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The Chapada Diamantina, in the heart of Bahia, enchants with its breathtaking landscapes, waterfalls, caves and trails. The destination offers radical adventures and moments of tranquillity. To find out more, documentaries about the Chapada Diamantina reveal its tourist attractions, its cultural, historical and natural wealth.
Waterfalls, wells, valleys and caves amid a rich biodiversity create the perfect backdrop for jeep tours, hikes, extreme sports and trails in the Chapada Diamantina – on foot, on horseback or by bicycle.
The Chapada Diamantina National Park, created in 1985, covers an area of 1,520km² and is the main conservation unit in the Chapada, which extends over 38,000km² of savannah, Atlantic Forest and caatinga.
412km from Salvador, the municipality of Lençóis is the main tourist centre of the Chapada Diamantina.
The city of Salvador is the starting point for various programmes in the region and has a wide range of restaurants and tourist agencies.
The bus journey between Salvador and Lençóis takes around six hours. By plane, it takes 45 minutes. Since April 2009, Trip airlines has been flying between the two cities on Saturdays.
For travellers looking for isolation and tranquillity, the village of Vale do Capão is a very interesting option, with good inns and alternative communities.
The village, located in the municipality of Palmeiras, is the starting point for the main Chapada Diamantina trails, such as Fumaça, Vale do Pati, Lençóis, Andaraí, Gerais do Rio Preto, Gerais do Vieira and Gerais da Fumaça.
In both Lençóis and Vale do Capão there is accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from sophisticated hotels to campsites and hostels.
The town of Mucugê and the village of Igatu, well located in relation to the Chapada’s attractions, also appeal to travellers looking for more peace and quiet. Listed by Iphan (National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute), Igatu was an important diamond production centre and all the buildings in the village are made of stone.
See the Chapada Diamantina map
Map of Chapada Diamantina’s Trails and Tourist Spots
Videos: Documentaries about the Chapada Diamantina
Watch various documentaries about the Chapada Diamantina and explore the tourist attractions, stunning landscapes, fascinating stories and unforgettable adventures of this unique destination.
Sul da Chapada Diamantina - parte 1
Sul da Chapada Diamantina - parte 2
Sul da Chapada Diamantina - parte 3
Sul da Chapada Diamantina - parte 4
Norte da Chapada Diamantina - parte 1
Norte da Chapada Diamantina - parte 2
Norte da Chapada Diamantina - parte 3
Norte da Chapada Diamantina - parte 4
Chapada Diamantina - Resumo
Chapada Diamantina - Documentário
Tourist Attractions in Chapada Diamantina
A must-see destination for ecotourism lovers, those travelling through the region are impressed not only by the natural beauty, but also by the awareness and sense of environmental preservation of the inhabitants, such as guides and innkeepers.
1. trails
Close to Vale do Capão is Cachoeira da Fumaça, one of the main beauties of Chapada Diamantina and one of the highest free falls in Brazil, at around 380 metres high.
The quickest and easiest way to get to know it is via the two-hour trail that leads to the top of the waterfall. Fumaça is one of the must-see programmes when visiting the region.
For those who like hiking, adventure and are physically fit, it’s worth doing the three-day trail known as Fumaça por Baixo.
The route allows you to
- See the waterfall from above and from the front.
- Bathe in its well.
- Sleep two nights in tents or caves.
- Bathe only in the waterfall (without soap).
This trail is considered the most extreme in the Chapada.
But all the effort is more than worth it! In addition to the main attraction, which makes the hike worthwhile, the route includes other unbelievable landscapes and several waterfalls, such as Palmital.
To do the Fumaça por Baixo, a guide is essential.
The trails, generally created during the mining era, are closed and without signposts. Mobile phones don’t work and there is nothing and no-one in the area apart from groups visiting the site.
This isolation can be ideal for those who want to
- Rest your head.
- Work on the body.
- Forget about traffic, computers and mobile phones for a few days.
The idea is to walk a lot, cool off in incredible waterfalls and be amazed by the beauty of the landscapes, orchids and bromeliads.
2. Pati Valley in Chapada Diamantina
Hiking for several days is essential to get to know the Pati Valley, but its trails are milder than those of Fumaça. The beauty of the place is unique and impressive. In the valley, there is the possibility of camping or sleeping in the homes of the few locals, who offer modest facilities and tasty home-cooked food.
Tourist agencies organise one to five-day treks through Pati. Four days and three nights is the minimum for those who enjoy walking and want to get to know the place well. As with the Fumaça trail, visitors to Pati have the chance to cool off in several marvellous waterfalls.
Generally, the trekking guide is also responsible for preparing and transporting the food. The trekkers bring their own clothes and snacks and must return with all the rubbish they produce. It’s a good idea to include essential items in your luggage for Bahia.
From December to March, it rains more in the Chapada Diamantina, which contributes to the beauty of the waterfalls and the green landscape. On the other hand, the rain can jeopardise your walks, and there is also the risk of a tromba d’água – a downpour caused by the accumulation of water at the head of a river.
However, even at this time of year, the rains are not so frequent. From April to October, there is little rainfall and some waterfalls can dry up. Before travelling, it’s worth checking the status of the waterfalls and the weather forecast.
In addition to Fumaça, another unmissable waterfall in the Chapada Diamantina is Buracão. Located in Ibicoara, 90 km from Mucugê, Cachoeira do Buracão is an 80 metre waterfall at the end of a magnificent canyon. As it is far from the main attractions of the Chapada Diamantina, it is less visited, but don’t miss out.
3. Caves, wells and cave paintings in Chapada Diamantina
The wonders and grandeur of the Chapada Diamantina are not limited to its surface: it is home to the largest speleological collection in South America, important for its beauty and scientific relevance.
Among the hundreds of caves in the region, the best known is Poço Encantado. The water there has a turquoise colour due to the sun’s rays penetrating the cave through a crack. Given the transparency of the water, you can even see the bottom of the well, which is 30 to 60 metres deep.
The Poço Azul (Blue Well ) has similar characteristics to the Poço Encantado (Enchanted Well), but you can dive in. Another blue-coloured cave with crystal-clear waters is the Gruta da Pratinha. Among the dry caves, the most visited are Torrinha, Lapa Doce, Paixão, Lapão, Bolo de Noiva, Fumaça, Gruta Azul and Brejões.
The region also has a rich cultural heritage, which includes 65 rock painting sites , centuries-old mansions, markets and handicrafts.
4. Extreme sports in Chapada Diamantina
The Chapada Diamantina is also an unmissable destination for fans of extreme sports. The list of sports that can be practised in the region is long, but it is worth highlighting climbing, zip-lining, canyoning – abseiling down a waterfall – and mountain biking.
You can cycle round the park in around seven days. There are 273 kilometres of trails with varying degrees of difficulty. The journey between Vale do Capão and Lençóis takes around five hours of pedalling and is one of the most difficult parts of the tour.
From Igatu to Mucugê, the effort is much less: two hours on the trail, mostly downhill. Tourist agencies offer routes that include cycling and walking.
At the mouth of the Lapão cave, in Lençóis, there is cave jumping, similar to bungee jumping. Among the climbing sites, the most prominent are the Muritiba Municipal Park in Lençóis, with more than 50 routes, and Igatu, in the municipality of Andaraí.
The region has too many attractions for just one trip. If you visit the Chapada once, you’ll come back the first time.
Chapada Diamantina Tourist Guide and Documentary about the Chapada Diamantina
