Location: Chapada dos Veadeiros plateau Map
Area: 655 sq km
The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is located in the Chapada
dos Veadeiros, Northeast region of the state of Goiás, in Brazil.
Between the geographic coordinates 13º51' to 14°10' South
latitude and 47°25' to 47°42' West longitude, covering an area of
65,514 ha, it is included within an area of the Cerrado of altitude
that covers several municipalities, among them, Alto Paraíso de
Goiás, Cavalcante and Colinas do Sul.
The park was created in
1961 by the then President of the Republic, Juscelino Kubitschek,
under the name of Tocantins National Park. It is part of the set of
Brazilian National Parks administered by the Chico Mendes Institute
for the Conservation of Biodiversity.
It was recognized as a
World Heritage Site by Unesco in December 2001.
Among the
fauna species that inhabit the park, about fifty are classified as
rare, endemic, or under risk of extinction in the area. Regarding
flora, 1,476 plant species have already been identified in the park,
out of the 6,429 that exist in the Cerrado biome. In relation to
birds, of the 312 species, the rhea, the royal condor, and the hawk
stand out.
Access to the park is located next to the village
of São Jorge, in the municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, 35 km
away from the city of Alto Paraíso, on a partially paved road. This
access is allowed only with the accompaniment of accredited guides,
allowing the visit to the Salto do Rio Preto and its surroundings.
The settlement of the region began around 1750, with
the implantation of Mr. Francisco de Almeida, called Fazenda Veadeiros,
where livestock activities and the cultivation of wheat and coffee were
concentrated on a small scale.
In 1892, the Central Plateau
Exploration Commission, commanded by the astronomer Luís Cruls, traveled
through the plateau and region, with the purpose of delimiting and
surveying the area that should receive the future capital of Brazil;
Prior to that, in 1912, the first rock crystal deposit
in the region was discovered, which led to an outbreak of prospecting
activity, including the founding of Povoado de São Jorge. Such activity
became less interesting throughout the second half of the 20th century,
especially after the creation of the national park.
In 1931, on
the national air mail service, Brigadier Lysias Rodrigues passes through
Veadeiros, coming from São Paulo towards Belém. His diaries were
published in the book O Scripto do Tocantins. In 1926, the plateau was
crossed by the Prestes Column.
On January 11, 1961, the then
President of the Republic, Juscelino Kubitschek, through Decree No.
49,875, created the park, named Parque Nacional do Tocantins. Its
original area was 625 thousand ha. Over time, part of the land was lost
due to legal disputes. In 1972, losing land on the banks of the
Tocantins River, the park adopted its current name.
As of June 2017, with the signing of the Decree of June 5, 2017, World Environment Day, by Process No. protect 240 thousand hectares. According to technical notes from ICMBio, an agency linked to the Ministry of the Environment, the expansion will protect 17 species of flora and 32 species of fauna threatened with extinction, such as the maned wolf, the jaguar and the Brazilian Merganser. 466 springs would also be protected in the region, which is known as “the water tank of the Central Plateau”, with influence on river basins such as the Amazon and São Francisco.
On October 18, 2017, a fire destroyed approximately
35,000 hectares of savannah vegetation in the park. The fire started on
the side of the GO-239 highway, which connects the city of Alto Paraíso
de Goiás to the village of São Jorge. Fires occur naturally in the
cerrado in the rainy season, as a result of lightning, and not in the
dry season, when fires occur only due to human action.
The fire
lasted about eight days and had a criminal origin. The fire extrapolated
the area of the park and currently also affects farms, villages and
private environmental reserves around it. It is speculated that the fire
was a counteroffensive by farmers due to the expansion of the park area,
which occurred in July of that year.
The largest river is the Rio Preto, a tributary of the
Rio Tocantins, with large waterfalls such as the 120 m and 80 m high Rio
Preto falls or the Cariocas in the 40 m deep canyons that attract
visitors (each 6 km hike). The evening view from the Mirante de São
Jorge at the entrance to the national park near São Jorge (Goiás) is
popular.
There are other attractions around the towns of São
Jorge and Alto Paraíso de Goiás.
In the chapada there is not only the buriti palm
typical of the cerrado. Savannah-like and wooded areas alternate. In
addition to many orchid species, there are typical Brazilian species
such as Pau d'Arco Roxo, Copaíba, Brazilian pepper tree, Jerivá palm,
and Babaçu palm.
