THE postcard-view in Chapada Diamantina
From one of the most beautiful places to be in Chapada Diamantina National Park upon Mount Pai Inaçio. On top we're at about 1.400m altitude (a good 20minutes climbing from the parking lot) to enjoy a 360° panoramic vieuw.
Driving in the National Park
The thing is if you drive through the Park of Chapada Diamantina you will keep being amazed because each meter you advance the view changes.
Vale do Capão
This is the most central village in the Park, called Capão. It is an excellent starting place for all walks in that area. This will be our climb to the plateau to for a day's walk to the gorgious Cachoeira da Fumaça (see picture down here as well).
Rock with a view
One of my favorite places in Chapada Diamantian : looking down on the Fumaça waterfall about 400m downwards from this rock that sticks out in the middle of the air ... awesome !
The Fumaça cave
A small scale cave, off the beaten tracks of tourism, with the most impressive formations of calcite, and not to forget the second largest stalagtite colum in Brazil
An "eligitite" grows sideways
It is not a stalactite nor a stalagmite no, here they call it "elegitite" as instead of growing down or up it grows sideways because of some micro-explosions caused by chemical reactions within the minerals
The main room
The Gruta da Fumaça has several 'rooms'. Beside this 'main room' there are 4 more kilometres of galleries in this cave-system. Generally the Chapada region has over 120km of cave galleries.
The room of silence
After taking a close look to these beautiful formations everybody takes a seat and we observe a minute of silence ... all lights off. A moment to feel your innerself.
Nature ? Or man-made ?
Sometimes we encounter these small little waterfalls where nature did such a nice job one could almost think it was made by man.
Poço do Diabo falls
25 meters of fall into a huge deep pit. Yes we go swimming there if you want. You can even swim under and behind the falls if you would like so.
After the rain
After a night of serious rainfall it is a complete different landscape that awaits you in the morning. Jan had a joy in taking pictures of this wild part of nature.
Mucugézinho falls
Higher up from the Poço do Diabo we have more falls. Maybe not so impressive but put your ear near to them and you will be amazed by the deep buzzing noise this water makes.
Discovering nature around Lençois
Walking around early in the morning and you have a peacefull and calm discovery of some of the finest places we know around Lençois.
Ribeirão Meo falls
Well it might look like not so impressive but watch the fun one can have here at the next picture.
Family fun
Sliding in the water. This father and his kids were so happy I took them to this place ... they spent hours sliding and splashing together. Yes we let you enjoy nature every way possible
Cachoeira da Fumaça
With almost 400meter of falls and a small waterflux water almost does not make it all the way down. As there is a lot of wind blowing up most of the water just comes back up, like smoke. That's why it is called the "Smoke Falls"
"O Bode" ... the goat
A cosy local restaurant (comida caseira) specialised in goatmeat and cactus, serving per kilogram. You put whatever you want on your plate, as much as you want and at the end you just pay by weight. A very common way of lunching here in Bahia.
Cobled streets in Lençois
This picture gives you all about the charm of this little city of Lençois, also known as the Portal of Chapada Diamantina. Colourfull and very quiet, a dream to stroll around after a serious walk in the mountains.
Micro orchids
This is a nice example of micro-orchids. In the local 'orchidario' (orchid-garden at the foot of the mount Pai Inaçio) you see them as part of their huge collection of orchids. This one I found in the wild going up Pai Inaçio. As a matter of fact the flower itself is only about 3 milimeters large.
Wild mushroom
Beautifull to watch, rare to discover and ... best left untouched.
Maracuja, aka passionfruit
Passion-fruit, locally called 'maracuja' is very common here in Bahia. It contains plenty of vitamin C and makes up for delicious fruitjuice and flowers impressively.
Wild orchids
Depending on the time of the year on can see a lot of wild orchids. This one was just receiving a visit from somebody who was keen on it's nectar.
Flying grass-hopper
When walking up the mountains you see them every now and then. They measure between 6 an 12cm and when they fly they look somewhat like horrible bats ...
THE postcard-view in Chapada Diamantina
From one of the most beautiful places to be in Chapada Diamantina National Park upon Mount Pai Inaçio. On top we're at about 1.400m altitude (a good 20minutes climbing from the parking lot) to enjoy a 360° panoramic vieuw.
Driving in the National Park
The thing is if you drive through the Park of Chapada Diamantina you will keep being amazed because each meter you advance the view changes.
Vale do Capão
This is the most central village in the Park, called Capão. It is an excellent starting place for all walks in that area. This will be our climb to the plateau to for a day's walk to the gorgious Cachoeira da Fumaça (see picture down here as well).
Rock with a view
One of my favorite places in Chapada Diamantian : looking down on the Fumaça waterfall about 400m downwards from this rock that sticks out in the middle of the air ... awesome !
The Fumaça cave
A small scale cave, off the beaten tracks of tourism, with the most impressive formations of calcite, and not to forget the second largest stalagtite colum in Brazil
An "eligitite" grows sideways
It is not a stalactite nor a stalagmite no, here they call it "elegitite" as instead of growing down or up it grows sideways because of some micro-explosions caused by chemical reactions within the minerals
The main room
The Gruta da Fumaça has several 'rooms'. Beside this 'main room' there are 4 more kilometres of galleries in this cave-system. Generally the Chapada region has over 120km of cave galleries.
The room of silence
After taking a close look to these beautiful formations everybody takes a seat and we observe a minute of silence ... all lights off. A moment to feel your innerself.
Nature ? Or man-made ?
Sometimes we encounter these small little waterfalls where nature did such a nice job one could almost think it was made by man.
Poço do Diabo falls
25 meters of fall into a huge deep pit. Yes we go swimming there if you want. You can even swim under and behind the falls if you would like so.
After the rain
After a night of serious rainfall it is a complete different landscape that awaits you in the morning. Jan had a joy in taking pictures of this wild part of nature.
Mucugézinho falls
Higher up from the Poço do Diabo we have more falls. Maybe not so impressive but put your ear near to them and you will be amazed by the deep buzzing noise this water makes.
Discovering nature around Lençois
Walking around early in the morning and you have a peacefull and calm discovery of some of the finest places we know around Lençois.
Ribeirão Meo falls
Well it might look like not so impressive but watch the fun one can have here at the next picture.
Family fun
Sliding in the water. This father and his kids were so happy I took them to this place ... they spent hours sliding and splashing together. Yes we let you enjoy nature every way possible
Cachoeira da Fumaça
With almost 400meter of falls and a small waterflux water almost does not make it all the way down. As there is a lot of wind blowing up most of the water just comes back up, like smoke. That's why it is called the "Smoke Falls"
"O Bode" ... the goat
A cosy local restaurant (comida caseira) specialised in goatmeat and cactus, serving per kilogram. You put whatever you want on your plate, as much as you want and at the end you just pay by weight. A very common way of lunching here in Bahia.
Cobled streets in Lençois
This picture gives you all about the charm of this little city of Lençois, also known as the Portal of Chapada Diamantina. Colourfull and very quiet, a dream to stroll around after a serious walk in the mountains.
Micro orchids
This is a nice example of micro-orchids. In the local 'orchidario' (orchid-garden at the foot of the mount Pai Inaçio) you see them as part of their huge collection of orchids. This one I found in the wild going up Pai Inaçio. As a matter of fact the flower itself is only about 3 milimeters large.
Wild mushroom
Beautifull to watch, rare to discover and ... best left untouched.
Maracuja, aka passionfruit
Passion-fruit, locally called 'maracuja' is very common here in Bahia. It contains plenty of vitamin C and makes up for delicious fruitjuice and flowers impressively.
Wild orchids
Depending on the time of the year on can see a lot of wild orchids. This one was just receiving a visit from somebody who was keen on it's nectar.
Flying grass-hopper
When walking up the mountains you see them every now and then. They measure between 6 an 12cm and when they fly they look somewhat like horrible bats ...