Ready-made itinerary · 5 days
5-day itinerary in Chapada dos Veadeiros
The classic Chapada: the National Park and Alto Paraíso's waterfalls, plus the trip north to the turquoise waters of Cavalcante and the Kalunga territory.
Five days make room for both faces of the Chapada: the south, with the National Park and the waterfalls around São Jorge and Alto Paraíso; and the north, in Cavalcante, with the turquoise waters of Engenho II, in the Kalunga quilombola territory. Spend the first three nights in the south and the last two in Cavalcante to avoid backtracking.
5 days · 14 attractions. Tap each attraction for the full page: how to get there, trail, fees and season.
- 1
Day 1 — Vale da Lua and the viewpoint
Base: São Jorge
Arrive via Alto Paraíso and head to São Jorge. Start easy at Vale da Lua and close the day at Mirante da Janela and sunset over Jardim de Maytrea, the open cerrado field between the two towns.
- 2
Day 2 — National Park trails
Base: São Jorge
A full day inside Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park. The Trilha dos Saltos reaches the two giant Rio Preto falls (120 m and 80 m) and the Carioquinhas pools. Get in early — entry has a cut-off time — and bring water and lunch.
- 3
Day 3 — Alto Paraíso waterfalls
Base: Alto Paraíso
A day among the falls around Alto Paraíso. Almécegas I and II sit on the same farm; São Bento has a short, easy access; and Loquinhas closes with a chain of shallow pools, perfect for a calm swim.
18 km by road
Waterfall·trail 3 km · ModerateCachoeira Almécegas IR$ 9018 km by road
Waterfall·trail 0.8 km · EasyCachoeira Almécegas IIR$ 908 km by road
Waterfall·trail 0.6 km · EasyCachoeira São BentoR$ 4512 km by road
Natural pool·trail 1 km · EasyLoquinhasR$ 70 - 4
Day 4 — Up to Cavalcante and Engenho II
Base: Cavalcante
In the morning, drive up to Cavalcante (about 3 hours from Alto Paraíso). In the afternoon, enter Engenho II, in the Kalunga territory: Santa Bárbara is the Chapada's postcard, turquoise water over a pool that looks like a swimming pool. The visit is always with a guide from the community itself and has a limited daily quota — book ahead.
- 5
Day 5 — Cavalcante's pools and falls
Base: Cavalcante
Before heading back, enjoy the falls closest to town, easy to reach and with no mandatory guide: Poço Encantado, Cachoeira das Araras and Complexo das Veredas. A calm finish before the drive home.
Best time to go
The best window is the dry season, May to October: firm trails, passable dirt roads and sun most days. In the rainy season (November to March) the waterfalls run full and green, but there's a flash-flood risk and some roads and sights may close.
- Vale da Lua and Cachoeira Santa Bárbara carry a flash-flood risk in the rains (Nov–Mar); avoid them on heavy-rain days.
Other itineraries
3 days
3-day itinerary in Chapada dos Veadeiros
The essentials in a long weekend: Vale da Lua, the National Park and the waterfalls around Alto Paraíso.
View itinerary7 days
7-day itinerary in Chapada dos Veadeiros
The whole Chapada, unrushed: the National Park, the Segredo reserve, the Alto Paraíso cluster and three days in the turquoise north of Cavalcante and the Kalunga territory.
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