The animal world is also diverse. Some species
are threatened with extinction such as pampas deer, swamp deer, jaguar,
maned wolf and the diving duck Pato Mergulhão. There are also rheas
(Bras. Emas), seriemas, tapetis, armadillos, anteaters, capybaras,
tapirs, toucans, macaws and king vultures.
The entrance to the national park can be reached from
Brasília via the BR-020, then 220 km north on the GO-118 to Alto Paraíso
de Goiás. From there it is another 28 km via the partially unpaved
GO-239 to the town of São Jorge at the entrance to the park. It is 260
km from Brasília and 460 km from Goiânia.
The park has a visitor
center and accommodation for researchers. Visitors can find guides in
the neighboring towns of Alto Paraíso and São Jorge, which also have
tourist infrastructure.
Access to the park is through Povoado de São Jorge,
which is connected to the city of Alto Paraíso de Goiás by a 36 km paved
road. Guides for accompanying visitors to the park can be found in the
village near the entrance to the park, at the Tourist Assistance Center
(CAT) in São Jorge. Visiting the park, accompanied by guides, is,
however, optional. Among the park's main attractions are the two falls
of the Preto river, respectively 80 and 120 m high, the canyons of the
Preto river, waterfalls on rocky walls of a narrowing of the river, and
the carioquinhas waterfalls, a formation of natural pools ideal for
light baths and hydromassage.
In addition to the trails in the
park itself, there are several tourist attractions on private land
around the park. They include:
Moon Valley: gray rock formations
carved by the São Miguel River, which have a "lunar" aspect.
Almécegas Waterfalls: Two waterfalls, one 50 meters high and the other
15 meters high, where the water runs down steep rocks. Close to the
center of Alto Paraíso.
Raizama: set of waterfalls ideal for
canyoning and abseiling.
Thermal waters: natural pools with water at
about 38 degrees of temperature
Cachoeira do Abismo and Mirante da
Janela: waterfall overlooking a valley and a lookout with a rock
formation that resembles a window, overlooking Falls I and II.
Mysticism
Chapada dos Veadeiros, especially in the
Alto Paraíso region, has a strong mystical tourism. Among the reasons,
one can mention the exuberant landscapes, the abundance of quartz
outcrops (which makes the plateau be seen as a center of energy
concentration) and the fact that it is cut by the 14th Parallel S, the
same one that passes by Machu Picchu.
The mystical occupation of
the region began shortly before the creation of the park. In 1957, a
spiritual mission arrived from Recife, which founded the Bona Esperanto
Farm, a philanthropic institution that taught Esperanto.
The ticket prices for the Chapada dos Veadeiros
National Park are:
Admission: BRL 40.00;
Discount ticket: R$
32.00;
Discount ticket - half ticket: R$ 20.00;
Surrounding
residents: R$ 4.00.
Charge exemptions and the right to half price are
defined in Ordinance No. 256/2020 of the Ministry of the Environment.
Exemption:
I - children up to 6 (six) years old;
II - students
and teachers, whose teaching establishment, of any level, schedules in
advance with the administration of the conservation unit the carrying
out of teaching and environmental education activities;
III -
traditional populations benefiting from the conservation unit;
IV -
researchers regularly authorized by the Chico Mendes Institute to carry
out research activities in the conservation unit;
V - servants and
agents of public security bodies in the exercise of their functions and
upon presentation of functional identification;
VI - tour guides,
duly certified by the Ministry of Tourism, in the exercise of their
professional activities;
VII - guides of registered and authorized
visitors in accordance with the criteria established in a specific
ordinance of the conservation unit, respecting the norms of the Chico
Mendes Institute; It is
VIII - servants of the Chico Mendes
Institute, upon presentation of functional identification.
Half
price:
I - regularly enrolled students who prove their status as
students, upon presentation of the Student Identification Card when
acquiring the ticket and accessing the conservation unit;
II - people
with disabilities, including their companion when necessary, who will
have the same benefit in the event that proves to be in this condition;
III - young people from 15 to 29 years of age with low income, enrolled
in the Single Registry for Social Programs of the Federal Government -
CadÚnico and whose monthly family income is up to 2 (two) minimum wages;
IV - seniors aged 60 (sixty) years or more.
The half-price
benefit provided for in the caput does not apply to additional services
eventually offered in the conservation unit.
