Itirapina is located in the central region of the State of Sao Paulo, 220 km away from the State capital, near the cities of Brotas, Sao Carlos, Araraquara, Rio Claro and Ribeirao Preto. The area is characterized by strong relief (ridges and monad rocks) and abundance of water (springs, waterfalls and rivers) that supply the Guarani aquifer system, the biggest underground water reservoir in the world. The weather is excellent throughout the year. 

The region is inserted into the second largest biome in Brazil, with approxi­mately two million square kilometers, which corresponds to about 23% of the total country area: the Brazilian savanna known as “Cerrado”. It is included among the 25 World’s biodiversity hotspots because of its large number of endemic species. This ancient biome shelters a rich biodiversity, estimated at 160000 species of plants, fungi and animals. Creeping among the grasslands, bushes and shrubs one finds such large mammals as the jaguar, maned wolf (Lobo Guara), giant anteater, giant armadillo, and marsh deer.

Brotas, gatherss a multitude of tourist attractions and shelters in its mountains several springs and rivers with waterfalls, cutting valleys and hillsides. In Brotas, the "Adventure Tourism Capital", you raft and practice floater-crossing on the Jacaré-Pepira river. Rock climbing is very appreciated in Analandia and Itirapina, especially at the famous Morro do Cruzeiro and the climbing sites nearby Itaqueri da Serra. 

 In ltirapina, at the Lobo dam, or Broa, as it is known, it is common the practice of water sports, with club, private houses and condos. Broa also hosts every year the Broa Fly-In, a private aeronautics event with complete infrastructure. The 2009 edition welcomed over 72,000 visitors, such as businessmen, young people, families and aviation-loving people. And the landing of 2000 aircrafts. This place name comes from the Tupi language and means Nacked or (Bold) Hill (Morro Pelado). 

Also near Itirapina, the city of São Carlos is located, that due to its academic and scientific strength and great industrial dynamics, is known as "the Technology Capital” of the state. This title was conjured up mainly because the city includes campi of two of the most important universities in Brazil, Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). Its scientific and technological development characteristics are reinforced by the presence of the Advanced Technology Foundation (ParqTec) and two units of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).

In the following, check out some of our own experience portrayed in amazing photos by Daniel Azevedo, Clever Ricardo Chinaglia and Bruno Alberto Severian.