# Chapada dos Veadeiros: map, what to do and when to go

Full-day trails to the Rio Preto falls, farm waterfalls and villages born of crystal mining in the cerrado of Goiás

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **Chapada dos Veadeiros: how do I get there?** The nearest airport is Brasília's, 235 km from Alto Paraíso, about 3 hours 50 minutes by car on paved road, and São Jorge is 36 km further.
- **Chapada dos Veadeiros: how many days should I stay?** Five days is ideal: three in São Jorge, for the Vale da Lua and the park's Yellow and Red Trails, one in Alto Paraíso, for the Almécegas and Loquinhas, and one for Santa Bárbara, in Cavalcante.
- **Chapada dos Veadeiros: is one park ticket good for two days?** No.

## From Brasília to São Jorge, with the Vale da Lua on the way
Before leaving, pay Alto Paraíso's Environmental Conservation Fee online and save the QR code; also buy the park tickets for days 2 and 3.
- Vale da Lua

## Yellow Trail: the Rio Preto falls
Be at the Visitor Center at 8 a.m. with the ticket for the date, water, a snack, sunscreen and a rain jacket; entry on foot runs until noon.
- Saltos do Rio Preto
- Cachoeira do Segredo

## Red Trail: Cânion II and Cariocas, and the late afternoon at Jardim de Maytrea
Return to the gate at 8 a.m. with that day's ticket and follow the red arrows to Cânion II, a large pool between rock walls on the Rio Preto.
- Cânion II
- Jardim de Maytrea

## Almécegas and Loquinhas, now based in Alto Paraíso
Leave São Jorge in the morning and take the GO-239 to the entrance of Fazenda São Bento, 8 km from Alto Paraíso.
- Cachoeiras Almécegas
- Cachoeira Loquinhas

## Saltos do Rio Preto
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-saltos-do-rio-preto
Alto Paraíso de Goiás · Half a day or more
The two Rio Preto falls, of 120 and 80 meters, are the reason for almost every first trip to the park. The Yellow Trail, marked with yellow arrows, leaves the Visitor Center in São Jorge and passes old crystal mining areas on the way to the lookout over the 120-meter fall; the 80-meter one, the Cachoeira do Garimpão, has a pool for swimming. The same route includes the Carrossel, a set of falls and canyons, and the Corredeiras, small falls and natural pools. It is about 11 km round trip, six to seven hours, over steep, stony ground, rated by the concessionaire as upper-moderate difficulty. On foot, entry runs until noon; with the internal shuttle, paid separately, you can shorten the walk to the Corredeiras.
Check access

## Cânion II
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-canion-ii
Half a day or more
Cânion II is a large pool on the Rio Preto, between rock walls, at the end of the Red Trail. The same trail leads to the Cachoeira das Cariocas, with falls and pools, about half an hour's walk from the canyon. It is about 11 km round trip, four to five hours, on a stony path with little incline, of moderate difficulty. It is the pick for a second day in the park, but it demands attention to rain: firefighters have rescued a group of 16 visitors stranded in Cânion II after the water rose in about two minutes.
Check access

## Vale da Lua
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-vale-da-lua
Goiás · One to two hours
Outside the park, on private property beside the GO-239, the Rio São Miguel carved the quartzite into potholes, grooves and rounded pools that give the place its name. The trail is short and easy, about 1.5 km round trip, and access is 4 km of dirt from the pavement. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with entry paid only in cash or Pix, Brazil's instant payment system. On rainy days part of the valley becomes inaccessible, and the potholes turn dangerous when the river rises.
Check access

## Cachoeiras Almécegas
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-cachoeiras-almecegas
One to two hours
On Fazenda São Bento, with an entrance 8 km from Alto Paraíso on the GO-239, are Almécegas I, 45 meters high, seen from a lookout and with swimming below the series of falls, Almécegas II and the Cachoeira São Bento. All three are on the same property and have different characters, which makes the farm a good morning for those staying in town. The entrance fee is charged at the gate.
Check access

