3-day Vale do Pati Trek in Chapada Diamantina, Brazil
PlanetaEXO
TripsBrazilChapada DiamantinaVale do Pati Trek

3-day Vale do Pati Trek in Chapada Diamantina, Brazil

Brazil
2 Nights·3 Days
Vale do Pati TrekHiking & TrekkingCommunity-Based Travel

Overview

Ever thought of hiking mountains, caves, and waterfalls in just 3 days? The Vale do Pati, set inside Chapada Diamantina National Park in Bahia, packs roughly 35 km of trails, natural pools, and overnight stays in the home of local families into one short, intense adventure.

This is more than scenery. Trek to the Vale do Pati viewpoint, climb to the Morro do Castelo cave, and cool off at the Funis Waterfall and the 260 m Cachoeirão lookout, then sleep and eat in family homestays inside the valley. Widely regarded as the best trek in Brazil, it pairs real wilderness with genuine local hospitality.

Perfect for adventurers who want to truly connect with nature and don’t need to sugarcoat the experience, the Vale do Pati trek is customized to your group’s pace, so first-timers and seasoned hikers both fit in!

  • Full itinerary: trekking to Morro do Castelo, Cachoeirão lookout, and Funis Waterfall, with swims in natural pools and two nights in family homestays.
  • ~35 km of trails over 3 days inside Chapada Diamantina National Park, from the Vale do Pati viewpoint to the 260 m Cachoeirão lookout above 20+ waterfalls.
  • Two nights in the homes of local families living inside the valley, with home-cooked regional meals included.
  • Widely regarded as the best trek in Brazil and some of the best trekking in Chapada Diamantina.
  • Activities guided by experienced local guides (Portuguese, English, and French, subject to availability), inside a national park that charges no entrance fee.
  • All-inclusive experience: round-trip transfer (Lençóis ⇄ Guiné), homestays, meals during the trek, local guiding, and travel insurance.

  • Please note: This is a sample itinerary. Your guide adapts distances, activities, and timing to your group’s fitness, the weather, and trail conditions.

Itinerary

Day 1:

Vale do Pati Viewpoint / Funis Waterfall

  • Trek8 hrs · 9.64 km · +584 m elevation
  • TransferLençóis 6:30 a.m. → Guiné · ~2 h · 105 km
  • WaterfallsLajeado picnic · Funis (30 m) natural pool

Welcome to Chapada Diamantina National Park! Leave the city of Lençóis at 6:30 AM and head to the village of Guiné—the trailhead of the Vale do Pati trek, where your guide briefs you and checks your gear.

The tour opens with a 3-hour climb to Aleixos, then crosses plains, small streams, and the highlands of Gerais do Rio Preto to the Vale do Pati viewpoint.

After a picnic at the Lajeado Waterfall, cool off in the natural pool of the 30 m Funis Waterfall. Dinner and a bonfire wait at the Igrejinha family home, your first night inside the valley.

Meals included: Lunch / Dinner

Two hikers walk a rocky trail across open savanna grassland on the Vale do Pati Trek, with a massive flat-topped sandstone mesa rising under a blue sky
A guide in a teal shirt and a hiker study a trail map together on a rocky outcrop during the Vale do Pati Trek, with dramatic sandstone tepuis and a lush green valley stretching behind them under a cloudy sky
Two hikers sit on a boulder at a Vale do Pati Trek viewpoint, one pointing toward a sweeping canyon flanked by towering sandstone mesa formations and dense green valley below
A hiker photographs two smiling trekkers standing in a shallow rocky river gorge on the Vale do Pati Trek, with sandstone cliffs and a mesa visible in the background
Two smiling travelers sitting in a shallow natural pool at the base of a cascading waterfall on the Vale do Pati Trek, a vivid rainbow arching through the mist between them
A hiker sits on a rock beside the natural pool of a tiered waterfall cascading down iron-streaked sandstone cliffs on the Vale do Pati Trek, surrounded by green Atlantic forest under a blue sky
A whitewashed colonial chapel signed 'Igreja Senhor do Bonfim' beneath a brilliant starry sky on the Vale do Pati Trek, with a wooden cross silhouetted against the deep blue night

Day 2:

Morro do Castelo & Cave / Bananeiras Waterfall

  • Trek7 hrs · 8.23 km · +660 m elevation
  • Cave & summitMorro do Castelo · panoramic lookout
  • HomestayMr. Wilson’s family home

After breakfast, tackle the steep 2-hour climb to Morro do Castelo, up to a lookout with panoramic views over the whole valley, where you can picnic on the summit. The descent mixes rocky terrain and quiet forest paths down to the Cachoeira das Bananeiras for a refreshing swim.

