GO · Brazil
High-altitude cerrado, waterfalls and canyons in northern Goiás.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
High-altitude cerrado (Brazilian savanna), quartzite underfoot and waterfalls plunging down rock walls: Chapada dos Veadeiros is the destination for those who want real hiking and an ice-cold swim at the end. Between the national park and the Kalunga quilombola territory (land of a community descended from people who escaped slavery), every valley hides a different waterfall. Alto Paraíso and the village of São Jorge round out the trip with good food and an alternative vibe.
The Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, with its entrance in the village of São Jorge, has the Saltos do Rio Preto trail, with falls of 80 and 120 meters, and the Cânions and Cariocas trail. Outside the national park are the Vale da Lua, with rocks sculpted by water, the Catarata dos Couros, the Mirante da Janela and the Cachoeiras Almécegas. The Jardim de Maytrea is the classic viewpoint on the road between Alto Paraíso and São Jorge.
To the north, Cavalcante is the gateway to the Kalunga territory, home to the Cachoeira Santa Bárbara, with turquoise-blue water, visited with community guides. Teresina de Goiás and Colinas do Sul complete the region, with less-visited waterfalls and the Lago de Serra da Mesa. The trails are long and the ground is rocky, so the trip calls for fitness and proper footwear.
This destination brings together 4 cities: Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Cavalcante, Colinas do Sul, Teresina de Goiás.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Alto Paraíso de Goiás brings together cerrado grasslands, veredas (palm-lined wetlands) and mountains in Chapada dos Veadeiros. The Jardim de Maytrea landscape reveals the buriti palms and hills that mark the roads between town and São Jorge.
Cavalcante brings together waterfalls and cerrado landscapes tied to the history of the Kalunga communities. In Engenho II, the Cachoeira Santa Bárbara stands out for its pool of bluish water among rocks and vegetation.
Colinas do Sul lies between Chapada dos Veadeiros and the Lago de Serra da Mesa, in northern Goiás. The cerrado landscapes and the spaces of the town center bring you closer to local traditions.
Teresina de Goiás is part of the Chapada dos Veadeiros region and has ties to Kalunga culture. Praça Tiradentes and the spaces in the center give you a taste of daily life in this small town.
The local experience
Formed by the Serra da Mesa power plant dam on the Rio Tocantins, it's the largest reservoir in Brazil by volume of water. In its arms near town there are boat trips, sport fishing, kayaking and small beaches where the São Miguel and Tocantinzinho rivers meet.
Discover Lago de Serra da Mesa
The protected core of the chapada, with access through the village of São Jorge and trails leading to falls, canyons and natural pools. It's the region's postcard image and takes a full day.
Discover Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros
A fall of about 38 meters that plunges into a wide pool of greenish water, with a small white-sand beach on the bank. It's on a private farm a few kilometers from town, with an easy trail.
It's in the Engenho II community, in the Kalunga quilombola territory, and forms small cascades and pools between canyon walls before the main fall. Access requires a licensed guide, and the short trail is usually combined with Santa Bárbara.
Discover Cachoeira da Capivara
On private property, the fall forms a large bluish pool surrounded by huge rocks, reached by wooden stairs. The trail is short, which makes it a good outing for families.
Discover Cachoeira das Pedras Bonitas
It's near GO-118, with access almost entirely paved and an easy trail suitable for all ages. The crystal-clear pool is good for swimming and can be combined with the nearby Cachoeira Fundo de Quintal.
Discover Cachoeira Três Corações
Two gigantic falls inside the national park, one about 120 meters high and the other 80. The trail passes viewpoints that frame both at once.
Also in the Kalunga community of Engenho II, it has a drop of about 70 meters and two natural pools for swimming. The trail, about 3 km long and difficult, keeps the place less crowded than the neighboring waterfalls, and a guide is required.
A small waterfall near town, reached by a short, easy trail. It has crystal-clear water and a calm pool, good for a family swim.
Discover Cachoeira Fundo de Quintal
A group of falls and pools on the Ribeirão dos Padres, Igrejinhas I and II, reached by a short trail. It's one of the town's free attractions, popular for swimming in clean cerrado water.
