
PETAR Caves
Over 300 caves in Brazil’s largest preserved stretch of Atlantic Forest
The Alto Ribeira State Tourist Park, created in 1958, is recognized by UNESCO as world heritage. Choose by the time you have: a weekend at Núcleo Santana, the Temimina challenge, a holiday across three park areas or six full days including Caverna do Diabo. And rain doesn’t get in the way of the route.
Why go
Professional photos inside the cave
A cave photography specialist and 1,400-lumen imported lights. You go home with the images.
A small group
Up to 6 people on the 2-day route, for a safer experience.
Temimina and its hanging garden
A huge skylight, wide chambers and a rare formation known as the "shower".
Atlantic Forest all around
Old drovers’ trails and natural pools in the Ribeira Valley.
Photos of the place
Itinerary
Núcleo Santana · 2 days
Saturday at Núcleo Santana
- Santana, Morro Preto, Couto, Água Suja and Cafezal caves
- Couto Waterfall and natural pool
Sunday, heading back
- Leaving at 2 p.m. for São Paulo
Temimina · 2 days
Saturday: Temimina Cave
- Starts at 8 a.m. at Núcleo Caboclos. Bring a snack: there is no breakfast or lunch.
- A trail with climbs and knee-deep water. Specialty coffee and artisan cookies inside the cave.
Sunday: Alambari de Baixo
- Núcleo Ouro Grosso and Alambari de Baixo Cave, with a neck-deep stretch. No need to know how to swim.
- Optional stop for a jerked beef and plantain pastel
Holiday · 3 park areas
Núcleo Santana
- Specialty coffee with artisan cookies in the park
- Água Suja, Santana and Couto or Morro Preto caves
Núcleo Caboclos: Temimina
- Temimina Cave, with long climbs and water stretches. Bring a snack.
Núcleo Ouro Grosso
- Ouro Grosso and Alambari de Baixo caves. Ends at 2 p.m., shower at the inn, then back.
Full PETAR · 6 days
Guarulhos to the inn
- Meeting at the airport and transfer to the inn
Núcleo Caboclos
- Old drovers’ trails in PETAR’s first visiting area
Núcleo Santana
- Santana, Morro Preto and Couto caves, and a natural pool
Caverna do Diabo
- The traditional route on walkways, plus the Garganta do Diabo adventure, with a 3 m waterfall
Núcleo Ouro Grosso
- Ouro Grosso and Alambari de Baixo caves
Back to Guarulhos
- Breakfast at 7 a.m., leaving at 8 a.m.
Casa de Pedra - PETAR
- Núcleo Gruta Casa de Pedra - PETAR
- Trilha até a boca da Caverna Casa de Pedra
- Trilha de dificuldade: difícil, exigindo bom condicionamento físico.
- (trilha técnica com 90% de subida em terreno bem acidentado e travessia de rio até a cintura)
- Caminhada total na trilha CASA DE PEDRA 10km
- Núcleo Ouro Grosso - PETAR
- Foi o primeiro núcleo de visitação a ser criado e está localizado bem ao centro do PETAR, no Bairro Espírito Santo, divisa entre Apiaí e Iporanga.
- Possuí um relevo mais elevado em relação aos demais núcleos do PETAR, chegando a mais de 1000 metros de altitude em alguns pontos próximo à sua base.
- Trilha Alambari de Baixo
- Trilha de Dificuldade: Moderada/Difícil, trechos onde a água pode chegar no pescoço, sendo necessário a utilização de corda para apoio. *
- trecho com passagem opcional
What’s included
- Transport São Paulo / Iporanga / park / São Paulo
- Certified adventure tourism guide
- Adventure insurance
- Attraction tickets
- Night in a shared room
- 1 breakfast
- Helmet and 1,400-lumen headlamp
- Cave photography specialist
Not included
- Personal expenses
- Dinner
What’s included
- Transport by car and transfers
- Inn, shared room
- 1 breakfast
- Road insurance
- Adventure insurance
- Attraction tickets
- Certified adventure tourism guide
- Park monitors
- Helmet and headlamp
- Professional photographer, with photos and videos
- Specialty coffee in the cave
Not included
- Dinner
- Personal expenses
What’s included
- Transport
- Certified adventure tourism guide
- Travel insurance
- Adventure insurance
- Attraction tickets
- Park monitors
- Nights in triple or double rooms (women’s and men’s)
- 2 breakfasts
Not included
- Personal expenses
- Dinner
What’s included
- Transport São Paulo-GRU / Iporanga / park / São Paulo-GRU
- Adventure insurance
- Road insurance
- 5 nights at the inn
- Breakfast
- Certified adventure tourism guide
- Park monitors
- Attraction tickets
- Helmet and headlamp
- Professional photographer, with photos and videos
Not included
- Dinner and snacks
- Personal expenses
What’s included
- Transporte em van executiva (São Paulo - Iporanga - translados até a portaria do parque - São Paulo)
- Seguro Aventura
- Seguro Rodoviário
- Hospedagem em pousada com quartos triplos
- 1 Café da manhã
- Guia Trilhas & Viagens
- Monitores do parque
- Ingressos
Not included
- Gastos extras
- Café da manhã de sábado
- Alimentação (jantar e almoço)
Is it for me?
- Requires fitness: not suitable for sedentary travelers.
- Not recommended if you have claustrophobia or limited mobility.
- Long pants and a T-shirt are mandatory in the caves. Shorts and tank tops are not allowed.
Where it is
What to bring
- Hiking boots or closed non-slip shoes
- Long pants and a sleeved T-shirt
- Water and trail snacks
- Dry clothes for the way back
FAQ
Why do we leave the night before?
So we arrive early and enjoy the whole day. The trip date is the activity day; boarding is the night before, as shown under "Meeting point".
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. The water sections are walked or done with rope support, accompanied by the guide.
Which route is right for me?
First time: Núcleo Santana, moderate. Want a challenge: Temimina, 9 km with climbs and water. Want more: the holiday or the 6-day trip.
How do I book?
Choose the date, option and number of travelers and check out. Your booking is confirmed once payment is approved and the confirmation email is sent. Read purchase and cancellation
What if it rains or the weather changes?
For safety, the route may be adjusted or rescheduled if there’s a risk. See Purchase and cancellation (in Portuguese). Read purchase and cancellation
Can I cancel?
Yes. The amount retained depends on how far in advance you cancel. Full rules are in Purchase and cancellation (in Portuguese). Read purchase and cancellation
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