How to visit the Cerrado in Brazil

Here’s everything you should know to visit Brazil’s second-largest biome and one of the Earth’s most fascinating nature destinations

 

Vast fields of green-yellow vegetation, short trees, and bushes thrive in the tropical climate of this Brazilian savanna, home to rich fauna and flora, breathtaking views, and undeniable environmental relevance.

The Cerrado in Brazil is a great destination for travelers who love adventure and wildlife. In the article The 25 best places in the world to travel to in 2025, National Geographic describes the biome as “an underappreciated yet incredible place”, highlighting birdwatching and wolf tracking as reasons to visit it.

Traveling to the Cerrado is, without a doubt, an unforgettable experience of unparalleled beauty, connection with nature, contribution to sustainable practices, and the discovery of one of Brazil’s most important – and lesser known – ecosystems.

What is the Cerrado in Brazil?

Covering 25% of Brazil’s territory, in the states of Goiás, Brasília, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Maranhão, Piauí and São Paulo, the Cerrado is over 2 million km². The area is so big it can fit England, France, Germany and Spain!

The second-largest Brazilian biome – only after the Amazon Rainforest – the Cerrado is considered the most biodiverse savanna in the world for housing 5% of the planet’s animals and plants. The sources of eight of the country’s twelve main river basins are located there, including rivers like São Francisco, Tocantins, Paraná, and Paraguay. Due to its importance in supplying clean water, the biome is also known as “the water tank of Brazil”.

The GHG emissions profile is also a relevant part of the region, which plays a huge role in regulating the weather and minimizing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. According to MapBiomas Brasil, an initiative to map Brazil’s land cover and its changes over the years, there are 8.1 gigatons of organic carbon stock in the first 30 cm of Cerrado’s soil. In the areas with natural vegetation, there are 41 tons of carbon per hectare.

Environmental challenges

60% of Brazil’s agriculture production takes place in the Cerrado’s fertile soil, including soy, corn, cotton, and beef. This is very important for the country’s economy, yet harmful to the environment. Between the years 2000 and 2015, the areas dedicated to crops have increased by 87% – and continue to grow at a rapid pace.

Converting native vegetation into agricultural lands consumes carbon stocks, deregulates the climate, worsens erosion, reduces the soil’s ability to retain water, and endangers the animals. Although scientists claim the best way to protect the Cerrado in Brazil is simply by leaving it untouched, this is not a realistic possibility given its importance for the country’s economic functioning.

Luckily, some national and state parks safeguard the Cerrado in different areas, like Jalapão State Park (Tocantins), Sempre-Vivas National Park (Minas Gerais), Emas National Park (Goiás), Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (Goiás) and Grande Sertão Veredas National Park (Minas Gerais).

Even so, it’s still important to keep the balance between agriculture and the environment. A few solutions can be very useful, such as applying sustainable agriculture activities, restoring native vegetation, using renewable energy sources, and creating more laws that aim for Cerrado’s conservation – as well as toughening the punishments for those who disrespect them.

Ecotourism is also a powerful resolution. Sustainable travel practices are capable of raising funds for preservation efforts, creating awareness of the importance of the biome, and empowering local communities to not only make a living but also remove these people from jobs that could be potentially harmful to the Cerrado. 

Cerrado Wildlife

Some of the best wildlife tours in Brazil take place in the Cerrado. 860 species of birds, 200 mammals, 180 reptiles, 150 amphibians, 1,200 fish, and millions of insects live in this ecosystem.

The star of the Cerrado’s fauna is the mane wolf, the largest canid in South America. Its reddish-orange fur, long legs, solitary nature, and eating habits – which include small animals and even a native fruit called lobeira – are the main traits of this gorgeous creature. In the region’s folklore, the mane wolf has magical powers, capable of vanishing in the blink of an eye and hypnotizing its prey to make hunting easier.

Other animals are considered to also be symbols of the Cerrado, like ocelots, armadillos, giant anteaters, porcupines, macaws, brocket deer, etc.

When is the best time for a Cerrado trip?

During the dry season, the best time to visit the Cerrado is between May and September. That’s when the weather is milder, with warm days and cool nights. Temperatures can range from 15º C to 30º C.

Hiking and spotting animals are great activities when the rainfall volume is lower, while the wet season (October to April) allows for greener vegetation and fuller rivers/waterfalls.

Places and tours in the Cerrado

As previously said, the Cerrado is so massive it touches different states, which means many great options for places and tours. Some of them, however, stand out for their beauty, total immersion in nature, and unique experiences.

See the best Cerrado tours below!