A rocky riverbed sculpted by the Rio São Miguel into curves and craters that resemble the surface of the moon. In the dry season you can walk among the formations and swim in the pools.
A waterfall that drops into an almost unreal turquoise-blue pool, inside the Kalunga quilombola territory. Access is with guides from the community itself.
Discover Cachoeira Santa Bárbara
A series of seven waterfalls formed by the Rio Prata, including Rei do Prata and Rainha do Prata, spread along a full-day trail. It's in a rural area far from the center, reached by dirt road, and a guide is required.
An open cerrado plain dotted with buriti palms and the Serra da Baleia in the background, by the road to São Jorge. It's the classic spot to watch the sunset in the chapada.
A short trail that ends at a natural opening in the rock framing the Rio Preto canyon far below. The view makes every step of the climb worth it.
A complex of several falls and natural pools in open rock, far from the center and reached by dirt road. It feels like you have the chapada all to yourself.
A fall of about 50 meters on a private farm, with a viewpoint at the top and a wide pool at the base. The descent is steep, but the swim is worth it.
Discover Cachoeira Almécegas I
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A twelve-room pousada on Rua Márcia Cristina, in the Cavalcantinho area, with gardens, a freshly made breakfast and family suites. It suits couples and families who want peace and quiet near the center of Cavalcante.
A pousada on Fazenda Rio das Pedras, in the countryside of Teresina de Goiás, with access to the Poço Encantado waterfall on the property, a heated pool and a restaurant. It suits those who want to stay right by a natural attraction, away from the bustle of town.
A themed pousada inspired by the legends of King Arthur, on GO-118, at the entrance to Alto Paraíso, with a heated pool, sauna and macaws roaming freely. It suits those traveling by car who want a comfortable base for Chapada outings.
A pousada in the countryside, along GO-239, on the stretch between the Vila de São Jorge and Colinas do Sul, with thermal water pools, a sauna and its own restaurant, surrounded by native forest. It suits those who want to combine relaxing in warm waters with Chapada outings.
A campground with rooms on Fazenda Fradin, along GO-132, in Colinas do Sul, with a pool, barbecue grills and a shared kitchen, run by the owners' family. A budget option for groups and families who like simple facilities in the countryside.
Eco-friendly lodging on Rua do Mirante, in the Vila de São Jorge, near the National Park entrance, with bungalows, suites, a campground, shared kitchen and heated pool. It suits those looking for a simple stay close to nature.
A simple hotel on Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral, in the center of Teresina de Goiás, with air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi and breakfast. It suits those passing through town between Alto Paraíso and Cavalcante who need a convenient overnight stop.
A small pousada on Rua 212, in Cavalcante, run by the hosts themselves. Recommended for those who want to rest in a quiet setting between outings to the region's waterfalls.
A hostel and pousada on Avenida João Bernardes Rabelo, in Alto Paraíso, with a tree-shaded courtyard, shared kitchen and private rooms. An option for backpackers and budget travelers who want to stay in town.
A pousada on Travessa Quatro, in central Cavalcante, with a garden, hammocks and a breakfast with homemade items. It suits those who want to stay near the town's shops in a quiet setting.
Pousada Maya is 1 km from the center of Alto Paraíso de Goiás. It offers a homemade breakfast, a spa and holistic therapies.
Baguá Bangalôs is 600 m from the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, in Alto Paraíso de Goiás. It offers breakfast, a pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, bistro, Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging and massages; no pets.
Pequizeiro Eco Pousada is in Cavalcante.
Pousada Fazenda Veredas is 5 km from town, in Cavalcante. It has a minibar, balcony, internet, restaurant, pool and game room.
Pousada Vale das Araras is in Cavalcante. It has a pool, sauna, restaurant, trail and waterfall.
Flavors of the destination
A churrascaria on Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral, in the Carmelândia area of Teresina de Goiás. It serves grilled meats and Brazilian dishes and is one of the few places to eat in town for those passing through on GO-118.
