Discover Areal: Hiking Trails, Mountain Views, and Culture

Areal especially appeals to travelers who enjoy spending their time outdoors: the Ecotrilhas project brings together mountain biking, mountaineering, hiking, off-road tours, and moto trails. There are also various routes, each with its own character—from distinctly mountainous terrain and views of regional mountains to rural scenery. Whether traveling as a family or with friends, you can start by asking what kind of experience you want to focus on: getting around on foot, a bike tour, a drive, or nature and culture along the way.

Routes with Different Highlights

The Areal–Fagundes–Secretário hiking route begins in Areal and also includes an activity involving the making of Taboa crafts. It combines hiking with a craft theme. For visitors who want to learn about a local tradition as well as get some exercise, this offers a different emphasis from routes focused on scenery or mode of transport.

The Trilha Boa Esperança – Caminhada also begins in Areal. It is recommended for off-road enthusiasts, but can also be ridden by bicycle. The trail passes through distinctly mountainous terrain.

The Areal–Trilha do Goiabal offers several options: the route can be traveled on foot, by bicycle, or by car. Along the way, there are views of regional mountains, including Pedra do Elefante and Maria Comprida. If you like to consider different ways of getting around or want to make mountain views the focus of an outing, this route clearly differs from a hiking trail whose description emphasizes the terrain above all.

The Volta da Represa do Morro Grande offers the chance to visit an ornamental flower farm. This is a special highlight alongside the sports-oriented activities offered by the Ecotrilhas project. The Trilha do Boi Bandido, by contrast, passes through rural areas. Along the way are a very old chapel and several farms. These stops give the route its rural character; they should not be confused with the mountain views along the Goiabal route or the described ornamental flower cultivation.

The Trilha Quilombo Boa Esperança is described as a peaceful hiking route for people who want to hike with family and friends and experience close contact with nature. If you want to go together, you can take this description into account when choosing a hike. Its focus differs from the recommendation of the Trilha Boa Esperança for off-road enthusiasts.

Nature Experiences and Cultural Facets

Culture and history are also part of the place’s character. Paróquia Nossa Senhora das Dores was elevated to parish status in 1931. In the municipality, the Museu Ferroviário de Areal – Estação Alberto Torres was officially recognized by the Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat for Culture and Creative Economy as part of the Cadastro Fluminense de Museus (CFM-0240). In addition, the municipality of Areal is included in the Caminho Novo of the Estrada Real project. These cultural and historical connections complement the outdoor experiences with other topics that may interest you as you plan your trip.

Choose Routes That Suit Your Travel Style

When searching for a vacation rental in Areal, it may be helpful to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. This lets you choose accommodation based on the experiences in Areal that appeal to you most, without implying proximity to any particular route.

The routes of the Ecotrilhas project in Areal are available to download in GPX, GTM, and KML formats. These files are intended for GPS devices and navigation and mapping applications. If you want to prepare a route digitally, you can choose the file that suits your device or program.

More Destination Pages

More destination pages: Sapucaia, Manguinhos, Niterói, Maricá, Santo Antônio do Imbé, Abadia, Resende, and Ponte Coberta.

For the broader travel overview: Rio De Janeiro.