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Andaraí is abundant in attractions, the municipality is in the central region of the National Park.

Andaraí is among the cities that found their economic and population apogee during the diamond cycle.

Abundant in attractions, the municipality is in the central region of the National Park. Andaraí is among the cities that found their economic and population apogee during the diamond cycle.

Its preserved houses in the historic center hark back to the golden age of the 19th century.

Located on the banks of the Paraguaçu River, the city has many watercourses, which gives it the nickname Reduto das Águas. In the municipality are four of the ten largest waterfalls in the region: Cristais, with 110 meters, Herculano and Samuel, with 100 meters and Ramalho, with 90 meters.

Its strategic location gives access to several natural attractions of the surrounding municipalities, such as Mucugê, Ibicoara, Nova Redenção and Itaetê. The village of Igatu, the Marimbus Pantanal, the pools of the Roncador River, the various waterfalls and falls are some of the local tourist attractions.

The municipality has five Conservation Units (UCs), which are home to countless natural attractions: PNDC, Igatu Urban Park, APA Marimbus-Iraquara, Manga do Céu Nature Reserve and Rota das Cachoeiras Municipal Natural Park.

Andaraí attracts practitioners of extreme sports and visitors who do not mind facing natural obstacles to get good photos and enjoy landscapes.

Salvador, 464 km and Lençóis, 76 km.

Andaraí is a municipality of the state of Bahia and is one of the best known cities of Chapada Diamantina for tourism because it is located in a strategic position to visit attractions further away from Lençóis.

From Andaraí you can visit Poço Azul, Poço Encantado, Cachoeira do Roncador, Pantanal Marimbus, Gruta Lapa do Bode, Gruta da Paixão, Gruta da Marota, the attractions of the city of Igatu and Mucugê.

Its name, which means “river of bats”, was given by the Cariris Indians who inhabited the place when the first adventurers arrived in search of metals and precious stones.

The place only began to acquire features of a settlement from 1845, when Captain Joaquim de Figueiredo came from Minas Gerais to settle there with his family and look for such diamonds that “sprang from the earth”.

View the map Chapada Diamantina

Nowadays, Andaraí lives off farming and tourism.

Those who are not willing to face trails and climbs can choose to visit Marimbus. the Remanso Village, the Recanto das Orchids and the Xique-Xique Village of Igatu.

Video about Andaraí

Tourist spots in Andaraí and surroundings

Andaraí provides strategic access to several natural attractions in the surrounding municipalities, such as Mucugê, Ibicoara, Nova Redenção and Itaetê. The village of Igatu, the Marimbus Pantanal, the pools of the Roncador River, the various waterfalls and caves are some of the local tourist spots.

1. Blue Well
2. Enchanted Well
3. Passion Cave
4. Marota Cave
5. Marimbus
6. Roncador Farm
7. Igatu in the Chapada Diamantina
8. Igatu Art and Memory Gallery

1. Blue Well

The Poço Azul (Blue Well), located in the municipality of Andaraí in the Chapada Diamantina, is one of the region’s most fascinating natural attractions.

It is a flooded cave with incredibly clear waters that allow perfect visibility at depths of up to 20 metres.

The combination of pure water and limestone walls creates a spectacle of light and colour, especially during the phenomenon of sunlight beaming through the top opening of the cave and illuminating the water, creating a magical effect.

Main features

• Depth: Around 16 metres.
• Crystal-clear water: The transparency is so impressive that visitors can see the bottom and swim between submerged formations.
• Luminous phenomenon: The best time to observe the beam of light is between February and October, between 10am and 2pm, when the sun is in an ideal position.
• Geological formation: The cave was formed by the dissolution of limestone over thousands of years, creating a unique environment.

Visits

• Activities: The Poço Azul allows you to float (with a snorkel), providing a unique experience of observing the interior of the cave and its fossils.
• Access: To get there, you have to walk along a short, moderately difficult trail, which passes through a staircase that leads to the inside of the cave.
• Rules: For environmental preservation reasons, it is compulsory to bathe before entering the water to avoid contaminating the ecosystem.

