🗺️ How to get to Chapada dos Veadeiros and ticket prices

The Chapada dos Veadeiros plateau rises to almost 1,650 meters above sea level. Over millions of years, water has carved canyons here, and wind has polished the quartz to a lunar shine. In the park you will find waterfalls, viewpoints, and open cerrado without a single fence.

The entrance is at kilometer 36 of the GO-239 road, in the village of São Jorge near Alto Paraíso de Goiás (entrance and tickets, 09/2026).

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What to see in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park

💡 In short:

An adult ticket costs 49 reais, a discounted ticket costs 24.50 reais, and residents of nearby towns pay 5 reais (as of 09/2026, park price list).
On foot, you enter from 8:00 to 12:00, internal transport runs from 9:00 to 15:00, and you must leave the area by 18:00.
Bring water, a cap, sunscreen, and sneakers: the trails go down and up over hot rock.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the concessionaire's website.

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park covers about 2,405 square kilometers in the state of Goiás (park area, 09/2026). The plateau's elevation ranges from 600 to 1,650 meters, so it is drier and cooler at the top than in the lowlands. The rocks are made of quartz with crystal outcrops and are considered among the oldest on the planet: their age is estimated at 1.8 billion years (park geology, 09/2026).

Chapada dos Veadeiros is nothing like the jungles from movies. Here you find open cerrado savanna, twisted trees, and red earth. Rains fall from November to April, and the dry season runs from May to October (visiting schedule, 09/2026). Plan your trip for May or June: the river is still full, and the heat is mild.

Erosion rock formations in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park

The park has five registered trails of varying length and difficulty, plus two campsites and the Mirante Carrossel viewpoint (infrastructure, 09/2026). All routes are marked, and instructors are on duty at the entrance. Swimming is allowed in designated areas near the waterfalls.

Animals and plants of the cerrado

The Cerrado is considered one of the oldest and richest tropical ecosystems in the world (UNESCO description, 09/2026). The park is home to more than 25 orchid species, with buritis and babaçu palms rising alongside them. You won't find this combination of plants in the Amazon rainforest.

There are more large animals here than photos suggest. The maned wolf, jaguar, tapir, pampas deer, and giant armadillo are all on rare species lists (park fauna, 09/2026). In the mornings you'll hear the seriema and the rhea, while toucans and king vultures circle above the river.

The best time to spot wildlife is during the dry season, when the grass dies back and animals are visible from a distance. Stay on the marked trail: the park protects rare species, and stepping off the path often destroys nests.

Hilltop view of cerrado with trees and shrubs

Vale da Lua and the quartz rocks

Near São Jorge lies Vale da Lua, known as the Valley of the Moon. The river has worn the quartz rock into smooth funnels and natural pools that look like craters (rock formations, 09/2026). The water here is warm and clear, so swimming is part of the outing.

Some of these sites are on private land with controlled access, and tickets are purchased separately from the park pass (list of sites, 09/2026). Check the price and hours on site or with your guide in advance.

The plateau also has its own Turtle Rock. Water and sand have polished the stone into a surreal shape, and tourists come here for the photos. Allow extra time: the viewpoints are separated by short walks, and the midday heat slows you down considerably.

Waterfall among smooth quartz rocks in Vale da Lua

Rio Preto waterfalls and canyons

The Rio Preto, a tributary of the Tocantins, flows through the park (rivers and waterfalls, 09/2026). Salto do Rio Preto drops from a height of 120 meters, and the second waterfall on the river is 80 meters high (waterfall data, 09/2026).

Further downstream you'll pass through a canyon with walls up to 40 meters high and reach the Corredeiras and Cariocas waterfalls. The trails are self-guided: signs are posted along all sections, and hiring a guide is not required (visitor rules, 09/2026).

Wear shoes with thick soles, because wet rocks are slippery. If you want to take your time filming, arrive at opening.

Canyon and Rio Preto waterfall in Chapada dos Veadeiros

How to get there from Brasília

From Brasília you take BR-020 to the turnoff for Formosa. After that BR-010 begins, which after the Goiás border is called GO-118 (driving directions, 09/2026). In Alto Paraíso de Goiás, turn onto GO-239 and head toward the village of São Jorge.

