the town of maricá is probably best known for its espraiado-450 hectares of land including 250 hectars of virgin rainforest that have been preserved through the cooperation of the people and the government.

the circuito ecológico de maricá hosts hiking expeditions through and around natural landmarks of maricá including pedra do elefante (elephant rock), 'caminho de darwin' (darwin's road), mirante do caju (cashew view), pedra de itaocaia (itaocaia rock) and serra do camburi.

espraiado is located about 17 miles from the center of maricá, so it does not come as a surprise that the town uses the pristine land in efforts to boost ecotourism, and to increase maricá's importance in the state's touristic map.