You spend your second night at Mr. Wilson’s house, a cornerstone of the Vale do Pati hike that has welcomed travelers since 1997.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A hiker stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the vast green canyon of the Vale do Pati Trek, with towering sandstone escarpments and a distant waterfall visible deep in the valley
Two hikers on a red dirt trail descending a lush ridgeline on the Vale do Pati Trek, with a dramatic cloud-filled valley and flat-topped sandstone cliffs stretching into the distance in Chapada Diamantina
A narrow dirt trail on the Vale do Pati Trek winds between moss-covered rocks and slender trees, with dappled light filtering through the forest canopy above
Two trekkers striking balance poses on boulders framed by a massive sandstone cave arch on the Vale do Pati Trek, blue sky and green treetops visible beyond the opening
A hiker lies on a rocky cliff edge on the Vale do Pati Trek, gazing over a vast forested canyon with flat-topped sandstone plateaus and a distant waterfall under a cloudy sky in Chapada Diamantina
Two hikers stand on a rocky outcrop high above a forested canyon on the Vale do Pati Trek, with layered sandstone plateaus and green valleys stretching to the horizon under a partly cloudy sky
Aerial view of layered sandstone cliffs and green vegetation on the Vale do Pati Trek, with tiny hikers visible on a rocky outcrop

Day 3:

Cachoeirão Lookout / Return to Guiné

  • Trek9 hrs · 16.48 km · +746 m elevation
  • Cachoeirão260 m lookout · 20+ waterfalls · pool swim
  • ArrivalGuiné ~4 p.m., transfer to Lençóis

On the final day, after coffee at your host’s home, choose between the challenging Fenda da Prefeitura, with a unique view of Morro do Castelo, or a gentler climb to take in the valley. From the 260 m Cachoeirão lookout, you see more than 20 waterfalls cascading down the cliffs, one of the high points of the Pati Valley trek.

After a final picnic and a dip in the Cachoeirão pool, cross the plains of Gerais do Rio Preto one last time, watch a closing sunset, and reach Guiné around 4PM for the transfer back to Lençóis.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch

Two hikers sitting on a rock ledge overlooking the deep canyon and lush green valley of the Vale do Pati Trek in Chapada Diamantina
Five backpackers hiking single-file along a sandy stone trail on the Vale do Pati Trek, with sweeping valley views and towering sandstone escarpments under a clear blue sky
A iridescent hummingbird with violet crown and teal-green plumage perched on a bare twig against a soft green background, spotted on the Vale do Pati Trek
Two hikers lie flat on a smooth sandstone ledge peering straight down a towering cliff face on the Vale do Pati Trek, with a thin waterfall and dense green canyon far below
Three hikers walking a rocky trail through campo rupestre scrubland on the Vale do Pati Trek as a large golden sun sets over a distant mountain ridge
Two hikers silhouetted on a rocky summit at sunset during the Vale do Pati Trek, with a vast lowland panorama glowing orange beneath a wide sky
A near-full moon rising above warm red sandstone cliffs dotted with scrub vegetation on the Vale do Pati Trek, under a clear blue twilight sky
Fiery orange and gold sunset over a vast open savanna with a rugged rocky escarpment silhouetted against a deep blue sky on the Vale do Pati Trek

What is Included

  • Round-trip transfer (Lençóis ⇄ Guiné)
  • 2-night stay in family homestays inside the valley
  • Meals during the trek: breakfast, lunch (trail picnic), and dinner
  • Access to Chapada Diamantina National Park (entry is free, the park charges no entrance fee)
  • Travel insurance
  • Guided tours (hiking to the Vale do Pati viewpoint, Morro do Castelo cave, Funis and Bananeiras waterfalls, and the Cachoeirão lookout)
  • Portuguese, English, and French-speaking local guides (subject to availability)

Not included

  • Flight tickets
  • Accommodation in Lençóis before or after the trek
  • Breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day
  • Drinks and anything else bought during the activity
  • Optional luggage support (mules or porters) and gratuities
  • Any services not previously mentioned

FAQ

Reviews

“The three-day trek was a wonderful experience through varied vegetation and along fantastic trails. Our guide was very friendly and environmentally conscious. He knows the valley very well and took us to some really beautiful spots that were a little away from the larger crowds. We would have liked his English skills to be a little better. The lodgings varied. The first place was a bit hectic (more than 50 guests), while the second was much quieter and very pleasant. The food at both lodgings was good. We were a bit disappointed with lunch, though: we were served two very simple and dry sandwiches (with toast-bread) each time. We would have liked some snacks in between meals (apples, nuts, or granola bars). The organization was reliable and punctual without exception. All in all, however, it was a memorable and very enjoyable experience.”

