The brightest place in the world

[highlight]Leia em Português[/highlight]

Home of a unique fauna, breathtaking sceneries and full of waterfalls with crystal clear waters describe this area located over a huge quartz crystal plate, crossed by the 14^th parallel – just like the legendary city of Machu Picchu. All these characteristics make Chapada dos Veadeiros a mystical place, full of energy and surrounded by mysteries.

Looking from outer space, Chapada dos Veadeiros is one of the brightest spots on Earth; it holds the highest concentration of quartz, ore and metals in the world. The story begins with the gold cycle, followed by livestock and the crystal cycle. According to local tour guides, there was a hippie moment, the exoteric and finally the tourists. Many of these guides worked as miners till the 90s, when they were trained to work as Visitor Conductors. Nowadays, besides being responsible for the preservation of the place, they are also an attraction, for their company along the trails enriches us with culture and lessons about the nature.

There are over 200 waterfalls altogether – some already known and others not explored yet. You get to the park through Vila de São Jorge, 36 km from Alto Paraíso de Goiás. Besides the park, there are attractions within private properties that you can visit by paying a fee of about R$ 10. Vale da Lua, Almécegas Waterfalls and Thermal Waters.

I spent a week trekking every day, and had the chance to visit 10 waterfalls. I saw blue macaws and toucans flying freely, what made the walks under the hot sun much more pleasant; however, the main reward after the effort was the refreshing bath in the waterfall.    

Take Note

A good guide makes the difference, because knowing local stories is part of the trip. I hired Alternativas Ecoturismo,

which provided three guides to coordinate our trip. If you hire this agency, ask for Neto, Deni and Very, everyone agreed they made a world of difference. July is high season, so all the attractions were crowded.

© All rights reserved. Pictures and report 100% originals.

Translated by Lúcia Maciel
English teacher