Unlike its more famous neighbors the Pedra Branca State Park and the Tijuca National Park, The Forest of Gericinó - Mendanha is the less well known and visited. this is partly due its relative distance from the city center and the beaches of Zona Sul.

in fact, this adds to the uniqueness of the Forest, further emphasized by a number of volcanic geological structures, including the Chimney Lamego and Nova Iguaçu Volcano as well as numerous hot springs and volcanic vents.

Two major river basins, the Guanabara and Sepetiba Bay as well as the Iguaçu, Sarapuí and Guandu Rivers flow through the forest, which besides supplying the city of Rio de Janeiro with fresh water, produce some stunning waterfalls, swimming areas.