Regional route · Capixaba Mountains
Caminhos da Mata Atlântica Capixaba
Eight stops between two state parks, forest reserves, a cave with 4,500 years of history and the mountain table. ECOA is part of the route and walks it with you.
The route
A route stitched through the mountain Atlantic Forest
The Caminhos da Mata Atlântica Capixaba — the “Atlantic Forest Trails” — link Pedra Azul State Park with Forno Grande State Park, by way of Vargem Alta. Along the way: private forest reserves, a cave holding 4,500 years of history, family-grown coffee and strawberries, and cooking made from what the forest provides.
The route was developed by the Turismo 360 consultancy, with support from Sebrae/ES and the Espírito Santo state government, and presented in 2026 to travel journalists and content creators.
8
official stops
2
state parks
2
private forest reserves
3
municipalities: Domingos Martins, Castelo and Vargem Alta
ECOA is part of the route
Inbound agency and lead guide on the Caminhos
ECOA is one of the route’s inbound agencies, and Paul Jamilloux, ECOA’s founder and guide, is one of the regional itinerary’s lead guides. We welcome your group, design the itinerary, handle transport and walk with you from the first day to the last.
Small groups · Portuguese and French spoken · from one day to a week
The stops
Eight stops, one trail
Each stop has its own rhythm and its own hosts. We choose which ones go into your itinerary based on your group and the season.
Domingos Martins
Pedra Azul State Park
The granite monolith, some 1,822 m high, emblem of the Capixaba Mountains. The trail climbs among bromeliads and lichens to natural pools carved into the rock.
Castelo
Forno Grande State Park
The second-highest point in Espírito Santo. A 30-metre waterfall, the Gruta da Santinha cave and the amber-coloured Poços Amarelos pools.
Castelo
Kaetés Reserve
A 777-hectare private reserve (RPPN) of high-altitude Atlantic Forest, with the biome’s largest nature observation tower. Home of the rare cherry-throated tanager.
Vargem Alta
Águia Branca Reserve
More than 2,200 protected hectares and 14 springs. The Walk of the Senses crosses the forest at the pace of a forest bath, all the way to a waterfall.
Castelo
Limoeiro Cave
A cave of stalactites and columns holding Espírito Santo’s most important archaeological site: 4,500 years of human presence and traces of megafauna.
Castelo
Café Vale do Caxixe
Mountain coffee served by the people who grow it: the family leads the farm visit and the tasting.
Castelo
Empório do Morango
4.5 km from Forno Grande park, picking strawberries in the greenhouse is the sweet end of the day for those coming down the trail.
Vargem Alta
Cozinha Rústica Bistrô
Chef Ricardo Silva’s cooking of place: native fruits and wild edible plants from the Atlantic Forest, served outdoors after a visit to the tree nursery.
Everyone comes for a reason
For the birds
The cherry-throated tanager, one of the world’s most threatened birds, lives in the Kaetés and Águia Branca reserves. At Kaetés you watch from the top of the Atlantic Forest’s largest observation tower.
For the trails
From the granite of Pedra Azul to the amber pools of Forno Grande: easy to moderate trails, always guided, at the group’s pace.
For the coffee
Family-grown coffee in the Caxixe valley and agroforest specialty coffees in the neighbouring hills, from field to cup.
For the table
Strawberries picked at the foot of Forno Grande and chef Ricardo’s cooking with native ingredients in Vargem Alta.
Suggested itineraries
From a weekend to a whole week
Four reference itineraries, with an ECOA guide from start to finish and transport between activities.
2 days · 1 night · Monday to Friday
Trails, coffee and forest · weekday
From the agroforest of Domingos Martins to the Atlantic Forest of Pedra Azul, with a night at the Kaetés Reserve ecolodge.
- Day 1 — Agroecological trail at Sítio Giggio Pizzol, with birdwatching · in the afternoon, “From Forest Floor to Canopy” at Kaetés Reserve · night at Kaetés Ecolodge, full board.
- Day 2 — L’Essence Pedra Azul: trail and picnic up to the natural pools · in the afternoon, “Forest Walk” through the Contos do Ninho agroforest · return to Vitória.
What’s included
- An ECOA guide from start to finish
- Private transport between activities
- All the experiences in the itinerary
- One night in a double suite, full board
- Activity insurance on ECOA’s own experiences
Not included: lunch on day 1 and alcoholic drinks.
2 days · 1 night · weekend
Trails, coffee and forest · weekend
For those who only have Saturday and Sunday: a sensory walk, family-grown coffee and a night at Natureza Eco Lodge.
- Saturday — Walk of the Senses at Águia Branca Reserve · in the afternoon, a tasting at Café Vale do Caxixe, led by the family · night at Natureza Eco Lodge, breakfast included.
