Juatinga State Ecological Reserve

General information

The Juatinga State Ecological Reserve (in Portuguese: Reserva Ecológica Estadual da Juatinga, Abbr. REEJ) is a nature conservation unit located at the southernmost tip of the State of Rio de Janeiro, in the municipality of Paraty, on the southern coast of the Green Coast. It comprises 9,797 hectares of Atlantic Forest remnants, restingas (bushy sandbanks), mangroves, and rocky shores. Established in 1992, the Reserve aims to protect biodiversity, landscape, and the traditional caiçara culture. Approximately 1,500 people live within the unit, spread across 15 communities and settlement nuclei along the coast.

The entire area of the Juatinga State Ecological Reserve is also included within the Cairuçu Environmental Protection Area, a federal conservation unit managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.

When to visit

The Juatinga State Ecological Reserve is open to public visitation all year round, from Monday to Sunday, from 7AM to 5PM.

Administration office opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 8am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm.

Ticket and price

There is no entrance fee into the park, it is free to visit.

How to get there

By car

To reach Paraty from Rio de Janeiro, access the BR-101 highway, known as Rio-Santos. The road, one of the most beautiful in the state of Rio de Janeiro, runs through the Costa Verde region. From Rio to Paraty, it’s 240 km.

From São Paulo, access is via the Ayrton Senna Highway to São José dos Campos or Taubaté. Via São José dos Campos, access is through the Tamoios Highway to Caraguatatuba. Already through Taubaté, access is through the Oswaldo Cruz Highway to Ubatuba. In both cases, Caraguatatuba or Ubatuba, the route to Paraty is via the BR-101 highway, known as Rio-Santos, heading north, towards Rio de Janeiro. If coming from Guaratinguetá, follow the Paraty-Cunha Park Road.

Pay attention: the only land access to the Juatinga State Ecological Reserve (REEJ) is in Vila do Oratório. From Paraty, head towards the BR-101 highway, towards Santos, until the Patrimônio neighborhood junction, belonging to the municipality of Paraty, and turn left onto a paved road until the fork for Laranjeiras Road. After passing through the Laranjeiras condominium gatehouse, turn left to reach Vila Oratório and continue to the final bus stop, where the Vila Oratório – Praia do Sono trail begins.

It’s about a 45-minute hike to Praia do Sono from Vila Oratório. From Vila Oratório, it’s also possible to hire a boat to reach Praia do Sono and Ponta Negra. There are private parking lots and some public parking spaces on the streets in Vila Oratório.

By boat to other locations in the Reserve, the boarding points are: Paraty-Mirim, the tourist pier of Paraty, and the fishing pier of Paraty.

The tourist pier is located in the historic part of the city, while the fishing pier is located in the Ilha das Cobras neighborhood. Paraty-Mirim is a strategic location to access Saco do Mamanguá, beaches of Enseada da Cajaíba, and Martim de Sá. To reach Paraty-Mirim beach from Paraty, visitors must access the BR-101 towards São Paulo, until km 154.5. Then, turn left and follow an unpaved road for approximately 7 km. In Paraty-Mirim, there are private parking lots and some public parking spaces on the streets.

From the Paraty bus station, the route Paraty-Vila Oratório: bus of the Paraty – Vila Oratório line; the route Paraty-Paraty-Mirim: bus of the Paraty-Paraty-Mirim line.

Attractions

Most attractions here in Juatinga State Ecological Reserve (REEJ) are beaches. First of all, let me translate the names of attractions into English for your reference:

Portuguese Name	English Name
Saco do Mamanguá	Mamanguá Inlet
Praia Grande da Cajaíba	Grande da Cajaíba Beach
Praia de Martim de Sá	Martim de Sá Beach
Ponta da Juatinga	Juatinga Point
Praia da Sumaca	Sumaca Beach
Cachoeira do Saco Bravo	Saco Bravo Waterfall
Praia da Ponta Negra	Ponta Negra Beach
Praia dos Antigos e dos Antiguinhos	Antigos and Antiguinhos Beaches
Praia do Sono	Sono Beach
Praia do Pouso da Cajaíba	Pouso da Cajaíba Beach

Mamanguá Inlet

It is a very special attraction because it features a set of ruins from the colonial period, 33 small beaches with sheltered sea, rivers, waterfalls, lush mangroves, and also a unique geomorphological feature in Brazil, called a tropical ria, also known as a tropical fjord, due to its resemblance to Nordic fjords.

