Chapada Diamantina

The Chapada Diamantina Tour is a 9-day private guided adventure itinerary in Brazil, starting in Lencois. Combine the great outdoors experience with a bit of history and culture of Bahia, in the north-east of Brazil. This tour will take you to the table-mountains of Chapada Diamantina, off the beaten track, to pure nature and plenty of surprises, such a wine-tasting, charming inns, live music and magnificent scenery. Discover wonderful trails near Lencois, the gateway of the chapada, as well as near Mucuge, Igatu and Ibicoara. Swim in underground pools with crystal clear blue waters, marvel at the immense waterfalls and hike along scenic trails blooming with wild flowers. The program is well balanced to make sure you get enough rest between hikes and refreshing waterfall baths. You will stay in boutique pousadas and lunch will be packed away during the hikes. Don’t forget to bring a pair of good walking shoes and sun protection. A good level of fitness is required and we recommend this trip for adult travellers. Families with fit teenage children could also consider a simplified version of this itinerary. The program can be modified according to your fitness level.

9 Days – From £1,570 per person

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Lençóis, Igatu, Ibicoara, Mucuge, Lençóis

Included

Price is per person, based on two people sharing in a double/twin room
Accommodation with breakfast & picnic lunches (more hotels HERE)
All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary
All transfers on a private basis
Entrance & guiding fees
All mandatory local taxes

Excluded

Visa, where applicable
International Flights (See Flights to Brazil)
Domestic Flights
Personal Expenses
Insurance
Tips & Gratuities
Meals not mentioned in the description

Flights

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to book the flights yourself, use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections. Return flights to Brazil start from £800 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year. The starting point is Salvador Airport (SSA) which is connected by flight to major cities in Brazil, as well as to Buenos Aires and Lisbon.

For families and groups (starting with 5 pax), we can book domestic flights in Brazil, during the high season, and if the trip is part of a more complex itinerary. This is to ensure a seamless travel and no complications.

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp (+44 7 308 449 233) or email us at brazil@boutiquetravelexperts.com to check availability, discuss your preferences and get a quote.

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor it to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. You can also combine this trip with other sights in Brazil, like the cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro, the exciting Amazon rainforest, the fascinating Pantanal or the deep canyons of the south. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

When to Visit

Best time to visit: year round, but during the summer (December to March) it tends to rain more and the waterfalls are fuller.

To avoid unpleasant weather surprises, we recommend to check our Brazil Weather Guide to plan your trip in the right season. Click on the month you want to travel in and see the tours which are best for each month of the year.

Day 1 - Arrival in Lencois

Today catch a short flight to the pretty colonial town of Lençóis which is located right in the heart of Chapada Diamantina. Welcome to a fascinating landscape of table mountains, waterfalls, vast plains, caves, blue lakes and streams. This is a place to experience the great outdoors. After check-in, enjoy a relaxing walk in Parque da Muritiba with Serrano natural pools, Cachoeirinha, Cachoeira do Primavera and Poço Halley – perfect places for swimming in the bask of nature. It was here that the first diamonds in the city have been found. Continue to a lookout with a panoramic view of Lencois. Lençóis has many bars and restaurants for dinner and sometimes there is live music. Overnight at Canto das Aguas.

Day 2 - Mosquito & Pai Inacio

After breakfast, depart to Cachoeira do Mosquito around 09:00. The trail to this waterfall is a true hidden gem. The beautiful trail starts after 50 min of driving on a country road, taking you through the gorge to the bottom of Cachoeira do Mosquito. Enjoy a relaxation session under the streams of the waterfall, it’s great for bathing and contact with nature. For lunch head to Mosquito Farm or Lila Restaurant which has an orchid garden. After lunch, depart to Pai Inácio, one of the most spectacular table mountains in the chapada, just in time for sunset. Enjoy a stunning 360° postcard-view from the top of the plateau. The trail up take around half an hour. At the top you will see many cacti and orchids. After the sundowners, return to Lençóis. Overnight at Canto das Aguas.