The system for booking and paying for the overnight
stay(s) at the Travessia das Sete Quedas camping area is available on
the Sociparques concessionaire's page at: https://sociparques.com.br/.
For questions and further information, please contact the
Sociparques dealership: (62) 99642-9828.
Approximate length: 23.5
km
Estimated duration: The Crossing can be covered in just one
day and without an overnight stay or in 2 or 3 days, with the
possibility of staying 1 or 2 nights in the Sete Quedas camping area.
Difficulty level: Heavy
Signaling: orange arrows
At
the beginning of the trail, visitors should follow the red arrows for 3
km and take the fork on the right to Travessia das Sete Quedas. From
there, the arrows are orange. Arriving at Canyon 1, there is a sign
indicating the beginning of the Crossing. The landscape has different
physiognomies, such as rupestrian fields, paths, in addition to the
cerrado strictu sensu until the first crossing of the Rio Preto, where
it must cross the diagonal formed by the two orange posts, one on each
side of the bank. Until then, the visitor traveled 10 km. After crossing
the river, the visitor will travel another 7 km along a historical trail
from the mining era, known as Fiandeiras, passing through dirty and
clean fields and entering the rocky savannah until arriving at the Sete
Quedas camp, close to the Preto River, with good quality water and
capacity for 30 visitors per night. There is a dry toilet located 100
meters from the camping area. Follow the signs to find the bathroom and
the instructions for use are available inside. The Park does not provide
toilet paper, gel alcohol and other hygiene products.
From the
camping area, the trail continues along the banks of the Preto River
along the rocks for about 500 meters and the visitor should pay
attention to the orange arrows that will point to the also orange pole
on the other side of the river, indicating the best point of the second
pass. of Rio Preto. Afterwards, the trail continues for just over 6 km
through the rupestrian cerrado, passing by the Mata Funda tower and
ending on the GO-239 highway.
Canyon I is only open to visitors
during the Sete Quedas season, but during this period all visitors to
the National Park can visit it.
ATTENTION: the crossing ends on
the side of the GO-239 highway, about 12 km from São Jorge and 24 km
from Alto Paraíso. Therefore, visitors must hire the transfer service on
their own.
ATTENTION:
- It is recommended to hire an
accredited visitor driver in the National Park. Enrich your experience!
- Contribute to the conservation of the site by respecting the
signposted trail.
- The conscientious conduct of visitors is
essential for visitation to continue on site.
- Camping is
allowed only in the designated areas: Camping Area of Sete Quedas and
Camping Area of Boa Sorte.
- Leaving the National Park, the trail
passes through private properties before reaching the community of
Capela. When passing through these properties, always leave the gates
and brackets closed. In this stretch, do not interact with or feed
domestic animals either.
- Just like São Jorge, the Capela
community is home to an immense historical and cultural heritage.
Respect and value the local culture!
- Currently there are no
restaurants, accommodation or public transport in the Capela community.
For these services, it is essential to make an appointment in advance
with the contacts of the service providers (more information at:
https://caminhodosveadeiros.com.br or
https://pt.wikiloc.com/trilhas-trekking/travessia-sao-jorge-
chapel-parque-nacional-da-chapada-dos-veadeiros-113577622).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Location: Alto Paraíso de Goiás and Cavalcante
(GO)
Length: 25km (one way)
Type: Crossing
Duration:
crossing of approximately 9 hours; or two days with an overnight stay
(Boalucía or Sete Quedas camps)
Difficulty level: Heavy
Access: To take the crossing from São Jorge to Capela, access is through
the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park Visitor Center, in the village
of São Jorge.
To take the crossing in the direction of Capela to
São Jorge, start in Povoado da Capela (Lat.: 14° 2'28.30"S; Long.:
47°49'8.64"W), which is located on the road that connects the
municipalities of Colinas do Sul and Cavalcante.
Navigation: By
accessing the Visitor's Center, the first 15km of the trail follow the
same route as Travessia das Sete Quedas, which is well established and
signposted. Follow the trail that leads to Cânions and Cariocas with the
red arrows until the fork towards Sete Quedas and Cânion I, signposted
ahead with orange arrows. The fork to the Chapel is signposted with
wooden directional signs. On the new stretch, follow the guidelines of
the rustic signs (footprint) of the Caminho dos Veadeiros.
Going
south-north (São Jorge to Capela) follow the yellow footprints on a
black background. Going North-South (Chapel to São Jorge) follow the
black footprints on a yellow background.
