Before you go
Your trip to Cavalcante.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Cavalcante – GO Destination Chapada dos Veadeiros about 512 km from Goiânia
How to get there
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Aeroporto Internacional de Brasília (BSB) Brasília · 323 km
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Rodoviária de Cavalcante
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
Cavalcante is about 325 km from Brasília, around four and a half hours by car, paved all the way, through Alto Paraíso and Teresina de Goiás. From Alto Paraíso it's about 100 km. There's no direct bus from Brasília: you change in Alto Paraíso. The nearest airport is Brasília.
How many days
Two days: one for Santa Bárbara and Capivara, in the Kalunga territory, and another for the Complexo do Prata or Candaru. Three, if you want to include Teresina de Goiás on the way.
When to go
From May to September, in the dry season, the dirt roads are better. In the rainy season, from October to April, access can be difficult. The Kalunga people's religious pilgrimages take place in August, in Vão de Almas, and in September, in Vão do Moleque.
Do you need a car?
Yes. The waterfalls are outside town, with final stretches of dirt road, and for Santa Bárbara and the Complexo do Prata a high-clearance car or 4x4 is recommended. If you have a regular car, you can leave it in the community and use the residents' transportation for the last stretch.
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 Cavalcante
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Morning
Cachoeira Santa Bárbara
In the Kalunga community of Engenho II, less than 30 km from town. Stop at the visitor center and set out with the community guide, who is required.
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Afternoon
Cachoeira da Capivara
In the same community, with a short trail. It's common to combine it with Santa Bárbara on the same day.
2 days in Cavalcante
Day 1
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Morning
Cachoeira Santa Bárbara
Arrive early: there's a daily visitor limit. A Kalunga guide is required.
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Afternoon
Cachoeira da Capivara
Cascades and pools between rock walls before the main fall.
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Late afternoon
Cachoeira Candaru
If you still have energy: the trail is longer and harder, which is why the place is less crowded.
Day 2
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Morning
Complexo do Prata
Seven waterfalls on the Rio Prata along a full-day trail, in a rural area far from town. Dirt road and a guide required. Leave early to get back before dark.
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
Can I visit the Cachoeira Santa Bárbara without a guide?
No. The waterfall is in the Kalunga quilombola territory, and visits are only allowed with a guide from the community itself, hired at the Engenho II visitor center.
Can a regular car make it to Santa Bárbara?
The final stretch is dirt and not recommended for low-clearance cars, especially in the rain. If you don't have a high-clearance car, you can leave yours and continue on the residents' transportation.
Is there a visitor limit?
Yes. Santa Bárbara admits a limited number of people per day, and the number has changed a few times. Arrive early, especially on holidays and in July.
Is it better to stay in Cavalcante or Alto Paraíso?
For the Kalunga territory, stay in Cavalcante: Santa Bárbara is less than 30 km from town and about 130 km from Alto Paraíso.