectares. The entire park lies within the Negro River basin, itself a tributary of the Amazon River. The Negro River's dark water results from high concentrations of humic acid from decomposed organic matter with pH levels between 3.8 and 4.9. The park contains no roads and access requires river travel from Novo Airão, located approximately 180 kilometers northwest of Manaus. Visitor numbers remain under 1,000 annually due to access difficulty and ICMBio restrictions limiting tourism to minimize impact. The park protects populations of giant otter, Amazonian manatee, jaguar, and giant armadillo. Two traditional river communities, totaling approximately 1,000 residents, inhabit the park under special use agreements predating the park's creation.
Anavilhanas Archipelago became a national park in 2008, expanding from earlier ecological station status. The park protects 350,018 hectares including the Rio Negro archipelago containing approximately 400 islands extending 90 kilometers between Manaus and Novo Airão. The islands appear during low water season typically from September through January, while high water from May through July submerges portions under up to 10 meters of seasonal flooding. The flooded forest, known as igapó, comprises vegetation adapted to extended inundation periods. The park maintains a visitor center in Novo Airão with boat access to trail systems on selected islands. The 2018 ICMBio visitor count recorded 12,873 people. The park's aquatic ecosystems support over 400 fish species including ornamental species such as cardinal tetra and discus. River dolphins including the pink boto and the smaller gray tucuxi inhabit the waterways. The park lies within the Central Amazon Conservation Complex World Heritage Site.
Pantanal Matogrossense National Park protects 135,606 hectares of wetland in Mato Grosso state, established in 1981. The park represents less than one percent of the Pantanal biome, which covers approximately 150,000 square kilometers across Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, with roughly 80 percent lying within Brazil. The Pantanal experiences annual flooding cycles with water levels rising 2 to 5 meters between December and May, then receding from June through November. This flood pulse drives the ecosystem's productivity, supporting the highest concentration of wildlife in the Americas. The park itself receives minimal visitation, recording only 1,642 visitors in 2018 according to ICMBio, with access requiring boat transport from Poconé. Most Pantanal ecotourism occurs on private fazendas outside the park boundaries, particularly along the Transpantaneira road, which extends 147 kilometers from Poconé to Porto Jofre. These private reserves allow closer wildlife viewing of species including jaguar, capybara, caiman, and giant anteater.
Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí state covers 129,140 hectares and contains over 1,000 archaeological sites with rock paintings and engravings. The park was established in 1979 and received UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1991. Archaeologist Niède Guidon led research documenting human occupation potentially dating to 50,000 years before present based on disputed carbon dating of charcoal, though mainstream archaeological consensus places earliest definitive evidence at approximately 14,000 years. The paintings depict hunting scenes, dances, sexual acts, and animal figures in red, yellow, white, and black pigments. The park's geology consists of sedimentary formations creating canyon systems with walls reaching 100 meters in height. Climate is semi-arid caatinga averaging 642 millimeters annual rainfall. The park recorded 11,683 visitors in 2018. The nearest access town is São Raimundo Nonato, located 25 kilometers from the main entrance. Infrastructure includes a museum operated by the Fundação Museu do Homem Americano and 64 kilometers of circuit roads connecting 14 prepared sites open to visitors.
Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park protects 112.7 square kilometers of ocean and coastal areas around the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, located 350 kilometers off Brazil's northeast coast. The park was created in 1988 and covers approximately 70 percent of the archipelago's total area. UNESCO designated the archipelago a World Heritage Site in 2001. The main island measures 17 square kilometers. Visitor numbers are limited to 420 tourists on the island simultaneously through an environmental preservation tax system charging daily fees starting at 80.54 reais for the first day in 2023, with rates increasing for each subsequent day up to a maximum period. Annual visitor count reached approximately 100,000 in 2019. The marine environment includes Brazil's only oceanic mangrove and coral reef formations at the southern Atlantic's western edge. Diving sites include depths to 40 meters with visibility often exceeding 30 meters. Spinner dolphins frequent the Baía dos Golfinhos, with research suggesting a resident population of approximately 1,200 individuals that use the bay for resting during daylight hours. The archipelago serves as nesting ground for five sea turtle species.
