Walking in the Chapada Diamantina

Enjoy an exhilarating and scenic walk through Brazil's Chapada Diamantina mountains.

Bahia’s Chapada Diamantina National Park has some of Brazil’s best terrain for hiking. This is real wilderness country and you’ll be well looked after by our local guides who are expert at finding their way whilst you can concentrate on enjoying the views. Two of our favourite walks can be enjoyed as days out from the little town of Lencois.

The exhilarating, challenging and very beautiful route through the deep, scenic Ribeirao canyon to the Sossego waterfall is one of the most rewarding of the region. The valley is serene and feels especially magical when sunlit, with towering cliffs festooned with plants and striking rock formations cascading down either side of the canyon towards a river the colour of tea.

A little further afield, the Capao Valley feels like a lost world of tabletop mountains. You’ll climb to the top of the plateau and follow a sandy path, passing orchids, bromeliads and ferns, to a deep canyon. At 340m, the Fumaca waterfall is the second highest in Brazil. For an unforgettable view you’ll need to lie flat and watch it plunge to the bottom of the ravine. That’s a true test of anyone’s head for heights.

Activity Rating: moderate