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Serra da Capivara National Park, located in the south-east of the state of Piauí, Brazil, is one of the country’s most fascinating tourist destinations, especially for lovers of history, archaeology and nature. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the park is known for housing the largest concentration of prehistoric archaeological sites in the Americas, with cave paintings dating back up to 50,000 years.

The largest collection of cave paintings ever found in the world is in the Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí, spread over 129,140 hectares of the park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

The Serra da Capivara National Park is home to more than 800 archaeological sites, most of them under rocks.

Of this total, 128 are open to public visitation and have access infrastructure, roads to trails and safe stairs that allow visitors to get closer to the cave paintings.

Archaeologist Niede Guidon, who runs the park with Ibama, claims to have found evidence of human settlement up to 100,000 years old – which goes against the classical theories that man arrived in America via the Bering Strait 20,000 years ago.

Regardless of the controversies, the Serra da Capivara National Park (where polished stone artefacts, ceramics and fossils of prehistoric animals such as the giant sloth and armadillo have been found) is pure amazement: on all sides you can see rugged terrain, immense blocks of rock covered in undergrowth in the lower parts and forests with trees over 20 metres high at the top of the plateaus; the fauna includes over thirty species of mammals and two hundred birds, as well as lizards, frogs and snakes.

The Serra da Capivara National Park can be travelled by car, but those who prefer to explore it on foot can choose between light or heavy trails.

See the map of Piauí

The practice of adventure sports is forbidden, and the accompaniment of a guide, indicated by local hotels or hired at the town’s reception, is mandatory. It is essential to wear comfortable clothes, trainers, a hat and sun cream. Who takes you: Trilhas da Capivara.

Vídeos – Tourist Attractions in Serra da Capivara

Tourist Attractions in Serra da Capivara

In addition to the archaeological sites, which are the hallmark of the Serra da Capivara National Park, there are other leisure options. We’ve listed 10 attractions below. Check them out!

1. Archaeological sites

The park has around 1,300 registered archaeological sites, many of them with preserved cave paintings. The most famous include the Boqueirão da Pedra Furada and the Toca do Boqueirão da Pedra Furada, where traces have been found that indicate human presence in the region thousands of years ago.

1.1. Boqueirão da Pedra Furada

An iconic attraction, this is the park’s postcard.

1.2. Rock paintings in the Boqueirão da Pedra Furada Cave

The Toca do Boqueirão da Pedra Furada contains around a thousand cave paintings and is considered the Sistine Chapel of the Serra da Capivara, its largest archaeological site.

Studies indicate that the paintings were made between 3,000 and 12,000 years ago.

2. Trails and Natural Landscapes

There are several trails that take visitors through stunning scenery, with impressive rock formations, canyons, valleys and typical caatinga vegetation. The trails vary in difficulty, from light hikes to more challenging routes.

2.1. Baixão da Pedra Furada Circuit

The tour, which can be done in one day, starts at the eastern entrance to the park, accessed via the BR-020 motorway, passing the Mocó site, where there are toilets, snack bars and even camping.

From the same entrance you can also reach the Meio site, where there are ceramic remains dating back more than 8900 years.

The route includes visits to the Cajueiro, Fumaça, Macário and Fundo do Baixão burrows.

The highlight is the Pedra Furada burrow, the most important archaeological site in the Serra da Capivara, where the remains of a bonfire were found which, according to Niede Guidon’s team, prove the theory that human groups inhabited the region 100,000 years ago.

From the Pedra Furada lowland you reach the Circuito do Alto da Pedra Furada, which also includes the passage through the Baixão das Mulheres – a 60-metre high canyon with three archaeological sites – and the top of the Caldeirão dos Rodrigues.

Visitors climb 350 steps to the top of Pedra Furada. However, going to the top of the rock is not recommended for people with heart problems or who are not physically fit.

2.2. Alto dos Canoas and Caldeirâo dos Rodrigues Trail

From the Arame do Sansão lair, at the bottom of the Pedra Furada lowland, you walk along an 800 metre trail to the stone steps that lead to the top of the plateau.

