A history of discoveries
Carajás holds billions of years of history in its rocks. The region concentrates one of the largest reserves of pure iron ore on the planet and, at the same time, shelters an extraordinary biodiversity. Different biomes meet and mingle here, creating landscapes and life forms that exist nowhere else.
Life here is exuberant and diverse. Dense forests share ground with ancient rock formations. Unique species have adapted and evolved in this singular territory.
Carajás is rich in minerals and in natural beauty. A land where development and preservation walk side by side, in a constant balancing act between making use of what is valuable in the soil and protecting what is irreplaceable on the surface.
In 1960, geologists searching for manganese came across something unexpected: one of the greatest mineral treasures on the planet. What looked like a routine expedition revealed iron deposits of exceptional purity. But the discovery brought more than mineral wealth. As paths were opened through the forest, the world came to know a unique ecosystem, untouched for millennia.
The region shelters the largest set of iron caves on the planet. Here blooms the Flower of Carajás, which exists nowhere else on Earth. Life adapted in a singular way to the iron-rich soil: specialised carnivorous plants, termites that build their nests with ore, landscapes found in no other corner of the world.
Recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, Carajás receives more than 200,000 visitors a year. It is a place where history, nature and adventure meet, offering experiences that exist only here.
Gateway
Located in south-eastern Pará, some 720 km from Belém, Parauapebas is the main gateway to the Carajás National Forest. It can be reached by air, road or rail.
Carajás Airport (CKS), 17 km from the city centre, receives regular flights with connections to Belém, Marabá and Brasília. Transfers into town can be made by taxi, ride-hailing app or authorised shuttle.
The city is reached via the PA-275 highway, which links Parauapebas to Curionópolis (40 km) and Marabá (160 km), connecting to the BR-155 and BR-222. Coach companies run regular services to several cities in the region.
The Carajás Railway (EFC), operated by Vale S.A., offers passenger transport between São Luís (Maranhão) and Parauapebas (Pará), a journey of about 892 km with stops in several intermediate towns.
The Carajás Route is an important step in building a more humane, decentralised economy connected to the future of the forest. We are talking about real opportunities for those who live in the region and have chosen to build a business here.
The Carajás Route Catalogue was created to reveal to the world a destination that unites natural wealth, cultural identity and historical vocation. A route where nature and business walk together, driving development from what is most authentic in this territory: its fauna, its flora and its natural beauty.
To make this initiative possible, Sebrae mobilised national and international partners, bringing together technical and institutional expertise and financial resources with the purpose of valuing the territory and boosting the local economy.
Among trails, waterfalls, caves and lookouts, the Amazon reveals its beauty! The Carajás National Forest and the Campos Ferruginosos National Park await you with attractions that blend adventure, contemplation and discovery.
Where the lookouts do not fit into photographs, but etch themselves into memory forever.
Washing the body and soul of every visitor.
While more than 590 bird species parade for attentive eyes.
Where ancestral artefacts tell of ancient civilisations, rare bats find safe sanctuary.
Found nowhere else in the world.
Flor de Carajás · Ipomoea cavalcantei
Thanks to the density of the forest, flying rivers drift through the sky laden with moisture, cooling the planet and helping to reduce the greenhouse effect.
Carajás is the embrace between the Amazon rainforest and the low-lying rarity of the ferruginous canga.
More than 300 conservation units across every biome
The guardian of Amazon life
The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation is the federal agency that looks after the country’s protected areas, safeguarding natural and cultural treasures.
Representing 10% of the national territory, a figure that reaches 26% once marine areas are included.
On the Carajás Route, ICMBio organises public use with clear rules, ensuring safe trails and sustainable tourism. More than protecting, the Institute connects: it promotes environmental education, trains guides and encourages research that brings science, community and visitors closer together.
1.2 million
Hectares in total area
Iron caves, humid forests, savannahs and the richest ore-bearing soil the world has ever seen. Preserving this territory safeguards the balance between nature, research and sustainable use.
2,800
Plant species
Vascular plants that carry life through their veins, creating the largest natural botanical garden in the Amazon. Each species carries its own story of survival in iron soil.
96%
Of the territory preserved
Protected by 14,000 patrols and millions of kilometres covered in surveillance. The Carajás Mosaic preserves 11,000 springs and hundreds of species of birds, reptiles and mammals.
More than 1,600
Iron caves
The largest complex of iron caves on the planet. Underground labyrinths carved in iron over millions of years, where every formation tells the geological history of the Earth.
Choose your path
The Carajás National Forest and the Campos Ferruginosos National Park await you with attractions that blend adventure, contemplation and discovery.
The self-guided attractions of the Carajás National Forest can be visited without an independent guide accredited by ICMBio. To enter, simply report to the Carajás National Forest gate, open every day from 8am to 3pm. Find out more: +55 (94) 98400-5690.
8 attractions See the self-guided attractionsThese attractions must be visited with independent guides and companies accredited by ICMBio. They share knowledge about the biodiversity, the geology and the local and cultural history, making your visit richer and safer.
27 attractions See the guided attractionsThe list brings together companies and independent professionals authorised to guide visitors through the region’s attractions, ensuring safety, qualified information and authentic experiences.
Before you go
They exist to protect you, the forest and the animals. Hunting, drinking alcohol, making noise, littering, lighting fires, feeding animals, smoking and entering with vehicles are all prohibited.
Walking the trails alone is forbidden. There is a real risk of accidents involving predators and venomous animals.
Sleep well and hydrate before setting out, and take water, fruit and protein bars. Wear mid- or high-cut boots, clothing suited to the forest, a hat or cap, sunscreen and insect repellent. Bring swimwear to enjoy the waterfalls!
The Carajás National Forest gate is open every day from 8am to 3pm. Find out more: +55 (94) 98400-5690.
Take Carajás with you
Every attraction, distance, duration and difficulty level, the visiting rules and the full list of accredited agencies and guides, all in a single PDF.
The best flavours of Parauapebas, one click away.
Discover Pebas Gastronômica