— Markus

“Thank you for offering this wonderful 4-day-track through Vale do Pati. We had a great experience with the fantastic guide Daniel, who is friendly, empathetic and gives courage. The hike offered much to see, to feel, even that we can more than we think. The vegetation has a great variety, the pathes were very different and the view unique. We enjoyed in this hike. Thank you.”

— Dorothea

“Good organization from the team. The guide spoke English quite well. Overall it was a great experience, he was available and made sure we always understood what were the next steps and how to tackle them. I loved the park. Perhaps it would be nice more matching between the explorers and the guide (eg age), so we could share more in the experience. But it was great!”

— Caterina Cappeller

“The great guide and small group made the experience wonderful. I did not have experience in a multiple day hike and with our great guide Vinni it was a great and safe experience. The level can be quite intense with climbing, so it is very helpful that your condition and knees are in good shape. Great different routes, looking out points, good food and super friendly and nice people. One big bonus was the Foho music after diner and dancing. Thanks again for the great 3 days!”

— Maria Josephina

“The Val do Pati is beautiful. Hike is well planned, accommodation and food were great and our guide Vinicio went above and beyond.”

— Alejandro Ponce

“Fantastic 3 days in Vale do Pati We had a fantastic 3-days trip in Vale do Pati with Daniel, who is a great guide. He knows a lot about the fauna and geology of Chapada Diamantina and is very good at conveying this information. He was flexible in planning the tour and is always friendly, helpful, and unobtrusive—a very likeable guy. Daniel is multi-talented and not only a very good guide, but also an excellent cook, driver, and musician. We really enjoyed our time with him and can highly recommend him. The tour was excellently organized. The accommodations were also great. And the Vale do Pati is simply indescribably beautiful. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Daniel and the Planeta EXO team for 3 unforgettable, wonderful days in the Chapada Diamantina.”

— Tobias Weidhase

“Great experience. Everything is well organized: the transfers, the meals, the accommodations. The landscapes are breathtaking. A big thank you to our guide, Vini, who managed to pass on to us his passion for Vale do Pati with kindness. We would gladly have stayed 2 more days!”

— Delphine Reig

“Great experience because Chapada Diamantina is a fantastic place to do a trek, because all the experience was super well organized from A to Z, because the guide was great making sure to organize our journey so we could go to places when there was no or very few other people, adapted our journey based on the capacity of the group which allowed us to view some amazing areas and was always super happy to explain us what we saw around us, and last but not least the places chosen for us to stay at night were great ( good accommodation, very nice host and great food).”

— Nathalie

“We went on the Vale do Pati trek for 3 days with the guide Vinicio. With the 3 of us. We came from Holland to Brazil. Every communication in advance was quick and easy true whats app, with Beatrice. Evert question answered. Once in Brazil the communication was again perfect. We were picked up in time and started early in the morning on our trip. Vinicio was a good guide and took good care of us, as it was our first time to do a trip like this. Every lunch was made on the go, with great care and attention. The places where we slept were good and nice to meet more people in de valley. Diner and breakfast great and plenty. We love the Brazilian kitchen. We got our own room as a family that was nice. The cold showers were a bit difficult at first, but fine. It’s an adventure we will never forget, with views and memories in our backpack we will come home. Thanks to everyone and especially Vinicio for taking care and taking our pase in de Vale do Pati”

— Denise Wijsman

“We had a very well organised 4 day hike in Chapada Diamantina. The communication before the trip from the PlanetaEXO team was excellent, we had clear instructions, briefing and relevant information provided ahead of time, which made the whole experience seamless. Our guide, Vinicio, had many years of experience and was an excellent guide during the trek, and very focused on safety, which we appreciated a lot. The accomodation is basic, but all very well organised and selected. Special mention to Mr Wilson’s house, which had good food and vegetables for dinner service and a relaxing and quiet atmosphere after a day of hike.”

— Ana

Check availability for your trip

Free inquiry – no commitment

Who's joining the adventure?

2
0

Your next trip

Travel date*

Tell us about your trip

Contact details

How should we contact you?*

From

$ 350/ per person