Importance

In addition to its beauty, Poço Azul is an important palaeontological site, where fossils of large prehistoric mammals such as giant sloths and sabre-toothed tigers have been found. These finds help tell the story of the region’s extinct fauna.

The Poço Azul is undoubtedly a must-see for anyone visiting the Chapada Diamantina, combining natural beauty, history and an unforgettable experience of contact with nature.

Poço Azul is located on a private property on the banks of the Paraguaçu River, around 40 km from the centre of Andaraí. It can usually be reached by car along dirt roads in good condition.

2. Poço Encantado or Enchanted Well

This place, which receives more than 7,000 visitors a year, is one of the Chapada’s must-see attractions.

The Enchanted Well, also located in the municipality of Andaraí, is one of the most iconic attractions in the Chapada Diamantina. Famous for its surreal beauty, it is a cave with a lake of crystal-clear water that takes on bluish tones due to the incidence of sunlight, creating a unique visual spectacle.

Main features

• Depth: The lake is around 61 metres deep, with crystal-clear waters that allow total visibility of the bottom.
• Luminous phenomenon: The spectacle takes place between April and September, usually between 10am and 1pm, when a beam of sunlight passes through a crack in the cave and illuminates the water, creating the famous ‘enchantment’ that gives the place its name.
• Geology: The formation of the cave is limestone, and the environment is surrounded by stalactites and other impressive natural formations.

Visiting rules

• Nodiving: Unlike Poço Azul, Poço Encantado does not allow swimming or floating, as a measure to preserve the delicate environment and avoid ecological impacts.
• Controlled access: The number of visitors is limited and the use of helmets provided on site is compulsory.
• Getting around: To access the interior of the cave, you have to go down a staircase that leads to the observation point.

How to get there

Poço Encantado is located about 25 km from the centre of Andaraí, on a private property. Access is via a dirt road and the journey can be made by car in approximately 40 minutes. It is common to combine the visit with the Poço Azul, which is relatively close by.

3. Passion Cave

The Gruta da Paixão, located in the municipality of Andaraí, is one of the Chapada Diamantina‘s lesser-known but equally fascinating gems. It enchants visitors with its impressive geological formations, including stalactites, stalagmites and other natural sculptures formed over millions of years.

Main features

• Size: The cave has a system of galleries and chambers that stand out for the grandeur and beauty of the limestone formations.
• Rock formations: Visitors can observe figures that resemble objects or animals, such as curtains, columns and even human forms, thanks to the imagination that the formations arouse.
• History: The cave is called ‘the Passion’ due to the belief that some of the formations resemble scenes from the Passion of Christ, such as a cross or kneeling figures.

Activities

• Trails and exploration: To reach the cave, visitors walk along trails that pass through landscapes typical of the Chapada Diamantina, such as rupestrian fields, cerrado vegetation and rivers.
• Photography: The site is ideal for those who enjoy photographing natural environments and geological formations.
• Guided tours: It is highly recommended to hire a local guide to better understand the geology and cultural aspects of the cave.

How to get there

The Gruta da Paixão is located just a few kilometres from the centre of Andaraí, and can be reached via trails and secondary roads. It is important to prepare yourself with

• Footwear suitable for hiking.
• Torches and helmets, as some parts of the cave are dark and may have narrow passages.

4. Marota Cave

The Marota Cave, located in the municipality of Andaraí in the Chapada Diamantina, is one of the natural attractions that combine adventure and scenic beauty. Although less well known than other caves in the region, such as Poço Encantado and Poço Azul, Gruta da Marota offers an authentic experience for those who want to explore the geological formations and natural wealth of the Chapada.

Main features

• Geological formations: The cave features stalactites, stalagmites and other formations characteristic of limestone caves, moulded over millions of years by the action of water and time.
• Internal environment: The interior of the cave is dark, which makes the use of torches indispensable, but it reveals a fascinating underground world, with galleries and small halls.
• Surrounding trails: The walk to reach the cave is an attraction in itself, passing through the typical vegetation of the Chapada and offering breathtaking views.

