Looking to a fantastic relaxed holiday after the corona virus pandemic gives us finally some freedom ?
Have a peep at Ivan Bahia's exclusive 4x4 expedition to discover the Brazilian Grand Canyon from all sides a 9-day round tour of the Chapada Diamantina National Park.
We include ALL transfers (from Salvador and back), guided hikes, overnight-stays in pousada (hotel), etc ... completely and exclusively organised for you AND, it's totally adaptable to your specific wishes.
With this extraordinairy voyage this is your perfect off the beaten tracks experience, to enjoy the best of Brazil's nature.
The thing is, there is no competition for this specific holiday-approach in Bahia.
So, if you want to discover this part of Brazil like you'd like it, with a local who knows the region by heart then you simply have to book this package.
Here you can read about the whole program of this unique mountain travel package.
Day 1 :
Our first encounter at your hotel in Salvador (or at the airport) around 08:30 in the morning to leave for the Chapada Diamantina National Park. Optionally we can pick you up along the North coast like in the coastal villages Praia do Forte or Imbassai.
We have about 5-hours driving ahead of us. Around noon we stop for lunch at the most impressive 'kilo-buffet' (you pay according to the weight of what you put in your plate) in Itaberaba. After this we drive on to Igatu, a tiny little mountain village in the heart of the National Park.
In the afternoon we take a walk to the Brazil's version of the Machu Pichu, the remains of an old mining village from the 18th-19th century. You may also have the opportunity to refresh yourself in the little river in the valley of our bed and breakfast, the unique pousada Flor do Açucena.
In the evening you are free for dinner in the village of Igatu.
Day 2 :
After breakfast we take of on foot for a gorgeous walking day, and do our first mini-trekking.
We will be walking in an area where tourists very rarely come, towards the Rampa do Caim, from where we continue to the breathtaking views of the Paraguaçu Canyons. The Paraguaçu-river springs in Chapada Diamantina and wiggles it's way over 650km through Bahia to end in All Saints Bay (the second largest bay of the world).
We'll be back in our pousada around 4:30 p.m.
In the evening you're free for dinner in the village.
Day 3 :
Today we're going for a slightly more relaxed (but no less intense) day.
After lunch we will leave for Ibicoara where we will visit with our local guide Leandro the largest and most impressive waterfall of Chapada Diamantina: the Buracão (which literally translates as the 'giant hole').
We'll be back in the pousada around 7:30 p.m.
In the evening you are free for dinner in the village.
Day 4 :
Around 9 o'clock in the morning after breakfast we leave Igatu (with our off-road vehicle) to go to the other side (west) of the park, to another mountain village Catolés.
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On the way we make a stop to visit an interesting Brazilian rarity: the Byzantine cemetery of Mucugé.
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Then this we take a mixture of roads and mountain slopes to our final destination, where we will arrive in the afternoon.
After checking in at Catolés we will go for an afternoon walk with the possibility to take a refreshing dive or have a beautiful view of the region (we are at more than 1.000m altitude).
In the evening we have dinner at the guesthouse Serra do Barbado.
Day 5 :
After a fortifying breakfast we take the car to Catolés de Cima (at +1.300m). There we continue on foot and climb a good 700m to the highest point of the Chapada Diamantina AND of the whole northeast of Brazil: the Pico do Barbado (2.066m).
This climb is quite technical the last half hour and we reach the peak around noon and (if the weather allows so) we also see the other famous Pico Das Alma (1,966m).
After the picnic at the top we go down to return to the pousada in Catolés where we arrive around 5 pm.
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In the evening we eat in our pousada where the lady of the house takes care of a typical regional dinner.
Day 6 :
After breakfast (around 7.30 am) we leave Catolés to drive to Guiné. After a 2h30 drive on mostly unpaved dirt-roads we are at the bottom of the Pati slope. We leave the car there and start a day-trekking to one of the most impressive viewpoints Chapada Diamantina: the mirador of the Valé do Pati.
Once at the viewpoint we eat our picnic, after which we continue our loop until the end of the afternoon to find the car.
We check in at the pousada Beco do Guiné for the night, at night you're free.
Day 7 :
After a tranquil breakfast we take the car to drive to the valley do Capão via some nice 4x4 slopes.
In Capão we do another day-trekking to the famous Cachoeira da Fumaça (the 'smoke-waterfall'), which with its 380m is one of the highest waterfalls in Latin America.
After a walk of about 5 hours we go down again and leave for Lençois, the portal of Chapada Diamantina.
On the way (if we continue in time without unexpected surprises) we climb to the famous mountain Morro de Pai Inaçio to see the typical postcard pictures of the Brazilian Grand Canyon with a beautiful sunset from the top of the mountain (weather permitting).
When we arrive at Lençois in the evening, we settle down in a quiet pousada in the woods of Lençois, in the cozy pousada Alto do Cajueiro.
In the evening you are free for dinner in the village.
Day 8 :
After a nice outdoor breakfast, with a pleasant view, we leave for another mini trek to the Sossego Falls, an intense hike (only for hikers accustomed to rough and technical terrain). For those who don't feel too safe to climb and jump over the rocks of a mountain river, we propose as an alternative the hike to Lençois, to see the Primaveira and Cachoeirinha waterfalls and the bizarre sand-salon. With a quiet picnic in nature.
In the evening you are free for dinner in the cosy village, because we stay another night in Lençois (in the same pousada).
Day 9 :
After breakfast we leave around 7:30 am to start the last leg of our journey, a visit to the famous Cachoeiro do Mosquito.
We will have lunch at the farm of the domain and then we will return to Salvador (arrival at your hotel around 8pm).< br>
For those who have decided to make the connection to the islands of Boipeba or Morro de São Paulo, we will not visit the Mosquito Falls because otherwise we would not arrive in time for the ferry to the islands. The same goes for travellers who decide to make the direct connection to Itacaré, Praia do Forte or Imbassai (given the number of kilometers to be covered).
Practical info :
• organized from Salvador da Bahia (all transfers included)
• overnight stays in Lençois, pousada Alto do Cajueiro (breakfasts included)
• private transport in air-conditionned 4x4 SUV
• English speaking guide/driver (French & Dutch also available)
For pricing please get in touch of mail us your request
Included in our prices :
• overnight stays in local guest houses (with breakfasts)
• all park entrances
• private transport & covid-19 vaccinated guide
• WiFi available during the trip (wherever 3G-4G coverage available)
Excluded from our prices :
• food (except breakfast) & beverages
• personal expenses
• park entrances
To make your stay, here in Bahia / Brazil, more confortable we can provide reliable personal airport shutlle & transports (by car or helicopter - 24/7) to / from any destination in Bahia, at any time.
See our TRANSFERS-page for more info.
