Araucárias National Park

Araucárias Overview

Araucárias National Park, or Parque Nacional das Araucárias in Portuguese, is a protected area in the southern region of Brazil, located in the state of Santa Catarina. The park spans an area of approximately 47.8 square miles, or about 123.2 square kilometers.

It is situated near the municipalities of Ponte Serrada and Passos Maia, within Brazil’s Atlantic Forest biome. Established to protect the remnants of the Araucaria moist forest, a unique and endangered ecosystem, the park is named after the Araucaria angustifolia tree, commonly called the Paraná pine, which once dominated the highland forests of southern Brazil.

The terrain within Araucárias National Park is composed of gently rolling hills, plateaus, and river valleys, with altitudes ranging between 800 and 1,400 meters. The landscape features a mixture of open grasslands, forested areas, and wetlands, reflecting the ecological diversity of the southern plateau region.

The Araucaria trees tower above the forest canopy, their distinctive umbrella-like shape standing out against a backdrop of dense, mixed rainforest species like imbuia, canela, and erva-mate. The forest floor is rich with ferns, bromeliads, and orchids, especially vivid during the blooming seasons, while numerous small streams and rivers weave through the park’s terrain, feeding into the Chapecó and Chapecozinho Rivers.

Wildlife in the park is varied, including species both endemic and endangered. Among the key mammals are the maned wolf, the ocelot, and the brown howler monkey. The park also provides habitat for smaller animals such as armadillos, coatis, and agoutis.

Birdlife is abundant, drawing birdwatchers from across the country. Notable species include the vinaceous-breasted amazon, the bare-throated bellbird, and the helmeted woodpecker—several of which depend on the remaining araucaria forests for survival. Amphibians and reptiles also inhabit the moist understory and riparian zones, adding to the region’s biodiversity.

One of the most popular features of Araucárias National Park is its peaceful, secluded environment, which offers opportunities for hiking, wildlife observation, and nature photography. A small network of trails allows visitors to explore the park on foot, including routes through forested areas and viewpoints overlooking valleys and rivers.

Educational signage and designated observation areas help visitors appreciate the ecological value of the park. Camping is not permitted, which helps preserve the quiet, untouched atmosphere of the area.

Conservation efforts in Araucárias National Park are focused on protecting one of the last significant fragments of the Araucaria moist forest, an ecosystem that has been reduced to less than 3% of its original range due to agriculture, logging, and urban development.

Managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the park has seen successes in curbing illegal activities and promoting scientific research. However, challenges remain, especially from encroaching land use and the need for increased ecological connectivity with nearby forest patches.

Community outreach and environmental education are vital tools being used to strengthen long-term conservation outcomes for both the forest and its wildlife.

Park Map

Araucárias National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Birds

Araucarias National Park supports a vibrant avian community, with species typical of high-altitude Atlantic Forests and araucaria woodlands. Many of these birds are specialized, endemic, or threatened, making the park a key site for conservation and birdwatching.

Red-spectacled Amazon
This vibrant green parrot with red markings around its eyes is endemic to southern Brazil. It depends heavily on the seeds of the Paraná pine and is threatened by habitat loss.

Vinaceous-breasted Amazon
A rare and colorful parrot with a purplish chest, this species nests in tree cavities and relies on forest conservation for survival.

Araucaria Tit-Spinetail
Endemic to araucaria forests, this small bird flits through the treetops collecting insects. It is almost entirely restricted to high-altitude forests like those in the park.

Planalto Tapaculo
A shy bird with a rapid, trilling song, the Planalto tapaculo is often heard more than seen. It inhabits thick understory vegetation and helps control insect populations.

Blue Manakin
Known for its vivid blue and black plumage and acrobatic courtship displays, this forest bird adds flashes of color to the dark interior of the woods.

Chestnut-backed Tanager
This striking tanager has a chestnut-colored back and blue wings. It forages in mixed flocks and is commonly found in the park’s mid-level forest.

Green-barred Woodpecker
This woodpecker is known for its barred green and yellow plumage. It chips away at bark to reach ants and larvae in decaying wood.

Saffron Toucanet
With a golden body and large colorful bill, the saffron toucanet is a fruit-eating bird that plays a critical role in seed dispersal within the park’s forest.

White-throated Hummingbird
This energetic species frequents flowering shrubs and trees, using its slender bill to feed on nectar and help pollinate native plants.

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper
A secretive bird that lives along streams and waterfalls, it hops among wet rocks and leaf litter in search of insects, helping to keep aquatic margins clean.

Araucarias National Park, located in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, is a protected area known for its high-altitude forests, rolling hills, and the iconic Araucaria angustifolia (Paraná pine) trees. As part of the Atlantic Forest biome, it harbors a mix of subtropical and temperate species, many of which are rare or endemic. The park serves as a crucial refuge for animals adapted to cooler climates and montane forests.

Puma
Also known as the mountain lion or cougar, this adaptable predator silently stalks its prey through the park’s forested hills. Pumas play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance.

Southern Tamandua
This tree-climbing anteater is well-suited to the park’s forests. It uses powerful forelimbs to tear into ant and termite nests, feeding with its long, sticky tongue.

Azara’s Agouti
A shy rodent with reddish-brown fur, the agouti helps the forest regenerate by burying seeds, many of which sprout into new trees when forgotten.

Ring-tailed Coati
Easily recognized by its striped tail and curious behavior, the coati lives in social groups and forages for insects, fruits, and small animals across the forest floor.

Maned Wolf
Tall and slender with a reddish coat and long black legs, the maned wolf is a distinctive figure in the park’s open grassland-forest mix. It feeds on fruits, rodents, and birds.

Crab-eating Fox
This adaptable and nocturnal canid roams the forest edge and fields, feeding on whatever is available—from small vertebrates to fruit and even crabs in wetter areas.

Nine-banded Armadillo
With its tough shell and digging claws, this armadillo is a common sight in the park’s underbrush. It feeds on insects and other invertebrates it finds underground.

Black Capuchin Monkey
This intelligent primate lives in the park’s upper canopy, where it uses tools and problem-solving to access fruits, seeds, and insects.

Geoffroy’s Cat
A small and elusive wild feline, Geoffroy’s cat is nocturnal and hunts birds, rodents, and reptiles. It thrives in the dense vegetation of the park’s interior.

Forest Spiny Rat
This nocturnal rodent hides in dense undergrowth and feeds on seeds and leaves. It plays an important role in the park’s forest floor ecology.