Chapada dos Guimaraes

This 10-day private tour will take you to the state of Mato Grosso in the south-west of Brazil. Visit the hidden gems of Chapada dos Guimarães National Park and Bom Jardim, two stunning paradises you will fall in love with very quickly. Although Chapada dos Guimarães is less known than the other chapadas in Brazil, it is not less impressive in beauty and number of sites. The scenic table mountains are situated on one of the world’s oldest tectonic plates, which was once the bottom of the ocean. The lush savanna is the cradle of a great assortment of endemic birds, including scarlet macaws and toucans. Let the adventure begin by exploring trails in the Brazilian savannah, marvelous caves, numerous waterfalls, red rock cliffs, impressive canyons, breathtaking gorges and more. Cool off and take a splurge with your snorkel in crystal clear waters full of fish. Contemplate amazing viewpoints with sweeping vistas and try yourself at some challenging hikes, if you wish. The breathtakingly scenic trails are not always marked, therefore a guide is indispensable. If you love ecotourism and wild places, this is the ideal place to visit. Stay in small boutique hotels, off-the beaten path while discovering incredible landscapes. We can tailor this itinerary to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities.

10 Days – From £2,200 per person

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Cuiaba, Chapada dos Guimaraes, Bom Jardim, Manso Dam, Cuiaba

Included

Price is per person, based on two people sharing in a double/twin room
Accommodation with breakfast (more hotels HERE)
All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary
All transfers by car on a private basis
Entrance & guiding fees to all the mentioned National Parks
Picnic lunches
Equipment for snorkeling
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. Fly to Cuiaba (CGB).

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp 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, the culture of Bahia or the deep canyons of the south. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

When to Visit

Best: to visit: May to September (it is hot year round).

July–August: temperatures can go down to freezing at night. Mist is common.

December to March: frequent rains and more crowds, but better for bathing and for taking advantage of the marvelous vistas

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 - Chapada dos Guimaraes

Today you will land in Cuiaba, the capital of Mato Grosso, a very hot place with temperatures reaching 45°C. You will be met at the airport and transferred to Chapada dos Guimaraes (1 hour), where temperatures decrease. After check-in, head for a swim in the blue waters of Cachoeira da Geladeira. Later on, enjoy panoramic bird’s eye views from the natural balcony overlooking the plains of Cuiabá at Morro dos Ventos. It is a hotspot for colorful macaws. In the evening, unwind in the charming historic center of Chapada dos Guimarães, which has a pretty leafy square with a preserved baroque church built in the 17th century. Overnight at Pousada do Parque.

Day 2 - Águas do Cerrado

After breakfast, discover the circuit of Águas do Cerrado (8km) which runs through the beautiful Brazilian savannah, the cerrado, while revealing impressive flora and fauna and waterfalls of various heights and sizes. It starts at the marvelous natural pool of Poço do Amor, with crystalline blue water, and passes through eight more waterfalls, including cachoeiras do Coração e do Cambará, Cachoeiras das Orquídeas, Pedra Encantada, Almas Gêmeas and more. Swim and connect with nature. In the afternoon return to the village for a relaxing time with appetizers. Overnigth at Pousada do Parque.

Day 3 - Circuit of Caves

Today take the 7 km caves trail to Fazenda Agua Fria, visitng Kiogo Brado, Aroe Jari, Pobe Jari and Gruta da Lagoa Azul (6 hours). Kiogo Brado has massive wide openings, and Aroe Jari is the biggest sandstone cave in Brazil (1,5 km). Follow up to Ponte de Pedra for wonderful views and then through the forest to Pedra das Três Pontas and Gruta da Lagoa Azul, which turns super blue when hit by the midday sun (14:30 pm). Take a refreshing bath in the Almiscar Waterfall or Cachoeira do Relógio. On your return, visit Mirante do Geodetica viewpoint, considered to be the center of South America and offering sweeping views of the region. Overnight at Pousada do Parque.

