Visitor profile and leisure and tourism activities at Poço das Cobras (Tinguá, Nova Iguaçu/RJ)

Abstract

This study analyzes the visitor profile and leisure and tourism practices at Poço das Cobras, located in Tinguá, Nova Iguaçu (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), within the Tinguá Environmental Protection Area, a site with significant tourism potential. The research aimed to identify visitors' characteristics, motivations, patterns of use, and perceptions regarding the site's infrastructure and services. The methodology combined a literature review, field observations, interviews with local residents and business owners, and the application of 101 visitor surveys conducted between December 2025 and March 2026. The findings indicate that the site is mainly frequented by residents of Nova Iguaçu and other municipalities in the Baixada Fluminense region, particularly low-income adults and older adults seeking leisure opportunities in natural environments and relief from high temperatures. Swimming in natural waters was identified as the primary recreational activity, while free access reinforces the site's role as a democratic public leisure space. Despite high visitor satisfaction and broad recognition of its tourism potential, challenges related to accessibility, infrastructure, territorial management, and environmental impacts caused by irregular occupation of riverbanks were identified. The study concludes that Poço das Cobras plays an important social and tourism role in the region, highlighting the need for public policies that reconcile environmental conservation, infrastructure improvements, and integration into local tourism routes.