-Alto Mourão Hill

Elefante Rock is between the beaches of Itacoatiara (in the municipality of Niterói) and Itaipuaçu (in the municipality of Maricá). It is 412m above sea level and the highest peak of the park and of the city of Niterói. It is the most famous and crowded hill in the entire region, because, in addition to the spectacular view from the top, the access road provides all kinds of situations, being a very interesting path. The name “Elefante Rock” is the most popular due to the design of its outline, when seen from Itaipuaçu Beach, resembling an elephant. Other known names are, as follows: Fake Sugar Loaf and Itaipuaçu Rock, besides the one with historical support, Alto Mourão, named after Duarte Martins Mourão, the owner of these lands in the mid-16th century.

The trail begins at the highest peak of the short hill (Gilberto Carvalho Road), 150m high, about 50m before reaching Itaipuaçu Observation Deck, and is marked with signs. Follow up the south slope in a well-marked trail, with few obstacles, and cross an area under recovery in this initial section. After walking 600m up for about 20 minutes, the slope is less steep, the trail meets a clearing with rocks called Descanso Square (or, originally,  Pita Square). After that, the trail remains relatively flat and with a slight rise and fall.

-Itacoatiara Shore

The Itacoatiara Shore, also known as Tucum Hill, is a beautiful monolith moving forward to the sea between  Elefante Rock and Itacoatiara Beach, one of the most popular in Niterói. These slopes are highly sought after, especially on weekends, both by hikers climbing the sloping ridge and by climbers who challenge the more upright granite faces, all wanting to reach the top to enjoy the view and the famous sunset.

The trail leading to Itacoatiara Shore and  Bananal Cove starts in the Visitors Welcome Desk, in Itacoatiara, at Rua das Flores nº 24, close to Itacoatiara Beach. As soon as you enter the gate of the Visitors Welcome Desk, sign the guest book and follow the trail that goes up in parallel to a wall a few meters ahead to then start a short zigzag, which lasts about 10 minutes, until you reach the neck of the valley, about 200m from the beginning of the trekking way. In this beginning the trail heads eastward, in the woods, and is well marked, with some improvements such as steps and handrails.

– Andorinhas Hill

Andorinhas Hill is a 2.6km long and 196m high extended hill forwarding toward the sea, setting apart the beaches of Itaipu and Itacoatiara. It was named after a cave in one of its faces, where swallows make their nests, a place of refuge to spend the night.

Begin by climbing the steep and cemented slope next to the address Rua da Amizade 1,093. After walking for about 60m, the slope is less steep, and the pavement gradually gives way to a dirt road. Walk past some houses and turn to the right after 300m, walk a few meters toward a gate that sets the beginning of the trail, which is always well marked and has a with few obstacles, and gently climb the extended ridge of Andorinhas Hill, by getting across the medium size forest.

Just after the trail begins, there is a curve to the right heading southwest. Move on for another 270m, a little over 5 minutes, and you will get to an entrance on the left, next to a sign to the first observation deck facing Itacoatiara Beach and the main attractions of the park. This observation deck is called Da Pitangueira Observation Deck, near a traditional community living in this hillside known as  Sítio da Jaqueira Community.

Back to the main trail, a few meters ahead, turn right in a fork, marked by another sign. Then get across the forest for 50m until you reach the Observation Deck called Região Oceânica, overlooking the neighborhood of Itaipu, virtually facing the connecting point between the beach and Itaipu Lagoon. What draws the visitor’s attention the most in this observation deck is the view of the famous mountains of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

After exploring the beautiful observation deck, head back to the main trail and keep on easily walking southwest, until you get to Itacoatiara Observation Deck, 180m later, by walking for less than 5 minutes. The view of this deck is like the previous one, but it is the main observation deck of  Andorinhas Hill, virtually facing the postcard of the park. There, you can see the Itacoatiara Beach, the Itacoatiara Shore (Tucum Hill), Elefante Rock (Alto Mourão), Solidão Rock, Telégrafo Hill and the continuation of the extended Tiririca Mountain.

-Colibris Stream

It is an interesting walk entering the woods of the  Colibris Stream, an area covered by secondary vegetation on regeneration process for over 50 years, where visitors have the opportunity to meet several important species of the Atlantic Rainforest, such as large fig trees, heliconias, tabebuias, floss silk tree, etc. And, of course, you should also visit the Colibris Well, with crystalline and perennial water, and the  Pacas Bog, which is a flooded forest area. It is a flat and short trail, suitable for visitors of any age group and is also where the park holds environmental education events, mainly with the schools in the region.

The beginning of the trail is marked and starts at the end of the street Rua Engenho do Mato, in an intersection with the street Rua São João, heading East in the woods. The trail is flat, well-marked, protected by the shade of the trees, with several informative signs providing the visitor with a few more details about important specimens of the Atlantic Rainforest and about the park.