Tips for Chapada Diamantina- What you should bring, how to get in Chapada Diamantina, bank and post service and accommodation

Tip # 1: Extreme EcoAdventure proposes to the travelers the smart use of sunscreen, as it pollutes the pure waters from our mountains. We ask that those who may not have exposure to the sun to arrange long clothing and we give a straw hat to contribute to nature. She thanks!

Tip # 2: Hire a guide: Be sure to hire a guide at some agencies or local guides association, since there are bad reports from those who hired a person who only knew ways. A guide must know the procedures for first aid and carry a kit. He should know the local history and culture, and, in the case of treks, he must know very well the mountains, including where to camp and where to go in an emergency. He also must know where there are places with any kind of help and where there may be cellular signal.

Tip- What to bring in 1-day-tours:

– Water

– Backpacker to carry your personal things (including the lunch when it´s provided).

– Camera.

– Rain conver.

– trekking boots or shoes.

– light clothers to walk.

– Money if you want to do optional activities, like zipline or absailing or buying souvenires and drinks.

– Hat.

– Bring specific medicines: our staff is trained for first care and they can´t give oral or intravenous medicines.

– A light jacket.

 

Tip- What to bring for treks:

We provide tent, sleeping bag, metress, good food, experienced guides, car to start and finish the trek if is needed. Bring your larger backpacker (minimum 45 liters). Better a comfortable backpack with space ramaining than a small backpack “almost exploding” to carry everything.

Besides the sleeping bag, metress, 1 tent for 3 people, ther´s a list of personal equipment that are useful:

– 1,5 litres water bottle.
– Lantern.
– Rain cover for the backpack.
– Trekking boots or shoes.
– Trek Sandals or flip-flops.
– Bring specific medicines: our staff is trained for first care and they can´t give oral or intravenous medicines.

– Confortable clothers to walk (the same clothers set should be used everyday)

– Another clothers set as reserve well packed.

– Clothers set to sleep (the same clothers should be used everyday)

– Sugestion: light pants, soccer socks , long-sleeved shirt, cap, rain cover.

– Don´t bring soap, shampoo, books, glasses things or any unnecessary weight.
– Suplies as chocolat, cereal bar, snacks, etc. are not provided, so it´s up to you bringing it or not.

Tip: How to arrange things in a trek beckpecker. Objetos Leves: Light. Objetos pesados: Heavy. Saco de dormir: Sleep bag

Tip- How to behave in treks:

We must walk only in the trail. The less noise we make is better to see animals. urinating or defecating away from the river in a plcae determined by the guide, burying the toilet paper with the feaces. The ladies must put the toilet paper used after urine to a trash and bring back to town any used absorbent. Brush the teeth and wash dishes away from the river. Don´t brake sticks or any plant. Ciggarete smokers should arrange a good container to carry the butts and be careful with fire! Candles only in a sort of can to avoid wax on the rocks. Don´t dive in the water without asking the guide, there are rocks we can´t see in the water which can cause a big accident. Pay atention when steping on slippery and inclined rocks, those are the most frequent accidents. Let the guide lead, he can identify animals more easily. Each one is responsible for the provided camping gear. You must carry and take a good care of it. The guide will pack his bag with the heaviest things we must carry and the things he couldn´t fit in his bag are divided for each person. That´s why a large backpack is needed, we must carry all the food we´ll eat, the camping gear and your personal things.

 

Tip- How to get to Chapada Diamantina:

Airplane:

– 2 flights per week (thursdays and sundays) in the Salvador-Lençóis-Salvador route. The company is the TRIP/ AZUL (www.voeazul.com.br).

By car:

– Salvador: The best route is Salvador- Feira de Santana- Ipirá- Itaberaba- Lençóis. We use a different road from the bus because we drive in a less crowded road.

– SP e MG: SP-MG(BH)- Direction to follow from Belo Horizonte: Sete Lagoas- Montes Claros- Janaúba- Porteirinha- Mato Verde- Monte Azul- Espinosa- Urandi- Guanambi- Caetité- Brumado (não entra na cidade)- Sussuarana (distrito)- Tanhaçú- Ituaçú- Barra da Estiva- Ibicoara- Mucugê- Andaraí- Lençóis.

– Brasília e Goiás: BR-020 e BR-349 in direction of Bom Jesus da Lapa- Ibotirama- Seabra- Palmeiras- Lençóis.

Bus:

We reccomend to arrive in Lençóis or Palmeiras/ Vale do Capão. The bus is much better comparing to the other cities and the trip is shorter with less stops.

Arriving in Lençóis:

– Three buses per day in the Salvador-Lençóis-Salvador route from REAL EXPRESSO (www.realexpresso.com.br). The bus is confortable but the air conditioning is really strong, bring a jacket and pants.

Arriving in Palmeiras/ Vale do Capão:

– Just like Lençóis, the same bus works on these routes. To Capão Valley you must get a taxi from Palmeiras bus staion, they always wait on bus arrivals.

Arriving in Andaraí/ Igatú, Mucugê, Ibicoara:

The company who works in this route is Águia Branca (http://www.aguiabranca.com.br). Visit their site for better informations.

 

Tip- Services:

Bank e Post Office:

Lençóis: Banco do Brasil (agency), Caixa Econômica (at lottery shop) Post Office, Bradesco services to withdraw money.

Mucugê e Andaraí: Banco do Brasil (agency), Caixa Econômica (at lottery shop) Post Office.

Palmeiras: Bradesco (agency), Banco do Brasil (ATM) e Caixa Econômica (lottery shop).

Ibicoara: Bradesco (agency), Banco do Brasil (ATM) e Caixa Econômica (lottery shop).

Tip– Acommodation:

– Lençóis is the city with more beds, being the city where you have more options and different cattegories.

– Capão Valley has a lot of options as pousadas, most of them are in esoteric or naturalistic style because of the magical atmosphere of this village. There are also many campsites and simple pousada

– Igatú: Right climbers destination, this village is the boulder paradise in Brazil. Small and charming, there´s only 384 residents. The most visited attractions are the ruins of the mining time. There are 2 very nice pousadas and another simple ones, There´s also a camping.

– Mucugê: There´s a big hotel outside the town, very cozy pousadas and simple pousada in town.

– Guiné: It has simple pousada and a beautiful view of the Serra Desbarrancado.

– Ibicoara: There is a simple hostel in the city, the best is to staying in the pousadas of the countryside. Most of them are simple but with new facilities and charming decoration.

– Palmeiras e Andaraí: It has simple pousadas and a beautiful colonial buildings.