Brazil's Central-West Region
The Ultimate Brazil Travel Guide: Chapada dos Veadeiros
Hike, swim, repeat. Towering waterfalls and refreshing clear waters.
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park in Goiás is known for its rugged terrain, crystal-clear rivers, and stunning waterfalls. The region is a hotspot for eco-tourism, with extensive hiking trails and opportunities for canyoning and swimming. The park’s unique geological formations and rich biodiversity have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.
Top 10 Things to See & Do in Chapada dos Veadeiros
Hike the Quebrada das Sete Quedas (Sete Quedas trail): This two or three-day crossing through the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park connects the main entrance in São Jorge to the Capela entrance near Cavalcante. The trail covers approximately 23 kilometres and requires overnight camping inside the park. Advance booking with ICMBio is required.
Day hikes to major waterfalls: Several waterfalls are accessible as day hikes from Alto Paraíso, São Jorge or Cavalcante:
Saltos do Rio Preto (Salto 120 and Salto 80): Inside the national park. 10 kilometre loop with views and swim spots.
Cachoeira do Segredo: 8 kilometre return hike from the trailhead near São Jorge. Requires a guide and river crossing.
Cachoeiras Almécegas I and II: Located on Fazenda São Bento. Short trails to two waterfalls, with swimming and viewpoints.
Macaquinhos complex: Series of waterfalls and pools on private land, 45 kilometres from Alto Paraíso. Access via a rough road and 4 kilometre hike.
Cachoeira Santa Bárbara: Near the Kalunga community of Engenho II. Requires a guide from the local association. Known for its clear blue water.
Catarata dos Couros: Remote complex of waterfalls on the Couros River. Accessible by vehicle and short walks.
Explore Vale da Lua (Valley of the Moon): A short walk along the São Miguel River leads to rock formations eroded into smooth channels and pools. Located 10 kilometres from São Jorge on a private property with paid entry. Swimming is allowed in calm sections.
Visit Mirante da Janela and Mirante da Estrela: Popular for sunset views, these viewpoints are reached via a 16 kilometre return trail starting near São Jorge. The trail passes through cerrado vegetation and includes views of Saltos do Rio Preto. A local guide is recommended as trail markings may be unclear.
Explore the Cariocas Canyon and Cânion II: Located inside the national park, these sites are accessed via the park’s Cânions and Carioquinhas trail. The loop is approximately 12 kilometres and includes viewpoints, river crossings and swimming holes.
Swim at Poço Encantado and Poço Esmeralda: These natural pools are near Cavalcante and São Jorge, respectively. Both have calm water suitable for bathing. Poço Encantado is on private land and includes small waterfalls. Poço Esmeralda is accessed via a short walk from the main road.
Visit the Kalunga Historical Site and Quilombola Community: Located near Cavalcante, the Kalunga community maintains cultural and environmental stewardship of the region. Guided visits include explanations of traditional agriculture, crafts and Afro-Brazilian history, often combined with trips to nearby waterfalls like Santa Bárbara and Capivara.
Take a cerrado flora walk with a local guide: Several guides in Alto Paraíso and São Jorge offer walks focused on native plants of the cerrado biome. These walks highlight edible, medicinal and endemic species, often near trails to waterfalls or on private reserves.
Watch the stars or attend a night sky observation: Due to low light pollution, Chapada dos Veadeiros offers good conditions for stargazing. Visit the Observatório Astronômico Bellatrix for the opportunity to see the night sky through their telescope.
Visit Alto Paraíso's local food and craft markets: The town hosts periodic organic markets, craft fairs and live music in the central square. Local products include cerrado fruit jams, soaps, natural medicinal products and ceramics.
How long to spend in Chapada dos Veadeiros
It is recommended to spend a minimum of one week in Chapada dos Veadeiros to have the opportunity to visit a variety of the parks waterfalls and sites. Those who love hiking could easily spend two weeks or more exploring in the park.
Where to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros
There are several main areas to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros, including Alto Paraíso de Goiás, São Jorge, and Cavalcante. Alto Paraíso de Goiás is the largest town and main hub for visitors, offering a wide range of accommodation and services. São Jorge is smaller and located near the park entrance, providing easy access to key trails. Cavalcante is an hour north of Alto Paraiso and is known for its proximity to pristine waterfalls like the Santa Bárbara Waterfall, and for its quilombola communities.
Find cheap accommodation for your stay in Alto Paraiso, or check out my personal recommendations below:
Boutique Hotels & Pousadas in Chapada dos Veadeiros
Pousada Casa de Shiva - luxury boutique accommodation with an outdoor garden pool (see prices)
Vila Abaton - a luxury guesthouse with a rustic design and natural swimming pool (see prices)
Vila Cerrado - chalets and bungalows with an outdoor pool (see prices)
Pousada Camarás - budget-friendly guesthouse (see prices)
Private accommodation
A nossa casa da arvore - a private chalet in Cavalcante (see prices)
Hostels in Alto Paraiso
Hostel do Gui - best for backpackers in Alto Paraíso (see prices)
Buddy's Hostel & Pousada - shared and private rooms in a garden setting (see prices)
Cachoeira Macaquinhos, Chapada dos Veadeiros
Where is Chapada dos Veadeiros, Brazil
Quick Facts about Chapada dos Veadeiros
Population of Chapada dos Veadeiros
Population of Alto Paraiso de Goias: 9,320 people (IBGE, 2022)
Population of São Jorge: 986 people (IBGE, 2022)
Population of Cavalcante: 9,730 people (IBGE, 2025)
Nickname
People from Alto Paraíso de Goiás are called alto-paraisenses, while people from Cavalcante are called cavalcantenses.
Closest airport
The closest international airport is located in Brasilia (BSB)
Main bus terminal
Rodoviária de Alto Paraíso de Goiás
How to get to Chapada dos Veadeiros
By far, the best way to not only reach Chapada dos Veadeiros but also to explore the area without limitations, is to rent a car in Brasilia and drive yourself to the park.
There are three main towns inside Chapada dos Veadeiros: Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Vila de São Jorge, and Cavalcante.
The largest town, and the only one with transport connections from Brasilia, is Alto Paraiso. It is best to first travel to Alto Paraiso, and if needed, from here you can take a taxi or hitchhike to São Jorge and Cavalcante.
See all bus connections and find cheap tickets to Alto Paraiso
How to get to Alto Paraiso from Brasilia
The easiest way to reach Alto Paraiso is to take a bus from Brasília Interstadual Bus Station (map). There are several buses per day from Brasilia to Alto Paraiso (tickets & timetable).
Alternatively, the carpooling site BlaBlaCar is commonly used in the area, and can be cheaper alternative to the bus.
Hitchhiking is also very common in this area, and it is possible to hitchhike from Alto Paraiso to Brasília (as most cars passing will be heading towards the city). It may be more difficult in the other direction, as not all cars departing Brasilia are heading to Alto Paraiso.
How to get around Chapada dos Veadeiros
There is only one site within walking distance of a town in Alto Paradiso. This is the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park entrance in São Jorge, around 1km walk from town.
In order to visit the majority of Chapada's other sites, most of which are located several kilometres from the three main towns, a car is required. By far the easiest way to maximise your time in Chapada dos Veadeiros is to rent a car in Brasilia and drive yourself.
You can hitch-hike to attractions that are located near to main roads, but unfortunately many of the waterfalls still have a long roads to the entrance of the trails.
Hitchiking is a common way to travel between Alto Paradiso and São Jorge. It is also possible to hitch-hike to Cavalcante, however fewer cars take this route and you may need to wait for longer.
Things to know before you go
Where to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros
There are three key towns from which you can base your trips to the key sights: Alto Paradiso, São Jorge, and Cavalcante. Depending on time constraints, it would be ideal to base yourself in each town for a few days to visit the nearby attractions.
While a few hostels are available in Alto Paradiso, accommodation in São Jorge is significantly more expensive. Camping is available in designated campsites.
How much does it cost to visit the waterfalls?
All waterfalls have an entrance fee of $R20-40 per person, so come prepared with cash. There is a different price for foreigners and for Brazilians.
Amenities at the waterfalls
It is recommended to bring plenty of food and water as there are no shops or restaurants at most of the waterfalls. There is sometimes a public toilet at the start of the trails, near the main entrance/carparks and ticket stands.
Hiking in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park Area
The National Park complex (entrance in São Jorge) has four trails: Green, Yellow, Red, and Orange. Whichever trail you choose, bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water as there is little shade.
Green: The green trail is the easiest of the walks and will take you on a nice walk through the forest.
Yellow (10km): This trail takes you to two waterfalls, Salto 1 (120m) and Salto 2 (80m), before going to the Corredeiras, a site with cascading waterfalls and rapids. It's a 10km loop (difficulty: Hard), or a 6km return trip if you only visit the Corredeiras (difficulty: Moderate).
Red (11km): The red trail goes via a canyon, to a large waterfall with a number of pools to swim in. It's a 4.8km walk to the canyon, then a further 1.4km to the waterfall, then 4.7km back to the Visitor's Centre. The trail is rated as moderate-hard, though the majority of the walk is very flat.
Orange (23km): The orange trail is a multi-day hike which requires an extra permit. After 4km you will reach a canyon, then it's a further 13km to the campsite. It's a further 6km hike to the end of the trail. Note this route does not finish at the Visitor's Centre.
Travel insurance for a trip to Chapada dos Veadeiros
Travel insurance is not just a nice-to-have, it is an important safety-net that can prevent a stressful incident from turning into a costly and time-consuming disaster. The reality is that unexpected events can happen on any trip. Even something as simple as missing a connecting flight can lead to unexpected accommodation and transport costs. If you become unwell, medical bills in another country can quickly become expensive. Without insurance, you have to handle all of this on your own in an unfamiliar environment, possibly in a language you do not speak.
I have personally relied on travel insurance multiple times, including when I had belongings stolen in Europe, fell sick while travelling in Asia, and had flights cancelled. In each case, the support I received meant I could focus on solving the problem instead of worrying about costs.
When travelling to Chapada dos Veadeiros, it is especially important to have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies and evacuation, as the remote location can make access to specialised care more difficult.
For a small daily cost, you can be covered for a wide range of scenarios, from theft to delayed flights and medical emergencies. Having one phone number to call and a company that deals with the problem for you is worth far more than the price of the policy. I personally use Safety Wing, and I recommend them to friends, family, and anyone travelling internationally. You can get a quote here.
Disclaimer: Some of my pages contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a ticket through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the blog and allows me to keep providing helpful content. Thank you for your support!
