Pico Paraná: what to know first
The highest summit in southern Brazil is extreme level in our catalogue. Not for technique, but for the sum of it: mud, roots, rock with metal rungs near the top, weather that turns fast and a day of over 12 hours if you go up and back.
Registration: don't skip it
In-person registration at the IAT base is mandatory before you climb, with a risk waiver. Entering by another access is fined: in March 2026, 15 people were fined. On 1 January 2026 a 19-year-old went missing in the park and was found alive only on 5 January, after walking about 20 km; he hadn't registered, and IAT closed the trails during the search.
The base's hours aren't clear: an IAT form says 24 h, one article says Wednesday to Monday, 8:00 to 17:00. Confirm on (41) 3422-8718 before planning a pre-dawn start. The public-use plan foresees a daily cap and reserved camp areas; some camping clearings are being closed for recovery.
Getting there
BR-116 toward the coast to the Posto do Tio Doca area, turn right at the Rio Tucum bridge and follow about 6 km of dirt to the base, past Fazenda Pico Paraná and Fazenda Rio das Pedras, where you park. We found no public transport to the base.
The way up
- Morro do Getúlio, km 3.5: the first stop, after the root-filled section.
- The spring between Caratuva and Itapiroca: refill here (treat the water); carry at least 1 L up to it. It can dry up in the dry season.
- Camp A1, after two streams, and A2, the summit base: from there about 50 min to the top, with rock and metal rungs.
Example: the day trip, hour by hour
| 04:15 | Leave the base after registering (people doing it in a day set off a little after 4 am). Headlamp. |
|---|---|
| ~11:15 | Summit, about 7 h up. |
| 11:45 | Start down, about 5 h. |
| ~16:45 | The base. Sign out. Over 12 h in all. |
The 7 h and 5 h come from one news report. If the base only opens at 8:00 on your day, the day trip doesn't fit: consider camping overnight.
What to bring
A headlamp, waterproof jacket, long trousers, grippy boots and a pack cover: the area is very wet. Little shade on the climb. If you don't have the miles yet, train first on smaller hills in the Serra da Baitaca, like Anhangava and Pão de Loth.
The first time, go with a professional guide or an experienced group. If you pick "First hike" in the preview, the plan warns you when a trail is extreme for the group.
Sources: IAT, Paraná state government, Bem Paraná, Tribuna PR, Mochileiros and Wikiloc. The 14 km is double the 7.18 km base-to-summit of an old Wikiloc track.
The trail page (in Portuguese): Pico Paraná. To train first: Morro do Anhangava.