Cachoeira

Cachoeira do Dragão

Verified

The peak of adventure in the Chapada: falls of ~90–97 m plunging into the region's largest canyon, with ~100 m walls. Getting there is an expedition — a heavy trail and ~3 km of aquatic traverse in wetsuit, helmet, and life vest inside the Rio Macaquinhos canyon, at Reserva Piraquara (São João d'Aliança). Open to visitors since 2018.

90 m

Drop

8.5 km

Trail (round trip)

Hard

Difficulty

R$ 340

Entry

Before you go

Accredited local guide required — maximum 4 visitors per guide. Advance booking required via Instagram @cachoeiradodragao or through Alto Paraíso agencies.
Entry 8am to noon; it's a full-day outing. The price (R$ 340, Jul 2025) includes the required equipment.
Open only in the dry season (≈May–October) — the route runs inside the canyon and closes in the rains due to the flash-flood risk.

Where to arrange a guide

CAT Alto Paraíso — (62) 3446-1159 · diariamente 8h–12h / 13h–17h
Servitur (associação de guias de ecoturismo) — WhatsApp (62) 99678-5160 · @servitur_ecoturismo

How to get there

Rough roadHigh-clearance recommended; avoid after rain.

From Alto Paraíso44 km

Final stretch requires 4×4.

≈12 km of pavement + ≈31 km of dirt in poor shape; the final farm stretch calls for 4x4. Agencies operate departing from Alto Paraíso.

Google Maps Waze

Approximate pin — confirm access with a local guide before driving out there.

The trail

8.5 km

Distance

6 h

Time

Hard

Level

≈8.5 km round trip in total (even via the longer trail), including the aquatic stretch with three swim crossings in cold water (wetsuit, helmet, and life vest required, included in the entry). The return climbs ~320 m — there's an ATV option (R$ 100). Considered the most extreme trail in the Chapada; it takes good fitness.

The water & the river

EmeraldClarity 4/5Medium flow

River: Rio Macaquinhos

Ratings

Beleza

Trilha

Lotação

Acesso

Scored 1 to 5. Beauty is subjective — so we split it into axes, letting you sort by what matters to you.

Planning your visit

Cachoeira do Dragão is about 44 km by road from Alto Paraíso; access is by a rough dirt road — high-clearance recommended; the final stretch requires 4×4; the trail is 8.5 km round trip, hard level, around 6 h.

The visit requires a local guide: accredited local guide required — maximum 4 visitors per guide. Advance booking required via Instagram @cachoeiradodragao or through Alto Paraíso agencies; entry costs R$ 340 per person.

Do I need a guide?: Accredited local guide required — maximum 4 visitors per guide. Advance booking required via Instagram @cachoeiradodragao or through Alto Paraíso agencies.
How much is entry?: R$ 340 per person.
Can I go in a regular car?: High-clearance recommended — rough dirt road, avoid after rain. The final stretch requires 4×4.
When to go?: Open only in the dry season (≈May–October) — the route runs inside the canyon and closes in the rains due to the flash-flood risk.
What are the hours?: Entry 8am to noon; it's a full-day outing. The price (R$ 340, Jul 2025) includes the required equipment.