A pizzeria on Rua Borba Gato, in the center of Cavalcante, with homemade dough and ingredients and thin-crust pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven. The dining room opens onto an outdoor area with a garden and a kids' space, and welcomes everyone from families to couples.
A roadside restaurant on GO-239, on the way between Alto Paraíso and the Vila de São Jorge. It serves typical Goiás food in a rustic setting and is known for matula, a traditional regional dish, as well as cachaça tastings. It's a common lunch stop for those heading to or from the park.
A country-style kitchen and café along GO-239, near the exit from Colinas do Sul toward São Jorge, run by Dona Cena. It serves homemade Goiás food cooked to order, such as chapa goiana, parmigiana and soups, with a porch and hammocks, and is popular with those looking for a simple, hearty meal.
A spot on Viela C, in the Vila de São Jorge, devoted to risottos that blend Italian and Brazilian cooking, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. The setting is rustic and candlelit, with outdoor tables and live music on some nights, and it mainly draws couples and groups after a day on the trails.
A restaurant on Rua Cristã, in the center of Cavalcante, with signature Brazilian cooking that uses cerrado ingredients, such as osso buco with Kalunga rice and lasagna with regional products. The space has a bar and live music and shares the address with a small museum and an antique shop.
A pizzeria on Rua 12 de Dezembro, in the Paraisinho neighborhood of Alto Paraíso, with wood-fired pizzas and flavors named after local pousadas. The menu includes gnocchi and sweet pizzas, in a casual, family-friendly setting.
A family restaurant in the Kalunga quilombola community of Engenho II, in the countryside of Cavalcante, on the way to the waterfalls of the Kalunga territory. It serves home cooking made on a wood-burning stove, with chicken, beef, cassava, banana blossom salad and local juices, and caters to those touring the area.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Brasília Airport (BSB) is the closest: from there it's about 230 km to Alto Paraíso de Goiás via BR-020 and GO-118, all paved, in about 3 hours. São Jorge is 36 km from Alto Paraíso, and Cavalcante about 90 km.
May to September, in the dry season, with firm trails and clear skies; from April to June, the waterfalls are still full and the cerrado is green. October to March is the rainy season: the falls are fuller, but flash floods can close trails and pools for safety.
Plan 4 to 5 days: one or two for the national park trails, one for the Vale da Lua and the waterfalls near São Jorge, and one for the Catarata dos Couros or for Cavalcante and Santa Bárbara. With a week, you can include Teresina de Goiás and Colinas do Sul.
Alto Paraíso de Goiás is the most complete base, with pousadas, restaurants and easy access to the region's attractions. The village of São Jorge, right next to the park entrance, is smaller and more rustic, ideal if the park trails and the Vale da Lua are your priority. For the Cachoeira Santa Bárbara and the Kalunga territory, the base is Cavalcante.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Yes. Since visitor services were handed to a concessionaire, the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros charges admission, with set times to start each trail. The entrance is in the village of São Jorge. Attractions outside the park, such as the Vale da Lua and the Catarata dos Couros, are on private land and charge separate admission.
On the main national park trails, a guide isn't required, but is recommended. At the Cachoeira Santa Bárbara and the other attractions in the Kalunga territory, visits are only allowed with a community guide. In some private areas, such as the Catarata dos Couros, a guide helps you find the way.
Alto Paraíso is the town, with more services, restaurants and lodging options. São Jorge is a small village at the park entrance, closer to the Vale da Lua and the Saltos trails. If you're focusing on the park, you'll likely prefer São Jorge; if you want comfort and variety, Alto Paraíso.
The dry season, from May to September, is the safest for hiking and has clear skies. From April to June, the waterfalls are still full. In the rainy season, from October to March, the falls look their best, but flash floods can happen suddenly, and pools are closed when there's a risk.
In practice, yes. The attractions are spread out, some on dirt roads, and public transportation between Alto Paraíso, São Jorge and Cavalcante is limited. If you don't drive, you can book tours with transportation at the agencies in Alto Paraíso.
