Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
CHAPADA DIAMANTINA
By taxi/tour
There is no public transport; you can hike to
some attractions from Lençóis, take a taxi or join a tour.
Tourist information
The best sources of local information
are the agencies and tourist o
ce in Lençóis (see p.243), but
W
chapada.org and
W
guiachapadadiamantina.com.br are
also useful.
TOURS
To make the most of the park you'll need a proper guide, as the countryside can be di
cult to negotiate. Standard rates for
independent guides are between R$150 and R$160 per day for a group of five or six people, though it can be tough to find
someone who speaks good English. Ask at the tourist o
ce in Lençóis (see p.243) or at the agencies below.
Chapada Adventure
Daniel Praça Horácio de Matos
114, Lençóis
T
75 3334 1933,
W
chapadaadventure.com.
Extreme Eco Adventure
Av 7 de Setembro 15, Lençóis
T
75 3341 1727,
W
extremeecoadventure.com.br.
H20 Travel Adventures
Rua do Pires, Lençóis
T
75 3334 1229,
W
h2otraveladventures.com.
ACCOMMODATION
Most visitors to the park base themselves in Lençóis (see p.234), but there several other towns and villages in the region
that offer accommodation, notably the bohemian community of
Capão
, 70km from Lençóis (hikeable in two or three
days) and 20km from
Palmeiras
(via good dirt road), on the other side of the park;
coletivos
shuttle between Palmeiras
and Capão for around R$10 (30min); a taxi will be R$60-70.
3
Pousada do Capão
Vale do Capão
T
75 3334 1034,
W
pousadadocapao.com.br.
Elegant rooms with rustic
but arts
y deco
r, lovely balconies and big breakfast
included.
R$120
Pousada Pé no Mato
Ladeira da Vila 2, Caeté-Açú
(Vale do Capão)
T
75 3344 1105,
W
penomato.com
.br.
Offers simple but adequate rooms with fans, dorms
and more comfortabl
e suite
s and cha
lets wit
h verandas,
TVs and
fans. D
orms
R$50
; doubles
R$100
; suites and
chalets
R$140
Pousada Sincorá
Av Paraguaçu 120, Andaraí
T
75
3335 2210,
W
sincora.com.br.
Colonial-style house with
cosy, clean a/c rooms wit
h TVs
and fridg
e; w
hopping
breakfast included. Doubles
R$115
; camping
R$5
CHAPADA DIAMANTINA: THE HIGHLIGHTS
You could spend weeks exploring the
Chapada Diamantina
, but these are some of the
highlights (note that the major “sights” usually have entry fees of R$20-25). All the main
agencies offer tours to the sights below, with entry fees included:
Cachoeira da Fumaça
Dramatic 385m-high waterfall in the Vale do Capão, 70km from Lençóis
(1hr drive on BR-242); accessed via a 6km trail (the hike to the base from Lençóis takes 2-3 days).
Gruta do Lapão
A remarkable quartzite grotto over 1km long, with a cathedral-like entrance
of layered rock and stalactites. It's a short drive or a ninety-minute walk from Lençóis (5km), but
it's probably better to have someone take you there.
Marimbus
Wetlands smothered in flowers and best toured by kayak; usually accessed by
driving to Remanso, a village inhabited by descendants of
quilombolas
(descendants of
escaped slaves), 22km from Lençóis, and then paddling along the Rio Roncador.
Morro do Pai Inácio
A 1120m-high mesa formation 27km from Lençóis on BR-242 (don't be
deceived by how near it looks). It is much more easily climbed than seems possible from a
distance (the short, steep trail takes around 20-30min), and you're rewarded with quite
stunning views across the tablelands and the town once you get to the top, which is covered
in highland cacti, trees and shrubs.
Poço Azul
Gorgeous, crystal-clear freshwater pool in a cave that is a long drive south of Lençóis
Nova Redenção; swimming is allowed. Usually combined with Poço Encantado at Itaetê,
another spectacular cave pool, which was closed at the time of research due to a legal dispute.
Ribeirão do Meio
Just 3.5km from Lençóis, this is a large freshwater pool in the Rio Ribeirão, ideal
for swimming. Can be combined with the 7km hike to Cachoeira do Sossego (a 20m waterfall).
Rio Mucugezinho
Thirty kilometres from Lençóis, but with fairly easy road access, there is
another series of small waterfalls and a pool known as the Poço do Diabo, which is fun to swim
in. From BR-242 it's a five-minute walk to the river and twenty minutes to the pool.
