Rappel in the Cocoa Coast
Nature was really generous with this piece of land in southern Bahia.
A Cocoa Coast it has hundreds of kilometers of beaches, rivers and waterfalls, always surrounded by well-preserved areas of the Atlantic Forest.
Lovers of rappelling will almost always have the company of a beautiful waterfall here, resembling cascading, a sport that uses rappelling techniques in this type of environment.
Apepique Jump – With 50 meters high, located in the Environmental Protection Area (APA) Lagoa Encantada, in Ilhéus, this beautiful waterfall has ideal conditions for zip lining and especially for a radical rappel descent.
Carioca Waterfall – Also known as Tijuípe or Floriam, this waterfall has a large volume of water and several levels of fall, giving the rappeler good options for the descent. It is located in the municipality of Itacaré, close to BA-001.
Waterfall of the Taboquinhas Plant – It is located within Fazenda Providência, close to Povoado de Taboquinhas, on BA-001. The waterfall is long but not that steep, making it perfect for beginners.
Bridal Veil Waterfall – Considered the largest waterfall in the region, the “Pancadão” – as it is also known – is approximately 40 meters high, representing a more dangerous challenge for the adventurer.
To get there, you will travel by boat for 1 hour, up the Rio de Contas and then walk for 40 minutes on a trail that presents some challenges. Access is a little difficult, but rappelling is certainly rewarding.
Rappel options on the Dende Coast
Pancada Grande Waterfall – If for beginners rappel the ideal size of descents is between 10 and 20 meters, when it is done in a waterfall there are still other important factors to be taken into account.
For cascading, in addition to height, the practitioner must also be aware of the volume of water and the composition of the rocks. Definitely, the Pancada Grande waterfall, the largest on the Costa do Dendê, is not a suitable route for those who are just starting out.
The place has even been the stage for the highly contested Ecomotion/Pro, a well-known radical challenge in nature. The waterfall is about 90 meters high, with three gigantic stone steps, which gave the waterfall the other name of Três Pancadas.
The descent is made difficult by the strong flow of the Rio das Almas and the slippery rocks. The cascading on site can be done at different heights, from the three sides of the waterfall, always mixing the adrenaline of the descent, with an exuberant landscape.
Rappel option with cascading in Taboquinhas
The Coiudo River flows into the center of Taboquinhas – a district 34 km away from the coastal city of Itacaré –, in the riverbed of the Contas River. 100 meters from this stretch, a depression forms the beautiful waterfall of Noré, 17 meters high.
The waterfall offers excellent conditions for the practice of cascading, a sport similar to rappelling, but which always requires a beautiful waterfall as a requirement.
The path that leads to Noré includes a small adventure, as the visitor will have to cross the mighty Rio de Contas aboard a canoe, and then cross a dense cocoa plantation, on a 15-minute trail.
As the obstacles in this cascading have an intermediate degree of difficulty, beginners, with the support of local instructors, can also participate in this extreme adventure.
The place where the waterfall is located is within the area destined to the practice of rafting on the Rio de Contas, so a good tip is to enjoy this other amazing sport.
Tyrolean comfort in Paulo Afonso
Getting to know the São Francisco River is already a great experience, but interacting with its beauties, driven by the adrenaline of extreme sports, is undoubtedly something to be experienced.
Taking advantage of the long canyon that borders the river and, of course, the Dom Pedro II metallic bridge, the adventurer can launch himself in mind-blowing challenges in rappelling and also enjoy the emotion of the zip lines mounted in the region.
You can also enjoy a relaxing bath in one of the most beautiful stretches of the “Old Chico”, contemplating the magnitude of the walls, patiently carved by time and water. See the main attractions of rappel in the region:
little angel – A visit to this place is in itself a trip to the past. The former Usina de Angiquinho, dating from 1911, will satisfy some curiosities about the history of the place.
Built with the purpose of generating energy for an old local factory and for the pumps that carried water to the old Vila da Pedra, the plant ended its activities only in 1960, when the giant Paulo Afonso Mill had already emerged.
Despite its historical attributes, Angiquinho stands out for the emotion it provides to its visitor. The choice is to enjoy rappelling 40 meters high, or descending a dizzying zipline, 100 meters long.
Dom Pedro II Bridge (Metallic Bridge) – Adventuring in a rappel on the Dom Pedro II Bridge is a real slam dunk for any adventurer. Considered radical, it is one of the favorite places in sports programs for rappelling and bungee-jumping scenes.
With a height of 84 meters, this French bridge built in 1958 by then president Juscelino Kubitschek, uniting the states of Alagoas and Bahia, commands a lot of respect.
For those who take up this challenge, the reward is quite generous. The descent is long, allowing the rappeler plenty of time to mix the emotion of the feat with the fascination exerted by the landscape.
Caving and Rappelling in the West of Bahia
Located between the municipalities of Catolândia and São Desidério, close to Barreiras, a rocky complex – with an extensive complex of caves – has become one of the most sought after areas for rappelling and caving in all of Bahia.
The caves of Buraco do Inferno and Sumidouro, as they offer difficult obstacles, are among the most visited for sports. The less daring and beginners end up opting for the Deus Me Livre wall, a challenge considered easier, with about 40 meters high.
In the same region, however, there is an attraction that is even more sought after, both due to the high degree of difficulty and the variations that its route offers.
To reach Gruta do Catão, the adventurer will first have to overcome a trail of almost 100 meters, made difficult by the steep and rocky terrain, mixed with very dense vegetation.
