Fortaleza Canyon

Fortaleza is in Serra Geral National Park, the northern half of the same escarpment system as Itaimbezinho, and the difference is proportion: where Itaimbezinho is a narrow slot, Fortaleza is around seven kilometres long and up to two kilometres wide, with walls of roughly nine hundred metres, so it reads as a landscape rather than a cut. The rim trail runs several kilometres out to the Pedra do Segredo and the point where the plateau ends, looking down over the coastal plain and, on clear days, out to the Atlantic. Tigre Preto waterfall drops off the rim nearby. It gets a fraction of Itaimbezinho's visitors because the access road is unpaved and the walk is longer, which is the main argument for going.

What you actually see

• A canyon two kilometres wide - walls of around nine hundred metres.
• The end of the plateau - the rim trail out to where the escarpment stops.
• A view to the Atlantic - the coastal plain below on clear days.
• Tigre Preto falls - dropping off the rim into the gorge.

When to go

April to September. A day, going early for clear air.

Honest expectations

The access road is unpaved and rough, and rain makes it difficult without high clearance. Entry needs advance booking. The rim walk is several hours return with no shade and strong wind. Cloud closes the view often.

Nearby

Itaimbezinho is south in Aparados da Serra; Praia Grande is below the escarpment.