The location can be described as a narrow sea arm with about 8 km in length and 10 meters deep at the entrance, surrounded by a chain of mountains covered with Atlantic Forest, where the Sugar Loaf Peak is located, the only attraction that provides a panoramic view of this paradise.

The ascent

Cruzeiro Beach is the starting point to climb the Sugar Loaf Peak. The steep trail is 1.5 km long, and the peak is 383m high.

The bottom of the Mamanguá Inlet holds the largest and most preserved mangrove in REEJ. It is a marine nursery as it is a refuge, breeding, and feeding ground for marine species. The river that flows into the mangrove forms the Rio Grande Waterfall, and visitation is only allowed with non-motorized boats or by trail. It is recommended to be accompanied by a local guide, environmental guide, or monitor on the mangrove route to the waterfall.

The 33 beaches can be visited by trails, which sometimes cross areas inhabited by vacationers and native residents. In some locations, such as Manuel do Gás Beach, it is possible to find ruins of an old sugar cane plantation. Cruzeiro Beach has a campsite and a restaurant to welcome visitors.

In addition to its natural beauty and historical attributes, traditional caiçara culture is another attraction, with typical gastronomy and handicrafts, dishes made with fresh fish, and little boats made of typical wood from this estuarine region.

Did you know: only the right bank of the Mamanguá Inlet is part of the limits of REEJ.

How to get there:

The main boarding point for Mamanguá Inlet is the Paraty-Mirim pier, from where it is also possible to hike along the left bank of the Inlet. The speed for navigation in the extension of the Inlet is less than 8 knots, and the entry of motorized boats into the mangrove is prohibited.

Grande da Cajaíba beach

It is the second largest beach in REEJ, with almost 1,000 meters in length. With crystal clear and calm waters, this beach currently has only two family nuclei of caiçara population that resisted real estate speculation.

In this locality, it is possible to get to know some cultural attractions up close, such as the flour house, where the natives process cassava; a meticulous craft of vine made by one of the oldest residents of the locality, Dona Dica; the floating enclosure, a traditional technique of artisanal fishing; and the backyard, a reference in agroecology by Mr. Altamiro.

A walk of at most 15 minutes, on a trail of 500 meters, leads to the beautiful Cachoeira da Praia Grande da Cajaíba.

The resident families offer a camping structure in the backyard of their houses and restaurants that serve snacks and meals made with fish and seafood.

Praia Grande da Cajaíba is also highly sought after for nautical tourism. Many boats depart from the bay of Paraty and Paraty-Mirim to spend the day there. On the right corner of the beach, there is a 3.2 km trail that gives access to Praia Deserta, a small beach where there is a vacation home.

How to get there:

Access to Praia Grande da Cajaíba is only by boat or by the trail that comes from Itaoca Beach and the trail that comes from Engenho Beach, in Mamanguá Inlet.

Martim de Sá Beach

Martim de Sá is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating beaches in REEJ. It is inhabited by only one caiçara family nucleus, the Remédios family. The patriarch is Mr. Maneco, a friendly caiçara who welcomes tourists from all over Brazil attracted by a beach of rare beauty, surrounded by the Atlantic Forest. His wife and children offer meals, cakes, and pastries during the tourist season. He manages the only campsite in the area, which tends to fill up mainly during the New Year holiday. For the rest of the year, the beach is practically deserted, with only a few tourists.

Attractive to many surfers due to the formation of its waves, the beach has no electricity, so besides the sounds of nature, on holidays it is possible to hear the sounds of lively guitar circles that go on into the night.

