Route

The Trilha do Balcão, or Trilha do Sal, starts on a right-of-way road at a point far from the Base do Guardião; it has a gentle slope and a wide opening in the vegetation, follows the trail through the valley of the Rio Claro and the Funil, and ends at the Base do Guardião, covering a long distance. To do the Trilha do Balcão, a vehicle is needed to take visitors to the start and from the end of the traverse, or there is the option of starting and finishing at the Base do Guardião, but with a longer distance (14.2 km) and the hiring of the independent monitor service (Amigos da Mata). It has the ruins of an old historic farm with large palm trees and remnants of tea plantations, linked to the history of the Viaduto do Chá in the old downtown of São Paulo. Departure time for the Trilha do Balcão is 7 a.m., with an activity duration of five/six hours, including time for swimming, hiking, and enjoying the scenery. - Use insect repellent, sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, and gaiters; - If you spot a wild animal, do not approach it; keep your distance and let it pass; - Do not eat in the natural pools, rivers, and waterfalls; - Do not smoke, and do not consume alcoholic beverages or any other intoxicating substances inside the park; - Do not dispose of waste improperly (any and all kinds of trash) inside the park; - Domestic animals are not allowed to enter or remain.