Day 4 - Circuit of Rocks

In the morning visit the wilder part of the chapada (6 hours). Take a lightly paced walk along the upper part to Cidade de Pedras, the impressive wall of red rocks. Colorful macaws will fly over and beautiful flowers will adorn the path. The rain and wind shaped monumental natural sculptures. Contemplate the magnificent views of enormous ravines and the contrast between water springs and the cerrado. Descend to Crista do Galo for an epic 360° panoramic view. Continue to Poço das Antas and Poço Verde, little pools with crystal clear blue waters where you can swim and relax. Overnight at Pousada do Parque.

Day 5 - Circuit of Waterfalls

After breakfast, prepare to discover the enchanting circuit of waterfalls on an easy-paced trail. You will visit 5 different waterfalls through a beautiful trail of 5 km inside the park: Pulo, Degraus, Prainha and Andorinhas (8 hours). And at last you will visit one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the park, cachoeira Véu de Noivas (89 m). Here you can stop for lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure, relaxing after the trail. In the evening you will have the chance to contemplate a magnificent sunset at Alto do Ceu, one of the nicest viewpoints in the park. Overnight at Pousada do Parque.

Day 6 - Morro São Jerônimo

Today take a 17 km trail to Morro São Jerônimo table mountain (7 hours), one of the highest points in Chapada dos Guimarães which offers panoramic views of the region. The journey requires a good physical condition to hike the steep trail. In order to visit the site, you must walk through ascents and descents, ending with a climbing portion to reach to the top. Your efforts will be rewarded with incredible views. Stop at Casa de Pedra, a sandstone cave, which housed indigenous tribes, runaway slaves and rebel forces throughout history. After the hike, return to the village for relaxation. Overnight at Pousada do Parque.

Day 7 - Departure to Nobres

After breakfast, drive north to Bom Jardim (3 hours), along a scenic route, passing by beautiful rock formations along Manso dam and by the mouth of river Cuiabá. Visit the marvelous Reino Encantado for snorkeling. Just before the sunset, visit Lagoa das Araras, a beautiful lagoon full of buriti palm trees where large groups of birds have built their nests. At this time, dozens of macaws and parrots return to their nests, creating an incredible spectacle. There are many other birds, such as the red-bellied macaw, kingfishers, woodpeckers, ibis, egrets, owls, parrots, parakeets and several other species up close. Overnight at Pousada Bom Jardim.

Day 8 - Bom Jardim

At sunrise, return to the lagoon when all the macaws wake up in a spectacular show. Bom Jardim is a great place to re-connect with nature while doing something passive-active, like snorkeling. Today visit Rio Triste for snorkeling in crystalline waters with stingrays and plenty of fish. In the afternoon, visit Cachoeira Serra Azul, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Brazil. The water is intensely blue, surrounded by lush vegetation and abundant fauna. Swim and snorkel, appreciating the landscape. To return back, you can walk the long staircase, or swing along on a zip-line. It’s very exciting, totally safe and well worth it! Overnight at Pousada Bom Jardim.

Day 9 - Bom Jardim

Bom Jardim is an ecological paradise with crystalline blue rivers, waterfalls and mysterious caverns. After breakfast, spend another day floating in crystalline blue rivers with an exciting underwater world. Visit the wonderful Aquario Encantado, observing different types of fish, stingrays and other aquatic animals. The water is so clear that you can see the river springs sprouting from the ground. As you advance you will reach an affluent river, Salobra, which has a rich aquatic fauna & flora. Then, drive to Manso dam (50 min) for lunch. Take a boat trip during the sunset with golden views over the scenic table mountains. Overnight at Malai Manso Resort.

Day 10 - Departure

In the morning, relax and swim before heading back to the very hot city of Cuiaba. This vibrant gold rush metropolis boomed in the 20th century, being located at the intersection of the Amazon, the Cerrado and the Pantanal. Visit the old town with its colonial architecture and the Republic Square. Between markets and government buildings of the downtown you will see the towering marble obelisk of América do Sul Geodesic Center, another point marking the geographic center of South America, calculated by Rondon. Furthermore, you can also discover the other three chapadas of Brazil: Chapada Diamantina, Chapada das Mesas or Chapada dos Veadeiros, the trekking expeditions in Roraima, in the very north of Brazil, or hiking in the southern canyons of Aparados da Serra.

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