This brings you to the Canoas site, with its rock inscriptions, from where you continue on to the caldeirões, the term used to describe the depressions in the rock surfaces that hold water after rain.

From the top of the plateau you can climb down an iron ladder to the bottom of a valley called Caldeirão dos Rodrigues II, where there are lurid rock paintings depicting scenes of social life.

2.3. Capivara Gorge

This corner was travelled millennia ago by the inhabitants of the mountains to reach the corners where they sheltered, today known as the burrows at the entrance to Pajaú, Barro, Inferno, the entrance to the Baixão da Vaca, Pajaú and Paraguaio.

In the gorge there is a viewpoint with a panoramic view of the São Francisco plain.

From this circuit it is possible to reach two others on foot: the Veadinhos Azuis (Little Blue Deer), a group of cave paintings in which the colour blue was used (the first of this colour to be discovered in the world), and the Boqueirão do Paraguaio (Paraguaio’s Cave), a refuge in which prehistoric man left paintings depicting human figures decorated with geometric patterns among preserved Atlantic forest trees in the middle of the caatinga.

Access to the Capivara gorge is via the guardhouse on the BR-020 motorway, just after the town of Coronel José Dias.

2.4. Sítio do Meio

This is one of the most important archaeological shelters in the world, where the oldest pieces of pottery in the Americas, dating back 8,960 years, and the first American polished stone artefact were found.

2.5 Blue Deer Site

This is where the first prehistoric blue paintings were found. Currently, another site in Colombia has been discovered with blue prehistoric paintings.

In addition to this archaeological rarity, the walk is worthwhile for the wonderful scenery that can be seen from the top.

2.6 Baixão das Andorinhas

This is a gorge where you can watch the swallows return to their cave in the late afternoon.

2.7 Jurubeba Farm Interpretive Trail

This is part of the ‘No Rastro da Maniçoba’ historical trails and shows aspects of the colonial occupation of the region. It takes about 2 hours to walk. This trail passes by the Toca da Dama and Toca da Ema sites. Along the way it is possible to see some ruins of 19th century houses.

2.8. Cycle tourism

The region is also favourable for cycling. There are some drivers who specialise in the sport and offer light or heavy rides. However, it is necessary to bring your own bike, as the park does not yet have a bike hire service.

2.9 Viewpoints

Along the way to the sites you can find several viewpoints that lead to beautiful spots, such as: Alto da Pedra Furada, Vista Panorâmica da Pedra Furada, Serrinha, Toca do Conflito, Mirante da BR-020, among others.

3. Museum of the American Man

Located in the town of São Raimundo Nonato, close to the park, the museum is a perfect complement to the visit, offering exhibitions on archaeological finds and the history of human occupation in America.

It has a collection of skeletons, ceramics and other artefacts from the archaeological excavations at Serra da Capivara. It also has a panel displaying cave paintings from archaeological sites in the region.

4. Fauna and Flora Watching

The park is also a refuge for various species of fauna and flora from the caatinga, with animals such as pumas, capuchin monkeys and various endemic birds. Birdwatching is a popular activity…

5. Visiting Tips

• Best Time to Visit: The park can be visited all year round, but the best time is during the dry season, from May to September, when the temperatures are milder and the trails are more accessible.
• Access and Infrastructure: Access to the park is generally via the city of São Raimundo Nonato, which has a basic infrastructure for tourists, with accommodation and restaurant options. The nearest airport is in Petrolina, Pernambuco, about 300 kilometres away.
• Local Guides: It is recommended to hire accredited local guides, who know the trails well and can provide a more enriching experience, explaining the cave paintings and the history of the park.

Serra da Capivara National Park is a unique destination that combines nature, history and culture, offering a rich and educational tourist experience.

6. Where to stay

The park has no camping areas or overnight stays for visitors.

However, in São Raimundo Nonato there are several options for accommodation, in hotels or inns. In Coronel José Dias, in addition to inns, there is a campsite in the village of ‘Sítio do Mocó’.

7. Visiting

The Serra da Capivara National Park can be visited all year round. It is open from 6am to 6pm.

Tickets can be bought at the entrance gates until 5pm.

Serra da Capivara National Park Tourist Guide