- 4.9/5 354 Latest reviews
- Destination: Brazil
- Duration: 16 Days
- Tour Type: Private & Bespoke
- Tour Style: Nature
About This Trip
This 16-day journey begins in Brasília Nature, Brazil’s capital city. Take time to explore this federal hub and appreciate its striking urban planning and creative architectural landmarks. The adventure then leads you to two of Brazil’s best-kept natural secrets: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Jalapão. Chapada dos Veadeiros is renowned for its dramatic waterfalls, unique rock formations, scenic hiking routes, and breathtaking scenery. Jalapão, meanwhile, showcases an unspoiled wilderness, combining cascades, sand dunes, crystal-clear springs, and landscapes reminiscent of Brazil’s northeastern coast.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 2
Brasilia
Complete Tour of the Federal Capital
3 - 6
Chapada dos Veadeiros
Vale da Lua, Saltos do Rio Preto, Garimpao, Cataratas dos Couros, Waterfalls of Loquinhas
7 - 8
Pirenópolis
Serra dos Pireneus, Vargem Grande Reserve, Parque dos Pireneus, Historic Center, Fazenda Babilonia
9
Caldas Novas
Free Day to Enjoy Hot Springs
10 - 15
Jalapao
Suçuapara Canyon, Cachoeira da Formiga, Dunes, Serra da Muriçoca, Korubo Safari Camp, Canoeing on the Novo River, Fervedouro and Formiga Waterfall, Cachoeira da Velha
16
Palmas
Departure
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Brasília
Welcome to Brasília, Brazil’s vibrant and futuristic capital! Upon arrival, you will be met for a private transfer to your hotel, where you can unwind and settle in.
- Brasilia
- Day 2: Brasília and the Transfer to Chapada
Spend the morning on Brasília’s modernist landmarks, such as the cathedral, the Praça dos Três Poderes and the Palácio da Alvorada, all designed by Niemeyer and Costa. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. After lunch, drive about 3.5 hours north to Alto Paraíso de Goiás, the gateway to the Chapada. Check in at your lodge for the night.
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- Chapada dos Veadeiros
- Day 3: Vale da Lua and the Canyons
Visit Vale da Lua, where the river has carved smooth rock pools and bowls out of quartz-rich stone, and plan on a short walk with time to swim. In the afternoon, add another canyon or waterfall on the Rio São Miguel. Entry fees and times are limited, so we book ahead. Bring water shoes and a rain layer.
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- Chapada dos Veadeiros
- Day 4: Saltos do Rio Preto
Hike to the Saltos do Rio Preto, a pair of tall waterfalls with natural pools beneath them. The trail is long, so start early and bring snacks. Your guide sets the pace and the swimming stops. In the rainy season, trails can close when the river rises.
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- Campo Grande
- Day 5: Cataratas dos Couros
Spend the day on the trail to the Cataratas dos Couros, a set of waterfalls and pools inside the Cerrado. Look for savanna birds and, with luck, signs of the area’s larger wildlife. Sightings aren’t guaranteed. Return to your lodge in the late afternoon for a rest.
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- Chapada dos Veadeiros
- Day 6: Loquinhas and Travel to Pirenópolis
Visit the Loquinhas waterfalls near Alto Paraíso in the morning, then drive about 5 hours to Pirenópolis. Stop for lunch on the way. This is a long travel day, so bring snacks and water. You arrive in the evening and check in.
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- Pirenópolis
- Day 7: Serra dos Pireneus and Vargem Grande
Explore the Serra dos Pireneus, a sandstone range with viewpoints and waterfalls, and the Vargem Grande ecological reserve nearby. Walk the trails with your guide and stop for a swim if the water level allows. The afternoon is free to rest or wander the town’s cafés.
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- Pirenópolis
- Day 8: Pirenópolis Old Town and Drive to Caldas Novas
Walk Pirenópolis’s historic center, with its colonial church and cobbled lanes, and browse the craft shops. After lunch, drive about 4 hours to Caldas Novas. You arrive in the late afternoon and have time for the hotel’s pool.
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- Caldas Novas
- Day 9: Thermal Pools at Caldas Novas
This is a rest day between the two nature legs. Soak in the thermal pools at your hotel or a nearby park, with temperatures around 30-40°C. Nothing else is scheduled, so it helps to be ready for the long drive and flight ahead.
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- Caldas Novas
- Day 10: Fly to Palmas
Drive about 2.5 hours to Goiânia and fly to Palmas, possibly with a connection. Expect most of the day in transit. Check in at your hotel in Palmas, the planned capital of Tocantins, and have an early night before the 4×4 days.
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- Palmas
- Day 11: Palmas to Jalapão and Sussuapara Canyon
Leave early by 4×4 for Jalapão, about 5 hours on mixed paved and sand roads, with stops on the way. Visit the Sussuapara Canyon in the afternoon, with its rock walls and small pools. Check in at your lodge. Roads can be difficult after rain, and the heat is strong.
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- Jalapão
- Day 12: Rio Novo and The Dunes
Cool off in the Rio Novo, a clear river with sandy banks, then drive to the Jalapão dunes. Climb the orange dunes for sunset and look across the savanna. Bring closed shoes, a scarf for the wind and plenty of water.
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- Jalapão
- Day 13: Fervedouros and Cachoeira da Formiga
Float in a fervedouro, where water pushes up through the sand and makes the surface bubble, so you barely sink. Then swim at Cachoeira da Formiga, a clear spring pool with a cascade. Visits to the fervedouros are limited, so we plan the order of the day around available slots.
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- Jalapão
- Day 14: Serra do Espírito Santo
Drive to the Serra do Espírito Santo viewpoint, a rock formation with a wide view across the Jalapão. Walk the trail up in the cooler part of the day. After lunch, rest at the lodge, because the heat is strongest in the afternoon.
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- Jalapão
- Day 15: Jalapão – Cachoeira da Velha & Return to Palmas
After breakfast, head 70 km along dirt roads to visit Cachoeira da Velha, Jalapão’s largest waterfall, famous for its dramatic horseshoe shape. Following the visit, stop at the nearby Cachoeira beach, a relaxing, shaded spot with shallow, crystal-clear waters.
After enjoying lunch, begin the journey back to Palmas. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and spend the night in comfort.
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- Palmas
- Day 16: Palmas – Departure
Spend a leisurely morning in Palmas before your scheduled transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
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