If the Serra do Cipó is the garden of Brazil, its waterfalls are its fountains. This is the complete circuit of the waters — inside and outside the national park — organized by effort, so you can plan your days without a mistake.
Inside the national park (free entry)
- Cachoeira da Farofa — 25 meters of falling water into a pool straight out of a film; 16 km there and back, all flat (on foot or by bike). Moderate because of the distance, not the technique.
- Cachoeira Grande — 60 meters wide as a curtain of water; shorter access from the gate, with big pools to swim in. Easy to moderate.
- Cânion das Bandeirinhas — 6 km of rock walls with a chain of natural pools; about 24 km there and back (a bike is highly recommended). Moderate.
In the surroundings (R$ 15-30)
- Véu da Noiva — reached by the historic Trilha dos Escravos, with a blue pool framed by rock walls. A short, steep trail (moderate).
- Serra Morena — around 100 meters of linked falls in a high-altitude setting; a 40-minute trail (moderate).
- Poços do Rio Cipó (Capivara, Caverna) — quick-access swims for lazy days (easy).
- Cachoeira do Tabuleiro — the 273 meters of the Minas giant, about 2h away by car, with a viewpoint on a short trail or the pool by a steep trail (easy to the viewpoint, moderate to the pool).
Planning the days
Day 1: the park by bike — Farofa + Bandeirinhas. Day 2: morning at Serra Morena, afternoon in the river pools. Day 3: a day trip to Tabuleiro or Véu da Noiva + the village. Rent bikes in the village (R$ 50-80/day) and set out early: the midday sun in the cerrado is merciless and summer afternoons bring thunderstorms.
Rules of the waters
No soap or shampoo in the rivers, rubbish always carried back out, sunscreen only the minimum before swimming — the watercourses of the Espinhaço rise right there, as clean as glass, and the conservation bar is high. On cloudy days in summer, always ask about the risk of flash floods before entering canyons.
🥾 Who is it for?
Effort: easy in the pools of the surroundings; moderate on the park classics (distance!) and on the short steep trails. Children: the river pools from a young age; Farofa/Bandeirinhas from 8-10 (or earlier, by bike with a child seat). Older travelers and reduced mobility: the quick-access pools and the Tabuleiro viewpoint deliver the spectacle without the mileage; inside the park the distances weigh — consider the electric vehicle/internal transport service when it is available at the gate.