## Cachoeira Loquinhas
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-cachoeira-loquinhas
One to two hours
A complex of eighteen emerald-green pools and small falls on a farm 4.4 km from the center of Alto Paraíso, along Rua do Segredo. The circuit totals about 2.2 km on three well-kept trails with easy access, which is why it is one of the best-suited options for families with children. Free-roaming monkeys often accompany the walk.
Check access

## Cachoeira do Segredo
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-cachoeira-do-segredo
Alto Paraíso de Goiás · Half a day or more
A 130-meter cascading waterfall 53 km from Alto Paraíso, passing through São Jorge: it is about 17 km beyond the village, with the last 8 km on dirt, which makes São Jorge the right base. The trail is about 7 km round trip and follows the river through the forest, with two swimming pools along the way. Entry is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the sun hits the fall from October to April.
Check access

## Jardim de Maytrea
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-jardim-de-maytrea
Up to half an hour
A lookout beside the GO-239, between Alto Paraíso and São Jorge, over a vereda of buriti palms and cerrado fields, with the Morro da Baleia in the background. The area is inside the national park and is not open to entry: the view is from the fence, free of charge. The crowd concentrates in the late afternoon, when cars pull over on the shoulder for the sunset.
Check access

## Cachoeira dos Cristais
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/chapada-dos-veadeiros/#g-lugar-cachoeira-dos-cristais
One to two hours
A farm 11 km from Alto Paraíso, toward Cavalcante, with 3 km of dirt road to the parking lot. The trail of about 3 km round trip passes nine falls on the way to the main waterfall, and there is a restaurant and campground on site. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It suits those with few hours in town or traveling with children.
Check access

**Chapada dos Veadeiros: how do I get there?**
The nearest airport is Brasília's, 235 km from Alto Paraíso, about 3 hours 50 minutes by car on paved road, and São Jorge is 36 km further. Buses run from Brasília to Alto Paraíso, but not to São Jorge: arrange that leg with your guesthouse or an agency.

**Chapada dos Veadeiros: how many days should I stay?**
Five days is ideal: three in São Jorge, for the Vale da Lua and the park's Yellow and Red Trails, one in Alto Paraíso, for the Almécegas and Loquinhas, and one for Santa Bárbara, in Cavalcante. With three days, stay only in São Jorge.

**Chapada dos Veadeiros: is one park ticket good for two days?**
No. The ticket is valid only for the date purchased, so two trails on two days means two tickets; full price is R$ 49, without the internal shuttle. Buying them on the website before the trip avoids depending on the ticket office.

**Chapada dos Veadeiros: until what time can I enter the park?**
On foot, entry to the trails runs from 8 a.m. to noon; after that, only with the internal shuttle, until 3 p.m., subject to availability and bought round trip. The exception is the Blue Trail, with entry on foot until 4 p.m., closed from June to October.

**Chapada dos Veadeiros: is it better to sleep in São Jorge or in Alto Paraíso?**
São Jorge is at the park gate and suits those doing the trails or traveling without a car, but it is rustic and has no banks. Alto Paraíso, 36 km away, has services and is the base for the Loquinhas, Almécegas, Santa Bárbara and the Catarata dos Couros.

**Chapada dos Veadeiros: how do I visit the Cachoeira Santa Bárbara?**
It is at Engenho II, a Kalunga community in Cavalcante, about 117 km from Alto Paraíso; the last 27 km are dirt and may require a 4x4 in rain. Then come the community's transport, paid separately, and 1.5 km on foot, with a required guide; on busy days, each group may get only one hour at the falls.

**Chapada dos Veadeiros: when is the best time to go?**
From May to September, in the dry season, the trails are firm, the sky is usually clear and the Sete Quedas crossing opens in June. From November to April the waterfalls run full, but the water can rise suddenly and the dirt roads get worse.


## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 3 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/chapada-dos-veadeiros/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/chapada-dos-veadeiros/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/chapada-dos-veadeiros.md