Chapada dos Veadeiros in 3 days
A long day in the national park, a short day at Vale da Lua and a day with a Kalunga guide at Santa Bárbara. Each has an entry time that rules the rest: see which before you leave Brasília.
Day 1: Saltos do Rio Preto
The national park gate is on GO-239 at km 36, in the village of São Jorge, about 260 km from Brasília (BR-020 to Formosa, BR-010/GO-118 to Alto Paraíso and GO-239, the last 14 km on dirt). One guide suggests leaving the car in the village and walking to the gate, about 1 km.
Ticket R$ 49 (half price R$ 24.50), valid only for the date bought; the park recommends buying ahead online. Before you go in, a briefing video at the visitor centre. Entry on foot runs from 8:00 to noon and every attraction must be left by 18:00. The trail is self-guided, marked with yellow arrows; about 11 km round trip, past an old quartz-crystal mine, the 120 m fall lookout and the 80 m fall, with a swimming pool in a marked area. After it comes the hardest climb, about 1 km. No food or drink is sold in the park.
See my day at the SaltosExample: day 1 hour by hour
| 07:45 | The gate, on foot from the village. Ticket for the date. |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Park opens. Briefing video. |
| 08:20 | Start of the trail, following the yellow arrows. |
| ~11:50 | The 80 m fall and its pool (about 3h30), with the 120 m fall lookout on the way. |
| 12:45 | Start back, about 3 h, with the hard climb right at the beginning. |
| ~15:45 | The gate, before 18:00. |
Times estimated from the sources (one guide says 4 h just to the 80 m fall). Distance varies from 10 to 13 km between sources.
Day 2: Vale da Lua
On GO-239, about 9 km from São Jorge, then 2 to 3.5 km of dirt; a normal car makes it. Ticket R$ 50 (2026 guides; older sources say R$ 40), paid at the entrance: bring cash or Pix. Open 8:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:00. The trail is about 1.5 km round trip, well marked, with a lifeguard on duty. No coolers, alcohol, glass or speakers. The water is very cold all year, the rocks are slippery and some potholes are closed to swimming.
See my day at Vale da LuaDay 3: Cachoeira Santa Bárbara
In Cavalcante, at the Kalunga village of Engenho II, some 27 to 30 km of dirt on GO-241; there's no petrol station in the village, so arrive with a full tank. Buy the ticket online in advance (R$ 55 to R$ 75 depending on the source) and hire the mandatory Kalunga guide at the Engenho II visitor centre (CAT), for groups of up to 6 (R$ 200 for one attraction, cash or Pix). The last 4 km are by local pickup (R$ 20 to R$ 30 a person) or on foot.
The CAT is open 7:00 to 17:00 and the last departure for the falls is around 15:00; each group gets about an hour at the fall, and the cap is about 300 people a day. A tip from the sources: between 12:00 and 14:00 the strong sun brings out the blue of the water. To shorten the drive, sleep in Cavalcante.
See my day at Santa BárbaraFrom November to April it rains in the Chapada: the park stays open, but with flash-flood risk; Santa Bárbara's water turns murky and the road worsens. The preview shows the rain for the hours you're out.
Sources: Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Alto Paraíso town hall, the Kalunga association (akceatrativos.sgtour.com.br), Melhores Destinos, Metrópoles, 2024 to 2026.
The trails in this guide (pages in Portuguese): Saltos do Rio Preto, Vale da Lua, Cachoeira Santa Bárbara.