Alto Ribeira Tourist State Park

Located in the south of the State of SP, between the cities of Apiaí and Iporanga, is PETAR (Alto Ribeira Tourist State Park). A park with over 350 caves, dozens of waterfalls, trails, traditional and quilombola communities, archaeological and paleontological sites… it is truly a hidden paradise among valleys and mountains and in the largest preserved portion of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

In PETAR we find several species of birds (Rufous Tiger Heron – Tigrisoma fasciatum, Ornate Hawk-Eagle – Spizaetus ornatus), large mammals: such as agoutis, tapirs, and howler monkeys; and many species of bromeliads, orchids, and one of the most important species of the Atlantic Forest, the Juçara Palm – Euterpe edulis. In addition, of course, to an immense quantity of streams and rivers with crystal-clear waters.

PETAR was created in 1958, being one of the oldest parks in the State of São Paulo and houses the valuable natural heritage of the Alto Ribeira region composed of paleontological, archaeological, and historical sites, as well as a great biological diversity characteristic of the Atlantic Forest preserved throughout its extent.

But the biggest attraction of the Park is undoubtedly its speleological wealth. There are more than 250 registered caves, making PETAR one of the largest concentrations of this kind in Brazil.

The mountainous formation and dense vegetation present in the region act as a barrier to the winds coming from the South Atlantic, causing high rainfall. The action of acidic water on limestone rocks over thousands of years has led to the formation of caves with floors, walls, and ceilings adorned with numerous speleothems (stalactites, stalagmites, columns, curtains, etc.).

In PETAR, natural cavities of different types and dimensions are found, whether horizontal (called grottos or caves) or vertical (called abysses).

Visits to the caves of PETAR can be complemented by other activities such as tubing, visiting the Devil's Cave in Eldorado or the Betary Biodiversity Study Reserve, and by scavenger hunts developed at the inn or in other spaces.

Some of the most visited attractions by groups are:

• Santana Cave: is undoubtedly the richest in terms of formations and labyrinths, with a total length of its galleries reaching over 6 km. A part of the cave is fully accessible to the public, featuring wooden stairs and bridges built in the most difficult access areas.

• Morro Preto Cave: This cave, practically dead, has one of the most beautiful entrances. In the foreground, there is a room right at the mouth, and then, descending 3m, another quite large room appears, where traces of prehistoric habitation were found. Between the two rooms, one can observe a column about 2 meters in diameter and over 5 meters high. A descent of 20 meters and an ascent of 30 meters lead to a kind of internal viewpoint from where one can see the entrance from the inside out; the view is stunning, with the column of the entrance mentioned above in the center.

• Dirty Water Cave: One can make the entire visit to the cave inside the water. From the entrance, one walks through a stream, which widens and deepens in some sections of the route, but not more than 1.5 meters deep. This is one of the few caves that is completely alive, with a large collapse not very old observable at the end of the visitable section. Some of its halls are over 20 meters. In addition, there are also Travestino Lakes in full activity, a breathtaking sight. The highlight and final point of the visit, about 500 meters from the entrance, is undoubtedly a waterfall of about 2 meters in height; swimming is mandatory for those who enjoy a good adventure.

• Alambari de Baixo Cave: one can traverse this cave, that is, enter from one side and exit from the other side of the mountain. At the entrance, a landslide and a large hall that begins the crossing can be observed. The main path leads into the mountain parallel to a silent underground river at a lower level. At the exit, a surprise awaits, which is better checked there.

• Tubing: pure adrenaline is to descend the rapids of the Betari near the Serra neighborhood in rubber tubes. Tubes made from truck tire chambers or even special tubes built for this purpose are used.

• Gold Cave and House of Flour (Museum of Traditional Culture): Located near the Serra neighborhood (Betari Valley), it has an Environmental Education center for the development of activities with the local community and the school network, in addition to serving groups that carry out environmental interpretation work, having a small museum with traditional utensils from the region, Museum of Traditional Culture (House of Flour – made of wattle and daub - mortars and sugarcane mill). In this nucleus is the Gold Cave, which is considered by many speleologists to be one of the most difficult in the park to complete, due to its formation.

Source: website Ivian