Cachoeira

Cachoeira do Dragão

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.

Eco-adventure

90 m

Drop

8.5 km

Trail (round trip)

Hard

Difficulty

R$ 170

Entry

Before you go

Accredited local guide required — maximum 4 visitors per guide. Advance booking required via Instagram @cachoeiradodragao or through Alto Paraíso agencies.
Entrada das 8h às 12h; permanência na cachoeira até 15h. Entrada R$ 170 + aluguéis obrigatórios/opcionais à parte: neoprene R$ 130–150 (obrigatório, não aceitam roupa própria), sapatilha R$ 40, quadriciclo na subida de volta R$ 100. Pacotes completos de operadoras saem por R$ 650–700.
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.

Município de São João d'Aliança, acesso pela GO-118 com ~35–39 km de estrada de terra; a pista foi reformada (mai/2026: carros comuns chegam perto do início da trilha), mas operadoras ainda recomendam 4x4. Agências operam saindo de 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

10–13 km ida e volta conforme onde o veículo para: ~2,5 km de trilha seca (320 m de desnível) + ~3 km de marcha aquática com muita natação no cânion (neoprene obrigatório, alugado no local). A volta sobe forte — quadriciclo opcional (R$ 100). Considerada a trilha mais extrema da Chapada; exige bom preparo.

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$ 170 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$ 170 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?: Entrada das 8h às 12h; permanência na cachoeira até 15h. Entrada R$ 170 + aluguéis obrigatórios/opcionais à parte: neoprene R$ 130–150 (obrigatório, não aceitam roupa própria), sapatilha R$ 40, quadriciclo na subida de volta R$ 100. Pacotes completos de operadoras saem por R$ 650–700.