Day 3 - Lençóis to Igatu

After breakfast in Lençóis, check out and head towards the idyllic village hidden in the mountains, called Igatu. On the way visit the blue lakes Poço Encantado and Poço Azul. These are crystal clear underground lakes, with blue waters, where the sunlight creates a spectacular light display. You can swim in the warm waters of Poço Azul. At certain times of the day, the sun’s rays get into the cave, transforming the well into a true spectacle, with various shades of blue. We recommend getting there early, to have more time to enjoy the site before the big groups of tourists arrive. After a picnic lunch, head out to Igatu, known as the ‘Machu Picchu of Brazil’. Visit the amazing open-sky art gallery and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the village. Overnight at Pousada Flor de Acucena.

Day 4 - Cachoeira do Buracão

Today start with an early breakfast and prepare for a full day of trekking, swimming and canyoning. After breakfast, head to Cachoeira do Buracão, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Chapada Diamantina. You will start the trail near the city of Ibicoara. This is a spectacular roaring place located at the end of an adventurous canyon. Walk along the banks of Espalhado River, passing by Recanto Verde Waterfall and Orquídeas Waterfall, until the descent that leads to the canyon of the Buracão Waterfall. Here, float down the river in vests till the waterfall. After contemplating the beauty of the place, return along the trail and enjoy Buracão waterfall from above. Back in Ibicoara, enjoy a delicious Bahian dinner at a rustic restaurant in the village. Overnight at Pousada Kabana Stone.

Day 5 - Cachoeira da Fumacinha

This tour will take you to a hidden waterfall, Fumacinha, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Chapada Diamantina, nestled between canyons, in the heart of the park. Early in the morning, around 6:00, leave Ibicoara and start the challenging trail, which has a high level of difficulty (18 km round trip) along the river bed, with ascents and descents over rocks. There are sections where you will have to hold on to the stones. Few visitors come this far, but for those who are physically prepared, the privileged view at the end of the trail is very much worth it. In the non-rainy season the waterfall may have little water, or no water. After some rest and a snack stop, return t the top of the canyons and head towards Mucuge. Overnight at Refugio na Serra.

Day 6 - Wine tasting

Today head to Vinícola UVVA, an excellent place to taste unique quality wines from Brazil. Apart from a fantastic enogastronomic experience, the winery offers a beautiful panoramic view of the region. Take a guided visit of the grounds and the vineyard with an enologist, discover the family wine story, learn about the technical management of the terroir and the elaborated wine-making process. Visit the bottling line and the barrel room. A gourmet wine-tasting will follow with different types of wine, both red and white. Return to Mucuge after the tour. Overnight at Refugio na Serra.

Day 7 - Lakes and Caves

After breakfast, head back to Lencois. Prepare for a full day of spectacular sites: Rio Mucugezinho, Poço do Diabo, Gruta Azul, Gruta da Pratinha and Gruta Lapa Doce. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can slide from the top of the waterfall into the pool on a zipline or rappel down. You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant with a delicious buffet. Chopped cactus (palma) or green bananas with pieces of meat (de Godó banana) are a must. Don’t forget your swimming suit. Spend a relaxing day in the natural pools. Closer to the end of the day return to Lencois and have the evening at leisure. Overnight at Canto das Aguas.

Day 8 - Aguas Claras

Today depart Lençóis at 08:30 to Morro do Pai Inácio. Here you start a beautiful 9-km trail inside Chapada Diamantina National Park, with panoramic views of Morro do Pai Inácio and Morrão. Walk on a flat terrain with easy access. The trail will take you to a natural pool with a small crystalline waterfall at the foot of Morrão. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the surrounding hills. Stop at the natural pool for an invigorating bath, followed by a tasty snack and a well-deserved rest. After relaxation, head back along the same trail to the starting point and drive to Lencois. Overnight at Canto das Aguas.

Day 9 - Departure

After breakfast, prepare for your way back to Salvador either by land or flight. Chapada Diamantina has many scenic trails which cannot all be covered in 9 days due to distances and we do not recommend rushing through. Each one of the gazillion of sights in the park are special and we would recommend to do balanced hikes, to enjoy and appreciate them. The hike along Vale do Pati is very soulful, the huge Fumaca waterfall is very spectacular and many more. Come back for another hike on your next holiday.