5-day Vale do Pati trek from Lençóis: Cross Chapada Diamantina

You walk the valley from above and below in the same trek, seeing it two ways.

A 5-day guided trek across Vale do Pati in Chapada Diamantina, departing from Lençóis and ending in Andaraí, with nights in local homes and a guide in English or Portuguese. The route climbs to high-altitude viewpoints, crosses through the valley floor, and visits waterfalls including the 280-meter Cachoeirão. Adventure insurance, transport from Lençóis, and accommodation in shared rooms are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Vale do Pati and Gerais do Rio Preto viewpoint

• Depart Lençóis at 08:00 by car
• Drive 2 hours to Vila do Guiné
• Start trail at Aleixo
• Hike through Gerais do Rio Preto
• Stop at Mirante do Vale do Pati for snack
• Continue walk to overnight house

Day 2: Morro do Castelo and Cachoeiras dos Funis

• Breakfast at native's house
• Climb Morro do Castelo via steep trail
• Cross cave through Morro do Castelo
• Visit two viewpoints over Vale do Pati
• Descend and stop at Cachoeira dos Funis
• Walk to overnight house

Day 3: Cachoeirão por Cima

• Breakfast at native's house
• Hike to Vale do Cachoeirão viewpoint
• Enjoy views of waterfalls and orange walls
• Descend to overnight house

Day 4: Poço da Árvore and Pati from below

• Breakfast at native's house
• Walk from top to bottom of Pati Valley
• Bath at Poço da Árvore
• View castle from front
• Snack break
• Dinner and overnight at native's house

Day 5: Rise of the Empire and old Royal Road

• Coffee at native's house
• Climb Subida do Império route
• Reach top and enjoy view
• Descend to Andaraí city
• Visit Apolo ice cream shop
• Board car to return to Lençóis

The experience

The trek starts with a 2-hour drive from Lençóis to Vila do Guiné, where you begin at Aleixo and climb into the Gerais do Rio Preto high-altitude fields. The first day covers 12 kilometers of ascents and descents, stopping at the Mirante do Vale do Pati viewpoint before reaching a local home for the night. Each of the next four days follows the same pattern: breakfast at your host's house, a guided walk through a different section of the valley, and accommodation in a shared room with sheets, blankets and towels provided.

Day two takes you up Morro do Castelo on a steep trail that cuts through a cave and reaches 1,600 meters: the highest point of the trek. On the descent you stop at Cachoeira dos Funis to swim and recover before walking 15 kilometers to the next house. Day three is the most demanding: a climb to Cachoeirão por Cima, where you stand above a 280-meter waterfall and see the valley's most photographed spot from above. Day four descends from the high plateau to the valley floor, passing Poço da Árvore for a swim and offering a frontal view of Morro do Castelo. The final day follows the Subida do Império (the historic route coffee producers once used to leave the valley), and ends with a stop at Apolo ice cream shop in Andaraí before the drive back to Lençóis.

Your guide speaks English or Portuguese and travels with you throughout. The trek totals roughly 49 kilometers across five days, with steep sections on days two and three and a lighter 10-kilometer walk on day four. Accommodation is in the homes of valley residents, not hotels. Meals are provided by your hosts.

What’s included

• Adventure insurance.
• transport from Lençóis to the trailhead on day one and from Andaraí back to Lençóis on day five.
• four nights of accommodation in local homes in shared rooms with sheets, blankets and bath towels.
• a live guide in English or Portuguese for all five days.

Before you book

Days and timesMondayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 28 Dec

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 79 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 3 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Chapada Adventure Daniel

Is this one for you?This trek is shared with other trekkers and led by a guide, so you follow the route and pace the group sets rather than choosing your own. It suits experienced hikers comfortable with steep terrain and multi-day physical effort, staying in simple local homes rather than hotels, and wanting to see the valley's most famous viewpoints and waterfalls as part of a structured five-day crossing.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

57 verified traveler reviews

5 ★57

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Morro do Castelo and why does the trek climb it on day two?

Morro do Castelo is a mountain inside Vale do Pati that reaches 1,600 meters and offers views across the entire valley from its two summit viewpoints. A cave cuts through the mountain, so the trail passes inside it rather than around it, and the climb is steep enough that it is the highest point you reach during the trek.

Can I see Cachoeirão waterfall from the bottom, or only from above?

Cachoeirão is visited from above on day three, where you stand on the rim and look down at the 280-meter drop. The trek does not descend to the base of this waterfall. You see it from the classic viewpoint where the valley's most photographed views are taken.

What are the local homes like where I sleep?

Accommodation is in the homes of valley residents in shared rooms with other trekkers. Each room has sheets, blankets and bath towels. The homes are simple and not hotels. Breakfast is cooked by your host each morning before you depart.

How fit do I need to be for this trek?

The operator requires a high level of physical fitness. Days two and three involve steep climbs and descents over significant distances, and day three is described as the most difficult section of the route. The trek is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular issues, reduced mobility, or pregnant travelers.

What happens on the last day after I reach Andaraí?

On day five you finish the trek in Andaraí and board a car for the return drive to Lençóis. Before leaving, the group stops at Apolo ice cream shop to taste local ice cream before heading back to the city.

Is the guide with the group the whole time, or do I trek alone?

A live guide in English or Portuguese leads the trek throughout all five days. The guide provides support and information about the attractions visited and stays with the group at each stop.