The terrain is a relatively flat coastal plain with elevations of 100 to 150 metres (330 to 490 ft) cut by many deep gullies carrying streams that drain the area.

[3] The park contains a remnant of dense lowland rainforest of the Atlantic Forest biome including Pau-brasil (Caesalpinia echinata) trees, as well as regenerating areas that have been disturbed by human activity.

There are 71 endemic plant species, including Protium icicariba, Caryocar edule, Couepia belemii, Arapatiella psilophylla, Byrsonima alvimii, Tibouchina elegans, Eugenia flamingensis, Manilkara multifida.

The park's basic objective is preservation of natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty and enabling scientific research, environmental education, outdoor recreation and ecological tourism.

[3] Protected species in the park include jaguar (Panthera onca), cougar (Puma concolor), harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), red-billed curassow (Crax blumenbachii), Atlantic black-breasted woodpecker (Celeus tinnunculus), black-headed berryeater (Carpornis melanocephala), ochre-marked parakeet (Pyrrhura cruentata), the fish Mimagoniates sylvicola and Rachoviscus graciliceps and the Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules).