Chapada Diamantina (Diamond Plateau) is one of the most fascinating natural parks in Brazil. A scenic mountain range that has an average altitude of over 1000m (3000 feet). The area offers some of the most scenic landscapes you can find in the country.
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The park, officially established in 1985, contains a variety of ecosystems, like Cerrado, Atlantic forest, and caatinga, being home for many species of plants and animals (such as bromeliads, orchids, and local feline species that find shelter in the highest mountains, capybaras, rodents, etc.). It has a lot of typical grassland with sparsely distributed trees, scarcely permeable soil and with a several month-long dry season. The plants have small, leathery leaves and subterranean organs, which may be tuberous, fleshy, or woody.
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What is now a jewel of ecotourism, was once a refuge of precious stones hunters. The cities that are part of the National Park are filled with colonial buildings representing the architecture of that time, a vivid memory of the richness of the diamonds, which made Brazil the #1 producer of the stone during the beginning of the 20th century. Lençois, (pronounced len-soiz), the main village in the Chapada, lies 408km (253 miles) west of Salvador. The city grew up around the huge diamond boom in the region in the mid-1800's. At one stage it had a population of 30,000, but as a result of the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, the town began to go into decline. Today, the town is considered a National Monument due to its important examples of residential architecture from the 19th century. The trails opened by the garimpeiros (precious mineral prospectors) today work for the enjoyment of hikers and trekkers from around the world. It is still possible to encounter old garimpeiros in the area, who experienced and lived the diamond rush that made the area famous.
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Photographing rock art
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Most of the attractions in the Chapada are the trails to caves, hills and waterfalls. Those can be seen on day treks, multi-day treks, rock climbing, rapeling, 4x4, mountain biking, caving, snorkeling, etc. . There is even some rock art for people to investigate.
Best time to go: Rainy period is December to March. But is a good time to see the waterfalls. If want to avoid the crowd of high season, the best time to visit is: from April to May and from August to October. |
With many ruins of old rock houses, Igatu is a beautiful resemblance of the diamond boom period turning it into an important national historical monument. Towns like Mucugê and Lençóis have an excellent representation of colonial architecture and therefore are also a national historical monument.
The underground of Chapada is fascinating with many caves and underground rivers. When Pratinha River leaves the underground and comes to earth, the Pratinha Cave is scarped. With calcareous characteristics in the cave, the crystal clear water when reached by the sunrays gets a silvery tone, which names the river. The Pai Inácio Hill a great place where a dazzling sunset can be seen. There’s a legend that the hill was named after a slave threw himself into the abyss when his colonel chased him for being in love with his wife.
Equivalent to 112-story building, the Fumaça Waterfall looks like smoke when looking at a distance. This happens because the volume of water is not sufficient to overcome the drop of 380m (1,247ft) and constant wind catch the falling water drops and throw it back up in a curtain of mist. The glowing blue beauty of Poço Encantado (Enchanted Well) water is so transparent that sometimes it’s hard to identify the roof of the cave reflected on the water from the bottom of the lake. Depending on the time of the year, a direct sunlight illuminates the lake through a natural hole in the cavern wall. The afternoon sun reaches down to the Blue Cave-a small pool hidden under a deep rock ledge, behind a curtain of aerial roots-giving it an electric-blue tone, resulting in stunningly beautiful view. No swimming is allowed to minimize the environmental impact.
The Ribeirão River flows in a deep sandstone valley and tumbles quickly through a narrow rocky canyon, forming spectacular waterfalls and cascades like the Sossego Falls, the last series of falls. Nature has hollowed out some swimming holes, with crystal-clear water, in the smoothly polished rock surface of the Serrano River, just 15 minutes from the edge of town. Upstream from Poço Halley, Primavera Waterfall is a riverbed with smooth and sculpted rocks by water and beautifully decorated. Many trails to caves, hills and waterfalls will be discovered with the best tour guides of the region.
A subterranean river forms a huge cave, Lapa Doce, with a tunnel system of 23km (14 mi.) extension and 15-20m (49-66ft) high roofs. Large fish and aquatic plants can be admired in a good-sized lake formed by an underground river. The minutes spent in this magical scenario that foster unique fauna in deep narrow valleys will be unforgettable.
The underground of Chapada is fascinating with many caves and underground rivers. When Pratinha River leaves the underground and comes to earth, the Pratinha Cave is scarped. With calcareous characteristics in the cave, the crystal clear water when reached by the sunrays gets a silvery tone, which names the river. The Pai Inácio Hill a great place where a dazzling sunset can be seen. There’s a legend that the hill was named after a slave threw himself into the abyss when his colonel chased him for being in love with his wife.
Equivalent to 112-story building, the Fumaça Waterfall looks like smoke when looking at a distance. This happens because the volume of water is not sufficient to overcome the drop of 380m (1,247ft) and constant wind catch the falling water drops and throw it back up in a curtain of mist. The glowing blue beauty of Poço Encantado (Enchanted Well) water is so transparent that sometimes it’s hard to identify the roof of the cave reflected on the water from the bottom of the lake. Depending on the time of the year, a direct sunlight illuminates the lake through a natural hole in the cavern wall. The afternoon sun reaches down to the Blue Cave-a small pool hidden under a deep rock ledge, behind a curtain of aerial roots-giving it an electric-blue tone, resulting in stunningly beautiful view. No swimming is allowed to minimize the environmental impact.
The Ribeirão River flows in a deep sandstone valley and tumbles quickly through a narrow rocky canyon, forming spectacular waterfalls and cascades like the Sossego Falls, the last series of falls. Nature has hollowed out some swimming holes, with crystal-clear water, in the smoothly polished rock surface of the Serrano River, just 15 minutes from the edge of town. Upstream from Poço Halley, Primavera Waterfall is a riverbed with smooth and sculpted rocks by water and beautifully decorated. Many trails to caves, hills and waterfalls will be discovered with the best tour guides of the region.
A subterranean river forms a huge cave, Lapa Doce, with a tunnel system of 23km (14 mi.) extension and 15-20m (49-66ft) high roofs. Large fish and aquatic plants can be admired in a good-sized lake formed by an underground river. The minutes spent in this magical scenario that foster unique fauna in deep narrow valleys will be unforgettable.
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