Jalapao Brazil: Travel Guide + Itinerary to Discover the Hidden Eco Paradise

Congratulations! You just found the most complete Jalapao Brazil itinerary & Travel Guide on the web today. Even better? prepared by a local Brazilian, so this is a real Local’s Guide for Jalapão.

If you love hidden gems, isolated places, sustainable tourism among untouched nature, and adventure travel, you will fall in love with Jalapão in Brazil!

This paradise is located in the heart of Brazil, and it should be on your Dream Destinations bucket list if you are a nature and adventure lover.

This Jalapão Brazil Itinerary Guide will take you to places rarely visited that offer a vast area of wilderness, mixing waterfalls, sand dunes, freshwater springs, and much more. Exotic, untouched, remote, vast, and curious even in the name: Jalapão.

Also, on this Jalapao Travel Guide, you will find an exclusive Jalapao itinerary for 5-days with all you need to know to travel to this remote place that just a few lucky people have visited (so far) as this is still a very hidden gem in Brazil!

Brazil is a vast and wonderful country with so many natural beauties to be explored.  Besides beaches and bustling cities, there are also places where calm and nature prevail, such as Jalapão.

Jalapão is a beautiful blend of the American Grand Canyon, the African Savannas, the Sahara Desert, and the Brazilian Northeastern Beaches. All in one place! Jalapao’s best definition is “A mirage in the desert of Tocantins state!”

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Jalapão State Park is located on the extreme Eastern end of the state of the Tocantins, in the heart of Brazil.

The whole state park covers 159 thousand hectares and is one of the newest travel destinations in Brazil for those who love adventure and nature.

This remote and isolated region in Brazil, in the north-central state of Tocantins, is larger than Maryland and virtually empty of humans (it has fewer than one inhabitant per square kilometer). In fact, it’s called a desert for this very reason.

Despite difficult access, Jalapão still maintains its original beauty and many Unities of Conservation with sustainable tourism.

In two full days, you can get to know the basics of Jalapão, but it is ideal to reserve at least 4 days to cover more attractions and be a less tiring trip. The more the better, as there will always be a little bit of paradise to know and time to rest in front of so much soft sand.

Jalapão in Brazil is the perfect off-the-beaten-path attraction for nature and adventure lovers.

Here you can find dunes of the finest orange sand, crystal clear rivers, waterfalls, lagoons, mountains with rocky formations, dry land, and even golden grass. Yes, grass with a golden color!

This area offers an incredible array of ecosystems and wildlife, and it is a perfect adventure destination for everyone.

It is far from touristy and is a great opportunity to see Brazil in a new light. While Jalapão isn’t for the faint of heart, the people that do make the journey will remember it for the rest of their lives.

The State Park has very rich fauna and flora. In addition, when visiting Jalapão, you will be able to learn more about the local culture with traditional communities and to practice sports such as sandboarding, rafting, trails, and cycling.

So, leave your telephone at home and enjoy this immersive experience of untouched nature.

The main support cities for those who want to visit Jalapão are: Ponte Alta do Tocantins, Mateiros and São Félix do Tocantins.

The three form a circular route that begins and ends in Palmas. The main attractions of Jalapão are among the three cities, especially on TO-130 (Pedra Furada), TO-255 (Sussuapara Canyon, Lajeado Waterfall, Jalapão Dunes, Serra do Espírito Santo, Cachoeira da Velha and Prainha do Rio Novo ), and TO-110 (Cachoeira do Formiga and boilers).

There are several airlines flying to Brazil, and you will be flying to a major city international airport. Most likely in Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.

To get to Jalapao from Brazil, you will need to take a flight to the city of Palmas (Tocantins State) – and arrive at the Lysias Rodrigues Airport (PMW).

The airport is the closest to Jalapão State Park, and it receives daily flights from São Paulo, Goiânia, and Brasília. If you come from another destination, you will certainly have to make a stopover on your route.

Once in Palmas, the Jalapão State Park is a six-hour drive away, around 200 miles to reach. But upon your arrival in Palmas, you will need to rent a 4×4 and have off-road driving skills.

I really recommend hiring a local private guide, or at least, joining a group tour. Jalapao is so isolated, that traveling independently is very tricky.

If you decide to visit Jalapão with a travel agency or private guide you do not have to worry about the location of the attractions since the entire route will be carried out by a private guide and driver. Also, it is the safest, and most affordable way to visit Jalapao, plus the tours offer FREE cancelation services. NOTE: take into account that the groups are small and, on holidays and vacations, fill up in advance.

