If you’re looking for a hidden gem in Brazil, Vale do Capão should be on your list. This small village in the heart of Chapada Diamantina National Park is a proper place for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Even though the village is small, there are many things to do in Vale do Capao. In this post, I will show you what you need to know and the main activities in the area. Let’s dive into the details and explore all this location offers.
A bit of history
Vale do Capão might not be as historically significant as some other regions in Brazil, but it has its unique historical context and cultural significance. Since the establishment of the Chapada Diamantina National Park, many tourists have been visiting Capão, and that has increased the options of things to do there.
It’s a place that changed substantially in the last years, shifting its focus to ecological tourism. Before that, the plantation of coffee and bananas were the main focus, also the diamond extraction that lasted for many years. The diamond extraction was damaging the nature in the area, which is one of the reasons why the Brazilian government created Chapada Diamantina National Park to stop the extraction and preserve the site.
People mostly visit one of the three main villages in Chapada: Lençois, Vale do Capão or Mucugê. This post focuses on activities in Vale do Capão and places to visit that are close by. These activities are not hiking tours only. They also vary from wellness to musical retreats. Capão is a great place to get closer to nature and feel a simpler lifestyle in Diamantina.
Another fact that stands out in Vale do Capão is the village’s alternative vibes. Inhabitant’s lifestyle is about nature, good vibes, creativity, and connection with yourself and others. It has a unique and accommodating energy that offers an excellent choice for those looking for an enchanting escape from the city vibes. Keep reading to get to know more about Vale do Capão.
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How to get to Vale do Capão
Having your car or renting one is the best way to get there. There’s no bus station in Capão, so without a car, you need to find a driver to bring you there. Palmeiras is the best option to reach the village.
You can find buses from Salvador to Palmeiras. I was on Itaparica Island, and I couldn’t find any transportation options from there. So I had to take a ferry boat to Salvador, go to the bus station, and take a bus to Palmeiras.
You can check the times of buses here. In the bus station in Palmeiras, you will find drivers offering rides to Vale do Capão. Be aware of having some cash with you to pay for the ride.
Even if you have a Brazilian bank account with PIX, you won’t be able to pay it because there’s no mobile network in Vale do Capão. We had a situation where the driver was angry because I wanted to pay him using PIX, but the internet wasn’t available. He had to trust me to pay him later when I got internet access in our guesthouse.
Where to stay in Vale do Capão
The prices for accommodation in Vale do Capão are regular. I didn’t feel they were overcharging while doing a research about prices. I use booking most of the time to book for accommodations, and for Vale do Capão, I booked the Chale Savi.
It was a great choice!! The staff was accommodating and kind. Belem was taking care of the Chale with her husband. She gave me a lot of information about hiking in the area, where to eat, and things to do. The Chale was lovely, and I had a private kitchen to prepare snacks for my hiking tours.
There are several guesthouses in the village, and asking your hosts about tour guides is a good idea because most are natives or have lived in Capão for many years.
How to find activities in the area
You can always ask your host about events happening in Capão. It’s a small village where most inhabitants know each other. Another way is to visit the main square. There you will find several posters that people put about several activities, like cooking classes, dancing classes, and retreats.
Walking in the center of Capão is also one way to find tour guides. Some tour agencies put up posters with the tours they offer and their phone number. Whatsapp is Brazil’s most famous web message service, and only a few people use Viber.
What to eat in Vale do Capão
If you like honey, you should try a famous product produced only in the Vale do Capão region: Spicy honey (Mel com Pimenta). It’s a fascinating mix of sweet and spicy that goes well with oatmeal and fruits. I was initially skeptical, but being open-minded, I decided to buy one and try it out.
Be free to use your creativity and try it on different combinations. We also put it on toasted bread, and it was delicious!!
In Capão, you can find the Pastel of Palmito de Jaca. It’s the famous Brazilian pastel stuffed with jackfruit in it. There are people making Coxinha with Palmito de Jaca as well.
I found an excellent pizza that I want to recommend. It’s a place called Pizzaria Capão Grande. There I ate a massive pizza with homemade ingredients. It was the perfect reward after a long day of hiking. This pizzeria also sells spicy honey, and it’s also one of the toppings available to add to your pizza.
If you are vegetarian/vegan, you won’t have issues finding options. The highlight of all places I visited is a vegan restaurant called Clube das Artes. There I ate one of the best vegan dishes I tried in Brazil so far!! I ate a fresh falafel sandwich, and a veggie pie. They were so good that ordering another one was on my mind. Luckily, I controlled myself enough to understand that I had already eaten a lot that day.
How is it to hike in Vale do Capão
There are dozens of hiking trails in the area. Most lead to some waterfall in the end or on the way. My recommendation is to book a tour with an agency or direct with a tour guide. Finding a tour guide on Instagram or asking around is an excellent way to reduce the price of a tour.
Getting lost while hiking is easy because the trails aren’t marked. An offline map or a GPS tracker may help you complete some hikes without a tour guide. However, some tracks, like the Vale do Capão – Lençois trail, are extremely dangerous without a guide.
I did two hikes without a tour guide: Riachinho and Rodas & Rio Preto. Both were easy enough to follow, but still, it was possible to get lost. I think some hiking trails from Capão don’t require a tour guide.
I love hiking with tour guides, and I recognize their importance, but there are short and straightforward trails that are easy enough to follow if they are just a bit marked. Tracks that are dangerous and complicated in Capão require a tour guide to offer support. Another fantastic fact about having a tour guide is to learn more about the history of the place and get tips about hiking.
