The Park has been expanded twice since its inception, with the addition of parque lage in 2004 and an addition of more land of the tijuca forest area in 2011 in celebration of its 50th anniversary as a National Park.

the floresta da tijuca is the central piece of the park, and is a popular location for hiking or trekking, as it houses some of the best peaks in the city, which are adorned by some of the most vibrant species of flora and fauna of the atlantic forest. 

The Valley History circuit gives the visitor a good starting point of the major sights of the Park - starting at the mayrink chapel which has murals by Brazilian neo-realism painter Cândido Portinari and the Visitor Center which welcomes guests from far and wide with a permanent exhibit entitled 'A Forest in the Metropolis,' featuring a history of the Park along with games, diagrams, photos, and videos.