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PETAR
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PETAR
- Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira (Alto Ribeira
Touristic State Park), located in the region of the Ribeira de Iguape
river valley (Vale do Ribeira), 325 km from the city of São
Paulo, was created in 1958.
In
the Vale do Ribeira region, one of the last areas of Atlantic Forest
in the
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there is one of the highest calcareous caves concentrations of Brazil,
and also extremely beautiful waterfalls, rivers, mountains, valleys,
fauna and flora. |
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region was occupied right after the Portuguese arrived in Brazil,
and the city of Iporanga is one of the oldest cities in the Country.
In this region, the population is made up of people from former quilombos
(hiding-places and or communities of fugitive black slaves), Indian
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settlements,
miners and others, who still preserve some of the traditional festivities,
technologies from the gold and coffee cycles, food and other aspects
of the culture typical of roças (rural areas), which are disappearing.
There are also some archeological sites more than 2 thousand years
old, and from the mining age.
The closer cities, Apiaí and Iporanga, including Bairro da
Serra (in Iporanga) and the Park itself don't have enough and adequate
structure (for access, lodging and eating) and human resources to
receive tourists and guarantee the local sustainability. |
In spite
of PETAR staff's efforts, in planing the public use, with volunteer programs
and training guides/interpreters, for example, the Park has a disorganized
visitation and many difficulties, specially the lack of funds and human
resources.
It was in
this context, where the natural heritage is threatened, where there are
few economical alternatives for the region's sustainability, where partnerships
appear to be the only option to achieve some of the Park's original ideals
and propositions, that came up, in 1996, the idea of UNIPARQUE.
There are
two roads to arrive at PETAR: Castelo Branco or Régis Bittencourt.
Get further information by e-mail,
or call us (55-11-5575 6001).
Visitors
shouldn't try to venture on their own in caves and trails of PETAR. For
your safety and better enjoyment of your stay, is essential to have an
specialized guide/interpreter (monitor) leading you.
Physis organizes
Environmental Education and Interpretation trips to PETAR since 1991.
Our programs include transportation, stay, meals, specialized interpreters,
safety equipment, park fees and travel insurance. Find out about our prices
contacting us.
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