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Trekking in the Pati Valley is considered one of the most beautiful in the country.

The Pati Valley, located in the heart of the Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, is considered one of the best trekking destinations in Brazil.

The region enchants with its unique landscape, with canyons, waterfalls, rivers, mountains and vegetation that mixes savannah, Atlantic forest and caatinga. Trekking in the Pati Valley is challenging, but offers an immersive experience in the midst of nature and the local culture.

Trekking enthusiasts can choose from lighter trails with a few hours of walking, to an unforgettable adventure of up to six days around the Pati Valley.

A fantastic place that mixes rare examples of mountain vegetation with the exuberance of the caatinga.

Map of the Chapada Diamantina Trails and Tourist Sites

The journey through the Pati Valley requires good physical fitness, but during the trek, the difficulty of facing steep hills and closed forests becomes an added motivation to challenge yourself and discover the dozens of waterfalls scattered throughout the valley.

See the Chapada Diamantina map

Videos about trekking in Vale do Pati and Vale do Capão

Trekking in the Pati Valley

The Pati Valley has three main access points: Guiné (district of the municipality of Mucugê), Vale do Capão (district of the municipality of Palmeiras) and Andaraí.

You can enter or exit through any of them, but in any case the route involves many kilometres of ascents and descents.

The trekking route goes from the village of Guiné to Andaraí, passing by Gerais do Vieira, Gerais do Rio Preto, Morro do Castelo, Cachoeirão and at the end we’ll visit the Fumacinha waterfall.

You can do the Pati Valley crossing with different routes. There are those who spend just one night there, with one day to enter the valley and another to leave, with the possibility of visiting attractions such as the Mirante do Pati.

Features of Trekking in the Pati Valley

Duration

• Generally, the treks vary from 3 to 7 days, depending on the chosen route and the level of physical fitness of the participants.

Level of Difficulty

• Moderate to difficult. The route includes steep climbs, steep descents, river crossings and long walks.

Main Attractions

• Morro do Castelo: One of the most famous trails, with rock formations that resemble a castle and a spectacular view of the valley.
• Cachoeirão por Cima: One of the most emblematic points, with several waterfalls plummeting from great heights.
• Funil Waterfall: Ideal for relaxing and swimming.
• Viewpoints: Along the trails, various points offer panoramic views of the Pati Valley.

1. Trekking in the Pati Valley in 2 days

If you only have 2 days, the idea is to enter via Guiné and leave via Capão or vice versa.

And on the way in via Guiné, do the Cachoeirão.

On the first day you do the Cachoeirão and on the second day you leave via the general roads to Capão.

This is a trail for those who don’t have much time, but who still want to see the most beautiful things in the Pati Valley, like the place we’ve mentioned: the Cachoeirão valley.

But to do this trail, you need to be in good physical condition, because the route is full of challenges. There are steep paths, rocks and rivers.

If you take on the challenge, we suggest bringing basic snacks to replenish your energy along the way, such as fruit, cereal bars and biscuits, as well as water.

To do the trail, you’ll need to stay at the locals’ house.

They are welcoming and this will give you an incredible experience. Generally, the room is very clean and tidy and the bathroom is shared between the tourists and the hosts.

2. Trekking in the Pati Valley in 3 days

If you have three days, you can visit more incredible and magical places that will make you look at life from a lighter and more beautiful perspective.

On the first day, the tip is to start the trail in Guiné. Take a walk along the Gerais do Rio Preto and, if you like, stop for a swim in the river.

You won’t regret it. Then head to the Mirante do Vale. From the top, you can feel the light breeze and see the magical scenery.

On the second day, visit Funis Waterfall, Lajedo and Morro do Castelo, the latter of which offers an incredible view from the top of the mountain. Here you’ll pass through a cave full of beautiful things to see.

On the third day, head to Vale do Capão via Gerais do Vieira. Along the way, you’ll be amazed by the mountains that make up the area, forming an incredible landscape that blends with the green and blue skies.

Beautiful, long and deep, the Pati Valley is considered one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. Carved out of pink quartzite, its slopes are covered in Atlantic forest, which makes it even more special.

3. Trekking in the Pati Valley in 4 days

For those with 4 days, the logistical itinerary of the Pati Valley can be filled with good attractions.

On the first day, leaving Vale do Capão, head through Bomba and up the ‘quebra bunda’ slope to the Rio Preto generals. Continue your journey to the houses of the locals in Pati de cima.

On the second day, go to Cachoeirão from above. From there, you can contemplate a set of waterfalls that act in harmony, forming a beautiful sight.

On the third and fourth day, you continue down the valley to the houses of the residents of Pati de Baixo and from there you just have to climb the Império slope to complete your journey and arrive in Andaraí.

4. Trekking in the Pati Valley in 5 days

To have an incredible and fulfilling experience, we recommend staying in the Pati Valley for 5 days.

But if that’s not possible, fine, we understand. We recommend 5 days because the Pati Valley is magical and has so much to show you and leave you at peace with yourself.

On the first day, start your adventure by going up the Capão Valley to the Rio Preto General Fields, where you can see places like Morro do Castelo. You’ll also be able to bathe in the river and have a great time with friends and family.

Then take a walk to the Mirante da Rampa (Ramp Viewpoint) and enjoy the view that the region has to offer. From there, you can see the entire length of the Pati Valley.

On the second day, start your adventure by climbing Morro do Cruzeiro. Along the way, you’ll pass Córrego das Laranjeiras and Serra da Sampa, until you reach the region’s largest waterfall: Cachoeirão, which has a free fall of around 300 metres.

It is one of the most photographed places by tourists. With good reason, as there is no shortage of beauty there. Then head to Poço do Cachoeirão to cool off a bit.

On the third day, climb Morro do Castelo, but be careful, as it is very steep. On the second day, you can set off from Igrejinha and hike up Morro do Castelo, which is over 1400 metres high.

There, cross the cave and admire the Pati Valley from above.

On the fourth day, there’s time to enjoy the Lageado and Funis waterfalls in the morning and then walk to the houses of the residents of lower Pati.

Along the way you can visit the ‘town hall’. This is a house that used to function as a subprefecture and is still recognised as such today, attracting tourists and locals alike.

Once there, you can bathe in a beautiful river, gaze at Morro do Castelo and take lots of photos.

On the last day, visit the Ladeira do Império, which is entirely paved and about 16 kilometres long.

The walk is light at first, but soon becomes more difficult due to the steep gradients. On the way up the hill, admire the whole valley and take lots of photographs.

At the top of Império, you’ll see a large waterfall and the Serra do Ramalho and you can continue on to the town of Andaraí, where you’ll say goodbye to the Valley.

History of the Pati Valley

Hidden away, with restricted access (there is no road for cars), the Pati Valley saw its first inhabitants at the beginning of the 20th century.

A severe drought in the region led the locals to seek survival in the fertile and humid valley.

With the strengthening of the coffee culture, the Pati Valley together with the Capão Valley became the largest coffee producers in the region. It was during this period that the Valley reached its apogee, with more than two thousand residents, a community centre, shops and a church.

Coffee was also the reason for its decline, when the republican politics of the time decided to nationalise and eradicate coffee growing in order to increase prices on the world market.

prices on the world market. This policy led to the exodus of the majority of its inhabitants, and consequently the valley recovered its forests, which had been cleared to make way for coffee plantations.

Today, the Pati Valley is protected by its residents, who number no more than 50, and by the Chapada Diamantina National Park.

In order to maintain the ecological balance of the Pati Valley, with its resilient inhabitants, we at Terra Chapada Diamantina have developed transport, accommodation and food services, avoiding other more impactful activities such as livestock, agriculture, hunting and the extraction of palm heart and wood.

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Trekking in the heart of Bahia in the Chapada Diamantina