Inside the cave, the caving will be unforgettable, requiring great effort, but offering a unique beauty as a reward.
In addition to being excellent for rappelling, it is through this cave that you can reach one of the most beautiful postcards of the western region, the Lagoa Azul.
In this complex of caves there is still an archaeological site with cave paintings, a lake with a type of quicksand and other smaller caves, such as the one at Sítio Grande.
Cascading: descent into waterfalls with rappelling techniques
For those unfamiliar, this is the name given to the sport specializing in descending waterfalls using rappelling techniques. Well, if the sport needs beautiful waterfalls, in Bahia they are not lacking.
Several of them, in fact, have already fallen into the liking of adventurers throughout Brazil, significantly increasing tourism around this sport. The most popular waterfalls are:
- Cachoeira do Ferro Doido, in Morro do Chapéu, 90 meters high
- Bridal Veil and Piancó, both in Jacobina, with 70 and 45 meters, respectively
- 45-metre Payayás Waterfall, in Saúde
- Waterfall of Moenda, 70 meters, located in Ituaçu
- Rio Brumado waterfall, with an incredible 300 meters, in Rio de Contas
- Cachoeira da Fumaça, with 340 meters, the largest and most feared waterfall in the country
- Poço do Diabo, with just 22 meters, considered ideal for beginners
Rappel and Canyoning in Chapada Diamantina
The options for rappelling and canyoning in Chapada Diamantina are wide and varied. The region, known for its natural beauty, is the perfect setting for the practice of extreme sports. See some scripts that are already traditional:
Pai Inácio Hill – The hill, considered a postcard of Chapada, is the biggest challenge for rappelers. Its height of 150 meters commands a lot of respect, making some give up even before climbing it;
Devil's well – The rappel has 22 meters of descent and ends in a splendid lake, 80 meters long and 50 meters wide. Ideal for those just starting out in the sport because of its moderate height, Poço do Diabo is located next to the Mucugezinho River.
Lapão Cave – The negative rappel starts at a gap 4 meters long and 2 meters wide, in the cave's roof. The 50 meters of descent are intense and arouse many emotions in the adventurer.
Capivari waterfall – Located 20 km from Lençóis, the waterfall is one of the most popular spots in Chapada for the practice of canyoning. The entire program, which starts with a trail from the city, has an estimated duration of 3 days and 2 nights in camp, including a spectacular abseiling, 37 meters high.
Fumaça Waterfall – Radical in the extreme, it is the perfect stage for those who are even more daring. The trail there is 48 km, made in 4 days and 3 nights, including in its itinerary a delicious zip-line descent, in addition to caving and cascading, carried out in practically all waterfalls and caves.
In Smoke, cascading represents the biggest and riskiest challenge in the entire region. At 420 meters, from the top to the well, the formation is considered the highest in Brazil, making its descent delicate, due to the very strong winds. It is located in the municipality of Palmeiras, in Chapada Diamantina.
Brejões Cave – In the heart of Chapada Diamantina, the city of Morro do Chapéu gathers countless options for the practice of extreme sports, such as trekking, mountain-biking and a special rappel, in the Gruta dos Brejões.
The adventure is complete, including an overnight stay in the cave itself, short walks through the region and the great challenge in the cave. Its monumental entrance is 138 meters high, being considered the largest in Brazil. Beginners should just contemplate it, as rappelling is difficult and requires great experience.
Rappel spots in Salvador and Recôncavo
With beauties known around the world, Salvador is also one of the Brazilian cities with the most rugged terrain. The geological depressions made the city a favorable place for the practice of rappelling, with many walls, bridges and viaducts.
Rappel practiced in buildings can be used as training for adventures lived in nature. Salvador, however, presents some challenges that are totally inadvisable for beginners in the activity, due to its degree of difficulty.
In the city, the main points for practicing the sport are: the Hotel Vitória Marina building, the towers of TV Itapoan and the Bahia Convention Center, and one of its best known postcards, the Elevador Lacerda.
The latter gives the rappeler the thrill of being 72 meters high, enjoying a classic and exuberant view of the Baía de Todos os Santos.
Very close to Salvador, in the city of Santo Amaro da Purificação, located in the Recôncavo Baiano region, the adventurer has a natural challenge to overcome.
The Waterfall of Mãe D´Água, with 50 meters of unevenness, will raise the sensation of freedom to the heights, providing, also, a delicious bath.
The Radical Charms of Santa Luzia
The youngest city in Costa do Cacau, Santa Luzia is owner of many natural beauties, sheltering rivers, waterfalls, lakes, caves and some rock walls.
In the past, the area comprising the municipality was the largest diamond exploration hub in southern Bahia.
With some locations that are very reminiscent of Chapada Diamantina, Santa Luzia has become a very busy hub for those looking for extreme sports. Rappelling, caving and cascading enthusiasts have some alternatives for their adventures.
For rappellers, the big choice is to face the 40 meter descent at the Mirante das Três Marias or at the Gruta do Lapão Velho, inside and outside the cave, with varying heights.
Old Lapão Cave – It is an almost impossible mission not to do a caving in this cave. With a high level of difficulty, the adventure consists, first, of crossing the nearly 500 meters that separate its two entrances, forming a very steep descent.
From there, there are still crossings of abysses and submerged galleries, to finally climb to the top of “Apaga Vela” and reach the main hall. The Lapão Complex has a total of 20 caves that can be widely explored.
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