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Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina

⌂ Bahia ~ @ n Rua Pe de Ladeira 212; www.nasalturas.net

The northern end of a mountain chain stretching from Minas Gerais to Bahia, this rugged region features mesas (flat-topped ridges and hills) that overlook rolling grasslands and deep ravines. With its array of natural wonders, the Chapada Diamantina is an outdoor playground for extreme adventure lovers, with expert-led trips running from Lençois, the nearest town inside the national park.

t A traveler surveying the vast landscape of the Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina

Towering red rock formations, interspersed with lush vegetation, characterize this 587-sq-mile (1,520-sq-km) national park in the hinterland of Salvador, established in 1985. Numerous small rivers crisscross the highlands, cascading over waterfalls, carving through canyons, and tumbling down waterslides. Countless trails lead to caves and caverns. It is possible to camp in such spaces overnight and no permit is required, although these undefined paths are best navigated with a guide. For those who would prefer not to camp, guides are often able to arrange overnight stays in local homes.

Adventure activities in the park

There is a huge range of activities available in the park for the adventurous traveler, with specialist companies based in Lençois. Rock climbing and bouldering are especially popular around Igatu, while the Gruta do Lapao is a huge cave most favored for rappeling. For water babies, Marimbus is a network of pools and rivers near Andarai where kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boarding is practised. There are also many mountain-bike routes throughout the park, including one challenging trail that leads from Lençois to Barro Branco, a former diamond mine settlement.

Experience Bahia

Park Highlights

Morro do Pai Inácio

This striking cylindrical mesa is the park’s signature mountain formation. The 3,675-ft (1,120-m) plateau offers breathtaking views of the northern half of the park.

Vale do Paty

The multiday hike up this scenic valley offers extraordinary views of the highlands from Morro do Castelo. Other attractions include abandoned miners’ settlements and waterfalls with natural swimming pools at Cachoeira dos Funis, as well as the sound of Barbado monkeys that inhabit this vast wilderness.

Cachoeira da Fumaça

Cachoeira da Fumaça, or the Waterfall of Smoke, wears a veil of mist as the water plunges down the 1,150-ft (340-m) precipice.

Cachoeira do Buracão

Near the park’s southern edge, this waterfall plunges 394 ft (120 m) into a vast pool. The river then carves its way through a deep gorge of sedimentary rock. Strong swimmers can swim downstream towards the trailhead.

Poço Encantado

At the bottom of a deep cavern, the cobalt-blue Enchanted Pool is one of the park’s most popular spots, accessible via a steep trail and a narrow entrance. Between April and September, sunlight streaming through an aperture reaches the surface of the water, making both the cavern and pool glow.