There is a rare kind of destination: the one where the guide calls you by name on the second day, the trail is yours alone and the money from the outing visibly stays in the community. Mambaí, in north-eastern Goiás (309 km from Brasília), is like that — a hub of community-based ecotourism with monumental caves, blue waterfalls and canyons, still off the radar of the crowds. Here is the complete guide to getting there first.
Why Mambaí is different
The town sits in the APA das Nascentes do Rio Vermelho, a karst region where the cerrado hides dozens of caves and the river vanishes and reappears between rock walls. All the attractions are on rural properties and a local guide is compulsory — the model the Ministry of Tourism highlights as an example of community-based tourism: fair pricing, local income and well-kept trails. Ecotourism exactly as it should be.
What to do
- Cachoeira do Funil — a 20 m fall with a passage through a cave; the postcard.
- Poços Azuis — a sequence of three turquoise pools on a trail of up to 9 km (shorter versions available).
- Lapa das Dores (Claraboia) — a cave with a collapsed roof through which the light enters in a column; go down by rappel (25 m) or by trail.
- Lapa do Penhasco — the largest cave in the region, a 1.7 km crossing in total darkness.
- Canyon zip line — 320 m flying over the valley (around R$ 75).
- Cachoeiras do Segredo and Paraíso do Cerrado — short trails (600-800 m) for gentle days.
What it costs and when to go
| Item | Value (2026 reference) |
|---|---|
| Guided outings (4 attractions) | ~R$ 440 (couple) |
| Extra activities (rappelling, zip line) | ~R$ 75 each |
| Guesthouses | R$ 130 – R$ 250/night (couple) |
| 3 days for a couple (excluding fuel) | ~R$ 1,600 |
Mambaí talks to its neighbors: Terra Ronca is around 100 km away (you can string the two largest cave complexes in Goiás together in a week) and Chapada dos Veadeiros completes the goiano cerrado triangle. Details of the underground side in the caves of Mambaí.
🥾 Who is it for?
Effort: moderate — cerrado trails and crossings to waterfalls and caves. Children: from age 8 with walking experience. Seniors and reduced mobility: the shorter-access waterfalls are feasible; the full cave circuit is not — talk to the CERCAM guides about the gentle itinerary.