Opinion – It’s Right There: Caminhos do Mar Park opens the Torre Waterfall Trail to the public

To take advantage of an extra break, breathe some fresh air on a beautiful (and strenuous) walk after the end of the year rush, and also eliminate some of the many calories consumed at dinners and family lunches, a tip that is right there is visit the recently opened Trail Cachoeira da Torre, in the Caminhos do Mar park, inside the Serra do Mar State Park.

With a route of 4.5 kilometers from the Visitor Center (which gives access to the park through São Bernardo do Campo, in the ABC region of São Paulo) to the Torre waterfall, the trail is considered of intermediate level of difficulty, and one of the most extreme available. in the surroundings of the capital of São Paulo. In it, the visitor will walk through low vegetation in fields of flat areas, woods on top of hills, with small trees and bushes, and dense forest stretches where bromeliads, orchids and vines (lianas) can be seen that attract several species of birds in what is considered the largest biological corridor of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, with 1,361 species of animals and 1,200 types of plants registered by Ibama.

With an elevation that varies from 680 meters to 785 meters in altitude and inclinations of up to 33%, it is important to remember that this route is also known as “Trilha dos 7 Morros”, a name justified by the seven sections with the greatest inclination up and down along the walking. To face the challenge, it is important for visitors to wear comfortable closed-toe clothes and shoes —please, friends, no flip-flops, agreed?—in addition to basic items such as sunscreen, insect repellent and, fundamentally: drinking water. The thing is, despite the fact that the path crosses several streams hidden in the vegetation, the water is not considered fit for consumption. So, take your bottle, your camel pack, and ensure adequate hydration for the hours of walking.

Arriving at the waterfall can include a bath in one of the local wells, with the right to a beautiful view of part of the Baixada Santista, in addition to several waterfalls that follow their course to the sea. Then just take a deep breath and take the path back.

The tour to Cachoeira da Torre needs to be scheduled in advance at the Caminhos do Mar Park and is obligatorily done with a park monitor, for the safety of visitors, even the most experienced ones. It is also good to remember that, in this rainy season, monitoring water volumes may require canceling the tour, so it is always good to confirm the possibility (and the weather) before heading there. According to Michele Pelosini, operational manager of Caminhos do Mar, “in times of heavy rain, the water level is analyzed.

Adriana Fegyveres, advisor at the Parquetur concessionaire, responsible for the park, adds that “when there is heavy rain, there is no excursion to the waterfall, as well as if a risk of landslides or other similar problems is detected”. And, when the trail is wetter than normal (and, let’s face it, in Serra do Mar, it’s really wet), “but it’s still viable, the specialized monitors trigger safety protocols for the ascent”.

So who are we going to burn that extra slice of panettone with a good dose of fresh air?

Service

Datasheet

Distance: 9 km (round trip)
Total duration: 6 hours
Time: start at 8am and return at 1pm
Meeting point: São Bernardo do Campo Visitor Center
Number of participants: minimum of 2 people and maximum of 30

Access to the park:

Entrance gate by São Bernardo do Campo:

• SP-148 Estrada Caminho do Mar, Km 42 – Alto da Serra – São Bernardo do Campo (SP)

Entrance gate by Cubatão:

• SP-148 Estrada Caminho do Mar, Km 50 – Cruzeiro Quinhentista – Cubatão (SP)