Martim de Sá is part of the most preserved region of the Reserve and offers other attractions besides the beach, such as Pico do Miranda, a viewpoint at 625 meters above sea level, accessed by a trail that passes through large trees, from where you can see the bay of Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande, the tip of Juatinga, and the open sea, in a beautiful angle of Martim de Sá.

The “poção” is a very popular natural pool for tourists who want to refresh themselves with a river bath. It is 2 km from the Martim de Sá campsite.

From Martim de Sá, there is a trail of almost 4 km, with ups and downs, that leads to Sumaca Beach.

How to get there:

Access to Martim de Sá is only by boat, mainly from the fishermen’s wharf in the city of Paraty or from Paraty-Mirim. By trail, it is possible to reach the beach from the community of Praia do Pouso da Cajaíba, with a 4 km extension. Or by the trail that starts in Vila Oratório, with a 19 km extension.

Juatinga Point

A locality that bears the name of the Reserve, where the most remote community of REEJ lives. Juatinga Point is the tip of the peninsula, a narrow piece of land surrounded by water on two sides and connecting two large stretches of land.

It is a region that requires care even from experienced sailors, as it is in open sea and subject to strong winds and currents. Since there is no beach, boarding and disembarking in the fishing village is traditionally done on “estivas,” which can be described as an arrangement of tree trunks arranged on the coast to facilitate the entry of canoes with the tide rising.

This community still lives without electricity and with little water supply. The yards of the houses are carefully decorated with many flower pots and fishing nets. Residents grow cassava and other crops and fish. Tourism is still not very significant since access depends on good sea conditions.

An unmissable attraction is the Juatinga lighthouse, which is also a viewpoint to contemplate the entire locality. The trail that starts from the community to the lighthouse is 500 meters long and quite steep.

How to get there:

Access to Juatinga Point is by boat from the Paraty or Paraty-Mirim wharf to the Saco Claro locality, the starting point of the 3 km trail to the Juatinga community. Depending on the sea conditions, it is possible to disembark directly at Juatinga Point.

Sumaca Beach

Sumaca Beach is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in REEJ. Mr. Manequinho is the only resident of the beach, and during the summer season, he opens his beach bar to serve meals and also accommodate tourists who want to stay overnight at the small camping site there.

Be advised: It is necessary to be very careful with bathing and navigation conditions. When the sea is rough, the currents that form at the corners of the beach can be dangerous.

How to get there:

Access to the beach is by boat to Pouso da Cajaíba beach and by trail from the existing fork to the left on the trail from Pouso da Cajaíba beach to Martim de Sá. It is also possible to arrive by the 4 km trail from Martim de Sá Beach. Another easier way to access the beach is to disembark at the Ibijiquara locality and hike for approximately 40 minutes to the beach. However, disembarking at the Ibijiquara cove depends on sea conditions, as there is also no wharf there.

Saco Bravo Waterfall

It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in REEJ. It flows into the rocky cliff and forms a beautiful pool a few meters from the open sea. When approaching the waterfall, it is important to be very careful when descending the rocks to access the pool.

Be advised: Since the waterfall is on the rocky cliff, there is a risk of waves invading the pool. There are no lifeguards on site, and rescue is made difficult by the steepness and distance of the trail to the nearest assistance post in the city of Paraty.

How to get there:

Located in a remote area, to access this attraction, you need to hike 4.2 km with a heavy difficulty level, which takes an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes from the Ponta Negra community. As it is considered a difficult trail, hiring a tour guide or accredited local guide is mandatory for safety according to Resolution INEA No. 192 of December 18, 2019.

Access to the trail leading to the attraction is only allowed from 6 am to 12 pm (1 pm in summer) to ensure a safe return to the Ponta Negra community.

Ponta Negra Beach

The beach is the third most populated community in REEJ, with about 160 residents. With transparent waters, it is approximately 180 meters long and is sought after by visitors who wish to stay in a tranquil environment in contact with nature. The community has three campgrounds, several houses of residents for rent, and restaurants serving typical cuisine.

The residents still fish with floating nets and mend their nets on the beach sand amidst lively conversations, with many fisherman stories.