8 Things to do in Vale do Capão
Now let’s talk about things to do in Vale do Capao. Most require only one day to complete and are hiking to waterfalls, some even half a day if you want to skip hiking. People are kind, so don’t be afraid to ask for a ride on the way to some place. I met an adorable Brazilian couple that offered us a ride to Riachinho.
1. Aguas Claras Waterfall
Aguas Claras Waterfall landscape is beautiful, like some artists drew by hand. It has three spots perfect for swimming. On the way to the waterfall is one of the postal cards from Capão: a hill named Morrão.
The trail is an easy-moderate level and requires a tour guide. We had a great experience!! The waterfall is not big but still has its magic. If your tour guide doesn’t have transportation, you need to talk with the Moto taxis at the entrance of Vale do Capão. The price of a ride to Águas Claras is 25R$ one way. You tell the driver which time to pick you up after finishing your hike. As a side note, they are very punctual. They will be there on time when you tell them when to pick you up.
If you want to know more details about this adventure, check my our detailed blog post about Aguas Claras. It will give you all the information you need to know about the waterfall.
2. Riachinho Waterfall
Riachinho Waterfall is a great place to stop by after hiking to the Fumaça Waterfall. If you are not planning to visit Fumaça, Riachinho is an excellent option for a half-day tour.
The trail to Riachinho is very straightforward. Starting from the main street in Vale do Capão, continue straight for 5 Km. After that, you will see the waterfall entrance, where they charge 12R$ as an entrance fee. I recommend doing this early in the morning because the sun exposure will be high. The way is not long, but you won’t have many trees on the way to find a shadow.
3. Rodas & Rio Preto
Locals visit these waterfalls because they are close to Capão and offer superb swimming options. Rio Preto has a 50 m long dark swimming pool. The water is dark due to the amount of minerals in it and the rocks where it flows.
Rodas Waterfall is smaller than Rio Preto but still offers a spot for swimming. The view of the water flow passing on the rocks is very beautiful.
Both options are perfect for those willing to spend a leisurely day in nature but not so far from Capão. It’s a 5-6 km hike to visit both places.
4. Angelica and Purificação
It is a popular hiking tour in the area. The Purificação waterfall is considered the one with the coldest water in the region!! I recommend doing this tour with a guide. A couple of bifurcations are in the trail, and you can easily get lost. The trail begins in Bomba’s village, which is 8km away from Vale do Capão. From there, it’s a 40 mins hike to the Angelica and 1:30hrs to the Purificação waterfall.
5. Poço dos Patos
Many locals from the valley visit this waterfall. During the weekends you can find groups of families there. Its location is near the Boa Vista waterfall, and the access is 8km from Vale do Capão. After reaching the beginning of the trail, you have to hike 1.5km to the final destination.
6. Fumaça Waterfall (from the top)
Fumaça is the most famous waterfall in the region. It’s the second biggest waterfall in Brazil, with 340m. The wind blows so strong that it brings the water from the waterfall back up to the top. This phenomenon creates a smoke effect, which is the reason why the name of the waterfall is Fumaça, which means smoke in Portuguese.
The view from the top of the waterfall is astonishing!! I was delighted by it, spending a long time appreciating the landscape. Be careful to always lie down on the rocks close to the edges of the area. How the wind strength can quickly change is unpredictable, and a fall is fatal. Laying down with your chest is a safe move and will allow you to safely see the bottom of the waterfall.
The beginning of the trail is a 30 mins walk from the center of Vale do Capão. It’s a moderate-level hike to the top. The elevation gain is high initially, so a good fitness level is necessary.
7. Trekking from Vale do Capão to Lençois
This trekking is an advanced adventure that only a few people dare to do. Many agencies are not offering this tour because fewer people are interested. I contacted three agencies that told me they no longer offer this tour. The third one gave me a recommendation for a guide. They said I could ask him if he would guide me there. Luckily, he was ready for it!!
My tour guide was a Brazilian named Rafael, and honestly, the experience couldn’t be better!! He was very knowledgeable and a great cook. He prepared vegetarian meals on this trek. I told him it would be hard to find another tour guide on his level :).
The goal is to leave Capão and go to Lençois on a 41 km trekking tour that lasts three days. You will bring your tent, sleeping bags, and enough food for the trek. Usually, tour guides will help you rent a tent and sleeping bags. They will also help you prepare the meals during the tour.
The tracks are a real challenge, with very close vegetation and several parts where it is necessary to climb. Not the type of climbing that requires equipment but the one that you need to use your hands to help find your way up.
The trails are not marked at all, even with a GPS, you can have issues finding the right path. When hiking, I often thought, “Omg, I would never have guessed this was the right way to follow.”. I was constantly walking on rocks that are wet and can be very slippery. I wrote a detailed guide about this adventure here.
8. Visit the local fair market
In the center of the Capão is a square where manufacturers sell their products. The fair market is open every Sunday. What’s cool about this is the opportunity to meet many interesting people there. Indeed, you will find people from all over the world with unique stories to tell. You can learn about their culture and their experiences living in Brazil.
There is a lot of craftsmanship work in the fair market, so take advantage of the opportunity to buy a souvenir to remind you of the trip and help circulate the local economy in the area.
Conclusion
Vale do Capão is a paradise for nature lovers with plenty of things to do!! Most of the activities in the area are related to deep connections in nature. If you love hiking, you should spend at least five days exploring. I had a fantastic time in the valley, and I will certainly return there in the future.
I hope you enjoyed reading about things to do in Vale do Capao. The village is a magical place, where I can feel that locals are working hard to preserve it and avoid mass tourism.
Are you planning to visit Vale do Capão soon? Let me know about your experience in the comments.
