21. Catacumba Park (Circuit)

Section: Catacumba Park (Circuit)

Orientation

Technical Information

Attractions

Section Map

How to Get There

This section can be reached via Catacumba Park at number 3000 on Av. Epitácio Pessoa at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, coming from the Parque Lage x Catacumba Park section (West/Barra de Guaratiba → East/Pão de Açúcar direction) or from the Morro da Saudade x Rua Vitória Régia section (East/Pão de Açúcar → West/Barra de Guaratiba direction).

There are several bus lines running along Av. Epitácio Pessoa at the Lagoon as well as other private means of transportation.

Route Description

(West/Barra de Guaratiba → East/Pão de Açúcar direction)

For those starting this section arriving from Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, just follow the yellow footprints/black base signage, as the route goes through the park grounds and after (160 m) of climbing the trail begins to a fork (280 m) and another (85 m) to the Sacopã viewpoint. Returning to the Main Trail, walk another (70 m) to another fork where you will find the Urubu viewpoint, where you can see the Lagoon, Pedra da Gávea, South Zone, Carioca Range and Christ the Redeemer.

Now back on the Main Trail, we walk another (620 m) to a bridge and then another (65 m) down metal steps with no difficulty. A little further and we go up a wooden staircase with handrail. Now continue another (270 m) to a stairway in an alley with a water tank and another (65 m) to Rua Vitória Régia where the section ends and the trail to Morro da Saudade begins.

For those coming in the opposite direction (East/Pão de Açúcar → West/Barra de Guaratiba), just follow the black footprints/yellow base signage heading West/Barra de Guaratiba.

Attractions

The park has a zip line and treetop circuit operated by a private company that acquired the right to commercialize these services within the park. Visit the Lagoa Aventura website for more information: http://lagoaaventuras.com.br/

The park is a quiet, peaceful place. Perhaps many people, especially Rio residents, do not give much importance to the place or do not visit it frequently, due to the countless attractions the city offers. But it is certainly a place that does not disappoint those who visit it, especially if they enjoy nature.

In the lower part of the park, the paths are winding and sloping, paved with stones, which together with gardens and lawns give a special charm to the place.

Every now and then you come across an area also paved with stones, forming small niches or squares where you can sit to appreciate nature or read in a place with a pleasant atmosphere and climate. In the park you can find several open-air works of art.

In the highest part, there is a dense forest, which is an ecological reserve, practically a forest, whose objective is to restore native flora and fauna.

This trail leads to a rustic viewpoint at the top of the hill on whose slope Catacumba Park is located. Once reaching the top of the hill, you can have a beautiful view of Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and adjacent areas.

You can even see part of Ipanema. On the other side of the Lagoon you can see the Jockey Club, Botanical Garden, and the Lagoon Rowing Stadium. Every now and then you can see a small boat sailing, some team practicing rowing, while in the background Pedra da Gávea and Morro Dois Irmãos complete the scene.

Shops/Lodging

Currently there is no partnership between the Transcarioca Trail and local businesses.

At Catacumba Park there is a small snack bar.

Water Points

It is recommended to get water at the Catacumba Park restrooms, as there are no streams with water along the route and during summer the temperature gets very hot on this section.

Photos

Historical Facts

According to archives of the Social Service Library of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, the land where Catacumba once stood was occupied by a farm throughout the 19th century. Its former owner, the Baroness of Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, transferred ownership of the lands to her slaves.

But the explanation for the name Catacumba originates from even more remote times. According to old residents of the favela, the site was used by indigenous people as a cemetery. However, there has never been confirmation of possible skeletons found in the region.

Around 1925, the State divided the Catacumbas Farm into 32 lots. The first shacks of the future favela began to be erected in the 1930s. But the demographic explosion only happened in the 1940s, with the arrival of a wave of migrants coming mainly from the state of Maranhão.

On August 7, 1967, Jornal do Brasil described everyday life in the favela as follows: "At five in the morning, Catacumba begins to disgorge its residents. Maids, cooks and nannies go down the stairways, heading to the 'ladies' houses'. Workers (a large number of construction workers) form lines at the two bus stops or walk on foot towards Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon..."

Catacumba Favela was removed in 1970 by the former governor of Guanabara, Negrão de Lima. Catacumba was a favela with no way to be urbanized and in a location at high risk of landslides.

Built where a favela once stood, Catacumba Park is the result of the execution of two notable projects: in the lower part, up to the mid-slope of the hill, a solid work of architecture, gardening and landscaping created a sumptuous and pleasant space, formed by avenues, squares and gardens, with many trees, and an open-air exhibition of sculptures by famous artists.

At another time, from the mid-slope to the top of the hill, reforestation was carried out, with a predominance of species found in the Atlantic Forest. Consequently, local fauna emerged, formed mostly by birds and marmosets.

Few of the park's visitors live nearby. Most come from far away, including tourists from Brazil and abroad. This means its importance transcends the limits of the surrounding neighborhoods, making it a place of great value for the entire city of Rio de Janeiro.

Adopting Group

There are no volunteer groups adopting this section.