Aparados da Serra National Park protects 10,250 hectares along the border between Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states, established in 1959. The park's primary feature is Itaimbezinho Canyon, measuring 5.8 kilometers in length, 600 meters in depth, and between 600 and 2,000 meters in width. The canyon formed through erosion of basalt layers from volcanic activity approximately 130 million years ago. Two waterfalls, Véu de Noiva with 250-meter drop and Andorinhas with similar height, flow over the canyon's western rim. The plateau top at approximately 900 to 1,157 meters elevation supports Araucaria forest while the canyon floor contains Atlantic Forest vegetation. Adjacent Serra Geral National Park, created in 1992, adds 17,300 hectares protecting similar canyon systems including Fortaleza Canyon measuring 7.5 kilometers long and 900 meters deep. The combined parks recorded 48,000 visitors in 2018. Access is from the town of Cambará do Sul. The rim trail at Itaimbezinho extends 6 kilometers round trip while the canyon floor trail covers 7 kilometers requiring prior authorization from ICMBio.
Abrolhos Marine National Park protects 91,300 hectares of ocean 70 kilometers off the coast of Bahia state. The park was created in 1983 as Brazil's first marine park. The Abrolhos Archipelago contains five small islands with total land area of approximately 0.9 square kilometers. The surrounding waters contain Brazil's most extensive coral reef formations with species diversity including brain coral formations reaching 3 meters in height and estimated ages exceeding 1,000 years. Between July and November, humpback whales migrate from Antarctic feeding grounds to the warm waters for breeding, with population estimates suggesting 12,000 to 15,000 individuals in the South Atlantic population. Research conducted by the Humpback Whale Institute documents approximately 6,000 to 8,000 whales using the Abrolhos region during peak season. The park limits visitation to day trips with overnight stays prohibited. Access requires boat travel from Caravelas, located approximately 90 kilometers south. Diving is restricted to designated areas and requires authorized operators. The park recorded 4,500 visitors in 2017 according to available ICMBio data.
Itatiaia National Park, established June 14, 1937, was Brazil's first national park. The park covers 28,084 hectares across Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo states in the Serra da Mantiqueira range. Elevation ranges from 600 meters to 2,791 meters at Pico das Agulhas Negras, the park's highest point and the fifth tallest peak in Brazil. The park divides into lower section containing Atlantic Forest with waterfalls including Véu da Noiva and Poranga, and upper section with high-altitude grassland and exposed rock formations above 2,400 meters. The park maintains two entrance areas, the lower part accessed from the town of Itatiaia and upper part from the Visconde de Mauá region. Infrastructure includes approximately 30 kilometers of marked trails, three natural swimming pools in the lower section, and mountain climbing routes on Agulhas Negras requiring technical skills. The park recorded 127,000 visitors in 2018. The Museum of Natural History within the park displays regional flora and fauna. Research station facilities support scientific studies dating to 1929 when the area operated as a biological station before national park designation.
Araguaia National Park protects 555,517 hectares on Ilha do Bananal, the world's largest river island, located in Tocantins state. The park was created in 1959. Ilha do Bananal measures approximately 350 kilometers long and up to 55 kilometers wide, formed between the Araguaia River and its eastern tributary. The island's ecosystem transitions between cerrado and Amazon biomes with seasonal flooding from December through May. The park's creation involved relocating indigenous Karajá and Javaé communities, who later regained portions of the island through demarcation of the Parque Indígena do Araguaia in 1972. Current park boundaries exclude indigenous territories. Wildlife includes giant river otter, marsh deer, maned wolf, and jaguar. The park recorded only 538 visitors in 2018, among Brazil's least visited national parks. Access difficulty contributes to low visitation, requiring boat transport during wet season or driving on unpaved roads during dry season from the town of Santa Terezinha, located approximately 350 kilometers from Palmas. The park maintains minimal infrastructure and requires visitors to obtain advance authorization from ICMBio.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects 20,024 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro state, established in 1939. The park takes its name from rock formations resembling organ pipes. Dedo de Deus, a finger-like rock spire reaching 1,692 meters, serves as the park's most recognizable landmark and requires technical rock climbing skills to summit. Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters is the park's highest point and accessible via hiking trail from the park headquarters at Teresópolis, covering approximately 12 kilometers with elevation gain of 1,100 meters. The traverse trail between Teresópolis and Petrópolis extends 42 kilometers, typically completed in three days with overnight camping at designated sites. The park recorded 136,000 visitors in 2018. Infrastructure includes visitor centers at three entry points: Teresópolis (Sede), Petrópolis (Bonfim), and Guapimirim. The lower elevation areas contain numerous waterfalls including Véu da Noiva with 40-meter drop. The park's Atlantic Forest protects endemic bird species including the black-and-gold cotinga and the buff-throated purpletuft.