Looking for an experience in Brazil’s Vale do Pati, the trekking hub of Chapada Diamantina? Learn all about it before booking your trip!
Amidst Chapada Diamantina National Park, in the state of Bahia, Vale do Pati is a dream destination for trekkers all over the world. Hiking trails, waterfalls, rock formations, and beautiful landscapes make this the perfect place for travelers seeking adventure and full immersion in nature.
Want to learn more about this fantastic place? PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in Chapada Diamantina tours, has put together 10 facts about Vale do Pati. Check them out below!
1. Thousands of Football Fields Can Fit Inside Vale do Pati
Chapada Diamantina National Park ranges over 152,142 hectares—bigger than Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malta—while Vale do Pati’s total area is 12,300 hectares.
Let’s put it in easier terms: Vale do Pati is as big as 17,227 football (soccer) fields!
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👉 Read more: How to Get to Chapada Diamantina National Park?
2 – The Downfall of the Coffee Cycle and The Rise of Ecotourism
The soil in Vale do Pati is known for excellent coffee harvests. In the heyday of the coffee cycle—one of Brazil’s most important economic eras—during the 19th century, over 400 families lived in the area. There was a school, a church, and a city hall.
Scarce workforce and soil exhaustion caused by mass production prompted the downfall of the coffee cycle in 1930. Consequently, Vale do Pati was abandoned until the late 1970s. In 1985, the region was incorporated into the national park, but this time, only ten families called Pati their home.
To this day, locals make a living from ecotourism activities, offering their own homes as a safe place for backpackers to rest.
3. Authentic Stay Experience in Vale do Pati, Brazil
One of the most relevant facts about Vale do Pati is that this is a remote location, which means there are no hotels, lodges, buildings, or stores. If you’re planning your vacation to this part of Chapada Diamantina, keep in mind that you’ll stay in the locals’ houses—the very same ones we’ve mentioned before.
The accommodations are modest but still cozy and very clean. The authentic stay experience also includes home-cooked meals. If you’re interested in eating typical Brazilian food made by people who know everything about it, this is your chance!
By staying in the natives’ homes, you’ll get the full experience of what it’s like to live in nature. This is the perfect opportunity to fully immerse yourself in Bahia’s culture, learn all about your hosts’ day-to-day life, and support the local communities to make a living in a sustainable, dignified way.
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👉 Read more: Where to stay in Chapada Diamantina?
4. Best Trekking Destination in Brazil
Brazil’s Paty Valley is a popular ecotourism destination due to its great trekking conditions. In 2010, the Ministry of Tourism nominated it the best hike in the country and one of the top circuits on the planet.
Hiking here is a given to reach pretty much all the iconic attractions of the national park. The good news is that there are options for expert hikers or people with no experience in this type of excursion. The trick is asking your tour guides for recommendations that fit your skills and desired itinerary!
5. Waterfalls in Vale do Pati
The waterfalls in Vale do Pati are breathtaking and are considered essential parts of the trekking circuits. If you don’t bathe in a waterfall after a long hike, you’re not enjoying your vacation right!
Cachoeirão: Its nearly 300-meter fall boasts several smaller waterfalls during the rainy season. To get the full experience, hike on the top side to catch the amazing view of the falls surrounded by mountains and vegetation. Then, explore closer to the well at the bottom.
Cachoeira dos Funis: Fairly small, the 30-meter fall that pools into a natural well at the base is the perfect place to cool off and relax.
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👉 Read more: Chapada Diamantina Waterfalls: Best Trails and Hidden Gems
6. Atlantic Forest
Vale do Pati is one of the few places in Chapada Diamantina where there still are remnants of the Atlantic Forest, while most of the park is covered by the Caatinga and Cerrado flora, which proves the richness of the region’s biodiversity.
The Atlantic Forest features unified treetops that create plenty of shade and humidity, dense vegetation, and a great diversity of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
7. Stunning Lookouts
Vale do Pati is beautiful everywhere, but there are two specific lookouts that provide stunning panoramic views of Chapada Diamantina: Morro do Castelo and Mirante do Pati.
At 1600 meters high, Morro do Castelo is the highest point of the national park. To get there, visitors have to face a steep climb and hike around a cave (Gruta da Lapinha).
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To arrive at Mirante do Pati (1400 meters high), the hike kicks off from Guiné, a small town with great access to Chapada. After passing through rocky paths, open fields, and the banks of the Rio Preto, you’ll reach the lookout.
The journey isn’t easy, but the beautiful views of pristine nature are the reward you need to stay motivated!
8. A Paradise for Nature Junkies
Although Chapada Diamantina offers hundreds of breathtaking landscapes, Vale do Pati is, undoubtedly, a true scene stealer. The amazing views, waterfalls, caves, and hiking trails make it one of the most beautiful and unique places in Brazil.
Vale do Pati gathers everything a backpacker looks for in adventure, including isolation from the outside world, complete disconnection from digital devices, and a new perspective on what Mother Nature is capable of.
👉 Read more: When Is The Best Time To Visit Chapada Diamantina?
9. Sustainable Way of Life
National parks aim for the conservation of natural resources. In other words, things work a little differently on their premises.
In Vale do Pati, most electric/electronic devices are powered by solar energy, including cellphones, batteries, and lamps. Refrigerators run on gas and showers are cold—which, considering the warm temperatures of Chapada Diamantina, is totally fine.
Most supplies (food, household goods, solar panels, etc.) arrive in Vale do Pati on horseback, carried by donkeys or even by the locals themselves. No cars making noise or polluting the air!
10. Zero Internet Connection
The last fact about Vale do Pati is that there is no internet connection along the trails and in the more isolated areas of the national park. While some residents may offer Wi-Fi, unstable connections are not uncommon.
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Chapada Diamantina is all about nature and human connections. You’ll have everything you need while you’re there—beautiful views, gorgeous waterfalls and underground lakes, several kilometers of hiking trails, cozy accommodations, and interactions with amazing people.
You won’t even miss scrolling on your phone!
Traveling to Vale do Pati, Brazil, with PlanetaEXO
Now that you know all the important facts about Vale do Pati, it’s time to visit this fascinating destination!
PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in Chapada Diamantina tours, is here to help you book the vacation of your dreams, from tailor-made itineraries to transfer options and accommodations. Contact us now!
