São Joaquim National Park

Welcome to the São Joaquim National Park, a majestic expanse of forty-nine thousand hectares perched atop the Santa Catarina highlands. As you stand here, feeling the crisp, mountain air that is so distinct from the tropical…

We begin at Morro da Igreja, the second-highest point in the state and a place that holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Brazil: a staggering minus seventeen point eight degrees Celsius. At an altitude of…

Looking across the void from Morro da Igreja, your eyes are immediately drawn to the 'Pedra Furada'—the Holed Rock. This natural sculpture is arguably the most famous landmark in the park. …

As we descend into the lower reaches of the park, between 700 and 1,000 meters, we enter the realm of the 'Araucária angustifólia'—the Brazilian pine. These trees are living fossils, part of a lineage that dates back to the time…

At even higher altitudes, hugging the sheltered slopes and canyon edges, we find the 'Matinhas Nebulares'—the cloud forests. These are otherworldly environments where the trees are short, gnarled, and twisted by the relentless…

We now come to one of the most ecologically critical, yet often overlooked, features of the park: the 'Turfeiras' or peat bogs. These are areas of highland fields dominated by 'Sphagnum' moss and specialized grasses that act as a…

The park is not only a natural sanctuary but also a repository of human history. Scattered throughout the landscape, you will encounter 'Taipas'—low walls built from stacked stones without mortar. …

Finally, we visit the Santa Bárbara sector, home to the 'Trilha dos Chachins Gigantes'—the Trail of the Giant Ferns. This area is a showcase for the 'Samambaia-açu,' ancient tree ferns that can grow to several meters in height. …

As we conclude our journey through the São Joaquim National Park, I hope you carry with you a sense of the profound interconnectedness of this landscape. We have traversed the frozen peaks of Morro da Igreja, stood before the…