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Major city · Brazil

Cavalcante

Base in Cavalcante for 2–3 nights only if you have a car or hire a guide: the waterfalls sit 25–63 km out on dirt roads with no phone signal.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
May–Sep (dry season, clear trails)
avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain, dirt roads and river crossings turn bad)
Airport
BSB
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
  • Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
  • Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
  • Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.

Cavalcante is the oldest town in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, 320 km north of Brasília, and it holds more than 60% of the national park's area. The town itself is small and walkable; the reason to come is the waterfalls and the Kalunga settlements around it, which need a car or a guide and a full day each. Two nights is the minimum, three is comfortable.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Cavalcante, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or a snack in the centreR$8–20 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerdraught in town / can from a shopR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4)R$5–9 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Budget bedCamping pitch (own tent), a night, per personR$30 (≈ US$6)
  • Mid-range bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$320 (≈ US$60)
  • High-end bedPousada double room, a night, per roomR$600 (≈ US$120)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$320 (≈ US$60) · High R$600 (≈ US$120)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Santa Bárbara waterfall at Engenho IICachoeiras do PrataKalunga communities and the Kalunga Historical SiteChapada dos Veadeiros National Park (northern side)
Airports
BSB Brasília–Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek (The practical gateway: about 320 km by road, roughly 5–6 h by car; no airport at Cavalcante.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Cavalcante: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C

20°C

19 rd

Feb

30°C

20°C

17 rd

Mar

30°C

20°C

16 rd

Apr

31°C

19°C

10 rd

May

31°C

17°C

4 rd

Jun

31°C

15°C

1 rd

Jul

31°C

15°C

1 rd

Aug

33°C

17°C

2 rd

Sep

34°C

19°C

5 rd

Oct

32°C

20°C

13 rd

Nov

31°C

20°C

18 rd

Dec

30°C

20°C

20 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town centre is flat and walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end; bikes work for short hops. Every waterfall and the Kalunga settlements are outside town on dirt roads, so a car (ideally high-clearance) or a hired guide with transport is the real answer. There is no useful local bus network for visitors.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Santa Bárbara waterfall, Engenho II

go

Door to door: Half day from town, 1 h each way by car

Drive 25 km to the Engenho II Kalunga settlement, then a 5 km flat trail; guides hire at the settlement

Go at opening and stay until about 15:00 for the best light and swimming; easy trail.

Cachoeiras do Prata

overnight

Door to door: 1.5–2 h each way by car

Cavalcante–Minaçu road to km 60–63, then trail; 4WD reaches about a third of the way to Rei do Prata

Nine waterfalls; the King is about 7 km from the entrance. Two days is the honest plan, camping at the entrance or near the falls. Entrance R$5.

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (northern sector)

go

Door to door: Full day

Guided access from Cavalcante side; check current park entry rules and guide requirement

Cavalcante covers most of the park area; the famous southern trails are reached from São Jorge instead.

Alto Paraíso de Goiás and São Jorge

go

Door to door: 2–3 h

Road via Colinas do Sul, roughly 100 km of paved and dirt road

Useful if you are combining the north and south sides of the Chapada.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Centro (around Praça Diogo Teles Cavalcante)

Hotels, pousadas and restaurants within walking distance; best if you have no car and eat out every night.

Cavalcantinho and the Colinas do Sul road (km 1–5)

Pousadas and campings with gardens, pools and river access; you need a car or a taxi for dinner in town.

Camping and riverside sites (km 1–9, plus Engenho II)

Cheapest beds; camping is the norm at the waterfalls and at some pousadas. Bring a headlamp and check showers.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
R$150–250 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
Mid
R$250–450 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
High
R$450 (≈ US$85)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Pousada double room1 × 2 nights × R$320R$640
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × R$320R$1,280
Guided day with transport, per person2 × R$250R$500
Waterfall entrance fees, per person per day2 × R$25R$50
Car hire, per day1 × R$220 · high-clearance preferredR$220
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$269
Trip total≈ R$740 per person per day, bed includedR$2,959≈ US$550

2026 estimate in reais; long-distance travel to Brasília excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or a snack in the centreR$8–20 (≈ US$2–4)
Lunch plate (rice, beans, meat) at a town restaurantR$25–50 (≈ US$5–10)
Wood-oven pizzaR$50–90 (≈ US$10–17)
Beer: draught in town / can from a shopR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4) / R$5–9 (≈ US$1–2)
Waterfall entrance feevaries by site and seasonR$5–50 (≈ US$1–10)
Guided day trip with transportR$150–400 (≈ US$30–75) per person

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Cavalcante is a small, quiet town and street crime is not the issue; the real risks are remote trails with no phone signal, dirt roads shared with mine trucks, and heat. Go with a guide, carry water, and do not drive the Minaçu road at night.
  • No mobile signal at most waterfalls and settlements: tell someone your plan and carry water.
  • Dirt roads and mine trucks on the Cavalcante–Minaçu road; do not drive it at night or in rain.
  • Guides are strongly advised for remote sites; arrange them at the tourist information centre rather than at the trailhead.
  • Long dry-season sun and no shade on some trails; start early.
  • Card and ATM coverage is thin outside the centre: carry cash for entrance fees and small meals.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CavalcanteCavalcante

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire193

Embassy

No embassies in Cavalcante; the US, UK, Canadian and Australian embassies are in Brasília (check addresses and hours before you go).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Brasília Rodoferroviária → Cavalcante, bus: about R$45 (≈ US$9), about 6 h; departs 07:15 and 15:15
  • Cavalcante → Engenho II (Santa Bárbara trailhead), car: 25 km, about 1 h on dirt
  • Cavalcante → Cachoeiras do Prata, car: about 63 km, 1.5–2 h

Say or show

  • Bom dia — Good morning (bom JEE-ah)
  • Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah)
  • Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
  • Onde fica a cachoeira? — Where is the waterfall? (ON-jee FEE-kah ah kah-shoo-AY-rah)
  • Preciso de um guia — I need a guide (preh-SEE-zoo jee oong GEE-ah)
  • Aceita cartão? — Can I pay by card? (ah-SAY-tah kar-TOWNG)

Bus timetables and waterfall fees change with the season: confirm the day before.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cavalcante. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep (dry season, clear trails) · avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain, dirt roads and river crossings turn bad) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BSB: bus times from Brasília's Rodoferroviária, car-hire desks, and an overnight rung if the bus is missed.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Praça Diogo Teles Cavalcante, the Colinas do Sul road pousadas, the Minaçu road, and Engenho II.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Santa Bárbara, Cachoeiras do Prata, Kalunga settlements) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wet-season and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources