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The Vale do Catimbau National Park, located in Pernambuco, is one of the most fascinating destinations for ecotourism and adventure tourism in Brazil. With its semi-arid landscape, impressive rock formations, cave paintings and rich biodiversity, the park is a place of great historical, cultural and natural interest.
The Catimbau National Park, also known as the Catimbau Valley, is a Brazilian national park in the state of Pernambuco.
The main reason for the Catimbau National Park’s fame is a wall, called the Headless Men Archaeological Site.
According to scholars, these cave paintings were made around 7,000 years ago by the region’s first inhabitants. It’s an opportunity to better understand how our ancestors lived.
Created on 22 August 2002, it covers the municipalities of Buíque, Ibimirim, Sertânia and Tupanatinga, between the Agreste and the Sertão Pernambuco.
The park is the second in the state of Pernambuco (the first is Fernando de Noronha). Catimbau preserves one of the last areas of the Caatinga.
Small unlit pipe, witchcraft practices and place of snakes, all this is what Catimbau means in Tupi.
The Catimbau Valley is considered the second largest in Brazil, behind Serra da Capivara in Piauí.
The immense rock walls present unique shapes and hide an intense mysticism.
The valley has several archaeological sites, caves, prehistoric cemeteries and cave paintings dating back more than six thousand years.
There are sands of various colours, a large number of caves and vegetation that is very different from the rest of our country. It is made up of works of art amid rocks, mountains, caves, valleys and cave paintings.
Videos – Tourist attractions in the Vale do Catimbau National Park
Vale do Catimbau - pinturas rupestres e a pré-história11:00
Parque Nacional Vale do Catimbau PE - Drone
Features of Vale do Catimbau National Park PE
- 2nd largest archaeological park in Brazil
- A huge complex of more than 62,000 hectares of mountains and rocks
- There are approximately 2,000 caves and 28 cemetery caves
- One of the last preserved areas of caatinga in Brazil
- Most of the trails have a low degree of difficulty
- Get to know its postcard tourist attraction: Pedra Furada
The main attractions of the Vale do Catimbau National Park:
1. Rock Formations and Canyons
The park is famous for its rock formations sculpted by erosion over millions of years. The landscapes are stunning, with deep valleys, canyons, and rocks that take on curious shapes, such as the Sunset, Pedra do Cachorro, and Pedra da Águia.
2. Rock Paintings
The Catimbau Valley is home to some of the oldest cave paintings in Brazil, dating back some 6,000 years. The archaeological sites scattered throughout the park offer a glimpse into the life and culture of the prehistoric peoples who inhabited the region.
3. Vegetation and Fauna
Despite being in the semi-arid region, the park has a rich biodiversity. The caatinga dominates the vegetation, with cacti, bromeliads and trees such as the juazeiro and mandacaru. The fauna includes species such as the armadillo, the mocó and various birds, some of which are endemic to the region.
4. Trails and walks
There are several trails of varying levels of difficulty that allow you to explore the park’s natural beauty. The most popular trails include the Trilha do Pôr do Sol, Trilha das Torres, Trilha da Igrejinha, and Trilha do Mirante. These trails take visitors to observation points from where they can admire the vast and dramatic landscapes of Catimbau.
Walks can take you to Pedra do Elefante, Camelo, Cavalo Marinho and Cachorro, and you can also take the sanctuary trail.
You can also visit the Canyon and Pedra da Igrejinha (a group of rock formations).
Another option is the Men Without Heads trail, passing through the Chapadão trail and the Casa da Farinha trail, where there are cave paintings.
These are just a few suggestions, but there are many others that the guide can suggest!
It’s worth emphasising that it’s compulsory to hire a guide, as access to these walks and trails is complex and only those who know the place well can show you where to stop to take in the scenery.
The park also has many waterfalls where you can take a good dip in the heat of the northeastern hinterland.
They can be found on the various trails and woodland walks, so your guide will be able to suggest which ones you can make the most of!
4.1. Umburana Trail (1.3 Km – 1h30)
The Umburana Trail in the Catimbau Valley
It’s a very quiet trail and along it we’re given a little geology and morphology lesson.
Vale do Catimbau - Trilha da Umburana
What sets it apart is the observation of the geological formations that look like various animals and objects,” explained João. The stones moulded by the wind really do play with visitors’ imaginations.
One of the most curious is the open-mouthed witch and the ship.
But along the way, the guide shows various animals carved into the edge of the sandstone plateau, such as lizards, capybaras, turtles, alligators, etc. In addition to the figures, the beautiful view of the walls in the background completes the scenery, which becomes even more special when you find a heart drawn in the stone below.
4. 2. Sanctuary Trail (3 km – 2 hours)
Tourists begin the 3 kilometre walk, which takes an average of two hours in total.
The sensation of walking through dry vegetation in the dark is quite different. Lanterns help along the way, which gradually gets brighter as dawn approaches.
Vale do Catimbau - Trilha do Santuário
After walking for around 40 minutes, you reach a point high up on a plain, perfect for contemplating the arrival of the king star.
Then all you have to do is relax and let yourself be bathed in the first rays of a day to remember.
This experience alone was worth getting out of bed early, but the trail still has other beautiful surprises in store for early risers.
With the temperature still pleasant, tourists begin the next stage of the walk, which will end in one of the magical and intriguing places in the Vale do Catimbau National Park.
4.3. Torres Trail (5 km – 2 hours)
The Torres Trail is one of the largest, most complete and beautiful in the Catimbau Valley.
Along its almost 5-kilometre length, visitors come across stunning landscapes, unique scenery and art that is more than six thousand years old.
Vale do Catimbau - Trilha das Torres
There are many attractions, just as there are many views from Pedra do Cachorro, which, depending on the angle, also looks like a chimpanzee, a parrot’s beak and a sphinx. “It all depends on where you look from on the walk. We Pernambucans translate this as the stubbornness of imagination.”
4.4. Igrejinha Trail (0.6 km – 30 minutes)
The Igrejinha Trail is one of the easiest and quickest in the Catimbau Valley.
Once you get out of the car, it takes less than 15 minutes to reach the imposing rock formation with a crevice in the middle, which gives the trail its name because it looks like a church door.
Vale do Catimbau - Trilha da Igrejinha
The view is even more breathtaking at dusk when the last rays of the sun reinforce the orange outlines of the rocks. The place, which carries a mystical air, is one of the valley’s main postcards.
Among the many legends is that anyone who passes through the crevice enters another dimension.
Beliefs aside, the place, like so many others throughout the valley, seems to have a different energy. It’s no wonder it’s a popular route for those looking for a more intimate contact with nature through meditation. We met a group of almost 20 people who travelled from Recife to practise yoga there.
“It’s a place where we can integrate with silence, fresh air, nature and ourselves. So here we feel this difference of achieving this connection with the whole that is within our reach anywhere, but here it seems easier,” said yoga instructor Camila Leal.
Tips for Visiting the Park
- Access: The park is located around 300 kilometres from Recife, with the main access being through the town of Buíque, where you can find local guides.
- Best time to visit: The best time to visit Vale do Catimbau is during the dry season, from May to September, when temperatures are milder and the trails are more accessible.
- Local Guide: It is strongly recommended to hire local guides, who know the trails, stories and curiosities of the park well, as well as guaranteeing a safer experience.
- What to bring: Sunscreen, a hat, water, snacks and comfortable shoes are essential. As the infrastructure is limited, it’s important to go well prepared.
The Vale do Catimbau National Park is an unmissable destination for those seeking contact with the nature, history and culture of the Pernambuco hinterland.
Where it is
The Catimbau Valley is located between Pernambuco’s Agreste and Sertão regions, the closest access being via the municipality of Buíque, in Pernambuco.
It’s also 300 kilometres from Recife, where you can drive peacefully.
How to get there
You can also take a bus from the bus station in Recife/PE or drive along the BR-232 motorway (inland) from Recife/PE.
Northeast Tourism Guide