Brasilia to Lençois, Bahia, Brazil 2 - 6 April 2006

Waterfalls galore in the Chapada Diamantina

5 - 6 April. After yesterday’s experience we decided it was foolish to try and do the tours on our own in view of the recent flooding, so we hired a guide. Rogerio took us by car to various waterfalls and caves in Parque Nacional Chapada Diamantina: Andaraí, Mucugé and Ibicoara. The best was the spectacular 80 m drop of Buracão waterfall and the smaller Recanto Verde waterfall.
Access was challenging due to heavy rain within the last week. Twice we nearly had to abandon the attempt. We were saved, first by filling up muddy holes in the dirt track with rocks. Then, confronted with a raging river almost a meter deep, we knew there was no way we could make it across in Rogerio’s saloon car. We were saved again when a Toyota 4WD Landcruiser appeared as if by magic and drove us through it.
To see the Buracão waterfall from below, one had to climb round a cliff face and then walk across a deep ravine on a makeshift bridge made out of a log. After a first gingerly attempt at the cliff face, Angela decided that discretion was the better part of valour. Flemming went on and said later that there was so much mist from the pounding water that one couldn’t see very much! However, he enjoyed letting the strong current bring him back downstream to where Angela and the others were waiting. He had to grab hold of a rope slung across the river to avoid disappearing off into the wilderness!