Hi everybody,
I'm a French guy living in the Chapada Diamantina National Park. The park is amazing, with wonderful landascapes, waterfalls, canyons, big natural swimming pool ... I love nature and wish I'll help travellers get to know the best places here.
How to get there:
From Salvador de Bahia, go to the bus station (rodoviaria) and get a ticket to PALMEIRAS. (43 Reals - 6/7 hours). you have 2 departures a day. 7am and 11.30 pm. Don´t forget to get warm closes in the bus because of the A/C. Once you get there, 4x4 will be waiting for transfer to the Valley of Capao (7 reals - 20km)
Culture and Ecotourism in the Vale do Capao
Many tourists are going to Lençois, but if you are looking for a place out of the beaten paths, don´t want to be packed in minivans with 10 to 20 people to go for a trekking, don´t hesitate and come here in the VALE DO CAPAO. The Valley of Capao is very close to the main trekkings of the Chapada Diamantina National Park and offers an amazing view over the mountains (contrary to Lençois, where there are no canyons to see, and from where it is necessary to make long 4X4 drives to access most of the treks...). This said, Lencois is worth a cultural visit, and you can spend your last day at Lençois to visit the town before taking the 11.30 pm bus back to Salvador.
The valley possess a diversified culture, with people of different parts of the world gathered around a lifestyle directed to human development and the respect of nature. Once a gold and diamond mining region, the area is still sparsely populated and people are very hospitable. With its eight associations, the Valley congregates art, workmanship and sustainable activities, such as organic agriculture, medicinal herbs, phytotherapy and phytocosmetics, organic honey, theater, chorale, circus, dances, capoeira and tourism committed with the conservation of the natural and cultural patrimony.
Where to sleep : just tell the 4x4 driver in Palmeiras the name of the pousada and he'll get you there.
- A great hotel here is LENDAS DO CAPAO. A pousada incorporated to the nature in a beautiful setting right in the Valley with view over the mountains. There´s a river you can swim in. They also have a chalet in a centennial jack tree 9m above ground !! Very friendly owner. They'll help you to find a bilingual guide and organise trekkings.
- For budget travellers, go to the pousada SEMPRE VIVA. 3 minutes walk from the town center. Very basic and very cheap accomodations.
The best trekkings :
- Fumaca Waterfall : The highest free fall of Brazil, trek starts 2km away form the valley do Capao town (Caete-acu), just where is located the guide association. You'll walk 3hours roundtrip and have great view over the mountains and the valley.
- Riachinho waterfall: A big natural swimming pool with beautiful view over the Rio Preto Valley - 4 km away from the entrance of the fumaca waterfall trek. Just walk 200m out of the road and you'll get there. You can easily spend a couple of hours just enjoying the water/view.
- Purification waterfall : Beautiful waterfall 4h walking (roundtrip) from the valley do capao town. It will get you to the end of the valley. Big 30m natural swimming pool on the way (poco angelica). The purification waterfall is 15m high, located in a real ecological sanctuary (amazing!)
- Valley of Paty : Considered by some magazines as the best trekking of Brazil, I dunno if it´s true but this do not matter cuz valley is really amazing! You can do in 1 to 4 days. In 1 day you'll need to do 50km by jeep, in 4 days... almost none. If you have time it's worst spending at least 2 days. You can sleep in native inhabitants houses on the way. You definitly need a guide to do this trekking. You will fall in love with the national park, canyons, waterfalls, atlantic forest, spectacular table mountains ....
- Morrão and Aguas claras waterfall : The entrance of the trek is near the Riachinho waterfall. You'll walk until the imposing tambor hill and will enjoy great views over the 3 brothers hills (tres irmaos). Right there is another beautiful waterfall where you can refresh you body
- Torrinha Cavern / blue and enchanted pool / Pratinha and Pai Inacio : You might be able to combine thoses destination in a one day hike with a 4x4 and a guide. you'll enter 7km under the eart surface in a great cavern with stalactics and stalagmites ... man! then go see transparent waters of the blue and enchanted pool. If you get a the right hour of the day, you'll see the ray of light entering in the pool reflecting beautiful colors. Coming back to the valley, make a stop at the Pai Inacio hill to see one of the more spectacular sunset of the chapada diamantina (beautiful view over canyons).
- Waterfall of the rodas and rio preto : another good trek very close from the capao valley town
- Good cultural visits include the colonial tows of Lencois, Mucuge, Rio de Contas; Also the ghost town of Igatu; Marimbus Wetlands ...
There are english speaking guides. Your pousada will help you to find one. They'll charge you between 70 and 110 reals per days, depending on the trekking, if food/camping equipment is included.
Activities and services in the Valley of Capao :
- Health & spiritual services: THe valley is a great place for personnal development and relaxing : Ayurvedica massages, reiki, yoga, meditation, iridiologie, pilate,
- Art: Sacred dances, contact improvisation dance; many musicians live there, then there are world music concerts (generally happen in the circus)
- Capoeira: try capoeira away from the (sometimes...) aggressive style of Salvador dancers. 2 types of Capoeira > Angola and Regional
- Circus: There's a famous circus here. People from all over south america come here to learn new techniques. Cultural center where you'll meet plenty of travellers.
I live in the valley, thus I can help you with informations and hotels.
Ciao!
Pierre
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