Travel to Caatinga | 7 Days

Upon arrival, our team will greet you at the airport before embarking on a scenic 3.5-hour road trip to Canudos. This remote town, deeply rooted in Brazilian history, will serve as our base for the next few days.

While Canudos is famous for its historical significance, it is also home to one of the most visually stunning natural spectacles in the region — the Lear’s Macaws soaring through the sandstone valleys known as “the shallows.”

Our day begins long before dawn. At 4:30 AM, after a light breakfast, we set off on a 1-hour drive into the heart of the valley, arriving just in time to witness the first light of the day breaking over the cliffs. This is the golden moment when the Lear’s Macaws take their first flights, filling the sky with bursts of deep blue against the morning glow — a sight that only a handful of photographers have had the privilege to capture.

For the next three hours, we will observe and photograph these magnificent birds in various natural scenarios: soaring above the canyons, perching on rocky outcrops, and interacting with one another. The morning light enhances the rich hues of their plumage, creating extraordinary photo opportunities.
By 9:00 AM, we return to the Pousada for a well-deserved full breakfast, followed by a chance to rest before heading into town for lunch.

The afternoons will be dedicated to exploring the macaws’ feeding grounds, where they gather in licuri palm groves. Here, we can photograph them as they feed, socialize, and move through the trees. This is also an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture, capturing the essence of Canudos, its landscapes, its people and its traditions. We may photograph the vaqueiros on horseback, traditional houses, and the resilient spirit of a community that thrives in this arid yet beautiful land.

Today, we embark on a long but rewarding journey from Canudos to Lençóis (600 km), our gateway to the breathtaking landscapes of Chapada Diamantina. Translating to the “plateau of diamonds,” this region was once the epicenter of Brazil’s diamond rush in the 19th century, shaping the small towns and villages that dot its borders.

As we approach, the scenery transforms dramatically. The Chapada’s towering plateaus rise like a fortress from the vast, flat plains of the sertão, forming an awe-inspiring natural barrier. These ancient sandstone formations, remnants of a time when South America and Africa were still connected, are carved by deep valleys, sheer escarpments, and winding rivers.

The ever-changing landscapes are a paradise for photographers: long ridges, isolated peaks, hidden canyons, and pristine waterfalls. Wild orchids, bromeliads, and cacti cling to the rocky cliffs, adding vibrant splashes of color to the rugged terrain.

As the sun rises over the vast landscapes of Chapada Diamantina, we embark on a journey to two of the region’s most breathtaking natural wonders. The day is dedicated to immersing ourselves in the striking scenery, where towering plateaus, deep valleys, and cascading waterfalls create an awe-inspiring backdrop for photography and exploration.

Our first stop is Cachoeira do Mosquito, a stunning waterfall hidden within the rugged terrain, about 40 km from Lençóis. Its name comes from the tiny diamonds, known as “mosquitoes,” that were once found in the area.

As we descend the trail leading to the base of the waterfall, we are greeted by the powerful rush of water plunging into a natural pool, surrounded by lush vegetation and rock formations sculpted by time. The contrast of the golden canyon walls with the emerald-green foliage and the waterfall’s white mist creates a striking composition, ideal for landscape photography.

In the late afternoon, we ascend to one of the most iconic viewpoints in Chapada Diamantina: Morro do Pai Inácio. Standing at 1,150 meters above sea level, this legendary peak offers a panoramic view of the undulating ridges and plateaus stretching as far as the eye can see. The golden hour transforms the landscape into a painter’s palette of warm hues, with the soft glow of the setting sun casting long shadows over the valleys below. Here, we also have the unique opportunity to photograph the Hooded Visorbearer, an endemic hummingbird species that thrives in this high-altitude environment.

Today, we venture into the heart of Chapada Diamantina’s subterranean wonders, where time stands still, and nature reveals some of its most mesmerizing secrets. Our journey takes us through winding roads and rolling hills to two extraordinary underground pools — natural phenomena that captivate visitors with their surreal beauty.

Our first destination is Poço Azul, a flooded cave with crystal-clear blue waters that seem almost unreal. Upon arrival, we descend carefully into the cave, where an underground river flows through ancient rock formations. The water is so transparent that it creates the illusion of floating in mid-air. Between February and October, when the sunlight penetrates the cave at the perfect angle, the pool glows in an ethereal shade of blue, creating a spectacle unlike any other. In 2005, Poço Azul also gained historical significance when more than 3,000 fossils of prehistoric animals were discovered here, making it Brazil’s largest submerged paleontological site. Floating in these pristine waters, surrounded by silence and the echoes of the cave, is an experience of pure tranquility.

A short drive away lies the equally breathtaking Poço Encantado, a deeper cave where an underground lake shimmers with an almost supernatural brilliance. At certain times of the day, a beam of sunlight enters through an opening in the rock, illuminating the water in a hypnotic shade of deep blue. The clarity of the water is astonishing, so clear that the submerged rocks, resting 60 meters below the surface, appear deceptively close. Standing in the cool, dimly lit cave, watching the light dance across the water, is a moment of stillness and wonder.

After breakfast, we will take a private transfer to Lençóis Airport, where you can catch a flight back to São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, with connections available for international departures.