Called by the elders as Praia Negra (Black Beach), Ponta Negra Beach is the starting point for the most remote and preserved region of REEJ. Trails to Cairuçu das Pedras and Saco Bravo Waterfall start from this community. The trail to Saco Bravo Waterfall is 4.2 km long and the trail to Cairuçu das Pedras is 6.5 km long, crossing an area of rugged terrain, surrounded by Atlantic Forest with large tree species.

Other attractions of Ponta Negra Beach are Poço da Júlia and Poço do Moisés, which are respectively 1.3 km away from the beach. These trails are less frequented and should be done with the accompaniment of a local guide.

How to get there:

Access to the Ponta Negra community by boat is from Vila Oratório, where it is possible to hire transportation services provided by members of the community. For those who choose to arrive at the beach by trail, the path starts from Vila Oratório, passing through Praia do Sono, Praia dos Antigos, Praia dos Antiguinhos, and Galhetas. The journey is 7.8 km long.

Antigos and Antiguinhos Beaches

Praia dos Antigos (Antigos beach) is named because in the first half of the 20th century, it was still inhabited by a caiçara community. Over time, the residents moved to other caiçara villages, and the beach became deserted. The beach does not have lifeguards, so it is important to be very careful on days with rough seas.

Praia dos Antiguinhos (Antiguinhos beach) is next to Praia dos Antigos, it is deserted and also has crystal-clear waters. The trail starts at the left corner of Praia dos Antigos and is 150 meters long within the forest. Camping is not allowed on either of the two beaches.

Be advised: on days of rough seas, the beach becomes dangerous for swimming, with strong currents.

How to get there:

Access can be done by trail and boat. It is a 5 km trail from Vila Oratório, 1.5 km from the Sono community, and 2 km from the Ponta Negra community. It is possible to negotiate with boatmen in these three communities to access Praia dos Antigos on calm sea days.

Sono Beach

Sono Beach is the largest beach in REEJ and is home to the most populous caiçara community. Less isolated than other communities, there are dozens of campgrounds to accommodate tourists, and many caiçaras rent houses and chalets for the season. Restaurants and bars offer meals and drinks to visitors.

Highly sought after during holidays, the beach is bustling with tourists, especially during New Year’s Eve. The night is filled with the sound of forró, reggae, MPB, and many guitar circles. The last week of July hosts the Winter Festival with various cultural activities in the community.

Another attraction of Sono Beach is the Jacaré Pool, located 1.2 km from the beach, following a trail that starts from the church also located on the beach.

The summit of the trail leading to Praia dos Antigos is an unmissable viewpoint to contemplate Sono Beach.

Be advised: on days of rough seas, be aware of the current that forms in the “canto bravo” (right corner of the beach when facing the sea). The beach does not have lifeguards. Camping outside of the campgrounds owned by residents is not allowed.

How to get there:

You can access the beach via a 3 km trail from Vila Oratório, or hire the service of boatmen who transport visitors in approximately 15 minutes. The well-marked trail is a medium-level walk. The starting point for the boat transport also begins in Vila Oratório, where you need to take a van that takes tourists and residents to the pier at Laranjeiras condominium, where boarding takes place.

Pouso da Cajaíba Beach

Home to the second most populous community in REEJ, Pouso da Cajaíba Beach attracts many tourists and vacationers with its calm, clear waters. The community is named after the fact that many fishing boats still use the beach as shelter when the sea is rough.

Several tours can be taken from Pouso da Cajaíba, such as visiting the other beaches in the Cajaíba cove and the beaches of Martim de Sá and Sumaca.

Another attraction of Pouso da Cajaíba Beach is the Araras Stone viewpoint, a walk that takes about 1 hour, covering a trail 1.2 km long. It is a less-used trail and should be done with the accompaniment of a local guide.

How to get there:

Access is only by boat or trail. Typically, tourists staying on this beach take a boat from Paraty-Mirim, which takes around half an hour to reach the community. Praia Grande da Cajaíba can be reached by a 2-hour walk, about 4 km, passing through Toca do Carro, Itanema, Calhaus, and Itaoca beaches. Martim de Sá Beach can be accessed by a 4 km trail with nearly 300 meters of elevation gain. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes and is widely used by tourists, as landing in Martim de Sá depends on good sea conditions.

