6-day Jalapão Expedition Travel

Start your 6-day travel in Jalapão with our package, a 7:15 am transfer from Palmas, the capital of Tocantins, to São Félix. On the way, we’ll stop for a refreshing dip in the Peixinho River spring. Then we’ll set off for Dona Irani’s restaurant in the community of Taboca, where we’ll have lunch and prepare for the first big adventure of our Jalapão travel: the climb up Morro da Catedral.

To reach the first postcard of the Jalapão that you’ll see, we’ll take the 1,6 km (round trip)  trail that takes approximately 2 hours to climb the hill. At the top, you’ll see a breathtaking sunset and be enchanted by the jalapoeira landscape.

To end the first day of our Jalapão travel, we’ll return to São Félix for a well-deserved rest. Trust us, you’ll want to recharge your batteries because the beauties and adventures that Brazil’s Jalapão has to offer have only just begun!

Total distance by vehicle: day: 280 km (170 km of paved road and 110 km of dirt road)
Total time by vehicle: approx. 4h35

Total hiking distance: 1,6 km (Morro da Catedral Trail)
Total hiking time: approx. 2h

Embark on an exciting second day of expedition in the heart of Jalapão, Brazil, in our package where two distinct itineraries await you, each perfectly aligned with the season.

Regular Season:
From January 07th until April 14th and October 27th to December 30th.

Start the day with a hearty local breakfast before setting off at 6.30 am. We’ll get into 4×4 vehicles for our expedition into the untouched lands of the Jalapão. The highlight of the morning is a 9.5 km, 4-hour trail that leads to the Boa Esperança Community in the town of Mateiros. This is an unusual place in Brazil, where your visit helps to support the local community.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Glamping Refúgio Coração do Jalapão. Here, you’ll stay in simple bungalows with balconies. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to choose from optional activities. You can take part in a thrilling 10 km rafting trip on the Soninho River, enjoy a peaceful kayak along its waters or relax in Glamping’s exclusive Fervedouro. Please note that all activities except rafting are included in your Jalapão travel.

Boa Esperança Trail
Total distance by vehicle: 47 km on dirt road
Total time by vehicle: approx. 1h30

Total hiking distance: 9.5 km
Total hiking time: approx. 3h30

Dry Season:
April 21st and October 20th

We’ll embark on an exciting and challenging expedition in the Jalapão travel, starting at 6 am with a walk along the Travessia da Velha. This 12 km hike will take us through clean fields and trails to the magnificent Cachoeira da Velha, where we will have the opportunity to see the waterfall from a unique angle, from inside the park. After the hike, we deserve a rest and there’s nothing better than a relaxing picnic on one of the small beaches along the Rio Novo.

In the afternoon, the adventure continues with an exciting 2-hour rafting trip on Class IV rapids. This is an incredible opportunity to experience the thrill of paddling the waters of the Jalapão, while exploring several charming little beaches along Brazil’s largest river of clean, drinkable water. After rafting, we’ll continue on a 4km hike, enjoying a beautiful sunset over the Brazilian Cerrado, arriving at 6 pm.

Velha Trail
Total distance by vehicle: 80 km on dirt road
Total time by vehicle: approx. 2h15

Total hiking distance: 15.5 km (12 km from the Velha Trail + 3.5 km to the Jalapão Ecolodge)
Total hiking time: approx. 5h50 (4h30 from Trilha da Velha + 1h20 to Jalapão Ecolodge)

Start your day early on another day of your Jalapão travel! We’ll wake up at 4 a.m. to climb the Serra do Espírito Santo on a 1,6 km round trip, where we’ll climb 200 meters to enjoy a breathtaking sunrise in an incredible landscape.

After that, we’ll continue down the mountain to reach the golden dunes of the Jalapão. These sands, set against a backdrop of mountains and springs, are the highlight of this great adventure.

After visiting the dunes, we’ll visit Pixico Beach, in Rio Novo, where we can relax and cool off until lunchtime. Afterwards, we’ll head to Mr. Adélio’s Curicata restaurant in the Rio Novo community, where you can try typical jalapeno cuisine. To end your expedition day in the Jalapão travel, a transfer will take us to the town of Ponte Alta for a good night’s sleep.

Total distance by vehicle: 180 km on dirt road
Total time by vehicle: approximately 4h40

Total walking distance: 1,6 km (Serra do Espírito Santo Trail)
Total walking time: approx. 2h

Start your day’s expedition in the Jalapão with a tasty breakfast before setting off on the day’s adventures. Our first stop is Pedra Furada, a unique place in the cerrado with incredible views. This place got its name from the natural holes in a large sandstone rock. It’s a great place for memorable photos.

Next, we’ll head to the Encantado Canyon, where we’ll hike approximately 5.2 km (round trip) inside. Depending on the time of year, you can see up to five waterfalls in one place! It’s a really rare and special place.

After all this expedition in one of the main postcards of the Jalapão, you’re going to be hungry. So we’ll have lunch at Dona Rosa’s restaurant to taste more of the local flavours. To end your trekking in the Jalapão with our package, a transfer will take us to Palmas, where we will arrive at 7:30 p.m., ending 5 days of adventures in this Brazilian paradise!

Total distance by vehicle: 308 km (156 km on dirt road + 152 km on paved road)
Total time by vehicle: approx. 5h15

Total hiking distance: 5.2 km (Encantado Canyon Trail)<<
Total hiking time: approx. 3h

Get ready for the last day of your travel through the Jalapão! After breakfast we set off from Palmas towards Lajeado, a visually rich route where the lake formed by the damming of the Tocantins River and the mountains and hills accompany our expedition.

The first stop is the Caititu Archaeological Site, where ancient cave paintings offer us a glimpse into past civilizations. Lunch will be at a place on the banks of the Tocantins River, followed by a visit to the studio of ceramicist Maria Elisa. To end the day, we’ll hike 5.4 km (round trip) to enjoy the sunset at Morro do Segredo. The return to Palmas is scheduled for the end of the day, after an experience full of beauty and emotions.

For those interested in getting to know even more, the sixth day of our 6-day Jalapão adventure travel offers an additional option as an alternative to the Lajeado tour: a visit to Japanese Lagoon. This destination stands out for its extraordinary natural beauty, with crystal-clear waters in shades of blue and green and limestone rock formations that create an almost surreal setting. Lunch will be served at Dona Almerinda’s restaurant and, after a day of tranquillity and appreciation of nature, at 2pm we start the return journey to Palmas, marking the end of this 6-day Jalapão adventure travel that will remain etched in your memory forever!

Total distance by vehicle: 292km on paved road + 20 km on dirt road
Total time by vehicle: approx. 5h20

Total hiking distance: 5.4 km (Morro do Segredo trail)
Total hiking time: approx. 4h