Famed for its beautiful landscapes, this region located in Central Brazil has fantastic treasures and its richness can be seen as a perfect blend of the human and divine. With rich biodiversity, local culture, crystal clear waters, high waterfalls, natural swimming pools, ranging canyons, hiking trails, oasis-like stands of wine palms and friendly Chapada dos Veadeiros Hotels , this place is a special destination for ecotourists.
Walking through Chapada dos Veadeiros endless mountains and bathing in its beautiful waterfalls will introduce you to unforgettable sensations.
Chapada dos Veadeiros lies 230 km north of Brasília, Brazil's capital renowned for its daring city layout and striking and modern architecture. Covering the plateau region of Brazil and the central plains is the Cerrado, a tropical savanna. The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is spread over an area of 236,570 hectares and is situated in the northern part of Goiás. The Park is recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO due to the importance of the high altitude savanna environment as a unique area of bio-diversity. This distinct biome (natural environment) is well preserved in the Park, with over 10000 varieties of plants making it the richest savanna in the entire world. The flowers bloom from January onwards, with the peak season in May and June.
Chapada dos Veadeiros is home to exotic animals like Armadillos, Giant ant-eaters or Tamanduá, Puma or Sussuarana and Maned Wolves or Lobo-guará. The place is also a haven for several species of birds, such as Brazilian Merganser, the Collared Crescentchest, the Helmeted Manakin, the Black-throated Saltator and other birds.
There are many activities and things to see and do in Chapada dos Veadeiros. For those wishing to relax you can do a meditation and massage session, or simply stroll around the place and swim in the waterfalls. The more adventurous can walk , hike , trek , cycle, bird-watch , horseback ride , camp , abseil, or canyon. Also, there is the option to canopy and fall in a 850m zip line. As night falls you can indulge in a variety of food at the great local Chapada dos Veadeiros restaurants, and enjoy artists' performances and music. Check out the calendar of Chapada dos Veadeiros to find out what's going on experience the beautiful local parties and cultural events.
The Chapada dos Veadeiros Region is formed by 5 cities: São João D´Aliança, Alto Paraíso, São Jorge, Teresina de Goiás and Cavalcante. To access the National Park, the gateway is the small village of São Jorge (district of Alto Paraíso), created in 1916 for crystal miners. After the creation of the National Park, a new ecotourism economy started. Today, the miners have become ecotourism guides and the village a charming tourist town in the region
Visiting Alto Paraíso, São Jorge and Cavalcante you get a stunning panoramic view with different angles of the Chapada dos Veadeiros region. To truly make the most of your tour in Chapada dos Veadeiros a minimum of five days is required. Only then can you really enjoy the abundance of natural beauty and culture that Chapada dos Veadeiros has to offer.
When travelling to Chapada dos Veadeiros, you can stay at a Chapada dos Veadeiros hotels in either Alto Paraíso, São Jorge or Cavalcante. They have good tourism infrastructure with numerous pousadas, lodges and hotels in Chapada dos Veadeiros, all providing a welcoming and comfortable stay. You can even use our Chapada dos Veadeiros map to choose your hotel in Chapada dos Veadeiros based on its location. There are also good restaurants, bars and Chapada dos Veadeiros tour services.
São Jorge is a small village right at the entrance to the National Park. It does not have to much illumination or asphalt roads because the idea is to maintain the natural surroundings of the Park, so that the flora and fauna are not disturbed. The earthiness lends the village a special charm. You can find different options of Chapada dos Veadeiros hotels here. The place gives you a feeling that it is untouched by humans.
Alto Paraíso is located 20 km or 12.4 miles from the entrance of the Park. It has all the infrastructure that São Jorge lacks - asphalt roads and illumination. You can find suitable Chapada dos Veadeiros hotels here. Hard cash and plenty of change is what you need in this city; plastic money will not work.
Known for its vibrant Earth energy, Chapada dos Veadeiros gets its luminosity from the reserves of quartz crystal. There are rumours of UFO sightings in Chapada dos Veadeiros and NASA says that this is the brightest point on Earth visible from space. It is believed that since the region has a quartz crystal bed, it reflects light like a mirror.
Geologically, it is one of the ancient places in the World having formed 1.7 billions years ago based on its quartz crystal and multihued sandstone, and because of this draws mystics, spiritualists, ecologists, artists and natural healers to Chapada dos Veadeiros like bees to honey. It is also known as the Water Cradle because from the top of its huge stone escarpments flow the rivers that feed the main South American basins.
The Rio Preto is the main river and also the tributary of the River Tocantins. There are plenty of waterfalls, like the Cariocas Falls and the Rio Preto Falls (80 m wide and 120 m high) , along the course of the river. The canyons are beautiful, with 40 m high walls and valleys that plunge 300 m.
Besides the nature, this region has a fantastic colonisation history. In the northeast of Goiás state, nestled among endless mountains, Cavalcante is considered the homeland of Chapada people. In the 18th century the city was founded by settlers who were looking for gold. For years the city was a gold-town and the gold mining rush left some marks revealed in its rich popular culture and in the presence of descendants of former slaves - the Kalunga People. Nowadays the city is living a new market, the tourism and it has good hotels, lodges and restaurants .
In the past, "Veadeiros" was the name of people who hunted deer in the Brazilian savannah, which is why this region is called Chapada dos Veadeiros. In 1953, Veadeiros was emancipated and become a city: Alto Paraíso. It is the main entrance for visitors to the National Park and is a special place due to its mix of people from various places in Brazil and the world that left the big cities looking for an alternative way of life.
Chapada dos Veadeiros has two very defined seasons : the dry season, from April to October; and the rainy season, from October to May. Both seasons have their own unique beautiful reasons for visiting.
Plan your travel in advance to guarantee a reservation at a hotel in Chapada dos Veadeiros and an exciting tour in Chapada dos Veadeiros to better enjoy your trip. Moreover, always take your adventure with trained and authorised Chapada dos Veadeiros tour guides.
It is important to bring light clothes (t-shirts and trousers) for the day and warm clothes at night, bathing suits, drinking bottle, comfortable shoes for walking, a backpack, sunblock, hat or cap, insect repellent and of course a camera. For rainy months a good light raincoat is also a good option.
Explore your senses and discover the wonders of Chapada dos Veadeiros!
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Find more in portuguese: www.chapadaveadeiros.com.br
