Trekking in Chapada dos Veadeiros means walking 70 km across the Kalunga territory, the largest quilombo by land area in Brazil. This 7-day expedition crosses the Vão do Moleque, a remote valley in Cavalcante, Goiás, on the eastern side of these highlands. You camp on Kalunga family land, eat meals cooked by host families, and reach six waterfalls on foot.
The route is a point-to-point traverse: legs of 18 km, 22 km, 18 km, 16 km, and 8 km on the five hiking days, with a 4×4 support vehicle carrying the camping gear so you can walk with a light daypack. Difficulty is rated 3 out of 5 for both technical terrain and physical effort, so you need to be comfortable with long days on uneven trails and one day with about 1,320 m of ascent. Two guides lead the group: an expedition guide (our partner) and a local Kalunga community guide.
This is community-based tourism in the Cerrado, Brazil's vast tropical savanna. The fees you pay for waterfall access and camping go to the Kalunga community that has protected this land for generations. Expect rustic camping with ecological bathrooms, traditional Kalunga cooking, and six waterfalls along the way: Santa Bárbara, Salto do Curriola, Juliana, Guardião, Correntão, and Pedra Furada.
