Julieta Santamaria and the Transformative Journey Along the Caminho da Mata Atlântica

Julieta Santamaria was planning a bike trip across Brazil when a friend introduced her to the Caminho da Mata Atlântica. During their conversation, he dropped a key detail that caught the attention of the 25-year-old: no one had completed the 4,000 km trail that crosses the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul.

Map of the Caminho da Mata Atlântica

In just three days, the Argentine woman, who had been living in Ilhabela for about 10 months, completely changed her plans. She sold her bike and other belongings and began preparing for the most transformative experience of her life: “I felt a physical calling, unlike the bike trip I had been planning. When I saw the Caminho da Mata Atlântica project, I was enchanted! It was an opportunity to discover many new things and to complete, for the first time, a solo trek, which was a huge challenge for me.”

For six months, Julieta trained physically, alternating long hikes—20 to 30 km per day with a heavy backpack—with running. She had no advanced knowledge of gear or mountaineering, but she set off anyway on a 195-day journey on foot, which she completed in June 2025.

“I planned everything on my own, but right in the first days, I faced a big challenge. I tried to cross the Parque Estadual do Desengano, in Campos dos Goytacazes, when I noticed a storm approaching. The trail wasn’t well-marked, so I decided to turn back. On the road, I met some people from the park who gave me a ride to the town of Santa Maria Madalena.”

From hardship to structured planning

Julieta soon realized she needed to plan better, and she received support from the team at Caminho da Mata Atlântica. “Chico, the project’s general coordinator, was arriving in the city and asked me to wait for him. Together, we started creating daily and weekly plans to see how my body would adapt. It was a good time to reflect on whether I was really willing to go through hardships. But I soon realized I was—and I never stopped again!”

Julieta and Francisco Schnoor, from Caminho da Mata Atlântica

Along the way, Julieta was surprised by her own physical endurance, hiking 20 to 30 km per day with her backpack. Despite the anxiety of reaching the end, weather forecasts often forced her to deviate from the original route, enriching her experience through deeper connections with local communities. “I felt welcomed the entire time. I made friends in every place I passed through. It was important to understand the culture and history of each people, what they live off, what they grow. I crossed five different states, from the sea to the mountains, and life is different in each one.”

Among the most remarkable places she visited, Julieta highlights the Serra Catarinense, where she saw the sky alternate between the sun and the full moon. In the final stretch, she walked about 400 km at elevations above 1,000 meters.

Julieta at Itaimbezinho Canyon, in Parque Nacional dos Aparados da Serra – Photo: Ana Momm

The Marumbi Mountain Range in Paraná also stood out for its beauty, history, and the challenge of a 12-hour hike. “Also, the Petrópolis-Teresópolis crossing was very meaningful because it was my first mountain trek.”

Julieta at Marumbi – Photo: Ana Momm

The diversity of wildlife won Julieta’s heart—along the way, she encountered tayra, capuchin monkeys, southern muriquis, tapirs, peccaries, wild boars, bush dogs, deer, and various snake species.

Bush dogs

Preserving the Atlantic Forest

Throughout the journey, Julieta observed a variety of Atlantic Forest landscapes, and now she advocates for conscious preservation of natural environments.

“Along the way, we could see how better-preserved and more degraded areas influence the weather, temperature, and animal presence. It’s incredible to know that so many species still survive. We must focus on environmental education—teaching people how to live in harmony with nature. I always say: we don’t care for what we don’t know. Preserving natural spaces is a form of love, because without nature, we are nothing.”

Discovering solitude along the Caminho da Mata Atlântica

During the 4,000 km journey, Julieta underwent a mental transformation that made her reflect on her existence. “It felt like a movie of my life was playing in my mind. When I was able to detach from my thoughts and silence my mind, I became more aware of what I was living. I felt more present. In our daily lives, we are used to thinking about the past and the future, but now I can inhabit the present. This experience made me much stronger mentally.”

She says she made many self-discoveries and became more forgiving of herself. “Sometimes we’re very cruel to ourselves. I started this journey with only a vague idea of what it would mean, but I connected deeply with nature. Now I’m trying to understand where this experience will lead me, because there’s no turning back. I’ve discovered what I truly want: to be closer to natural environments.”

An inspiration for other women

In addition to her personal accomplishment, Julieta’s courage and determination serve as an inspiration to many other women. “I’m very proud of what I achieved because I heard many times that it was dangerous for a woman to do what I was doing. But throughout the entire journey, I never faced a risky situation. When people made comments that underestimated me, I laughed in their faces! I felt some anger, because if I were a man, no one would question my presence there.”

Julieta Santamaria with the Caminho da Mata Atlântica commemorative sign

One example of the prejudice she faced occurred when she asked for directions in Santa Catarina. “The man put his hands on his head and said in shock: ‘A woman doing this alone? You won’t make it to the other side today!’ I had already walked over 2,000 km! We need to occupy this space that has always been ours. I think it’s important that we empower ourselves because society already limits us so much,” says Julieta, who was also inspired by many women who farm and fish alone in their communities.

Despite her initial fear of venturing into an entirely unfamiliar world, Julieta didn’t freeze. “We need to chase our dreams and use fear as fuel to pursue what we want. For me, connecting with nature means connecting with myself, with who I am. This experience changed my life forever.”

Curious to follow Julieta’s full adventure? On her Instagram profile, she shares the journey in detail.

This post is also available in: Português (Portuguese (Brazil)) Español (Spanish)