“Ecotourism is a form of responsible travel in natural areas that contributes to the protection of the environment and the well-being of local populations”
Tatu na Trilha” is a local ecotourism agency that caters for both Brazilian and English-speaking clients and is certified by the Brazilian Technical Standards Organization (ABNT) to operate trekking/hiking tours in the national park. The selected tours have been designed to guarantee you a rich and rewarding experience within the wonderful natural landscape, flora and fauna of the Chapada Diamantina National Park. The agency’s director and idealist, Claude Samuel, had an in-depth knowledge of the Chapada Diamantina, including serving as vice-president of the national park’s advisory council. A forerunner of ecotourism, he lived in the Capão Valley for around thirty years, developing various environmental conservation projects, in addition to his activities at the Tatu na Trilha agency. He passed away in December 2021, and it is now his partner, Liz Mattos, who is continuing the path he blazed.
A comfortable express bus will take you from Salvador to either Lençois or on to Palmeiras, where a shuttle to Capão will drop you in the village in front of the Tatu Feliz pousada. See item transportation for more details.
Options:
A trekking tour to Pati Valley leaving from Capão. A physically active trek, involving two nights lodging in a valley resident’s house within the National Park. Luggage can be left at the agency during the tour.
“Discovering Chapada” day trips involve trekking in the day and returning each evening to your lodging in either Lençois or Capão.
A diverse tour of the southern Chapada region staying in the beautiful town of Mucugê.
A combo trip from the mountains of the Chapada to the beach at Diogo, 50 miles up the coast from Salvador. Choose one of the Chapada tour options followed by chill-out time on the beach, staying in Diogo village. A six-day option for a real taste of Bahia.
A two-day trek crossing the valley from Lençois to Capão, including the Fumaça Waterfall. Lodging is in Capão.
OUR HIKING
TOURS CALENDAR
contactatu@infochapada.com
+55 75 9 9160 4860
PRICES/PERSON
Your reservation is confirmed upon payment of a deposit of 50% of the value of your tour with the balance paid at the agency.
3 day trekking tour to Pati Valley
2 nights at local resident’s houses inside the National Park
310 €
6-8 people
355 €
for 3-5 people
395 €
2 people
Optional days/treks: €140 per day
Price includes:English speaking guide, 3-day trek; 2 nights in homestay accommodation with breakfast and dinner; 3 picnic lunches; Ecotrip accident insurance; two-way transfer between the village of Capão and the start of the trek. Note that luggage can be left at the agency during the trek.
It is requested that you arrive in Capão the day before the departure of the trek in order to undergo a briefing with your guide and run through safety procedures and national park guidelines. Price of accommodation at Pousada Tatu Feliz.
Introduction to Pati Valley: 2-day Trek
1 night at a local resident’s house inside the National Park
200 €
6-8 people
250 €
for 3-5 people
300 €
2 people
Optional days/treks: €140 per day
Price includes: local transportation, English speaking guide, 1 night in homestay accommodation, accident insurance and meals (except dinner on day 2).
Possibility of arrival the morning of the departure (bus leaving at 23.00 from Salvador the previous day). Briefing on site.
Fumaça Waterfall
and Riachinho waterfall
70 €
6-8 peaple
80 €
3-5 people
90 €
2 people
Price includes: local transportation, English speaking guide, entrance fees on site, picnic lunche.
Discovering the Chapada Diamantina
3 days / 2 nights | Accommodation in Capão
305 €
6-8 people
390 €
3-5 people
415 €
2 people
395 €
6-8 people
420 €
3-5 people
480 €
2 people
Price includes: english speaking guide, two nights’ accommodation with breakfast, 2 picnic lunches for day 1 and 3, lunch at restaurant on the second day, excursions mentioned by car or on foot, entrance fees on sites, accident insurance. Excludes dinner and drinks.
Discovering the Chapada Diamantina
3 days / 2 nights | Accommodation in Lençois
311 €
6-8 people
370 €
3-5 people
415 €
2 people
395 €
6-8 people
420 €
3-5 people
480 €
2 people
Option without accommodation
The agency vehicle picks you up at your hotel/pousada.
230 €
6-8 people
280 €
3-5 people
330 €
2 people
Option in 2 days / 1 night: (days 2 and 3)
180€
6-8 people
240 €
3-5 people
265 €
2 people
Price includes: english speaking guide, two nights’ accommodation with breakfast, picnic at the Fumaça, lunch at the restaurant by the caves, excursions mentioned by car or on foot, entrance fees on sites, accident insurance. Excludes lunch on the first day as well as dinner and drinks.
