Trails through canyons among the most vertical in Brazil will now have a price. Since October, visits by tourists to the national parks of Serra Geral, in Praia Grande (Santa Catarina), and Aparados da Serra, in Cambará do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul), have been charged — before admission was free.
Ticket prices, according to Urbia Cânions Verdes, a Construcap company that obtained the concession of visitation areas for a period of 30 years, are currently R$50 per day, with access to the two parks and the trail. rio do Boi, and R$80 for two nights.
The company responsible is also known for managing eight parks in São Paulo, including Ibirapuera, through its subsidiary Urbia Gestão de Parques.
According to the concessionaire, the values are based on the public notice, which, according to it, establishes a daily rate of up to R$ 80, but “it decided to offer the price for two days”. In addition, he says that the collection is an important source of revenue and that it will promote improvements at the site.
The charge generated criticism from tourists, such as the publicist from Rio Grande do Sul Harrison Andrade, 43. He visited the Itaimbezinho canyons, in Aparados da Serra, and Fortaleza, in Serra Geral, in January of this year.
”I am against the ‘privatization’ of park visitation areas. What was free, for all people and could even be a popular family program, is now being charged,” he says.
The advertiser fears becoming an “elitist” tour. “What would be a program more aimed at contemplating nature, now becomes a ‘commercial exploration’. Can you imagine a family with four people? It would be too heavy in financial terms to spend just one day. And for us, who live in the region, how much will it cost? to cost?”
Samuel Lloyd, director of Urbia, says this is not privatization. He explains that support services were granted to tourists visiting areas of public use and that the parks are still in charge of the ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation).
“The areas where the concessionaire has some type of management are those related to public visitation. People confuse that the two parks were privatized, but that’s not it. It’s a 30-year concession that aims at sustainable development of this support to the visitor” , says Lloyd.
Veterinarian André Mello da Costa Ellwanger, 44, born in São Leopoldo (RS), visited the site with his family in July, without having to pay for tickets.
”The federal government should take care of this in an adequate way, so that everyone can enjoy it. The concession of an area, on the one hand, is good because it will be better taken care of”, said Ellwanger, who, however, criticizes the value. “People are unable to pay R$ 35 [valor aplicado nos primeiros meses], let alone R$ 80.”
In winter, when the veterinarian was with his family visiting the canyons Itaimbezinho and Fortaleza, he went horseback riding through the mountains and paid R$420 for the trip via the local tourism agency. ”Imagine if I had to pay for park access tickets, how much would I do?”
Attorney Claudia Ferraz Rodrigues Pegoraro, who visited the site as a tourist, thinks the concession could be beneficial to the parks. ”The roads leading to the canyons are in a bad state of repair. Lack of toilets, dumps. I imagine that with the concession these improvements will come soon,” he said.
Regarding infrastructure, the concessionaire stated that the access roads to the canyons are the responsibility of the Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul governments and the Cambará do Sul city hall and that the latter’s road has the longest asphalted stretch of all and with the most advanced works .
It also said that since October 1st, it has implemented rescue, first-aid and pre-hospital care systems, cleaning, maintenance and revitalization services, and a communication system between parks, stores and parking.
For the three-decade period of the concession, improvements are planned, such as the opening of new trails, contemplation points and viewpoints, qualification of universal accessibility and parking lots, and the offer of internal transport in the parks and new spaces for food and educational activities.
attractions
Tourists who like more adventures can take the Rio do Boi trail, in the crack of the Itaimbezinho canyon, one of the most vertical in the country.
The walk, about seven kilometers long one-way, requires at least a good physical condition. It is currently possible to buy tickets and pay for parking in advance on the website.
The Itaimbezinho canyon is the most famous attraction in Aparados da Serra and is 720 meters deep, 5.8 km long and 200 meters wide. Its name comes from Tupi-Guarani, which brings together several indigenous languages and means Ita (stone) and theí’be (sharp).
On the trail, it is mandatory to hire a local guide. The walk takes around eight hours, being done most of the way over the rocks that border the river, in addition to some crossings, where the water can pass just above the knee. Already on flood days, adventures on the trails do not occur for safety reasons.
Another attraction of Aparados da Serra are the Andorinhas and Véu da Noiva waterfalls.
Both can be seen from Mirante do Cotovelo, a point reached by the Cotovelo trail, approximately six kilometers long, there and back. On this path, which begins near the park entrance, a guide is not required. The trail is easily accessible.
There is a security and surveillance system around the visitation areas, temporary restrooms around the Visitors Center and the entrance to Fortaleza canyon and small convenience stores.
Service
Itaimbezinho Canyon Unit — Aparados da Serra
Access city: Cambará do Sul (RS)
Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays)
Trail of the Vertex: entry from 8 am to 5 pm; Estimated time to walk the trail is 1 hour.
Trilha do Cotovelo: entry from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm; Estimated time to walk the trail is 3 hours.
Please note: there is no minimum age to go on the trails; access to parks with pets is not allowed.
Rio do Boi Trail Unit — Aparados da Serra
Access City: Praia Grande (SC)
Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Monday)
Entrance time: from 8 am to 1 pm
Rio do Boi Trail: entry from 8 am to 1 pm; Estimated time to walk the trail is 7 hours.
Notes: mandatory driver accompaniment; the minimum age to do the trail is 12 years old; access to parks with pets is not allowed.
Fortaleza Canyon Unit — Serra Geral
Access City: Cambará do Sul (RS)
Wednesday to Monday (closed on Tuesdays)
Pedra do Segredo Trail: entry from 8 am to 5 pm; Estimated time to walk the trail is 1 hour.
Mirante Trail: entry from 8 am to 5 pm; Estimated time to walk the trail is 1 hour.
South Edge Trail: entry from 8 am to 3 pm; Estimated time to walk the trail is 3 hours;
Please note: there is no minimum age to go on the trails; access to parks with pets is not allowed.
tickets
Prices valid until November 30, 2021
One day with access to all centers: R$ 35 per person
Two days with access to all centers: R$ 55 per person
Prices valid from December 1, 2021
One day with access to all centers: R$50 per person
Two days with access to all centers: R$80 per person
Parking
Motorcycle: BRL 5
Car: BRL 10
Vans and motor homes (no overnight stay): R$ 20
Bus: BRL 50
Parking access hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Ticket purchase and parking in advance: at https://canionsverdes.com.br/
Ticket purchase and on-site parking: at the ticket office of each unit. Subject to availability of access in accordance with state decrees and protocols in force against Covid-19
Attention: presentation of vaccination passport is mandatory for access, even with paid tickets.
Telephone: 0800-321-0101
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