The park is classed as IUCN protected area category II (national park), with the objectives of preserving natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, enabling scientific research and developing educational activities, environmental interpretation, recreation in contact with nature and eco-tourism.

[2] The Prelado State Park was created by decree 12.406 of the governor of São Paulo on 12 December 2006 from part of the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station along the Juréia beach in the municipality of Iguape, including part of the coastal sea.

[3] The decree created the Juréia-Itatins Mosaic of conservation units with about 110,000 hectares (270,000 acres).

It included the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station, Itinguçu and Prelado state parks, Despraiado and Barra do Una sustainable development reserves and the Ilhas do Abrigo e Guararitama Wildlife Refuge.

[4] Law 14982 of 8 April 2013 altered the limits of the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station, re-categorising some areas.