Superagui National Park

Superagui covers a group of islands and a stretch of mainland in the Paranagua estuarine complex, one of the least disturbed coastal wetland systems on the Brazilian seaboard, and it is part of the South-East Atlantic Forest World Heritage listing. Its emblem is the red-tailed amazon, a parrot that came close to extinction through nest robbing for the pet trade and now depends almost entirely on this area; in the late afternoon flocks cross to roosting islands in numbers, which is the standard boat trip. There is a long unbroken ocean beach on the outer side, mangrove channels behind, restinga forest, and small caicara communities including Barra do Superagui and the Guarani village at Tibicanga. Development is restricted throughout.

History

Fishermen have lived in the area since time immemorial, and before the Europeans arrived it was home to the Carijó and Tupiniquim peoples; the Portuguese settled here from 1500 but built no towns. In 1852 the Swiss consul in Rio de Janeiro, Perret Gentil, founded a colony on Superagüi Island, one of the first European colonies in the state of Paraná, but it never grew, and the few people in the villages inside the park today are fishermen descended from the 15 families he brought to the island (Wikipedia, Superagüi National Park).

What's there

• Red-tailed amazons - the parrot's last stronghold, crossing to roost at dusk.
• An unbroken ocean beach - the outer shore of the island, empty for kilometres.
• Mangrove channels - the estuarine system behind the beaches.
• Caicara and Guarani villages - the small communities inside the park.

When to go

April to October. Two days. Take the late boat for the parrots.

What to expect

Access is by boat only and schedules are sparse - often one departure a day. Accommodation is basic pousadas in Barra do Superagui. Insects in the mangrove are heavy at dawn and dusk. Parts of the park are closed to visitors entirely.

Nearby

Guaraquecaba is on the mainland; Ilha do Mel is south at the bay mouth.

Key facts