The park entrance is at kilometer 36 of this road, exact address: Rodovia GO 239, Km 36, Vila de São Jorge (official address, 09/2026). Allow half a day for the drive, and there are no major cities along the way.

Also bring a rain jacket: the park administration recommends it (recommendations, 09/2026). Pets are not allowed inside, and smoking and alcohol are prohibited on the trails.

Morro da Baleia plateau in Chapada dos Veadeiros under clouds

Tours, transport and overnight stays

A guide is not required in the park, but useful: local guides know where the water looks best and where there are fewer people. Registered guides enter the park for free, so it is easy to find a group in São Jorge for the morning (entry conditions, 09/2026).

Internal transport costs 35 reais one way and 45 round trip; after 12:00 it is sold only as a round trip (transport prices, 09/2026). The park ticket is valid only for the selected date, and transport and camping are not included in the price.

You can stay overnight at one of the park's two campsites: a spot costs 25 reais (campsites, 09/2026). You can grab a bite at the café at the visitor center, and on weekends a food truck sets up at Corredeiras (park infrastructure, 09/2026).

Street in Alto Paraíso with a chapel against the hills

If you want to hike the canyons and waterfalls with a guide, check out the ready-made programs below. Groups meet in São Jorge and Alto Paraíso de Goiás, and departure is almost always scheduled for early morning.

Tours and tickets in Chapada dos Veadeiros

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

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Why the park was added to the UNESCO list

The park was established on January 11, 1961 by decree of President Juscelino Kubitschek (park history, 09/2026). In 2001, UNESCO added it to the World Heritage list together with Emas National Park (committee decision, 09/2026). At the same time, the territory was expanded to 235,970 hectares (UNESCO data, 09/2026). The park received its current area of about 2,405 square kilometers later.

The reason is simple: the plateau separates the watersheds of three major river systems, the Amazon, the São Francisco, and the Paraná (site description, 09/2026). For UNESCO this is a key argument, since the headwaters of rivers across half the continent depend on the preservation of the cerrado.

Around the park live the Kalunga, descendants of escaped Afro-Brazilian slaves who came here for the gold mines in the 18th century (regional history, 09/2026). Cavalcante became one of the first gold rush settlements and was among the main gold mining sites in Brazil. Their communities still farm in the surrounding valleys.

For more on this topic, see the article interesting facts about Brazil.

From the entrance to the distant waterfalls, the trail runs across open plateau, and there is almost no shade. So pace yourself and set out early.

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park on the map

The park starts at highway GO-239 and stretches north toward Cavalcante. It is best to save the entry point in your navigator in advance, because cell service does not work everywhere on the plateau.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a park ticket cost?

An adult ticket costs 49 reais, a discounted ticket costs 24.50 reais, residents of nearby municipalities pay 5 reais (as of 09/2026, park rates). The ticket is valid only for the purchased date. On-site transport and camping are not included in the price and are paid separately.

When is the best time to visit Chapada dos Veadeiros?

The dry season runs from May to October, and rains fall from November to April (as of 09/2026, visiting seasons). In May the river is full, the waterfalls are powerful, and the heat is still mild. The park operates in the rain, but rocks get slippery, so bring trekking shoes.

Can I bring a dog to the park?

No. Pets are not allowed on the grounds (as of 09/2026, guest rules). The reason is protection of local fauna: the park safeguards rare species, and an outside animal near them creates an extra risk. Leave your pet at your hotel in São Jorge.

Do I need a guide on the trails?

The trails are self-guided, with signs on all sections (trails and guides, 09/2026). Hire a guide for convenience: local guides know where there are fewer people and where the waterfall views are best.

How long does a visit take?

Plan for a full day. Pedestrians are admitted from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, transport runs until 3:00 PM, and you need to leave the attractions by 6:00 PM (opening hours, 09/2026). The full route to the waterfalls takes several hours, and part of that time goes to the climb.

In short: what to book

If you have one day: get an early entry and the trail to Salto do Rio Preto, which has the most powerful flow. If you're traveling with kids: stick to Corredeiras and Mirante Carrossel, where the entry is shorter and there are no steep descents. If you want canyons and photos: set aside two days, and spend the first on Vale da Lua and São Jorge.

For guided tours and transfers from Alto Paraíso de Goiás, see the selection of Chapada dos Veadeiros tours on GetYourGuide.

Chapada dos Veadeiros: tickets, hours and park trails