If you’re looking for endless stretches of short grass where you can roll out the picnic blankets as you let the kids and the dogs frolic freely in the fields, then this isn’t the place for you. Somewhere like Parque de Ibirapuera will be more suited to your needs. Agua Branca is more for nature lovers with an appreciation for the small things… and who don’t mind roosters.

Stepping into this stunning park is like stepping into a different time and place. I wonder whether walking into the park feels the same as it did in 1929 when it was created. It’s unlike any other park in the city. Or any other park that I’ve visited for that matter.

With ponds full of fish under the shade of huge trees, it’s a great place for families to have a different day out, and the birdsong provides a comforting soundtrack for the day. That is until it’s drowned out for a while (read on to find out why).

Before I continue gushing about the park in detail, allow me to do things a little back to front and get my main grievance out of the way first.

One thing that I can’t bear, is seeing or hearing cars while I’m in a park. It’s up there with people who stand on the wrong side of the escalator, so it’s bad. (maybe link to other post about this). I know that, to an extent, it’s unavoidable because a park has to start and end somewhere, and in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world, I suppose it’s inevitable that it would be surrounded by roads. However, it’s a shame that they decided the picnic area had to be right next to one. It’s really not the biggest problem in the world but if someone were to ask me for constructive criticism, that’s what I’d give them. Move the picnic area.

Ok, now to the good stuff!

If you’re fortunate enough to be there on a sunny day, you’ll have the pleasure of experiencing the dappled sunlight coming through the trees. Some people are unbothered by this sort of thing but I love me a bit of dappled sunlight. The patterns it creates against the walls and the way it makes the most mundane of floors look magical… ugh, gorgeous!

These buildings looked lush in the light and I couldn’t get enough of them. So much so that I took over 500 photos around the park that day.

This pergola-type structure was one of my favourite parts of the whole park. If anyone knows what the proper name for it is, please let me know. Equally, if anyone wants to build one for me in the garden of my future house, also let me know.

But look at the way all those green trees pop out from between the yellow pillars that have naturally weathered over time. You can’t tell me that wouldn’t be the perfect setting for a wedding or a summer party.

And the bamboo. Oh my goodness the bamboo. Jack’s Beanstalk has some competition. I would suggest a brief neck warm up if you’d like to see where it ends because that stuff has grown so tall that even an Olympic high jumper couldn’t come anywhere near seeing the top. Similar with some of the other treesPretty impressive stuff and it reminds you how small we all are.

At some point, you will encounter a bizarre sound in the distance. Something strangely resembling a symphony of chickens or roosters. Well, that’s exactly what it is. Only the closer you get, the less symphonic it sounds and the more cacophonous it becomes. I’ve honestly never experienced anything like it and that was the last thing I had expected to see or hear that day.

They were great posers though and I think some of them would be excellent at sitting for portraits. Particularly this lot who looked like they couldn’t get any cosier if they tried.

Apparently, they used to roam freely in the park but I guess someone decided it was better to deafen everyone who dared to venture anywhere near that part of the park than to continue to let them be free…

There was also one random peacock putting on a right show. Flaunting his feathers like he was the main character and he wanted everyone to know it. Definitely living up to its own idiom about being as proud as a peacock. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one in all its glory, so it was mesmerising to see those colours and in real life.

This may be the factor that makes Parque da Agua Branca the most unique park I guess.

Parque da Agua Branca is the kind of park you need to walk around and explore, as you’ll be missing out if you only come for the picnic area. You’ll also be sitting next to a road and I don’t need to remind you how I feel about that.

So if there’s one park that you visit during your time in São Paulo, I’d highly recommend that you make it this one. Unless you don’t like dappled sunlight, beautiful structures and bamboo. In which case, suit yourself.