Araguaia National Park Voyage Tips and guide

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Araguaia National Park (officially Parque Nacional do Araguaia) is a protected natural and cultural area in the North region of Brazil. The park provides habitat for wildlife and occupies the northern third of Bananal Island, the second largest river island in the world. The southern two-thirds of the island is reserved for indigenous populations only. Four indigenous cultures live on the island in any of 16 indigenous villages. It is a Ramsar wetland.

The park covers a territory of 557,700 hectares. It is about 100 km from the northern tip of the park to its southern border with the indigenous preserve that makes up the southern part of the island. Inhabitants on Bananal Island are from one of four indigenous groups: the Javaés, Karajá, Ava-Canoeiro, and Tuxá. Non-indigenous Brazilians are not allowed to live on the island.

The park was created as part of the Brazilian national parks system in December 1959. In 1973, legislation was passed that protected the entire island and designated much of the island as a reserve for indigenous cultures.

The park is an island in the middle of a river. It is surrounded by riverfront shoreline with extensive areas of swamp and marshes. Dense rainforest vegetation is in these areas. Drier, inland areas are grassy savannah.

Many species of mammal live in the park, including most species that are commonly found in rainforest environments, including marsh deer, the maned wolf, several species of jungle wildcat (including the Jaguar), giant otters, monkeys, armadillos, and two species of dolphin in the river. Reptiles include anacondas, black caiman, and a variety of venomous and non-venomous snakes.

Birdwatchers can spot many colorful rainforest birds in the park including toucans and macaws, as well as aquatic species in the marshes and shorelines. These include the anhinga, several types of heron and egret, and ospreys. The savannah areas are home to rheas as well as quails and other species that hide in the grassy brush.

The park is remote and fairly difficult to reach. It is best done with the help of a local guide.

The nearest commercial airport is in Palmas, which is served by flights originating in Brasilia. Once in Palmas, take a bus or hire a tour guide to take you to the town of Caseara. In Caseara, you can hire a boat or tour guide to take you to the park. Tour guides may use motor vehicles to other embarkation points, but boats are generally the most reliable (and only practical) way to get to the park. There is no bridge to Bananal Island so driving is generally impractical, although it is possible to ford the river in a 4WD truck during the driest few weeks of the dry season.

Once on Bananal Island, you can get around by walking, riding a bicycle, or riding a horse.

• Palmas
• Taquarussu