neighborhood on way to primata

How many cities in the world can you visit that has a rain forest inside of it?   My favorite city Rio de Janeiro is home to Tijuca National Park which is the largest urban rainforest in the world sitting on 8000 acres of land.  It has 30 waterfalls and on this journey I had the pleasure of visiting one of them, Cachoeira dos Primatas.  I would met Anwar from Los Angeles 2 days prior while meeting my Favela Tour guide.  He invited me to join Carlos (our guide), Daniele and Roberta for a hike to the Primata Waterfall.

Primata map

We start off meeting at a gas station and walk through an upscale neighborhood that kept ascending to the start of the trail.  By now I’m exhausted before we even start the trail.  The tail was very challenging for a 2nd time in life hiker and for even our host Carlos who does the journey regularly.  Enough though it was a challenge it was astounding to see hundreds of year old trees laying on the ground or rocks and branches that were our stepping stones along the path.

Primata Rainforest

one at a time

 

Primata Rainforest

Our path courtesy of mother nature

 

The journey was long, about 45 minutes and exhausting but we pushed forward with determination to see the waterfall we could only imagine until arrival.  The 1st part of the waterfall was extremely cold and the ground was rocky.  I didn’t have swim shorts so I rolled up my paints to try and enjoy the moment.

Primata Tijuca Rainforest

1st waterfall

 

Primata Tijuca Rainforest

trying to be gangsta in paradise

 

The 1st waterfall was just an appetizer to what we saw see next.  The 2nd water fall was huge, standing around three stories high with an unobstructed view of the sun.  The water was refreshing, standing under the down pour drinking the fresh water.  The ground extended 30 feet from the waterfall so the angle of the ground and water stream created a short natural water slide.  This waterfall is the perfect place to getaway.  Carlos informed me on the weekends it can be packed with people hanging out so we were fortunate to come during the week and have the area to ourselves.  Besides having to go into the waterfall in my Fruit of Looms, this was a perfect experience in paradise!

Primata Tijuca Rainforest

Nate, Daniele, Roberta

 

Primata Tijuca Rainforest

Carlos and Anwar

Comments