Brazil's Central-West Region
Chapada dos Veadeiros Travel Guide
Hike, swim, repeat. Towering waterfalls and refreshing clear waters.
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park in Goiás is known for its rugged terrain, crystal-clear rivers, and stunning waterfalls. The region is a hotspot for eco-tourism, with extensive hiking trails and opportunities for canyoning and swimming. The park’s unique geological formations and rich biodiversity have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.
Top 5 Things to See & Do in Chapada dos Veadeiros
• Hike to Cachoeira do Segredo
• Visit Vale da Lua (Valley of the Moon)
• Swim in Catarata dos Couros
• Explore Almécegas Waterfalls
• Trek through the scenic Cerrado
Closest airport
The closest airport is located in Brasília
Main bus terminal
Rodoviária de Alto Paraíso de Goiás
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Main ports
How to get to Chapada dos Veadeiros
By far, the best way to not only reach Chapada dos Veadeiros but also to explore the area without limitations, is to rent a car in Brasilia and drive yourself to the park.
There are three main towns inside Chapada dos Veadeiros: Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Vila de São Jorge, and Cavalcante. The largest town, and the only one with transport connections from Brasilia, is Alto Paraiso. It is best to first travel to Alto Paraiso, and if needed, from here you can take a taxi or hitchhike to São Jorge and Cavalcante.
How to get to Alto Paraiso from Brasilia:
The easiest way to reach Alto Paraiso is to take a bus from Brasília Interestadual Bus Station. There are several buses per day from Brasília to Alto Paraiso. Alternatively, the carpooling site BlaBlaCar is commonly used in the area, and can be cheaper alternative to the bus.
Hitchhiking is also very common in this area, and it is possible to hitchhike from Alto Paraiso to Brasília (as most cars passing will be heading towards the city). It may be more difficult in the other direction, as not all cars departing Brasilia are heading to the park.
How to get around Chapada dos Veadeiros
There is only one site within walking distance of a town in Alto Paradiso. This is the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park entrance in São Jorge, around 1km walk from town.
In order to visit the majority of Chapada's other sites, most of which are located several kilometres from the three main towns, a car is required. By far the easiest way to maximise your time in Chapada dos Veadeiros is to rent a car in Brasilia and drive yourself.
You can hitch-hike to attractions that are located near to main roads, but unfortunately many of the waterfalls still have a long roads to the entrance of the trails.
Hitchiking is a common way to travel between Alto Paradiso and São Jorge. It is also possible to hitch-hike to Cavalcante, however fewer cars take this route and you may need to wait for longer.
Things to know before you go
Where to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros
There are three key towns from which you can base your trips to the key sights: Alto Paradiso, São Jorge, and Cavalcante. Depending on time constraints, it would be ideal to base yourself in each town for a few days to visit the nearby attractions.
While a few hostels are available in Alto Paradiso, accommodation in São Jorge is significantly more expensive. Camping is available in designated campsites.
How much does it cost to visit the waterfalls?
All waterfalls have an entrance fee of $R20-40 per person, so come prepared with cash. There is a different price for foreigners and for Brazilians.
Amenities at the waterfalls
It is recommended to bring plenty of food and water as there are no shops or restaurants at most of the waterfalls. There is sometimes a public toilet at the start of the trails, near the main entrance/carparks and ticket stands.
Hiking in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park Area
The National Park complex (entrance in São Jorge) has four trails: Green, Yellow, Red, and Orange. Whichever trail you choose, bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water as there is little shade.
Green: The green trail is the easiest of the walks and will take you on a nice walk through the forest.
Yellow (10km): This trail takes you to two waterfalls, Salto 1 (120m) and Salto 2 (80m), before going to the Corredeiras, a site with cascading waterfalls and rapids. It's a 10km loop (difficulty: Hard), or a 6km return trip if you only visit the Corredeiras (difficulty: Moderate).
Red (11km): The red trail goes via a canyon, to a large waterfall with a number of pools to swim in. It's a 4.8km walk to the canyon, then a further 1.4km to the waterfall, then 4.7km back to the Visitor's Centre. The trail is rated as moderate-hard, though the majority of the walk is very flat.
Orange (23km): The orange trail is a multi-day hike which requires an extra permit. After 4km you will reach a canyon, then it's a further 13km to the campsite. It's a further 6km hike to the end of the trail. Note this route does not finish at the Visitor's Centre.
