Residents of São Paulo don't have to leave the city limits to walk through nature.
The Manacás trail, in the neighborhoods of Engenheiro Marsilac and Parelheiros, in the extreme south of São Paulo, is an option for those looking for a quiet and flat route.
The route is easy, with few slopes and mostly open. The seven-kilometer hike lasts five hours and passes through four waterfalls — Manacás, Otter, Marsilac, and Onça.
It is possible to bathe in all of them. The Capivari River, which passes through the region, is considered the last clear watercourse in the city of São Paulo.
To enjoy the waterfalls, it is ideal is to start the morning tour. Much of Capivari's bank has extensive sandbanks where it is possible to stretch under the sun and dry after diving.
Even if you don't get into the water, it is essential to bring spare footwear — some sections of the route pass through water.
The entrance to the trail is at Selva SP, the region's adventure park, which is 58 kilometers from the city center. By car, the trip takes about an hour and a half.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon