Cachoeiras de Macacu Voyage Tips and guide

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Cachoeiras de Macacu, sometimes referred to simply as "Cachoeiras", is a municipality of Grande Rio, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in the Southeast of Brazil.

Cachoeiras de Macacu means "Macacu Waterfalls" in Portuguese. The macacu is a tree from which ink is extracted. The town's nickname is "Land of Crystal Waters".

The RJ-116 highway crosses Cachoeiras de Macacu from the south to the northeast of the municipality. This highway is the vector through which the urban expansion of the metropolis reached the downtown area of Cachoeiras, having stopped at the foot of the mountain range called Serra do Mar.

The population is about 59,000 (2020) and its elevation 54m. It is crossed by the Macacu River, the largest river that flows into the Guanabara Bay, in Rio de Janeiro. Cachoeiras is divided into the southern region, with lowland, and the northern part, with mountains.

In the downtown area of Rio de Janeiro, there is an urban van line that links directly downtown Rio de Janeiro to Cachoeiras de Macacu. This van departs from the Central do Brasil area.

If you prefer not to use urban public transport, the route between the long-distance bus station Rodoviária Novo Rio. , in the downtown area of the state capital, and Cachoeiras de Macacu is made by the bus company "1001" for around R$45.00 (Sep 2023). This route links directly downtown Rio to the bus station in the Cachoeiras de Macacu city center, located about 90 km from the Central Zone of Rio de Janeiro.

Except for the van line to Cachoeiras de Macacu mentioned above, there are no other urban lines of public transport connecting the municipality of Cachoeiras and the Central Zone of Rio. However, there is a couple of urban bus lines linking Cachoeiras to other peripheral municipalities of the metropolitan agglomeration of Rio de Janeiro, such as Itaboraí, Guapimirim and Magé.

The main road access to Cachoeiras de Macacu for those coming from the Rio Central Zone are the RJ-116 highway and the RJ-122 highway.

Map of Cachoeiras de Macacu

• -22.417046-42.6092331 Parque Estadual dos Três Picos (PETP, Tres Picos State Park). A state park in the north of the municipality.  
• Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu - REGUA (Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve) - An ecological reserve in the area where the Guapiaçu river (and its hydrographic basin) and the village of Guapiaçu are located.
• -22.579425-42.8655162 Ruínas da Igreja de São José da Boa Morte (Ruins of the Church of São José da Boa Morte).  
• Rio Macacu (Macacu river) - A major river of the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro.
• Rio Bengala (Bengala river) - River in the region of Japuíba, near its urban core.
• Rio Branco (White river) - A river that crosses the urban limit of Japuíba.
• -22.654946-42.9063343 Rio Guapiaçu (Guapiaçu river). River in Guapiaçu, in the former district of Subaio.  
• Bacia do Guapiaçu (Guapiaçu Basin) - The hydrographic basin of Guapiaçu river, part of the hydrographic basin of Macacu River.
• -22.5955-42.67874 Serra do Soarinho (Soarinho Montain Range). A montain range near the village of Papucaia. 
• -22.4522-42.91835 Serra do Subaio (Subaio Montain Range). A montain range near Guapiaçu. 
• Parque Terra Santa (Holy Land Park) - A park next to the village of Forno Velho, in Japuíba.
• Parque da Cidade (City's Park) - A recreation area in the entrance of the Cachoeiras de Macacu city center.
• -22.50105-42.7503826 Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Macacu (Bacia Hidrográfica Guapi-Macacu, Hydrographic Basin of Macacu River). The largest hydrographic basin in the region.  
• Área de Proteção Ambiental Macacu - APA Macacu (Macacu Environmental Protection Area) - An Environmental Protection Area created to preserve the hydrographic basin of Macacu River.

You can do trekking, mountaineering, rappelling and other types of extreme sports. There are dozens of waterfalls of extraordinary beauty, such as Tenebroso, Sete Quedas, Barba, Samambaia, Chapadão and Furna da Onça.

• Restaurante Na Brasa Grill - RJ-116 highway, Km 39 - Santa Luíza.
• Restaurante Parada Funchal - RJ-122 highway, km 32 - Funchal.

• Hotel Netto - Floriano Peixoto Avenue, 189 - Centro.
• Hotel Palace - Rua Manoel Delfim Sarmento, 602 - Santa Luíza.

Hostels and private rooms are offered ...:

• Niterói – 80 km. It has a wonderful unique view of Rio and an intriguing contemporary art museum, which looks like an UFO (designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer). Also, it has one of the state's most beautiful beaches, Itacoatiara, which can be reached by the bus numbered 38. From Rio to Niterói it's a short ferry ride or you go by local bus. The "1001" bus goes directly to Niterói.
• São Gonçalo
• Itaboraí
• Guapimirim
• Magé
• Rio de Janeiro

• Saquarema – 110 km. A predominantly tourist city with beautiful beaches. The town is located in an area called the lakes region. It is known as "The national surfing capital". Further attractions are waterfalls, cascades, mountains and an archaeological site. Take a "1001" bus to Manilha and from there another "1001" bus to Saquarema.
• Búzios – 170 km. It's a small peninsula with several nice beaches and an abundance of night clubs. The town has the lowest rainfall in the state of Rio. It's nickname is "Saint-Brazilian Tropez". A "1001" bus brings you to Manilha and from there another "1001" bus to Búizios.
• Cabo Frio – 170 km. A popular tourist destination. It's famous for its beautiful beaches with fine white sand and crystal clear waters. There is a "1001" bus to Manilha. From there go with another "1001" bus to Cabo Frio.
• Arraial do Cabo – 170 km. It's a small town near Búzios. Its beaches have the most beautiful turquoise waters of Rio de Janeiro state. Beaches like Forno and Prainhas do Atalaia are surrounded by virgin lush green coastal vegetation and have clear blue waters similar to the Caribbean ones. Go first to Cabo Frio and from there to Arraial do Cabo.