Duas Bocas Biological Reserve

Updated April 15, 2024

Reserva Biológica Duas Bocas – Descubra Cariacica

## Duas Bocas Biological Reserve (Cariacica, Espírito Santo): what it is, why it matters, and how to plan realistically

Duas Bocas Biological Reserve (Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas) is a state protected area in Espírito Santo associated with Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) conservation and a drinking-water supply watershed for the Greater Vitória region.

If you’re building an itinerary around “things to do,” the most important practical detail is also the most limiting:

This reserve is not open for general tourism. IEMA (the state environment institute that manages the unit) states access is restricted to scientific and educational purposes (such as school visits, research, and enforcement).

That doesn’t make Duas Bocas irrelevant for travelers—it just changes the angle. Think of it as a high-protection conservation unit that helps keep a major fragment of Atlantic Forest standing near an urban metro area, rather than a place you casually hike on a Sunday.

### Quick facts you can rely on
– Location: municipalities of Cariacica, Viana, and Santa Leopoldina, in the Greater Vitória area of Espírito Santo.
– Size: described as ~3,000 hectares (IEMA) and ~2,910 hectares (also widely reported).
– Protected-area status: created as a “Reserva Florestal” in 1965 and transformed into a Biological Reserve in 1991.
– Why “Duas Bocas” (two mouths): the name is linked to the confluence/outflow (“desembocadura”) of two of the rivers that feed the reservoir area (as described by IEMA).
– On-site infrastructure of note: the Represa (reservoir) de Duas Bocas, inaugurated by then-president Getúlio Vargas, supplied by multiple rivers named by IEMA.
– Ecological connectivity: part of the Duas Bocas – Mestre Álvaro Ecological Corridor (per IEMA).
– Elevation range: sources describe the reserve/KBA area in roughly the 200–780/800 m band.

## What makes Duas Bocas significant (beyond “it’s green and pretty”)

### It protects a rare thing near a metro area: large Atlantic Forest remnants
The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes in Brazil, and what Duas Bocas represents—a sizable, connected forest block close to a capital region—is increasingly hard to replicate once fragmented.

A biodiversity-focused dataset (Key Biodiversity Areas) describes the broader site as humid forests near Cariacica, ~20 km west of Vitória, with notable plant diversity (including epiphytes and palms) and records/observations of threatened and near-threatened birds.

### It’s also a water story, not just a forest story
IEMA explicitly links the unit to the Represa de Duas Bocas and names the rivers feeding it.
Meanwhile, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden’s UC plant-catalog entry notes the area’s history ties back to water capture for Vitória in the early 20th century, and that Cariacica’s water supply still comes from the area.

For responsible travel writing, this matters: it reframes “access restrictions” as a public-good tradeoff—ecosystem protection plus water security—rather than bureaucratic inconvenience.

## Can you visit Duas Bocas Biological Reserve?

### In the normal “show up and enter” sense: no
IEMA states the reserve’s category is among the most restrictive and that it is not open to the public, with access restricted to scientific and educational purposes.

So if you’re planning content, don’t promise:
– public hiking trails inside the reserve
– casual wildlife tours
– ticket counters / opening hours

Those claims can mislead travelers and create friction on arrival.

### What is realistic for travelers
If you’re a traveler who overlaps with “educational” or “scientific” intent (university group, school program, research collaboration), Duas Bocas may be possible—but only through the appropriate channels described by the managing authority. The most accurate guidance is: start with IEMA (Instituto Estadual de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos), because they manage the unit.

Practical planning notes (still true even without public access):
– Respect protected-area rules: restrictions exist because it’s a strict category.
– Expect permissions and scheduling: scientific/educational access implies coordination, not walk-ins.
– Accessibility: without public visitation details from IEMA in the sources above, you should avoid claiming wheelchair access, trail surfacing, or visitor facilities.

## What you can still “experience” (and write about) without entering
Even when you can’t step inside, Duas Bocas is still a compelling point in a regional narrative—especially for readers interested in:
– Atlantic Forest conservation in Espírito Santo
– urban-region watersheds
– birdlife corridors and habitat connectivity
– how strict protection categories work in Brazil

A strong traveler-facing angle is to treat Duas Bocas as a case study: a protected watershed with ecological corridor relevance, rather than an attraction with a “top 10 photo spots” list.

## Wildlife and flora: what you can say without guessing
Two grounded points you can publish safely:

1) IEMA describes the reserve as “~3,000 hectares” with rich and diverse flora and fauna and notes it has hosted birdwatching-related events.
2) The Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro UC catalog entry describes the reserve as Atlantic Forest domain with Dense Ombrophilous Forest predominance and includes a detailed research/collection history for plants (including a 2022 citation for a vascular epiphyte inventory).

Separately, IEMA reports a notable recent finding: a record of Guapeba (Chrysophyllum imperiale) in the reserve and describes it as rare and threatened, with very few known adult individuals in nature (as stated in their release).

## How to use the location details you provided (without overpromising logistics)
Your address field (“Estrada para de duas bocas, Brazil”) and coordinates place the reserve in the Cariacica area.
That’s enough to:
– map it accurately
– describe it as part of the Greater Vitória hinterland
– advise travelers to treat it as restricted-access conservation land rather than a park with guaranteed entry

What you shouldn’t do without fresh official visitation documentation:
– publish driving directions “to the gate” as if entry is assured
– cite opening hours, fees, or booking links
– suggest recreational activities (swimming, picnics, kayaking) on the reservoir

## Data freshness and what might be outdated
– The Key Biodiversity Areas page lists “Year of last assessment: 2006.” That doesn’t make the site irrelevant, but it does mean biodiversity-status framing may not reflect the most current assessment.
– IEMA’s page used above is dated 03/01/2024, which is reasonably current for the access restriction statement and the Guapeba note.

Key Highlights

Duas Bocas Biological Reserve

Location

Places to Stay Near Duas Bocas Biological Reserve

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides