With its 152 thousand hectares of caverns, canyons, cascades, and deep valleys of varied flora and fauna, the Chapada Diamantina National Park is one of the most attractive ecological refuges of Brazil. Ideal for the practice of eco-tourism. It is located in the central part of the State of Bahía, in the north-eastern part of the country.

It was created in September of 1985 and comprises the municipalities of Lencóis, Andaraí, Palmeiras, Ibicoara and Mucuge.

It houses diverse ecosystems with small pieces of Atlantic Forest, the Cerrado woodland savanna type and the so called Caatinga dry or white forest areas with evidences of prehistoric life; as well as the Sierra of Sincorá, which reaches heights of over 1200 metres in some areas.

History

Explorers and adventurers coming from all over Brazil invaded Chapada de la Diamantina in the early XVII century looking for gold and diamonds, thus starting the populating of the area.

The caves in the area reveal, through rock paintings, signs from the diverse peoples that inhabited the zone since prehistory.

Natural wealth

Endemic flowers like the orchids, the humming bird, bromeliads, frogs and fish yet to be catalogued by biologists, live in this natural refuge whose topography is responsible for the creation of the sources of the main rivers in Bahia: the Paraguacu and the Cuentas, and others going towards the San Francisco basin.

The indiscriminate hunting of the past, which precisely motivated its official creation as a National Park, decimated a great part of its fauna. Diverse major species such as the Brazilian Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridáctila) and the Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus), all endemic mammals of the place disappeared for that reason.

However, there are reduced populations of yellow-belly lizards, pumas and jaguars, capybaras, Black-chested moustached tamarin Monkey (Saguinus mystax), Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), boas and plenty of birds.

The local weather is characterized as tropical semiarid in general terms, with rainy southern hemisphere's summers that provoke sudden increases in the volume of the rivers.

Attractions

You need at least a week to know the main attractions of the natural park. Will cite but a few.

Caves of Lapa and Torrinha. The rock lounges at the former cave can reach heights of up to 32 metres and shows prehistoric painted inscriptions. Close to this enclosure is the cave of Torrinha, rich in rock ornamentations.

Mount of Father Inácio. You can have a beautiful panoramic view of Chapada Diamantina and see magnificent sunsets from its top. It is located in the Sierra of Sincorá, 28 kilometres away from Lencóis.

Cascade of Calmness. Its dark waters descend from a 15 metre high granite formation. The access is through a 7 kilometre path.

Marimbus. Also known as pantanal (inundated area of the region). It is located at the San Antonio river, 18 kilometres away from Lencóis. It is preserved as a Protected Environment Area.

Pit of the Devil. It is located at the Mucugezinho River, close to a 40 metre high waterfall. It is a pit of dark waters ideal to take a swim. It is 21 kilometres away from Lencóis.

Cascade of the Smoke. One of the highest waterfalls in Brazil with 340 metres of height. Its waters fall through a totally vertical wall forming a kind of permanent smoke cloud.

Cascade of Ramalho. A 110 metre high waterfall formed by the Paraíba River; ideal for bathing.

Enchanted Pit and Blue Pit. One of the most visited places by eco-tourists, the Enchanted Pit's name is due to the phenomenon of colorations of its crystalline waters, owed to the sunrays coming into the cave through a natural crack at a certain time of the day. It is located at 130 kilometres from Lencóis. The Blue Pit is 40 kilometres away and shows the same phenomenon. Visitors may take a swim.

Recommendations

• Be in a good physical shape.
• Hire a specialized guide who knows the region well to take a hike.
• Know the basic first aid and orientation techniques and never go alone.
• Carry a solar protector, caps or hats to avoid sunburns.
• Carry enough water to realize the hikes for the weather in the region is hot.
• Tourist should avoid smoking in order to prevent fires.
• It is important to pick and bring all your garbage back with you.

How to get there

Take the BR-241 highway, if coming from Salvador or Brasilia, up to Sabanas, in the limits of the park. It is the city with the best infrastructure in the area and it has an airport attending regional flights.