Chapada Tour and Diogo Beach
6 days / 5 nights
Accommodation in Chapada + Toocool
720 €
6-8 people
740 €
3-5 people
840 €
2 people
Price includes: Chapada Tour + bus tickets Between Chapada and Salvador, taxi between Salvador and Diogo and 2 nights at the Pousada Too Cool.
Crossing the valley from Lençois to Capão
2 days / 1 night
Accommodation in Capão – Pousada Tatu Feliz
228 €
6-8 people
240 €
3-5 people
300 €
2 people
Price includes: English speaking guide, internal transportation, picnic lunch on both days, accident insurance, 1 night in Capão and return to Lençois by shared taxi + bus.RETURN TO LENÇÓIS BY PRIVATE CAR.
In case of cancellation: More than 20 days before the tour start date: Full refund of the deposit less €30 cancellation fee – Less than 20 days before the tour start date: 50% of the deposit will be refunded – Less than 10 days before the tour start date: 20% of the deposit will be refunded
OUR SAFETY COMMITMENT
Our agency adheres to the ABNT 15331 safety standard. This standard relates to the security management system for trekking in the Pati Valley and has the following objectives:
- Identification of risks for all co-workers and clients to minimize the possibility of accidents.
- Respect for the standards established by the National Park specifications. Particular attention is given to waterways that are traversed during the tours.
- Respect for the existing environmental legislation.
HOW TO GET HERE – TRANSPORTS
Bus terminal of Salvador, destination Seabra, stop at Palmeiras.
| From Salvador or Lençois to Palmeiras | Return from Palmeiras to Lençois or Salvador | ||||
| Salvador | Lençois | Palmeiras | Palmeiras | Lençois | Salvador |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08h | 14h40 | 15h45 | 7h50 | 09h | 16h |
| 13h | 19h40 | 20h45 | 12h35 | 13h45 | 21h15 |
| 23h | 05h10 | 06h30 | 21h50 | 22h50 | 05h50 |
In Palmeiras, shared taxis wait for passengers at the bus stop (except for the buses arriving at night) and take them to the Capão Valley on a 40 min drive, dropping them at Pousada Tatu Feliz, in front of the agency. Charge is R$20 per person each way (assuming the car is full).
There is an option of private transport from Palmeiras to Capão Valley for €45
Purchase bus tickets directly on the site www.busbud.com/en in English; at the Salvador Bus Station (Rodoviaria) with either Real Expresso Company or Rapido Federal; or at the agency “Shopping Tour” inside ‘Shopping Barra’ mall, Barra district of Salvador. We recommend purchasing tickets at least 24 hours in advance.
• Lençois – Capão Valley
Outbound: bus to Palmeiras (at 05am, 1pm, 7pm and 11pm) then shared taxi to Capão Valley (R$15 approx, if full).
Return: shared taxi to Palmeiras then bus to Lençóis (at 6.00, 12.15 and 22.30)
• Chapada Diamantina – Boipeba and Morro de São Paulo.
Bus from Palmeiras (22.30) or Lençois (23.30) to Feira de Santana (arrival at 4.45) then direct bus to Valença (4 hours journey – with Santana bus company) from 5.30
Boats for Morro (every hour) or “lancha Garça Branca” (fast boat) for Boipeba (10.00 and 12.00 – 1 hour journey). Return Boipeba-Valença: 7.00, 9.00, 12.00 and 16.00
Booking via internet: www.islandtour.com.br
Take the BR 324 from Salvador to Feira de Santana, then the BR 242 to Palmeiras then follow 20km of dirt road to the Capão Valley. The journey takes around 6 hours.
CAPÃO VALLEY
Capão valley, 50 km from Lençois, was a long time strategic base for diamond researchers working in the surrounding mountains between 1860 and 1930. The end of the diamond cycle saw the emergence of an economy based on coffee and banana plantations. The 1980s, which saw the arrival of people from larger Brazilian cities looking for a life closer to nature, has gradually transformed the valley. Several communities working with small scale farming and seeking a spirituality linked to nature blossomed whereas the 1990s brought tourism and new opportunities for all the residents. These communities successfully proposed courses of all kinds, ranging from natural medicine to shamanic retreats.
Coupled with this a wider community movement is currently working on a sustainable development model that allows for the growth of the local economy while preserving the ecological and social balance of the valley. The choir, the circus school run by a Frenchman and the theatre group liven up the evenings in the village. Many Brazilian, South American and European artists have chosen to live there, giving the village something of a Bohemian feel, an easy-going atmosphere in which several different languages can be heard. The village of Caete-Açu has adapted to these changes without losing its identity and Capão Valley can today count on over two thousand inhabitants.