Jalapão

Jalapão State Park is a conservation unit whose purpose is protecting the natural resources located in the east of the state of Tocantins, which is covered by the Cerrado. 

Falling head over heels for this place is a given for any traveler. Sand dunes, ancient rock formations, hiking trails, waterfalls, rivers, and lagoons are safely nestled within the park, but the fervedouros are probably Japalão’s main attractions.

Fervedouros are very similar to natural pools, only they are surrounded by trees – mostly buriti palm trees –, and it’s impossible to sink into them, no matter how deep they are. The pressure coming from underground aquifers makes anyone and anything float, and it also gives a boiling-like effect to the water.

How to get there: Brigadeiro Lysias Rodriguez Airport (PMW), in Palmas, the capital of Tocantins, is the nearest airport to Jalapão. There are direct flights from Brasília, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Goiânia. After landing, a 4-hour car ride will take you to Jalapão.

👉 Don’t miss the chance to visit this magical place: Check out our Jalapão tours! 

Pousada Trijunção

Just as the Cerrado in Brazil is a must-visit place for 2025 according to National Geographic, the publication also mentions Pousada Trijuncão, a high-end lodge situated in the triple border of Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Goiás, as the perfect accommodation when traveling to the biome.

Besides the sophistication, premium services, elegant facilities, delicious food, and exclusivity – there are only seven suites available for booking –, Trijunção’s love and respect for the Cerrado make for activities unlike any others.

This is the ideal option for those who want to see mane wolves. In partnership with Onçafari – a non-profit that aims to make wild animals used to the presence of humans to develop ecotourism and protect the fauna and flora –, Pousada Trijunção’s guests can join safaris to spot mane wolves in their natural habitat, always accompanied by expert guides who follow strict protocols to ensure the group’s safety and the animal’s comfort.

The itinerary also offers birdwatching, hiking, night safari, visiting Grande Sertão Veredas National Park, kayaking, sunset contemplation, and bike riding through the Cerrado fields.

How to get there: From Brasília, Trijunção is 333 km away (5-hour car ride). Guests can either drive their own cars, rent vehicles, hire a transfer service on the side, or even fly in a private plane or chartered flight departing from Brasília Airport (BSB).

👉 Curious to see more? Check our Brazil Wild Cerrado Tour at Pousada Trijunção!

Chapada dos Veadeiros

In the northeast of Goiás, Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is home to typical Cerrado vegetation, gorgeous waterfalls, dozens of water springs, and billion-year-old rock formations! Recognizing its importance, UNESCO nominated this mesmerizing place as a World Heritage site in 2001.

Hikers from all over the planet visit Chapada dos Veadeiros to explore all of its secrets, including quartz crystals formed over the course of time that many people believe to have healing powers.

The waterfalls, however, are surely the most sought-after attractions in the park. Just to name a few, Saltos do Rio Preto, Cariocas, Segredo, Almécegas I and II, Vale da Lua, and Catarata dos Couros are definitely worth the visit.

How to get there: Chapada dos Veadeiros is served by Brasília Airport (BSB), but a 3-hour journey on the road is required after landing. Accommodations take place in Alto Paraíso de Goiás, a small town with only 10,306 inhabitants – and great access to the park.

👉 See for yourself: Book our Trekking Tour in Chapada dos Veadeiros now!

Chapada das Mesas

Chapada das Mesas National Park touches 11 towns in the south-central of the state of Maranhão. Its plateaus resemble the shape of stone tables, hence the name – the word mesas means “tables” in Portuguese.

The Cerrado covers a good portion of the park’s 160,000 ha, but the Caatinga and the Amazon biomes also share the same space. This creates a beautiful natural diversity among crystal-clear waterfalls, natural pools, and huge rocky walls that give the place all of its charm. Due to this richness, Chapada das Mesas is often compared to Jalapão.

When it comes to what to do in the Cerrado in this particular spot, some activities are almost mandatory. Cachoeira do Santuário is a 46-meter waterfall hidden inside a canyon, while Encanto Azul and Poço Azul are jaw-dropping natural pools nestled in between rock formations.

How to get there: Carolina and Richão are the main entry points to Chapada das Mesas, but there are no airports in either town. Landing at Palmas Airport (PMW), in Tocantins, is the method chosen by many travelers because there are more flight options. On the road, the journey to the national park takes about 7 hours.

The Cerrado in Brazil is waiting for you!

Now that you know all the major details about the Cerrado, it’s time to see this magnificence with your own eyes!

PlanetaEXO not only helps you with your travel plans, but we also connect you to the best professionals in the field so you can finally have the vacation of your dreams. Send us a message and let’s begin!