For more information,
access the Wikiloc files of Caminho dos Veadeiros:
https://pt.wikiloc.com/trilhas-trekking/travessia-sao-jorge-capela-parque-nacional-da-chapada-dos-veadeiros-113577622.
Type of terrain/environment: Most of the trail is on rocky terrain,
with some more sandy parts. Some stretches have rocks and loose gravel
(risk of accidents). Most of the trail with high exposure to the sun.
The environment is predominantly Cerrado Rupestre, with variations in
fields and forest formations.
Best season: From June to October.
The months from November to May correspond to the rainy season and it is
generally not possible to cross the Rio Preto, therefore access via São
Jorge is temporarily closed. During this period, it will be possible to
access the trail through the Chapel entrance.
It is mandatory to
book the camping area if the entry option is through the Chapel. In
addition, there is a risk of water head in streams and waterfalls. It is
recommended to be extra careful during the rainy season.
Mandatory guide: None, but hiring is highly recommended.
Scheduling: The reservation of overnight stays for the camping areas
depends on the availability of vacancies. It is recommended to plan and
book and purchase tickets in advance on the Sociparques concessionaire
page: https://sociparques.com.br.
TRAIL DESCRIPTION (South-North
direction, from São Jorge to Capela):
FIRST SECTION (8 km)
The
crossing begins at the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park Visitor
Center, where visitors receive all the information about the walk,
especially regarding the risks involved in the activity and description
of the characteristics of the crossing.
In this first section of
the crossing, the visitor must follow the same trail that leads to
Cânions and Cariocas with the red arrows until the fork on the right,
after 4 km, which leads to Capela, Sete Quedas and Cânion I. From there,
follow the orange color arrows. Approximately 1 km later, there is
another signposted fork between the trail that gives access to Canyon I
(400m) and the trail that goes to Capela and Sete Quedas.
Another
3 km ahead, and shortly before the first crossing of the Rio Preto, is
the Boa Sorte camping area, which has a dry toilet.
SECOND
SECTION (13 km)
After the Boa Sorte camping area, the trail crosses
the Rio Preto. Be careful when crossing to avoid accidents! Some stones
may be slippery. Fill up with a minimum of 2 liters of water per person
in the river before continuing the hike. During the dry period, there
are only sources for water replenishment in the final part of this
section.
On the other side of the Rio Preto, the trail continues
for another 7 km until the fork that separates the routes from the Sete
Quedas and São Jorge - Capela crossings. There are signs at this point
indicating directions and distances. Go left at the fork, observing from
now on the signs of the footprint of Caminhos dos Veadeiros. The trail
will follow through a stretch of open fields until starting the descent
of Serra de Santana, with spectacular landscapes. After 5 km the descent
section ends and there is approximately 1 km on flatter terrain in a
forest formation area. Pay close attention to the signs on the trees on
this stretch. The limit of the PNCV is close to the fence with an open
passage for walkers and where there is a signpost, ending this stretch.
THIRD SECTION (4 km)
From the signpost, the visitor should
follow the dirt road with the Caminho dos Veadeiros signs on the trees
and fences for approximately 2 km, until crossing the Córrego
Fiandeiras, which has a good volume of running water all year round and
is a good opportunity for refreshing and water supply. After the Córrego
there is a bracket to cross the fence (keep it closed!) and 500m of
newly opened road (a little beaten) in the middle of a pasture before
reaching the gate (keep it closed!) that gives access to the municipal
road that connects the municipalities of Cavalcante and Colinas do Sul.
Then, turn left on the road towards Povoado da Capela for 1.5 km. Note
that only in this last 1.5 km stretch will the navigation follow the
footprint on a yellow background, as this stretch overlaps with the
Caminho dos Veadeiros bike trail that crosses the road.
Upon
reaching Povoado, after 100m after the first houses, the Chapel will be
visible on the left side. It is the central point of the village. Nearby
there are some bars, which mainly offer drinks. There are no
restaurants, lodgings or public transportation in the area. For these
services, it is essential to make an appointment in advance with the
contacts of the service providers indicated below.
CONSCIOUS
BEHAVIOR:
- Planning is key. Find out about weather conditions
and check the weather forecast.
- You are responsible for your
safety. Make sure you have the necessary experience and equipment for
each situation. When in doubt, hire a local guide or driver and enrich
your experience.
- Take care of the places to go, the trails and
the camping sites.
