the park covers a vast area and includes several beaches, great lookout points and numerous well defined trails.  the morro de cruz (cross hill) is an important feature of the park, as it was location of a plantation, which eventually gave rise to the creation of the park in its place.

the property had several owners during its time, and the agricultural acticities changed along with the economic developments of the island. the last land owner before his expropriation and the conversion of the area into a public space, was the entrepreneur darke bhering de mattos, giving the park its current name.