Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PREHISTORIC PARK
The prehistoric wonders of the
Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara
(daily 6am-6pm;
T
89 3582 2085) are well off the beaten track, and you really need your own transport to
make a trip worthwhile. The park covers an area of over 1000 square kilometres in the
southern section of Piauí (530km from Teresina), and contains a mind-boggling ensemble
of rare prehistoric cave paintings and petroglyphs (some 657 sites, of which 173 can be
visited), with traces of human occupation going back thousands of years. The highlight is
the Boqueirão da Pedra Furada, a giant hole in the rock, where evidence of humans goes
back 48,000 years. Park entry is R$25, plus a fee for guides (mandatory; R$75/day for up to
six people). São Raimundo Nonato (20km from the park) is the main service town for the
region and home to the Museu do Homem Americano (Tues-Sun 9am-5pm; R$8;
W
fumdham.org.br), an essential first stop. Without a car you'll have to pay a taxi R$150
round-trip to get to the park (includes waiting time). Buses link Teresina with São Raimundo
four times daily (9-10hr).
Parque Nacional das Sete Cidades
24km northeast of the town of Piripiri or 190km northeast of Teresina • BR-222 Km 64 • Daily 8am-5pm • R$15; guided tours from R$80
on foot (5hr) and R$60 by car (3hr) •
T
86 3343 1342
he
Parque Nacional das Sete Cidades
comprises 62 square kilometres of nature reserve
that could hardly be more different from the forest reserve of Ubajara, a couple of
hundred kilometres east. Here it's the spiky, semi-arid vegetation of the high
sertão
that
is preserved - cacti and stubby trees. The really special feature of the park is its eroded
rock formations
, many streaked with prehistoric carvings up to five thousand years old.
From the air they look like the ruins of seven towns, hence the name of the area, and
their striking shapes have given rise to all sorts of crackpot theories about the area
having been a Phoenician outpost in the New World. In fact the rock sculpting is the
entirely natural result of erosion by wind and rain.
Despite its good facilities and its position near the main Teresina-Fortaleza highway,
not as many people visit the park as you might expect. Consequently, it's the ideal place
to get off the beaten track without actually venturing far from civilization.
4
Exploring the park
Walking
in Sete Cidades is not particularly di
cult in physical terms, but guides -
which you pick up at the visitors' centre beyond the entrance - are mandatory. Prices
differ based on time/how many of the seven formations you visit and form of transport
(ranging from tours on foot and bike to tours in a 4WD). If biking or walking, bear in
mind that the park does get extremely hot; plenty of water is essential. The
rock
formations
themselves make very good landmarks and their different shapes have lent
them their names: the “Map of Brazil”, the “Tortoise”, the “Roman Soldier”, the
“Three Kings”, the “Elephant” and so on.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
PARQUE NACIONAL DAS SETE CIDADES
By bus or taxi
From Piripiri's main plaza a staff bus leaves
at 7am to the park, which visitors can sometimes hitch a lift
on. Otherwise you'll have to take a taxi (R$50-60).
Destinations from Piripiri
Teresina (20 daily; 3hr 20min);
Parnaíba (6 daily; 3-5hr); Fortaleza (5 daily; 7-9hr).
Tourist information
From the park entrance it's 5km via
unpaved road to the visitors' centre.
ACCOMMODATION
Califórnia Hotel
Rua Dr Antenor de Araújo Freitas 546,
Piripiri
T
86 3276 1645.
With the park accommodation
currently abandoned, staying in Piripiri is your only option,
with this modern hotel one of only a handful of decent
places. It's fairly charact
erless
but comfy, with a/c rooms,
free wi-fi and breakfast.
R$90
