First thru-hiker of the Atlantic Forest Trail in Brazil ends her 4,000 km journey on World Trails Day

On World Trails Day, a day that celebrates the importance of trails in all their aspects, Argentinian Julieta Santamaria (@julisantta on Instagram) became the first person to walk one of the world’s most impressive mega-trails and World Trails Network member organization, the Atlantic Forest Trail, in Brazil.

The 26-year-old began her hike in March 2024 at the northernmost section of the trail in Desengano State Park, Rio de Janeiro. Over 195 walking days, she covered the full length of the Serra do Mar and part of the Serra Geral. Julieta travelled through iconic landscapes, cultural heritage sites, rural communities, high peaks and dense rainforests, all along one of the five most diverse biodiversity hotspots in the world, the Atlantic Forest.

During her journey, Julieta received support from volunteers and trail enthusiasts and, in some cases, was able to stay with them longer than expected as she prepared for the days ahead or waited during the rainy season.

Julieta walked through more than 100 protected areas, including nine national parks and twenty-four state parks. After 195 days on the trail, she reached the southernmost stretch on June 7, arriving in the iconic canyons of Aparados da Serra National Park. Her arrival marks a milestone for long-distance hiking in Brazil and Latin America. It also inspired a second hiker to begin the journey the same day, heading northbound—helping put the Atlantic Forest Trail on the map for Brazil’s next generation of hikers.

Congratulations, Julieta!

For more information on the Atlantic Forest Trail access: https://caminhodamataatlantica.org.br/en/home/