Chapada Diamantina National Park, created in 1985, is located in the State of Bahia. The park covers an area of 152,000 hectares across a dozen municipalities, making it one of the 
largest national parks in Brazil outside the Amazon region.
Chapada Diamantina is considered an oasis right in the middle of the Sertão (caatinga), with mild temperatures and several river springs. The region was sculpted over billions of years, as rains, winds, and rivers carved the rocks, creating valleys and mountains.
The park currently has no visitor control and can be accessed from various locations, especially Lençóis, Vale do Capão, Mucugê, and Andaraí. Access to its attractions is mostly done via hiking trails.
With rich architecture and a large number of buildings listed by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN), the place is a refuge for cultural exchange between locals and tourists. The mining period left its legacy, giving sensation, flavor, and identity to Chapada.
The main goal of protecting this area is the conservation of its river springs, highlighting the Paraguaçu River, which is responsible for supplying 60% of the population of Salvador. The park also preserves an important genetic bank for scientific research and biodiversity conservation. Every year, at least four or five new species of endemic plants and three species of animals are 
discovered in the region.
Tourist Attractions
• Cachoeira da Fumaça: Steep terrain, many stones, and lack of shade characterize a two-hour hike (6 km). Upon reaching the attraction, one of the most sought after in Chapada, you forget the fatigue. The landscape: a fine curtain of water cascading through an opening in the wall and “dancing” with the wind – due to the height, it barely touches the ground. When it rains little, the waterfall practically dries up.
• Cachoeira do Buracão: The visit to one of the park’s main attractions begins with the beautiful road from Ibicoara (28 km), where visitors observe enormous mountains amidst the bucolic atmosphere of the farms. The car is parked at the trailhead, which takes a leisurely hour of walking along a river to the point where visitors can see the waterfall from above, impressing with its height.
• Cachoeirão: Several waterfalls springing from a crescent-shaped wall transform the landscape into a curtain of waterfalls. In winter, when they almost completely dry up, the beautiful canyon 
appears. On the four-hour trail leading to the top, it is necessary to cross a ridge, but the path is on flat terrain.
• Morro do Pai Inácio: From the top, visitors see the main formations of the park, such as Morro do Camelo – the best time to go is at the end of the afternoon to enjoy the sunset as a backdrop. The view compensates for the effort of the 20-minute climb – 300 m of steep walking from the car.
• Morrão: One of the icons of Chapada Diamantina, its peak can be seen from various parts of the park and takes on different shapes depending on the angle of view. At its feet lies Toca das Águas Claras, a kind of oasis with a series of three pools 
with waterfalls, featuring the clearest waters in the park.
• Vale do Capão: The access via dirt road makes the journey to Vale do Capão seem eternal. Suddenly, the small town appears, unpretentious, with its square surrounded by little houses and residents lounging around. The atmosphere is somewhat hippie, and the landscape is striking, filled with green mountains. From there, the challenging trails lead to Vale do Paty, one of the most beautiful in the country, and to Cachoeira da Fumaça.
• Vale do Paty: The most scenic trail in Brazil takes four to five days and is about 70 km long, starting in the village of Bomba on a steep trail that leads to the top of Serra do Candombá. Then, a large plateau, the Gerais do Vieira, emerges, with the 
ubiquitous Morro Branco in the background.
• Poço Azul: Floating in the crystal-clear pool that springs from within the cave (4m to 21m deep) is a unique experience, even better between February and October when the sun’s rays give the water blue tones and reveal incredible rock formations.
• Pratinha: The light blue river springs from within a cave and forms a huge beach, accessed by trail or zip line. It is possible to float inside the cave, on a path through a tunnel full of fish and rock formations that leads to the other side of the river.
Where to Stay
The main tourist infrastructure is located in the towns of Lençóis, Mucugê, Andaraí, Ibicoara, Palmeiras, and Rio de Contas, and in the villages of Igatu and Vale do Capão. The best option is to choose one of these locations to stay and from there organize visits to the attractions.
How to Get There and Move Around
Due to the size of its territory and the great distances between the main natural attractions and tourist cities, planning a trip to Chapada Diamantina requires special attention.
It is not recommended to rely on intercity transport to move from one city to another, as they do not have regular schedules. The best option is to hire a transfer, rent a car, or book a package with a travel agency.
• Plane: Horácio de Matos Airport in Lençóis receives regular flights from Salvador and Belo Horizonte (Confins) and is 20 km from the city center on highway BR-242.
• Bus: The main bus routes depart from Salvador to Lençóis and Palmeiras, and Andaraí, Ibicoara, and Mucugê.
• Car: The main route from Salvador is via highway BR-324 to the city of Feira de Santana, taking BR-116 to the city of Argoim and then BR-242 to the city of Lençóis.