Written by Alexander Kopp, Maria Gaulto, Maria Vajello
02/12/2025
Gabriel Victor, Pexels
Lençóis is a picturesque town in Brazil that serves as the main gateway to the expansive Chapada Diamantina National Park, a region renowned for its stunning natural landscapes. It provides a charming base for visitors to explore the park's numerous waterfalls, caves, valleys, and hiking trails.
The town offers a pleasant social atmosphere with its quaint restaurants, boutique hotels, and bars, which become lively in the evenings. For those seeking to connect with fellow travelers, many hostels cater to backpackers and often organize activities such as walking tours and communal dinners.
Top 5 Things to do in Lencois
Lençóis provides an immersive experience into the natural wonders of Chapada Diamantina National Park, featuring opportunities for hiking to stunning viewpoints, swimming in crystal-clear natural pools and caves, and exploring the charm of a historic mining town.
1. Morro do Pai Inácio
Embark on a short, scenic hike to the summit of Morro do Pai Inácio, a flat-topped mountain offering panoramic views of the Chapada Diamantina landscape, including iconic table-top mountains and vast valleys. This viewpoint is especially renowned for breathtaking sunsets, a truly memorable experience. The path to the top is generally accessible, though it involves some stairs and rocky sections.
Cost: Access to Morro do Pai Inácio typically costs around R$20-30. If opting for a guided tour, which often combines several attractions, prices can range from R$275 to R$320 per person, usually including transport and a guide.
Transport: Morro do Pai Inácio is approximately 29 km from Lençóis. A taxi can take you there in about 30 minutes, costing R$80-R$100. Shuttle services are also available, often as part of a guided tour.
2. Poço Azul and Poço Encantado
Discover the unique 'blue wells,' Poço Encantado and Poço Azul. Poço Encantado is a large cave with incredibly transparent water that glows a vibrant blue when sunlight filters through, allowing a clear view of its 60-meter depth (swimming is not permitted to preserve its delicate ecosystem). Afterwards, visit Poço Azul, a flooded cave where you can float in its strikingly clear, blue waters, often revealing ancient fossils at the bottom. These sites offer a tranquil and awe-inspiring natural experience.
Cost: Visiting these sites typically requires a full-day guided tour from Lençóis, as they are located on private properties. Tours cost approximately R$413-R$440 per person, including transfers, a guide, lunch, and entrance fees.
Transport: These wells are about 98 km from Lençóis. They are best visited as part of an organized tour due to their distance and the need for guided access, particularly for Poço Encantado. Public transport is not a direct option.
3. Ribeirão do Meio and Serrano Natural Pools
Close to town, you can enjoy the refreshing Ribeirão do Meio, famous for its natural rock slide, providing an exhilarating ride into a clear pool. Nearby, the Serrano Natural Pools offer a series of calm, shallow pools and small waterfalls perfect for a relaxing swim or sunbathing on smooth rock formations. Both spots are easily accessible and popular for unwinding amidst nature.
Cost: Both locations are generally free to access, making them excellent choices for self-guided exploration. Guided half-day tours to Ribeirão do Meio start from R$230-R$260 per person, including a guide and insurance, but are not necessary.
Transport: These sites are within walking distance of Lençóis' town center, making them easily accessible by foot.
4. Cachoeira da Fumaça (Top View)
Embark on a challenging but rewarding hike to the top of Cachoeira da Fumaça, or 'Smoke Waterfall,' one of Brazil's highest waterfalls at approximately 380 meters. The sheer drop creates a mist that gives the waterfall its name. The trail provides stunning views of the surrounding canyon and vast landscapes. This full-day trek requires good physical conditioning and sufficient water.
Cost: While the trail itself does not have a mandatory guide for the top view, a guided tour from Lençóis typically costs R$340-R$440 per person, covering transport, a guide, and entrance fees.
Transport: The trailhead is located near Vale do Capão, about 80 km from Lençóis. Tours provide round-trip transport. For self-guided visitors, taking a bus from Lençóis to Palmeiras (around R$15+) and then a taxi or van to Vale do Capão is an option.
5. Lapa Doce Cave and Pratinha Cave Circuit
Explore an underground world with a visit to Lapa Doce Cave, a vast limestone cavern traversed with a guided tour, showcasing impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Following this, experience the enchanting Pratinha Cave, known for its remarkably clear river where you can swim or snorkel in its transparent waters. This circuit often includes a stop at the nearby Gruta Azul (Blue Grotto), captivating visitors with its natural beauty.
Cost: This popular circuit is usually done as a full-day guided tour from Lençóis, combining multiple caves. Tour prices range from R$350-R$500+ per person, including transport, a guide, and entrance fees for the caves, and sometimes lunch. Individual cave entrance fees apply if self-driving (a guide is mandatory for Lapa Doce).
Transport: These caves are located a significant drive from Lençóis. The most convenient way to visit is by joining an organized tour, which includes all necessary transfers.
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Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
