Cachoeiras de Macacu is a town of Baixadas Litorâneas, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in the Southeast of Brazil.
Understand
Cachoeiras de Macacu means "Macacu Waterfalls" in Portuguese. The macacu is a tree from which ink is extracted. The town's nickname is "Land of Crystal Waters".
The population is about 59,000 (2020) and its elevation 54m. It is crossed by the Macacu River, the largest river that flows into the Guanabara Bay of Rio de Janeiro. Cachoeiras is divided into the southern region with lowland and the northern part with mountains.
Get in
The route between the long-distance bus station Rodoviária Novo Rio., in the downtown area of the state capital, and Cachoeiras de Macacu is made by the bus company "1001" for around R$39 (Dec 2021). This route links directly downtown Rio to the bus station in the Cachoeiras de Macacu city center, located about 100 km from the Central Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
There are no urban lines of public transport connecting directly Cachoeiras de Macacu to the Central Zone of Rio. However, there is a couple of urban bus lines linking Cachoeiras to peripheral municipalities of the metropolitan agglomeration of Rio de Janeiro, such as Itaboraí and Magé.
Get around
See
Do
You can do trekking, mountaineering, rappelling and other types of extreme sports. There are dozens of waterfalls of extraordinary beauty, such as Tenebroso, Sete Quedas, Barba, Samambaia, Chapadão and Furna da Onça.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Go next
Hostels and private rooms are offered ...:
on the south-eastern coast of Rio State:
- Saquarema – 110 km. A predominantly tourist city with beautiful beaches. The town is located in an area called the lakes region. It is known as "The national surfing capital". Further attractions are waterfalls, cascades, mountains and an archaeological site. Take a "1001" bus to Manilha and from there another "1001" bus to Saquarema.
- Búizios – 170 km. It's a small peninsula with several nice beaches and an abundance of night clubs. The town has the lowest rainfall in the state of Rio. It's nickname is "Saint-Brazilian Tropez". A "1001" bus brings you to Manilha and from there another "1001" bus to Búizios.
- Cabo Frio – 170 km. A popular tourist destination. It's famous for its beautiful beaches with fine white sand and crystal clear waters. There is a "1001" bus to Manilha. From there go with another "1001" bus to Cabo Frio.
- Arraial do Cabo – 170 km. It's a small town near Búzios. Its beaches have the most beautiful turquoise waters of Rio de Janeiro state. Beaches like Forno and Prainhas do Atalaia are surrounded by virgin lush green coastal vegetation and have clear blue waters similar to the Caribbean ones. Go first to Cabo Frio and from there to Arraial do Cabo.
in the south:
- Niterói – 80 km. It has a wonderful unique view of Rio and an intriguing contemporary art museum, which looks like an UFO (designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer). Also, it has one of the state's most beautiful beaches, Itacoatiara, which can be reached by the bus numbered 38. From Rio to Niterói it's a short ferry ride or you go by local bus. The "1001" bus goes directly to Niterói.
- Rio de Janeiro