The Pico das Agulhas Negras is one of the most visually stunning natural landmarks in Brazil. It is also one of the mountains that climbers like to ascend.
Location
The mountain is situated in the Itatiaia National Park. This can be found at the Serra da Mantiqueira range. This is at the border between Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. The easiest way to reach the site is by car.
From Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro go to Dutra Highway and to Engenheiro Passos. Drive to BR-485 highway and head out to Itamonte. On the dirt road, you will find the Itatiaia National Park.
What to See
Before you get to the Pico das Agulhas Negras, you have to go pass the north entrance of the Itatiaia National Park. You will find the Abrigo Reboucas mountain shelter. From there you can hike to the peak of the mountain.
From there you will be able to hike up the peak base. Now you can climb up. Probably the most distinctive feature of the mountain are its sharp rocks.
History
This mountain is the fifth highest, reaching heights of 9,157 ft (2,791 meters). The name of the mountain means Black Needles Peak. The name was given due to the sharpness of the rocks at the peak. The term Itatiaia is applied to the massif. The highest rock is called Itatiaiacu.
The Abrigo Reboucas is the highest point that a standard car can reach. For several years it was considered to be the highest mountain in Brazil. However, measurements eventually revealed Pico da Bandeira is the highest mountain. Later on however, the tallest mountain was declared Pico da Neblina with a height of 2,994 meters (9,823 ft).
Cost
Trips to Rio de Janeiro will cost 700 to 1000 USD. As for the daily expenses, it will come up to about 100 to 150 USD daily. Taxi fares will cost around 20 USD. If you are traveling far, you can negotiate for the fare in advance.
Other Info
If you are coming from the Dutra highway, you will be able to see the mountain. The mountain range can also be viewed as the opposing side. This is from the Cruzeiro in Sao Paulo up to Passa Quatro.
If you are going to climb the Pico das Agulhas Negras, make sure that you have some mountain climbing. This will be necessary because the climb can be difficult for some.
