Looking for an experience in Vale do Pati, the trekking area of Chapada Diamantina? Learn the most important facts about it before booking your trip!
Amidst Chapada Diamantina, in the state of Bahia, Vale do Pati is a dream destination for trekkers all over the world. Hiking trails, waterfalls, rock formations, and underground lakes make this the perfect place for travelers seeking for adventure and full immersion in nature.
Check out 10 facts about Vale do Pati and see why this is one of the best spots for ecotourism in Brazil!
1 – Thousands of football fields can fit inside Vale do Pati
Chapada Diamantina National Park rangers over 152,142 ha, while Vale do Pati’s total area is 12,300 ha.
Let’s put it in easier terms: Vale do Pati is as big as 17,227 football (soccer) fields!
2 – Coffee cycle
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 periods – 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 Chapada Diamantina National Park, but this time, only ten families called Pati their home.
To this day, locals make a living from tourism activities, offering their own homes as a safe place for backpackers to rest – we’ll talk more about this below!
3 – Best hiking destination in Brazil
One of the main facts about Vale do Pati is its great hiking conditions. In 2010, Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism nominated it as the best hike in the country – and it’s also mentioned as one of the top trekking circuits on the planet!
Hiking in Vale do Pati is a given to get to pretty much all the tourist spots in the 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!
4 – Vale do Pati waterfalls
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
Translated as “big waterfall”, Cachoeirão is a must-see spot in Vale do Pati. Its 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 where the waterfalls so you can swim, take pictures, and relax.
Cachoeira do Buracão
Buracão has dozens of waterfalls that can be accessed by a mid-level difficulty trail and a few minutes in the water, swimming across a valley of rocks. The experience is unlike any other, but the presence of a professional guide is mandatory.
Upon arrival in Buracão, you’ll see an 85-meter fall that will make you wide-eyed. The water is stronger and more abundant when the rainfall is heavier, but the view is gorgeous no matter the season.
Cachoeira da Fumacinha
Fumacinha falls so strongly, the water almost looks like smoke – hence the name, “little smoke”. One of Vale do Pati’s most recognized scenarios, this 100-meter-high waterfall is longed by many hikers.
To get there, you’ll have to face a high-difficulty level hike that not everyone can conquer. Good physical conditions, skills to walk on rocky paths, and liveliness for an 18 km journey are indispensable requirements.
But the effort is worth it. Fumacinha offers unbelievable views of untouched vegetation, ancient canyons, and infinite blue sky.
5 – Atlantic Forest
Vale do Pati is one of the few places in Chapada Diamantina where there still are remnants of the Atlantic Forest – in an area called Calixto – 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.
6 – Stunning lookouts
Vale do Pati is beautiful everywhere, but two specific lookouts provide stunning panoramic views of Chapada Diamantina.
At 1600 meters high, Morro do Castelo is the highest point in Pati. To get there, visitors have to face a steep climb and hike around a cave (Gruta da Lapinha). Up until November 2024, hikers had to walk inside Lapinha, but the trail had to be altered for safety reasons.
To arrive at Mirante do Vale do Pati, the hike kicks off from Guiné, a small town with great access to the park. After passing through rocky paths, open fields, and the banks of the Rio Preto River, 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.
7 – Underground lakes
Another cool fact about Vale do Pati that every traveler should know about is that this place hikes incredible underground lakes – which are open for visitation.
Poço Azul waters are so unbelievably blue, it almost looks like a dream. From 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., the sunlight hits the cave cracks just right, making it shine in an otherworldly way. Swimming and snorkeling are allowed, but visitors need to wash away any impurities beforehand, like sunscreen or dirt. This helps to keep the 20-meter lake clean.
Poço Encantado is 60 meters deep and 110 meters long. The water is intensely blue and crystal-clear, but it gets even more beautiful under the sunlight. While bathing is prohibited, visitors are welcome to sit around the lake to admire its beauty.
Vale do Pati is beautiful everywhere, but there are two specific lookouts that provide stunning panoramic views of Chapada Diamantina.
At 1600 meters high, Morro do Castelo is the highest point in Pati. To get there, visitors have to face a steep climb and hike around a cave (Gruta da Lapinha). Up until November 2024, hikers had to walk inside Lapinha, but the trail had to be altered for safety reasons.
8 – Authentic stay experience
There are no hotels, lodges, buildings, or stores in Chapada Diamantina. If you’re planning your vacation in Vale do Pati, keep in mind that you’ll stay in the locals’ houses.
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 people’s 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, learning all about your hosts’ day-to-day life.
9 – Sustainable way of life
National parks aim for the conservation of natural resources, which means 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. The refrigerator runs on gas and the shower is cold – which, considering the warm temperatures of Chapada Diamantina, it’s 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 – cell or internet service aren’t able to arrive in such a remote area.
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!
Come travel with us to Vale do Pati!
Now that you know all the important facts about Vale do Pati, it’s time to visit this fascinating place! PlanetaEXO is here to help you book the vacation of your dreams. Contact us and let the adventure begin!