It is important to know that the packages include practically everything from the trip: transfer, accommodation, food, guide, and entrance to attractions. It is up to you to have drinks, separate meals, and one or another tour (like rafting, for example, which is optional).

Services usually include transfers in 4×4 vehicles from Palmas – 152 kilometers from Ponte Alta do the Tocantins, considered the gateway to the park and accessible by a paved road – in addition to walks towards the main attractions, such as the old waterfall, Fervedouro, the Dunes and the Serra do Espírito Santo Viewpoint, all distant from each other and close to the municipality of Madeiros.

The packages also include overnight stays in camps with hot baths and meals. I have selected my TOP PICK tours:

Jalapao Expedition 6 days and 5 nights – This is an amazing tour if you are looking to visit the top destinations in Jalapao and Palmas, with a local tour guide. They offer to pick up, an incredible itinerary, and all the accommodation and meals are included in this package.

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4-Day trip package to Jalapao – This is a very complete itinerary in Jalapao for a 4-day trip. Your guide will be driving a 4×4 to take you to the top destinations and sites, and the best lodges are included in this tour. This tour includes a transfer from Palmas airport.

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3-Days in Jalapao – If you are short on time, and still want to visit this paradise in Brazil, this is the best tour for you. They will take you to the fervedouros, viewpoints, dunes, and local communities. This tour also includes all the meals and accommodations.

If you are planning to drive, you will need to rent a 4×4 vehicle in Palmas. Make sure to book your car in advance, because the rental offer in the city is low and during holidays and weekends, 4×4 vehicles may be sold out.

And as the agencies know that driving in Jalapão is not easy, it can happen that the reservation is denied. Remember that traveling on a sand and dirt road takes much longer compared to pavement roads. The distances that would be short on a regular road, may take up to three times more time just in commuting. Be careful not to be late to places, especially those that require time, such as the sunset in the Dunes of the Jalapão State Park.

The first step is to decide how to get there, as traveling through Jalapão can be a bit tricky. The roads that connect the main attractions are rough and require, a skilled driver and a 4×4 vehicle.

I am one of those travelers who ALWAYS prefer to travel independently, but in the case of Jalapão, I just want to reinforce that the most convenient way to travel is using a travel agency. There are great ones all over the region who organize the expeditions according to your needs.

• IT IS VERY HARD TO GET AROUND JALAPAO WITHOUT A TOUR GUIDE: Roads require a lot of driving skills and there are almost no signs on them. Also, smartphone internet signals don’t work anywhere. So don’t go without a guide even if you have a 4×4 car yourself. If you prefer not to leave your city with a tour package closed, you can easily get a local and experienced guide both in Palmas, the state capital of Tocantins.
• THE ROADS IN JALAPAO ARE REALLY TAUGHT: Something very important to keep in mind is that the roads here are very tough, with roads entirely made out of sand and dirt.
• BEST TIME TO VISIT JALAPAO: In the rainy season, between October and April, the road is somewhat more compact, but still, the car rocks the whole time. The road gets even more complicated during the dry season when the sand is
• PAY ATTENTION WHEN BUYING A TOUR PACKAGE: Many companies organize tours and packages to Jalapão leaving from many different parts of the country. It is difficult to get away from this type of trip, but when buying the package, give preference to the agencies located in the Tocantins itself. I work directly with a local tour operator and my readers have a special price.
• YOU NEED A 4X4 VEHICLE:  A rental 4×4 vehicle car is indispensable because the chances of the car getting stuck are extremely high, especially in the rainless months.
• RENT A CAR FROM A RELIABLE CAR RENTAL: You can get a 15% off your rental car when you book through this site. I use and recommend RentalCar because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different places.

Booking.com

• Fill up: There is no town, people, or any point between Ponte Alta and Mateiros and between Novo Acordo and São Félix. In other words, you can’t get water, food, gasoline, anything. So it is necessary to go carefully and with an extra gallon of fuel.
• Don’t drive at night: Avoid driving at night. Due to the degree of difficulty and long distances.
• Distances: Know that the distances between attractions can take 3 times longer than if you were on a paved road.
• Isolation: The Jalapão has one of the lowest population densities in Brazil: less than one inhabitant per square kilometer
• NO SUNSCREEN: Do not use sunscreen and tanning lotion before entering the springwater boilers. The water is pure, it comes from the earth and we can even drink it. If you use products there, in addition to contaminating the well, it spoils the beauty of the place.
• No Cell phone: There is no phone reception or public phones in the region.
• Have money in hand:  in Mateiros and São Félix, they practically do not accept credit cards! There is also no ATM available.
• What does Jalapão mean: As a matter of curiosity, the name Jalapão comes from a native plant found in the region, named jalapa, which has been used for medicinal purposes by the local people since they settled there.
• Sunset: Try to watch the sunset every single day you are at Jalapão.