- Stay on designated trails and don't take
shortcuts.
- Set up camp only in designated areas. Do not make
ditches around tents.
- Take back all your waste. Pay special
attention to microwaste. You are responsible for all of them.
-
The trail does not have toilet facilities, except at the Visitor Center
and in the campsites. We recommend the use of a "Waste Kit" (Shit tube,
Dry sack, etc.) to store the feces. It is a very important conduct to be
adopted to minimize the impact of visitation. Most soils in the region
are shallow and prevent feces from being buried properly. Help spread
this practice and lead by example!
- Take only photographs, leave
only your footprints, kill only time, and take only your memories.
- DO NOT BUILD CAMPS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! High risk of fire! For
cooking, use a stove, for lighting, use flashlights, and for heating,
use suitable equipment.
- Do not feed the local fauna. And
protect your food to avoid further incidents.
- It is forbidden
to consume alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and any other illicit
substances inside the Park.
- The use of speakers at any volume
is prohibited. Respect other visitors and be kind.
- Remember
that after you others will also visit this place.
- Respect local
culture and customs.
VEADEIROS PATH:
- The signage is the
result of the work of volunteers within the scope of the 'Caminho dos
Veadeiros' movement. Do not damage, remove or alter signage.
-
The information contained herein is not an incentive for unscheduled or
unprepared visits. This is a hiking route in a natural environment,
requiring knowledge of the techniques, equipment and risks involved.
- Natural environments are subject to change and the information
presented here may be out of date. We are not responsible for any
inconsistencies or accidents resulting from the practice of sports.
- THE CAMINHO DOS VEADEIROS is a Long Distance Trail that integrates
the Caminho dos Goyazes, within the scope of the Brazilian Trail
Network. For more information visit:
https://caminhodosveadeiros.com.br
Approximate length: 11 km round trip
Estimated
duration: 4h - 8h, depending on how long the visitor stays at the
attractions
Difficulty level: Moderate Superior
Jumps + Carousel +
Rapids: Moderate Superior
Just Corredeiras (6 km): Moderate
Signaling: yellow arrows
The route is done most of the time on
rough and quite stony terrain. On the way, it includes a visit to the
place known as Garimpo, considered the largest quartz crystal mine in
the region when it was active (1912 to 1961). In this area of the Park,
you can see beautiful paths and get a good idea of the true splendor of
Chapada dos Veadeiros. After approximately 4 km of walking, you arrive
at the Mirante do Salto do Rio Preto (120 m jump), the high point of the
route, from where you can see the waterfall, a breathtaking scenario.
800 meters away is the Cachoeira do Garimpão (80m drop), where it is
possible to bathe in the river, in a limited area due to the water
level.
After a rather steep climb of about 800 meters, which can
be quite tiring, you reach the fork that indicates the trail to the
Carrossel viewpoint and well. The Carrosel well is only open during the
dry season, generally from June to November.
The Corredeiras do
Rio Preto is a great place to bathe in the river, in the hydromassages
formed in its small falls. There is a 230-meter suspended trail to the
Corredeiras with accessibility for people with disabilities and reduced
mobility, from the parking lot on the Park’s service road. The final
walk back to the Visitor Center is another 3 km, so be aware of the
Park's closing time, at 6 pm.
The Sociparques concessionaire
offers an internal transport service, from the National Park visitor
center to the Rapids and the beginning of the trail's descent to the
Saltos do Rio Preto. More information at: https://sociparques.com.br/
Approximate length: 11 km round trip
Estimated
duration: 4h – 8h, depending on how long the visitor stays at the
attractions
Difficulty level: Moderate
Signaling: red arrows
The route is made on a stony, flat trail without many slopes,
passing through shady places, water fountains and beautiful landscapes.
After about 5 km of walking, you will reach a fork in the road.
Continuing left for another 1 km, the path leads to Cachoeira das
Cariocas. To the right, for about 800m, is Canyon II.
At
Cachoeira das Cariocas, the Rio Preto splits into two falls. The descent
to the well is steep and requires extra attention. Remember: don't take
risks unnecessarily and if you are not sure. Returning by the same path,
in half an hour of walking, the visitor will arrive at Canyon II, where
you cross blocks of stone until you reach a large bathing well. In the
rainy season, only a small section of the well is used, due to the
strong current of the Rio Preto.
The final walk back to the
Visitor Center is about 3.5 km long.