Park visisit centers

The PETAR gathers three visit centers. Specialized guides, camping facilities and aid resource can be found in the centers.

• Santana Center

The Santana center is located 3 Km from the Bairro Serra (Serra Village) in Iporanga. This center is crossed by the Betary River, an afluent of Ribeira de Iguape River and receive the water of many living caves. Its bottom is stony and hilly and the water is clearer than any other river.
There is a guides house (checkpoint) about 1 Km from Santana Center entrance. The tracks that lead to the distant caves begin near the checkpoint. Among them, the best choice is the track that leads to the Caverna Água Suja. It is on the border of the Betary river all its long. The interesting thing is that you have to cross the river many times until reach the cave. If you want to continue, the track goes far from the cave until a magnificant waterfall.

Besides the Água Suja Cave and close to the checkpoint, you can visit The Caverna Santana, which gives the name to the Center and is certainly the most interesting cave in terms of formations and labyrints. Also close to the entrance is the Caverna Morro Preto, which makes the explorer a little tired, due the hill you have to climb to get there, but it really worth the effort. People say, by the ocasion of this cave discovery, signs of pre-historic inhabitation of the cave were found. For this reasons, the Santana Center is certainly the most visited.

• Caboclos Center

Is located in the city of Apiaí. Was the first park center and gathers many atractions as the caves: Chapéu (Hat), Chapéu Mirim I (Little Hat I), Chapéu Mirim II and Aranhas (Spiders). In this center is also situated the interesting Pedra do Chapeu (Hat Stone) and many tracks such as Trilha do Mirante (Belvedere track) and Sete Reis (Seven Kings).

• Ouro Grosso Center

Its foundation was intended to be on January, 12th 97, and it is the newest park center. Its headquarter is close to Bairro Serra (Serra Village) in Iporanga and its main atraction is the Caverna Ouro Grosso. Near to this cave entrance is situated a huge tree, whose roots are so large that you can pass standed up among them. Finally the Betary River also makes part of this center landscape.