The Atlantic Forest hills rising behind Itacoatiara beach are protected as the Serra da Tiririca State Park, a 3,500-hectare reserve spanning the boundary between Niterói and Maricá. Fifteen marked trails wind through dense submontane rainforest, restinga scrub, and mangroves; the highest point is the Morro do Elefante at 412 metres.
The park's Darwin Trail follows the route walked by Charles Darwin in 1832 during his brief stopover here on the Beagle voyage. The trail is 2.2 km and rewards with lookout points over the Itacoatiara beach and the open Atlantic. Guided trails depart from the visitor centre in the Itacoatiara neighbourhood; the park is open daily from 7am to 6pm.