Tijuca National Park opened the Paineiras Visitors’ Center where once was the Paineiras Hotel, deactivated 30 years ago. The space hosts a permanent exhibition, and has a gastronomic with a view of the city, a souvenir store and a new ticket office with a self-service system – and this new center is bound to create special experiences for those who visit Corcovado and for cariocas that go to Paineiras to do exercises. The souvenir store on the first floor of the renewed building is the perfect option for those who wish to take a piece of Rio home. There are cloths, mugs, pens and stuffed toys specially designed for Tijuca National Park, and those are only some of the options available.

Outside, on the balcony, Bar Paineiras and Naturê are the options for those who want to grab a quick snack. On the underground, there is a fixed-price buffet restaurant and a external 6 meters deck overlooking the forest. Before boarding the van to Christ the Redeemer, you should pay a visit to the interactive exhibition about Tijuca National Park, biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest and other national parks, on view on the second floor. Named Floresta Protetora, the exhibition includes historical and geographical data of the region and information about the fauna and flora and the consequences of human intervention in nature. The exhibit occupies seven rooms with installations, projections, photographs, images captured by drones, a play area for children and a 10 by 12 scale model – the aim is to stimulate people’s interest on the national park and raise awareness about nature preservation.