The Pine Nut Routes Sector (Setor Rotas do Pinhão) encompasses a large part of the Curitiba Metropolitan Region, specifically an area of critical importance to the residents of the state’s largest city. It is from this region that most of the water supplying the population and its economic activities originates. The combination of mountains and dense, well-preserved forest makes this region a vital watershed of pure water.

It is also the birthplace of the famous Iguaçu River, which begins here and flows all the way to the magnificent Iguaçu Falls. Throughout the municipalities of Piraquara, Quatro Barras, and Campina Grande do Sul, there are several peaks that offer challenges to visitors. The most prominent is Pico Paraná—the highest in Southern Brazil—which is also a State Park. Other notable peaks include Anhangava, Morro do Canal, and Pico Caratuva.

Further north, between the municipalities of Adrianópolis and Tunas do Paraná, lies the Lauráceas State Park, a large and beautiful protected area that relies on the experience and knowledge of neighboring Quilombola communities to safeguard its biodiversity. Throughout this sector, one can witness the transition of Atlantic Forest landscapes, occurring where the first plateau meets the mountain range, sheltering the largest remaining portions of Araucaria Forest (Pine Forest) within the Great Reserve.

To the south, São José dos Pinhais serves as an international gateway for visitors, as it is home to the Afonso Pena International Airport. Along with Tijucas do Sul, it is also a prime example of rural tourism, which thrives in several communities scattered across these municipalities.