Serra do Tabuleiro State Park

O Serra do Tabuleiro State Park (PAEST) is a jewel of Santa Catarina's biodiversity, established in 1975 based on research conducted by renowned botanists Father Raulino Reitz and Roberto Miguel Klein. Its purpose is to preserve not only the richness of flora and fauna, but also the region's precious water resources. Covering around 1% of the territory of Santa Catarina, PAEST extends across the municipalities of Florianópolis, Palhoça, Santo Amaro da Imperatriz, Águas Mornas, São Bonifácio, São Martinho, Imaruí, Paulo Lopes and Garopaba. Furthermore, it includes the islands of Siriú, Cardos, Largo, Andrade and Coral, as well as the Três Irmãs and Moleques do Sul archipelagos, making it the largest Conservation Unit with full protection in the territory of Santa Catarina.

The name of the Park derives from the imposing Serra do Tabuleiro, whose tabular-shaped summit is a notable and visible feature of the Greater Florianópolis region. This area is home to a unique diversity of habitats and plant formations, representing five of the six main formations of the Atlantic Forest biome in Santa Catarina. Thus, PAEST is home to surprising biodiversity that transcends its 84,130 hectares.

At the edge of the coast, where the marine influence is felt, there are restinga and mangrove formations. In the heart of PAEST, the Dense Ombrophylous Forest, with its abundance of epiphytic plants and wildlife, dominates the landscape. At higher altitudes, the mysterious cloud forest appears shrouded in fog, while the higher parts are home to the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest, also known as the Araucárias Forest, and the high altitude fields. Each ecosystem reveals a distinct fauna and flora, with unique dominant species. The coastal islands included in the Conservation Unit also have unique characteristics. This profusion of species and vegetation, some virtually untouched, solidifies the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park as one of Santa Catarina's greatest treasures, playing an essential role in the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Also noteworthy is the protection of thousands of springs, crucial for the surrounding regions, such as the sources of the rivers of Vargem do Braço, Cubatão, Madre and D'Una, which provide high quality water for more than 1 million inhabitants in Greater Florianópolis and on the south coast of the state. Due to its unique soil, relief and vegetation characteristics, the Park plays a vital role as a climate regulator in these areas.

Within the boundaries of the Park, in the municipality of Palhoça, lies Baixada do Maciambu, a plain that displays one of the most notable sandbank landscapes on the Brazilian coast. This region, with its sandy ridges shaped like semicircles shaped by thousands of years of sea level fluctuations, is considered an important geological monument in southern Brazil. Due to its unique and representative characteristics, Serra do Tabuleiro State Park is an incomparable research field. Located close to large urban centers, the Park has vast potential for public use and leisure activities, where ecological tourism is intertwined with environmental education and the sustainable development of local communities.

The Park headquarters, located in the municipality of Palhoça, in Baixada do Massiambu, has a Visitor Center with complete infrastructure, including an auditorium, administrative offices, an exhibition room with an osteological collection, kitchen and sanitary facilities. The Visitor Center serves as a starting point for easy-level educational trails, providing opportunities for observing the rich flora of the Restinga da Baixada do Massiambu, exploring the geological monument of the sandy ridges, viewing the local fauna and its remains, in addition to providing insights into the ecological and cultural aspects of the region. In addition to the trails, visitors can enjoy a panoramic viewpoint, a leisure area suitable for picnics and Casa Açoriana, a century-old building where workshops, educational activities and special events take place.

Come explore this giant of biodiversity and discover the unique beauty of Serra do Tabuleiro State Park!

Recommendations: The Visitor Center does not have restaurants or snack bars, so visitors are advised to bring their own food and drinks. It is recommended that visitors be prepared for the outdoor experience by bringing insect repellent, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes to ensure comfort and safety during their visit. It is important to highlight that domestic animals are not permitted in the Park, thus ensuring the preservation and tranquility of the local fauna.

Distance from Florianopolis: 41.7 km