How to get there

Gruta da Marota is located in a rural area of Andaraí and can be reached by dirt roads and trails. We recommend

• Hire a local guide, as the entrance to the cave can be difficult to locate.
• Be prepared for a hike of moderate to difficult difficulty, depending on the time of year and the conditions of the terrain.

5. Marimbus

Marimbus is partly in the municipality of Andaraí, but also extends into other nearby areas in the Chapada Diamantina, such as the district of Remanso and parts of Iraí do Mandú. The most visited portion of the Marimbus, known as the Marimbus do Remanso, is located around 12 km from the centre of Andaraí.

Marimbus is a veritable swampland in the heart of Bahia, probably formed by the action of mining drains, which resulted in a large plain with interconnected lagoons.

In fact, its name, of African origin, means ‘flooded land’. Considered the ‘Pantanal of the Chapada’, the region is home to typical Pantanal and Amazonian fauna, such as tucunaré, caimans and a wide variety of birds. Examples of Amazonian flora, such as the Victoria Regia, can be found here.

Tours of the lagoons in inflatable boats led by professional rowers are relaxing experiences. Diving in these waters, not so much, as it would be a bit stressful to swim among caimans.

Main features

• Size: The Marimbus covers around 8,000 hectares and is divided into two main parts: the Marimbus do Remanso (near Andaraí) and the Marimbus de Baiano.
• Biodiversity: It is a refuge for various species of birds, fish, reptiles and aquatic vegetation, as well as having a unique interaction with the typical flora of the Caatinga and Cerrado.
• Hydrography: Formed by the Santo Antônio and Utinga rivers, the Marimbus is a flooded area all year round, but its water volume increases significantly during the rainy season.

6. Roncador Farm

Fazenda Roncador, located in the municipality of Andaraí, in the Chapada Diamantina, is a reference point for those wishing to explore the natural beauty of the region. This farm is particularly well known for being the gateway to the Marimbus Pantanal and the Roncador River, two of the area’s main attractions.

Features of Igatu

• History and architecture: Igatu is known as the ‘Pearl of the Chapada’, with its stone buildings and narrow streets reminiscent of the old colonial structure.
• Natural beauty: The town is surrounded by mountains, rivers and areas of native vegetation, which provides an ideal setting for hiking, trails and ecological tours.
• Tourism: In addition to its architecture and history, Igatu is famous for its adventure tourism options, such as trails that lead to viewpoints and the Buracão Waterfall.

Access to Igatu

• The village of Igatu is located about 25 kilometres from Andaraí, accessed by dirt roads, and is frequently visited by those exploring the Chapada Diamantina, mainly due to its proximity to other tourist attractions in the region.

If you’re in Andaraí, it’s easy enough to get to Igatu to explore its unique charm, natural landscapes and peaceful atmosphere.

8. Igatu Art and Memory Gallery

The Igatu Art and Memory Gallery is a cultural space located in the village of Igatu, in the municipality of Andaraí, in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia. The gallery aims to preserve and promote local history and culture, and is an important meeting point for local residents and visitors.

Caracteristics and Functionality

1. Art exhibitions: The gallery displays works by local artists and artists from other places, with an emphasis on productions that portray the life, culture and landscapes of the Chapada Diamantina.
2. Preservation of local memory: The space is also dedicated to preserving the history of Igatu and the Chapada Diamantina, offering exhibitions and activities that revive traditions, customs and the history of the region.
3. Education and culture: As well as exhibitions, the gallery promotes educational activities, such as workshops and cultural events, which help to spread knowledge about the community’s art, history and cultural roots.

Location

The Igatu Art and Memory Gallery is located in the centre of the village of Igatu, a place accessible to tourists and locals alike. Its location in one of the most charming and historic villages in the Chapada Diamantina makes the gallery a point of cultural and tourist interest.

Bahia.ws is the largest tourist guide in Bahia and Salvador.

Tourist Guide to Andaraí in the Chapada Diamantina