The Morro do Penedo is a protected natural monument in the western part of Vila Velha — a rocky outcrop and its surrounding green space that serves as a municipal nature reserve. Hiking trails wind through the forest and up to viewpoints with good views over the city and the bay.
The reserve protects a fragment of Atlantic Forest, the heavily degraded coastal biome that once covered much of eastern Brazil. Birdwatching is reasonable here, with various species of tanager, woodpecker, and hummingbird regularly seen. It's a useful escape from the heat and the urban noise, and the trails are accessible to most fitness levels.