2 Best Sights in Parque Nacional Chapada Diamantina, Salvador and the Bahia Coast

Considered by many to be one of the most stunning waterfalls in Brazil, Buracão may not be easy to get to, but it is defintitely worth the effort. Located 195 km (120 miles) south of Lençóis, it is recommended that you stay overnight in the nearby town of Mucugê before undertaking the one-hour trek from the start of the trail through verdant forest. The final stretch of the journey involves passing through a canyon and swimming to reach the entrance to the waterfall. Life jackets are obligatory and will be provided by your local guide. It is impossible to enter the park without a local guide. Most tours that originate in Lençóis also include a visit to the brilliant-blue pools of Poço Encantando (141 km [88 miles] south of Lençóis) and Poço Azul (81 km [50 miles] south of Lençóis), formed by a combination of minerals and reflections in the water from the surrounding caves. Between August and November, beams of sunshine light up the water, maximizing the brilliant color and enhancing visibility.

The icon of Chapada Diamantina, this tabletop mountain sits at 1,120 meters (3,675 feet) above sea level and provides a spectacular 360-degree view across the Vale do Capão and Morro do Camelo. Access up a steep, short path is easy and can be undertaken without a guide. Orchids, bromelias, and cacti flourish on top of the rocky plateau. Local legend goes that the mountain was named after a black slave and local hero, Pai Inácio, who fell in love with the ruling colonel's daughter. In order to escape the colonel's men, he ran up the mountain and jumped off, breaking his fall with an umbrella and disappearing into the valley, where he was reunited with his true love.