Other attractions

There are many more touristic places in this reserve that we did not list above, such as Galhetas waterfall, Rio Grande waterfall, Grade da Cajaiba beach waterfall, Jacare natural pool, Toca do carro beach, Itanema beach, Deserta beach, Venda beach, Engenho beach, Antas beach, Rosas beach, Cruzeiro beach etc. You bet that beaches are all over the Juatinga State Ecological Reserve.

Meanwhile, great places for taking photos are like Morro dos antigos (antigos hill), Pico do Miranda (Miranda peak), Farol da Juatinga (Juatinga lighthouse), Pedra das Araras (Araras rock), etc. Do not miss that if you like taking photos or recording your memories.

Well, no idea where are they located exactly? Remember to download the Attraction map below.

Map of all attractions and trails

Download the illustrative map of all attractions and trails in Juatinga State Ecological Reserve, find out what are and where are the places you will visit:

DOWNLOAD HERE FROM Google Drive in PDF.

Trails

Check all routes that you can enjoy in Juatinga State Ecological Reserve, along the trails you can get to know almost all the beautiful beaches.

Tip: Praia means Beach, pico means peak.

Route	Distance	Duration	Difficulty
Vila Oratório – Praia do Sono	3.1 km	50 min – 1 hour	Moderate
Praia do Sono – Praia dos Antigos	600 m	30 – 45 min	Moderate
Praia dos Antigos – Praia dos Antiguinhos	150 m	10 min	Easy
Praia dos Antiguinhos – Praia das Galhetas	1.2 km	40 min	Moderate
Praia das Galhetas – Praia da Ponta Negra	600 m	10 min	Easy
Praia do Sono – Poço do Jacaré	1.2 km	25 min	Easy
Praia da Ponta Negra – Cachoeira do Saco Bravo	4.2 km	2.5 hours	Difficult
Praia da Ponta Negra – Cairuçu das Pedras	6.5 km	7 hours (round trip)	Difficult
Cairuçu das Pedras – Martim de Sá	5.3 km	2 hours 30 min	Moderate
Martim de Sá – Poção	2.7 km	30 min	Easy
Martim de Sá – Pico do Miranda	3.3 km	2 hours 30 min	Difficult
Praia da Sumaca – Saco Claro – Juatinga	5.0 km	5 hours (round trip)	Moderate
Martim de Sá – Praia do Pouso da Cajaíba	4.0 km	1h 40 min – 2 hours	Moderate
Circuito Praia do Pouso da Cajaíba – Praia Grande da Cajaíba	4.0 km	2h 30 min	Moderate
Praia Grande da Cajaíba – Cachoeira da Praia Grande da Cajaíba	500 m	15 min	Easy
Praia Grande da Cajaíba – Praia Deserta	3.2 km	2 hours 30 min	Moderate
Praia Grande da Cajaíba – Praia do Engenho	3.5 km	3 hours (round trip)	Difficult
Praia do Engenho – Praia do Cruzeiro	3.6 km	1h 40 min – 2 hours	Easy
Praia do Cruzeiro – Pico do Pão-de-açúcar	1.5 km	1h 30 min	Difficult
Praia do Cruzeiro – Cachoeira do Rio Grande	3.2 km	50 min	Easy
Trilha Martim de Sá – Praia da Sumaca	3.8 km	2h 30 min	Difficult

Juatinga Crossing

It’s a long-distance hike, spanning five days, that traverses the entire peninsula, with the exception of Juatinga Point, Saco Bravo Waterfall, and some beaches in Mamanguá Inlet.

It covers 39 km passing through dozens of beaches, surrounded by the lush mountain range of the Serra do Mar, bathed by rivers that flow into the beaches.

The hike on the first day starts at Vila Oratório, the starting point for Sono Beach and Ponta Negra. The trail is 7.5 km long, with overnight stay in the community of Ponta Negra Beach.

