Chapada Diamantina National Park

Chapada Diamantina National Park is one of the natural wonders of the state of Bahia. This vast national park covers a vibrant mountain plateau deep in the middle of the dry back lands of Bahia, 250 miles inland from Salvador (approximately 5.5 hours drive).

Due to its high elevation rains tend to fall more often, creating a true green oasis in the middle of the dry semi-arid Sertão (semi-desert ecosystem charactarizing much of Bahias interior).

The national park is spread over 1,500 km sq (932 sq miles) and is dominated by bizarre geological structures in a mountainous landscape, containing hundreds of waterfalls, large caves with impressive stalagmite and stalactite formations, rivers with natural swimming pools and an abundance of magnificent flora. The park offers superb trekking and walking through beautiful landscapes, full of valleys and mountains, with stunning views.

Highights in the park include the waterfall Poço do Diablo (30m high!) where one can have a swim in the lake under the fall. The waterfall ‘Cachoeira da Fumaça', also know as the glass waterfall. Most of its water evaporates before reaching the 422 m lower ground, an extra ordinary sight! Pectacular caves formed by subterranean rivers, of which some can be visited by feet, others with a snorkel and bathing suite (very spectacular! “Armed” with torches and accompanied by trained guides one will be able to swim into a dark cave with fish swimming below and bats flying above). The ‘Morro de Pai Inacio', the most prominent peak in the area, where one has a stunning views over the area from the top, after climbing a steep hike...

The Chapada da Diamantina can be visited the whole year round! A little more rain has to be expected during Brazilian summer months (Dec-Mar).

Lençois

The principal entrance to the Chapada Diamantina is the picturesque little town of Lençóis. This city was founded in the 18th century, when the first diamonds where discovered in the area. Diamond-fever attracted thousands of settlers. For a short period Lençois was a very wealthy town, during the height of the diamond boom the French even installed a vice-consulate in the little mining town. With the decline of the diamond mining the town's economy has since long turned into manioc and coffee.

Altough illegal diamond mining still exists, extraction of diamonds became prohibited with the inauguration of the protected status of the national park.

Lençois breathes a colonial atmosphere; walking through its streets feels like traveling back in time. The little town is an historical monument and a colonial gem, with a very laid-back atmosphere, some nice bars to have a drink after a day full of excursions or trekkings and some very good accommodation options.