cave · Itaetê, BA
Poço Encantado
An underground lake of clear water where you can see submerged tree trunks on the bottom. Between April and September the sun comes through the cave opening and turns everything blue.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Poço Encantado
Poço Encantado is a limestone cave in Itaetê, on the eastern edge of Chapada Diamantina, with a lake of water so clear that the bottom seems close. It isn't: the lake is about 60 meters deep, and you can see submerged tree trunks and boulders in it. The water level varies by about 1.5 meters over the year. The cave is said to have been found by a hunter around 1940 and is on private property, outside the national park.
What made the place famous happens between April and September. During this period, around midday, sunlight comes through an opening in the cave and passes through the water, and the lake turns blue from top to bottom. Outside this season the cave is still beautiful, but without the beam of light.
The visit is for viewing only. A guide from the site takes the group down a staircase of 325 steps to a platform over the lake. You don't go into the water or reach the edge: swimming and diving are prohibited, to protect the lake and a blind, colorless catfish, Rhamdiopsis krugi, found only in this region.
Time inside the cave is short and groups are limited, so visits are by appointment. The drive is long from the most popular towns in the Chapada, and many people combine the outing with Poço Azul, in Nova Redenção, in the same region.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
15 to 30 minutes inside the cave, plus the long drive.
Best time
From April to September, around midday, when the beam of light enters the cave. Outside this period there is no effect.
How to get there
It is about 42 km from Itaetê, 40 km from Andaraí and 140 km from Lençóis. You can drive there on your own; the descent into the cave is always with the site's guide.
Tip
Book through the official website before you go, choosing the time of the light beam, and check the age rules for the descent there.
Official website
A look at the place
Poço Encantado in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Poço Encantado
Can you swim in Poço Encantado?
No. Swimming and diving are prohibited. The visit is for viewing only, from a platform over the lake.
When does the blue beam of light appear?
From April to September, around midday, when the sun comes through an opening in the cave.
Do I need a guide?
The descent is always with the site's own guide. You don't need to book an agency: you can drive there on your own.
Is there a minimum age?
There are reports that young children are not allowed down. Check the rule when booking on the official website.
Is it inside the national park?
No. The cave is on private property, in Itaetê.