The second day‘s destination is Martim de Sá Beach for overnight stay, passing through the Cairuçu das Pedras community and Saco das Enchovas. It’s the longest stretch, covering 11.6 km, crossing the southern to eastern part of the Reserve, ascending and descending very steep hills covered by forest.

The third day starts from Martim de Sá towards Grande da Cajaíba Beach for overnight stay, totaling 8 km of trail.

On the fourth day, the hike follows the trail from Grande da Cajaíba Beach towards Cruzeiro Beach for overnight stay, in Mamanguá Inlet. The trail is 8.3 km and passes through the small beaches of Mamanguá Inlet.

The fifth and final day begins with a boat crossing to the other side of Mamanguá and ends with the 3.7 km trail from Grande do Mamanguá Beach to the final destination, Paraty-Mirim. Overnight stays are at campgrounds in the communities of Ponta Negra, Martim de Sá, Grande da Cajaíba, and Cruzeiro Beach, where meals and snacks are also provided. Note: To cross by boat to the other side of Mamanguá, it’s necessary to hire a boatman from the region.

• Route: 39 km
• Duration: It’s recommended to complete the crossing in 5 days.
• Difficulty: Difficult.

Facts about Juatinga State Ecological Reserve

History

The municipality of Paraty is located in the region of the Ilha Grande Bay and was a strategic port for important economic cycles in the country, such as the gold, sugarcane, and coffee cycles, which explains the existence of ruins of sugar mills, distilleries, and traces of the slave trade within the Reserve.

Enslaved individuals disembarked on the Juatinga Peninsula, where they underwent quarantine until they were auctioned or sold, after being baptized in the nearby locality called Paraty-Mirim, which is a strategic port for access to the peninsula.

By the end of the 19th century, Paraty experienced economic decline with the abolition of slavery, the abandonment of sugar mills, and the construction of the Rio de Janeiro–São Paulo Railway, leaving it isolated from trade routes.

From 1950 onwards, with the construction of the Paraty-Cunha road and the opening of the BR-101 highway, known as Rio-Santos, in 1976, the city began to develop its tourist vocation, initiating a process of land appreciation and real estate speculation, including on the Juatinga Peninsula.

The names of the localities in the Reserve, such as Praia do Engenho, Cadeia Velha, Martim de Sá, among others, were influenced by this history of municipal occupation.

In the Juatinga Peninsula, there are several caiçara communities, whose way of life depends on the resources of the land and the sea, through artisanal fishing, subsistence agriculture, handicrafts, and more recently, community-based tourism.

The caiçaras are traditional population groups living in coastal communities, from the south of the State of Rio de Janeiro to the north of Santa Catarina. Their customs have been influenced by indigenous peoples, Portuguese, and descendants of slaves, resulting in a rich culture that persists to this day, although real estate speculation and uncontrolled tourism threaten their way of life.

The Juatinga State Ecological Reserve was the first state conservation unit to be created with the objective of preserving the traditional caiçara culture and reconciling the way of life of these populations with the conservation of natural resources, necessary for their survival and social development.

Flora

The Juatinga State Ecological Reserve is located within the Atlantic Forest biome, and due to physical factors such as climate, relief, and soil, its predominant vegetation is classified as dense ombrophilous forest, with main characteristics being high temperatures and high precipitation rates.

Within its boundaries, various stages of Atlantic Forest regeneration can be found, with high biodiversity and associated ecosystems such as mangroves, restingas, and hillside forests.

Some of the tree species found include: guapuruvu (Schizolobium parahyba), pau-jacaré (Piptadenia gonoacantha), embaúba (Cecropia sp.), jacatirão (Tibouchina sp.), timbuíba (Balizia pedicellaris), used for canoe making, canela (Ocotea sp.), aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius), used for dyeing fishing nets, large fig trees (Ficus sp.), caixeta (Tabebuia cassinoides), among others. There are also various species of epiphytes such as bromeliads and orchids found in the undergrowth and on rocky outcrops. The existing palm species are called by natives tucum, pati, indaiá, brejaúva, pitomba, and the juçara palm (Euterpe edulis), a widely exploited species and threatened with extinction.