Since I mentioned one of the highlights in Jalapao, let’s start by understanding what are the fervedouros first.  

Fervedouros are freshwater boilers, which are very unique to the Jalapão region you will have the opportunity to visit and float on many of them, and they are one of the highlights of your trip. 

Fervedouros are natural water pools over a powerful spring, and even if you try, you won’t sink, all you can do is float.

It happens because the pressure exerted by the water that flows from the water table is able to keep people in constant fluctuation, without any effort.

We could compare the phenomenon to the Dead Sea, for example, but it would not be fair, because the lightness with which floating in Jalapão is incomparable. Feel at ease and sit in the water, literally, to enjoy the moment. In Jalapão, there are boilers of various sizes, shapes, watercolors, and intensities of fluctuation. It is estimated that there are more than 20 in the entire region, but currently, only eight are open for visits.   

Each boiler has a specific capacity for visitors, being allowed to swim between 4-and 10 people at the same time. It is too special of an experience to be lived in a rush.

DAY 1	Visit Cathedral Hill/ Swim at Araras Waterfall/ Start to visit the springwater boilers
DAY 2	Start the day soaking in springwater boilers/ Visit a local community/ Formiga Waterfall
DAY 3	Sunrise at Espirito Santo Hill/ relax by more springwater boilers/ sunset at Jalapão Dunes
DAY 4	Rafting at Velha Waterfall/ Swim at Lajeado Waterfall/ Visit the Sussuapara Canyon/ Sunset at Pedra Furada
DAY 5	Adventure day at Japonês Lagoon

DAY 1: Visit Cathedral Hill/ Swim at Araras Waterfall/ Visit some freshwater boilers

1. Hike the amazing Cathedral Hill

Start day 1 of your amazing itinerary to Jalapão, visiting the Serra da Catedral or Cathedral hill. The hill, as the name implies, is shaped like a cathedral and is completely made of sandstone. There are trails that lead to the top, but it takes time (and a guide) to do the hike. The view from the road alone is worth it. A few minutes for photos and contemplation, all on board to proceed to your second stop of the day.

2. Visit the Araras Waterfall

It is a scenic stop on the way, the water is amazingly green.

3. Soak at the freshwater boilers (fevedouros)

On my day 1 at the National park of Jalapão, I did a couple of fervedouros.

Fervedouro Bela Vista is the most popular and supports up to 10 people at the same time and in high season receives up to 300 people per day! Like the other boilers, if there is a queue, there is a time limit to enjoy: 20 minutes. It is beautiful, surrounded by banana trees, just like the others, and it is really big and impressive. The fountain has 8 springs, its center is 75 meters deep.

DAY 2: Sunrise at Holy Spirit | Adventure day at the Formiga Waterfall

1. Visit the Mumbuca Villages

Start your second-day itinerary in Jalapao by visiting this incredible local community.

It is a small community descended from escaped slaves known for its handicrafts woven from golden grass that only grows in this region – a technique passed down through generations.

Make sure to add the local villages to your itinerary, and also, value and respect the Quilombola communities that live there. Quilombola people have been there for hundreds of years, have a lot of history to tell, culture to teach, and places to show. Remember to support the local communities during your travels.

2. Explore the Formiga Waterfall & some more Fervedouros

Continue your adventure in Jalapao on to the Formiga Waterfall, where emerald green waters tumble over smooth rocks, forming a perfect natural swimming pool shaded by forest. This waterfall cannot be left out of your itinerary, as it is considered one of the 5 most beautiful in Brazil.

The color of the water is due to the bottom with limestone sand. In addition, the source is approximately 1.5 meters from the fall, which almost makes it impossible for impurities to get there.

Stop for a home-cooked lunch at another turquoise spring and enjoy the nearby golden beaches on the River Formiga.

DAY 3: Sunrise at Espirito Santo Hill/ Relax by the springwater boilers/ Sunset at Jalapão Dunes

1. Catch the sunrise at the Espirito Santo Hill

The adventure on your day 3 itinerary in Jalapão starts really early, for a morning hike to see the sunrise from the top of Espírito Santo Hill, 500 meters high, with views over the surrounding landscape.

The view is one of the most emblematic in the region, with the combination of green, orange sand, and many sandstone plateaus and in pyramid shapes. The horizon is far away and the visual area is very wide. Taking great pictures here is irresistible.

The hill, located next to the Jalapão Dunes, is a vibrant ecosystem. It offers a stunning view to those who meet the challenge of climbing the trail and reaching the top. The trail takes an average of 50 minutes to the first lookout and another 30 minutes to the second. The best time to go up is around 4 am to watch the sunrise.

2. Stop at a Fervedouro

Stop to soak and float on some fervedouros after a morning of hiking, you will need that relaxing time at one of the stunning fervedouros on the way to your next adventure of the day.

3. Watch the sunset in the desert in Jalapao

Jalapão Dunes is an oasis in the middle of the savannah and has intense golden sand formations. The set of dunes, which are 15 to 20 meters high, is formed due to the erosion of sandstone rocks that form the Serra do Espírito Santo, which together with the action of the wind and other factors always deposit in the same place, giving rise the only dune formation in the Brazilian Cerrado.

DAY 4: Rafting at Velha Waterfall/ Swim at Lajeado Waterfall/ Visit the Sussuapara Canyon/ Watch the sunset at Pedra Furada

1. Adventure at the Velha Waterfall

Day 4 on your Jalapão itinerary starts taking a hike on the Garcês trail, originally used by local indigenous people to reach their fields. Arrive at Cachoeira da Velha, the largest waterfall in the Jalapão National Park, at 100 meters wide and 15 meters high, for a refreshing dip and time to relax.

It is formed by the waters of Rio Novo, one of the largest drinking water rivers in the world. It is a real sight for visitors, who can get close by walking on the wooden observation platform. Eat a picnic lunch on one of the golden sandy beaches that line the River Novo.

The most exciting thing, get ready for the adrenaline hit of afternoon rafting on Class IV rapids. The Rio Novo rapids are ideal for rafting and canoeing, with rapids that can reach class 4.

2. Visit the Lajeado Waterfall

Located in an area of fragile ecological balance, this waterfall is formed by two arms of water springs that emerge from paths, which soon gain strength and fall down several steps, forming the waterfall. There are walls of clay rock, which are disintegrating. The open path turns to loose sand. In the summer, during the rains, you can get stuck in the middle of the humid and sandy field. It is better to walk about 2.5 km, from the road.

3. Sussuapara Canyon

This canyon is literally in the middle of nowhere (it is part of a private farm). The stream cuts all the way to the canyon, which is narrow and has a delicate and imposing formation at the same time. The Sussuapara Canyon is formed by moist walls of about 15 meters high, with many ferns, moss, a small waterfall, and small natural pools. The waterfall is even famous for “making wishes come true”. So, enjoy the energy of the place and focus your mind on everything good you want to attract!

4. Hike the Pedra Furada

Pedra Furada shows another greatness of nature in Jalapão. The gigantic sandstone rock formation, which was sculpted by the action of winds and rains, is located in the middle of the cerrado and is a postcard of the region. It is visited a lot during the sunset. But the views are absolutely beautiful at any time of the day.

Go around and find a place to admire yet another endless horizon of Jalapão. There is also a small trail that leads to the top of the rock, but you need to go with the guide and be careful. The site has a sandstone massif that was carved by the wind, water, and weather thousands of years ago. The climb is easy and the place is perfect to enjoy every second of the spectacular sunset and the immensity of Jalapão.

DAY 5: Visit the Japones Lagoon and explore the underwater cave

1. Explore the Japones Lagoon

Day 5 on your Jalapão, Brazil itinerary starts very early, waking up at 4 AM and departing your hotel around 4:45. Depending on the route you take, it can take 4 to 6 hours to reach Lagoa do Japones, which is located almost 155 miles (250 km) from Palmas. The roads are very challenging, and there are points where it is very bad, dirt and it takes skill at the wheel!

This lagoon has crystal clear freshwater, but the big surprise attraction is its beautiful cave. You can go swimming or boating. It is heavenly! The lagoon was named after the owner of the property was Japanese. The color of the water is impressive, a green that can hurt your eyes when the midday sun comes. It is full of logs and stone platforms at the bottom, which is visible even if you are out of the water, due to its transparency.

After diving from there, visit the cave and get ready to be even more surprised. It is on the right side of the lagoon and is accessible by swimming (not far) or by a small trail between the rocks.

Jalapao is very isolated and remote. You won’t find big hotel chains, but instead, options for simple accommodations such as Bed & Breakfast style. 

If you are traveling independently to Jalapao, you will need to book your accommodations in Sao Felix and Mateiros. Below are the best options: 

SAO FELIX ACCOMMODATION | Pousada Cachoeiras do Jalapão features a bar, garden, barbecue facilities and terrace in São Félix do the Tocantins. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk, and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property

SAO FELIX ACCOMMODATION | A great option is Jalapao Ecolodge, with a restaurant bar, a garden, and a private beach. You have the option to hire a bike if you want to explore the surrounding areas. A continental breakfast is served daily. 

MATEIROS ACCOMMODATION | The Pousada Recanto do Jalapao has A/C accommodations with free WiFi and a private bathroom. Continental and buffet breakfast options are available.

Booking.com

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World Nomads Travel Insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers, to cover their trip essentials. Especially if you are like me, travel insurance is ideal for adventurous travelers.

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Traveling around Jalapao in Brazil is challenging, as you will be mostly isolated and far from the city centers. Try to pack accordingly and don’t forget to bring your essential items. Here are some MUST PACK items that you will need for your trip to Jalapao:

• BRING PLENTY OF WATER: Jalapao is humid and hot and you will need to drink a lot of water. I love my LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle. I can refill this bottle anywhere and it comes with a carabiner to connect it to my daypack. 
• WEAR SUNSCREEN: You need to be prepared for a visit to the Jalapao in Brazil. It is sunny almost every day of the year, this sunscreen is my favorite as it is light and non-greasy when you sweat.
• Pack long sleeves and long pants with UPF 50 protection: The more skin you show, the more you tempt the wet-season skeeters and other biting insects. Wear light hiking pants & great long sleeves shirts for protection. 
• Wear a hat and sunglasses: You will be visiting a tropical area with lots of strong sunshine. Bring a hat with a good face cover like this one and wear a don’t forget to pack a pair of polarized sunglasses
• BRING PROPER SHOES: Wear comfortable hiking or walking shoes and leave your heels at home. Also, recommend bringing a pair of water shoes
• Flashlight
• Diving mask (to see the bottom and fish from the boilers and waterfalls)
• Insect repellent
• Swimwear
• Light clothes – shorts, t-shirts, tank top, summer dress…
• Towel
• External battery charger
• Waterproof bag

Jalapao has one of the most unique landscapes on the planet, so it is impossible to not take many pictures and want to capture the amazing moments while traveling around Jalapao. 

Therefore, do not forget to bring your camera equipment with you:

• Underwater camera (with accessories)
• This is the camera I use and love – Sony Mirrorless a7III
• Bring a couple of good lenses for different pictures – I always carry this lens with me
• Extra memory cards 
• I recommend bringing some filters
• Tripod to photograph the waterfalls and depending on the time of the year, the Aurora Borealis. 
• If you want to capture amazing videos, I use and recommend a Gimble Smartphone Stabilizer
• I also recommend a GoPro HERO9 for some action images videos and pictures.
• You can also capture incredible Drone images in Jalapao I use DJI Mavic Air 2

Jalapão can be visited all year round. Between May and September, it hardly rains and the sky will be very blue (at least until the burning of the Cerrado begins in mid-September).

To see golden grass in its golden state, visit in September. During the dry season, the days are hot (the closer to September, the hotter) and the nights are cool. In the rainy season, it is less hot during the day, but at night it does not cool.

By this point, all the talk about access difficulties and the rapid growth of the region may have set you off on why you should visit Jalapao in Brazil.

I’d even be it myself if I was reading this, but Jalapão is certainly one of the most beautiful places in Brazil, and actually on the Planet and well worth the visit.

You just have to take a few steps to prepare for adversity – which is something that goes on on every trip, after all. The natural landscapes are very diverse, with dunes, waterfalls, and springs that you won’t see anywhere else.

Jalapao is truly breathtaking! If you have any further comments or questions, please leave me in the comment below, and I will be thrilled to know if you decide to use this itinerary to visit Jalapao in Brazil.

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