Before you go
Your trip to Alto Paraíso de Goiás.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Alto Paraíso de Goiás – GO Destination Chapada dos Veadeiros about 418 km from Goiânia
How to get there
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Aeroporto Internacional de Brasília (BSB) Brasília · 236 km
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Terminal Rodoviário de Alto Paraíso de Goiás
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Alto Paraíso is about 230 km from Brasília, three to four hours by car via BR-020 and GO-118, paved all the way. Buses leave from the Brasília Interstate Bus Station, with few departures a day. The nearest airport is Brasília. The village of São Jorge, where the national park entrance is, is 36 km away.
How many days
Three or four days: one for the national park trails, one for the Vale da Lua and the waterfalls near São Jorge and town, and one for the Catarata dos Couros, which is far away and takes the whole day. With less time, prioritize the park.
When to go
May to September is the dry season: firm trails, clear skies and dirt roads in better shape. From October to April it rains, the waterfalls are fuller and the dirt roads get worse. July is high season and, in the second half of the month, hosts the Encontro de Culturas Tradicionais (traditional cultures festival), in the village of São Jorge.
Do you need a car?
In practice, yes. The attractions are spread out, many with stretches of dirt road, and there's no direct bus to São Jorge. Without a car, book tours with transportation at the agencies in town.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Alto Paraíso de Goiás
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Morning
Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros
The entrance is in São Jorge, 36 km from town. Trails have an entry cutoff time in the afternoon, and the long ones call for an early start: leave Alto Paraíso early.
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Afternoon
Saltos do Rio Preto
The roughly eleven-kilometer trail, the toughest of the park's day hikes. Bring water and a snack.
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Late afternoon
Jardim de Maytrea
On the road back from São Jorge. Open cerrado with buriti palms and the mountains in the background, in the low sun.
2 days in Alto Paraíso de Goiás
Day 1
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Morning
Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros
Early entry, through the São Jorge gate.
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Afternoon
Saltos do Rio Preto
The falls of about 80 and 120 meters. Respect the park's exit time.
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Late afternoon
Jardim de Maytrea
The viewpoint on the road between São Jorge and Alto Paraíso.
Day 2
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Morning
Cachoeira Almécegas I
On a farm a few kilometers from town, with an internal dirt road. The descent to the pool is steep.
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Afternoon
Vale da Lua
Near São Jorge, with a final stretch of dirt road. In the rainy season, the river can rise suddenly: get out of the water if it changes color.
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Late afternoon
Mirante da Janela
If your legs still have it in them: the trail has a climb and the view is of the Saltos do Rio Preto. At sunset, only with a guide.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide in the national park?
No. The park trails are signposted and can be done on your own. A guide is required only for the night visit.
Is the park ever closed, or closed when it rains?
The park is open every day, and it operates normally in the rain. There's a cutoff time to start the trails in the afternoon, and a time to leave at the end of the day.
What's the easiest trail in the park?
The shortest is the Seriema trail, which only opens in the rainy season, from November to May. The rest of the year, the Cânions and Cariocas trail is the moderate one; the Saltos trail is the toughest.
Should I stay in Alto Paraíso or São Jorge?
Alto Paraíso has more services, restaurants and lodging options. São Jorge is a small village, right next to the park entrance and close to the Vale da Lua. If the park trails are your priority, you'll likely prefer São Jorge.