- Sunday — Morning of your choice: “From Forest Floor to Canopy” at Kaetés Reserve or L’Essence Forno Grande · suggested lunch at Empório do Morango · agroecological trail at Sítio Giggio Pizzol, already on the way back to Vitória.
What’s included
- An ECOA guide from start to finish
- Private transport between activities
- All the experiences in the itinerary
- One night at Natureza Eco Lodge, breakfast included
- Activity insurance on ECOA’s own experiences
Not included: Sunday lunch and alcoholic drinks.
5 days · easy adventure
Easy adventure between mountains and valley
Five unhurried days between two state parks, a mountain agroforest and the valley of Italian immigration. Monday to Friday, or running into the weekend.
- Day 1 — Sítio Giggio Pizzol and “From Forest Floor to Canopy” at Kaetés Reserve.
- Day 2 — L’Essence Pedra Azul, with a picnic by the natural pools, and coffee at Contos do Ninho.
- Day 3 — A trail in Forno Grande State Park and strawberry picking at Empório do Morango.
- Day 4 — Birdwatching and a trail up to Pedra dos Três Pontões, in Afonso Cláudio, with lunch on site · a stop at Agroturismo Valentim.
- Day 5 — Casa Nostra, the museum of Italian immigration in Pindobas. Running into the weekend: the Bike & Terroir ride or the Walk of the Senses at Águia Branca Reserve.
What’s included
- An ECOA guide from start to finish
- Private transport between activities
- All the experiences in the itinerary
- Lunch on day 4, at Cantinho Três Pontões
- Activity insurance on ECOA’s own experiences
Lodging is the group’s choice, in three ranges — budget, comfort and superior; we suggest the options. Not included: lodging, other lunches and alcoholic drinks.
5 days · 4 nights · Thursday to Monday
Flavors and Senses of the Mountains
Five days of food, coffee and forest at the pace of the senses: less technical hiking, more tastings and guided encounters with the people who make things in the mountains. For families and for those who travel through taste.
- Day 1 — “From Forest Floor to Canopy” at Kaetés Reserve · in the afternoon, Casa Nostra, the Italian immigration museum in Pindobas.
- Day 2 — L’Essence Forno Grande: listening to the forest, with coffee at the end · in the afternoon, strawberry picking at Empório do Morango.
- Day 3 — Walk of the Senses at Águia Branca Reserve · in the afternoon, a tasting at Café Vale do Caxixe, led by the family.
- Day 4 — “Flavors of the Atlantic Forest” at Cozinha Rústica Bistrô: native seedling nursery and a meal of native ingredients and wild edible plants · in the afternoon, Gruta do Limoeiro and its 4,500 years of history.
- Day 5 — Beekeeping experience at Apiário Florin (groups up to 8) or the agroecological trail at Sítio Giggio Pizzol · in the afternoon, a guided tasting at Selah Chocolate · return to Vitória.
What’s included
- An ECOA guide from start to finish
- Private transport between activities
- The itinerary’s experiences, including the meal at Cozinha Rústica Bistrô
- Adventure insurance on ECOA experiences
Other dates on request. Lodging is the group’s choice; we suggest the options. Not included: lodging, other lunches and alcoholic drinks.
Rainy days: the region has good covered options, but outdoor experiences always come first.
These itineraries are starting points: we adapt dates, pace and lodging to your group. Rates for agencies and tour operators on request.
Experiences on this route
-
ECOA original
L’Essence Pedra Azul — Listening to the Forest
about 4 hours · up to 8 people
Guided walk of about 6 km in the Atlantic Forest · French-inspired picnic at the natural pools · Specialty coffee from the Capixaba Mountains · Sensory pauses and nature interpretation …
-
ECOA original
L’Essence Forno Grande — Listening to the Forest
about 3 hours · up to 8 people
Guided walk in Forno Grande State Park · Waterfall, Gruta da Santinha or Poços Amarelos, depending on the group · Sensory pauses and environmental interpretation · Coffee at the end of the trail …
-
From Forest Floor to Canopy — Kaetés Reserve
about 3 hours · 2 to 8 people
Atlantic Forest safari inside the reserve · Climb up the observation tower, with views of Forno Grande · “Café com Prosa”: coffee, conversation and local produce · Specialist guide
Shall we walk together?
Tell us your dates, the size of your group and what draws you most: birds, trails, coffee or food.
Caminhos da Mata Atlântica Capixaba is a regional route developed by Turismo 360, with support from Sebrae/ES and the Espírito Santo state government. ECOA is part of the route and uses its brand as a partner. Park photos: Heitor Delpupo.