the parque estadual da serra da tiririca, otherwise known as tiririca state park, is located in the coastal region covering niterói and maricá.

the city of maricá is only a few hours away from rio de janeiro, yet it is virtually unknown by foreign visitors who come to rio on vacation.

this small and quiet fishing community is located to the northeast of rio in an area known as the região dos lagos(lakes region), and is characterized by almost deserted beaches for most of the year.

long stretches of white sand, strong waves, dirt roads, and a very basic infrastructure along the beaches make of this town an easy way to experience a simpler and disappearing brazil.

this protected area is made up of both marine water and land forming a chain of mountains that span in a southeast and northeast direction, divided by waters bordering niterói and maricá, and ending at the highway rj-106.