Taquari, Estrada Real

Taquari is a small coastal town situated in the foothills of the Serra da Bocaina National Park. It is surrounded by nature, mangroves, beaches and gorgeous waterfalls. The Taquari River flows adjacent to the north side of the town, then snakes through the forestry before crossing the isolated, sandy Taquari Beach and emptying into Paraty Bay.

Established in 1971, the National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the Atlantic Forest. Encompassing about 106,000 hectares, nearly 60% of the vegetation is Atlantic Forest. The park spans a mountain range, sea level, and coastline, creating a diverse landscape that supports a wide variety of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to the area and/or endangered.

Three types of vegetation form the park, of which the palm species Euterpe edulis and the tree fern Dicksonia sellowiana, both formerly in abundance, are now rare and endangered due to illegal logging. Within its vast greenness, the park comes alive with endemic flora, including arums, orchids and bromeliads, as well as cacti and a variety of ferns.

There is a wide variety of wildlife within the park, from big cats such as pumas and jaguars to primates like the endangered muriquis and the dark-shouldered marmoset. Crab-eating foxes and red deer can be found in open areas or on the edges of the forest. The park has officially registered over 300 species of birds, including the king vulture and the grey eagle, which are threatened with extinction, and woodpeckers pecking away at the bark. Amphibians and invertebrates are aplenty, with two butterfly species listed as endangered.

Taquari is a small and quiet place. It is a great place to use as a base for exploring the park, finding some waterfalls or heading to the beach for a dip in the sea.