Mangrove vegetation is found in estuarine regions, where species of white mangrove, red mangrove, and siriúba occur.

At the bottom of Saco do Mamanguá, a sheltered sea area located in the northern portion of the Reserve, there is an extensive area of well-preserved caixetal. This is the name given to areas of Atlantic Forest floodplains dominated by the tree species popularly known as caixeta (Tabebuia cassinoides). This species is widely used for handicrafts.

In addition to the native Atlantic Forest vegetation, there are also exotic species, many of them fruit trees found in caiçara backyard gardens such as mango trees, jam trees, avocado trees, jackfruit trees, among others.

Fauna

Recently, more than 200 bird species have been identified in the Reserve. Among others, these include the Brazilian tanager (Ramphocelus sp.), seven-colored tanager (Tangara sp.), toucan (Ramphasthos sp.), sanhaço (Tangara sp.), coleiro (Sporophila sp.), and trinca-ferro (Saltator sp.).

Fishing is one of the most traditional activities in the caiçara villages. Among the species found, some popularly known ones include grouper, swordfish, sardine, pompano, triggerfish, hake, drum, sea bream, mullet, red snapper, mackerel, horse mackerel, shark, mullet, bicudo, sea bass, and mackerel, among others.

Mammal species include paca, agouti, armadillo, sloth, opossum, peccary, anteater, margay, and muriqui.

As for snakes observed by locals, the most common ones are jararaca and jararacuçu (Bothrops sp.), coral snake (Micrurus sp.), and coachwhip snake (Spilotes sp.).

Climate

The Juatinga Peninsula has a humid tropical climate, with peculiarities in the distribution pattern of precipitation and temperatures due to the characteristics of the terrain. In the summer months, rainfall occurs in the early morning and early evening due to local climatic conditions.

The impact of cold fronts is more intense in the hot summer months (November to March), while the winter months (May to August) are characterized by a dry season. The average temperature in the summer ranges between 25° and 26°C, while in winter, monthly average temperatures vary between 18° and 20°C.

Hydrology

The Juatinga State Ecological Reserve has the particularity of being formed by coastal hydrographic basins, which are characterized by being in the coastal strip, where the springs are close to the sea. The watercourses are of short length and soon flow into the sea. These coastal basins are drained by the Jamanta Stream, Ponta Negra Stream, Caju Stream, Cairuçu Stream, Cachoeira Grande Stream, Espia Stream, Itaoca River, Praia Grande Stream, and Pão de Açúcar Stream.

The difference in altitude of the springs and the short course of the river to the mouth form numerous waterfalls. Among the main waterfalls of the Juatinga State Ecological Reserve are the Praia Grande da Cajaíba waterfall, the Jacaré pool, the Martim de Sá pool, the Galhetas waterfall, and the Rio Grande waterfall. The Saco Bravo waterfall deserves special mention for being on a rocky coastline, forming a pool a few meters from flowing into the sea.

The Juatinga State Ecological Reserve, inserted in the Bay of Ilha Grande, is part of the Basin Committee of the Hydrographic Region of the Bay of Ilha Grande, which aims to leverage proposals and actions that preserve the environment and, especially, promote the recovery, conservation, and preservation of water resources.

Geology

The geological formation of this region is predominantly composed of granites and gneisses, which are associated with continental, marine, and mixed sediments from the Cenozoic age. This coastal region has rugged topography, composed of hills and mountains belonging to the Serra do Mar with slopes ranging from 25° to 45°. Another important component of the region’s relief is the Coastal Plains.

These characteristics give rise to soils of residual and thin surface alterations, with frequent rock outcrops and potentially susceptible to erosion. The predominant soil type is Haplic Cambisol, with high acidity and high aluminum content.

Contacts

Telephone: (24) 3371-9654 / (21) 97930-0101

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: Rua Domingos Gonçalves de Abreu, s/no, Centro Histórico, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro