Cachoeira

Foto: Sergio Amaral / Ministério do Desenvolvimento Social · CC BY-SA 2.0 · commons.wikimedia.org

Vão de Almas — Comunidade Kalunga

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Vão de Almas is the most isolated part of Kalunga land, a valley nestled in the Vale do Paranã north of Cavalcante, where springs feed waterfalls, rapids on the Rio Capivara, pools, and the funnel of the Rio Paranã. More than a natural attraction, it's a living quilombola community: every August it hosts the Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Abadia, a centuries-old festival with sussa, império, and coronation. You reach it only on foot, on a multi-day traverse from Engenho, always with a Kalunga guide.

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Drop

48 km

Trail (round trip)

Hard

Difficulty

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Entry

Before you go

Visits must be with a native Kalunga guide from Vão de Almas; expeditions combine a local guide and an operator guide. Access only on foot on an organized traverse — there's no independent itinerary.
Dry season (May–September) for the traverse; in the rains the access roads to Engenho only take 4x4 and there's a flash-flood risk at the rivers. The Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Abadia takes place in August (around 12–17 Aug), drawing about 2,000 people — a singular moment, but one that demands planning and respect for community protocol.

Where to arrange a guide

CAT Cavalcante — (62) 3494-1507 · turismo.cavalcante.go.gov.br

How to get there

4×4 onlyNeeds 4×4 / all-wheel drive.

From Cavalcante70 km

Google Maps Waze

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

The trail

48 km

Distance

48 h

Time

Hard

Level

A 4-day traverse (about 48 km total, stages of 12 to 19 km) from the village of Engenho. Not a day trip: overnights in camping on the grounds of Kalunga families. Strong cerrado heat, poor cell signal, and no ATM in the region.

The water & the river

Crystal-clearClarity 4/5Medium flow

River: Rio Capivara e Paranã

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

Vão de Almas — Comunidade Kalunga is about 70 km by road from Cavalcante; the final stretch requires a 4×4 or all-wheel-drive vehicle; the trail is 48 km round trip, hard level, around 48 h.

The visit requires a local guide: visits must be with a native Kalunga guide from Vão de Almas; expeditions combine a local guide and an operator guide. Access only on foot on an organized traverse — there's no independent itinerary.

Do I need a guide?: Visits must be with a native Kalunga guide from Vão de Almas; expeditions combine a local guide and an operator guide. Access only on foot on an organized traverse — there's no independent itinerary.
How much is entry?: The price hasn't been confirmed by Atlas Veadeiros yet — ask at the town's tourist office.
Can I go in a regular car?: No — access requires a 4×4 or all-wheel-drive vehicle.
When to go?: Dry season (May–September) for the traverse; in the rains the access roads to Engenho only take 4x4 and there's a flash-flood risk at the rivers. The Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Abadia takes place in August (around 12–17 Aug), drawing about 2,000 people — a singular moment, but one that demands planning and respect for community protocol.

Guides for this waterfall

This visit requires an authorised guide. Message them directly — the text is ready to send.

Mercides — quilombo Kalunga, trilhas, Engenho II
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Guias Kalunga — Complexo Turístico (AKCE) — quilombo Kalunga, Santa Bárbara, Candaru, Capivara
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See all guides

Features

Multiple dropsSwimming poolRapidsOff the beaten pathRiver confluence

Carregando mapa…

Approximate position — the exact pin is still being checked with people who know the trail.