Cavalcante

Cavalcante is a city in Goiás. It includes part of the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park. It is an area with some tremendous hiking trails and waterfalls. Cavalcante also surrounds the Kalunga Historical Site, where descendents of African slaves, called Kalunga, live with little contact with the modern world.

Understand
With around 10,000 inhabitants (2007), Cavalcante lies 320 km north of Brasilia, on the north side of the national park Chapada dos Veadeiros.

Cavalcante has a much more "typical rural Goiás" climate than Alto Paraíso or São Jorge, but it does have a basic tourism structure. Its economy is diversifying; tourism, mining and power generation are prominent activities, but livestock has been supporting its residents for years. In culture, the main activities are pilgrimages and revelry, the queen's hunt, dances such as lundu and sussa, in August the Festival of Instrumental Music and in December the Ethnographic Film Festival.

History
Founded in 1737 by Diogo Teles Cavalcante, it is the oldest municipality in Chapada dos Veadeiros. Its altitude ranges from 360 m to more than 1,600 m, and it is surrounded by waterfalls, canyons, mountains and paths. It includes more than 60% of the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park area. In the middle of the last century, it was the largest wheat exporter in the country.

The gold miner Julião Cavalcante and his companions in 1736 passed through the town in search of new gold mines. The news of the discovery of an immense gold mine of great depth, on the banks of the Lava Pés stream in the Serra da Cavalhada, attracted many adventurers from the most distant corners, starting the town. Cavalcante is honored as the founder and colonizer of the town.

By bus
In Brasilia, Empresa Santo Antonio (ESA) provides two daily buses to Cavalcante. They leave at 07:15 and 15:15 from Rodoferroviaria station. Tickets at R$ 45,15. or. It's a slow 6-hour ride.

By car
To get to Cavalcante you need to go first to Brasilia. From there, take road BR-020 and drive 34 km, turn left at DF-345 to ride 10.5 km more, continue on BR-010 for 225 km. Finally, turn left at GO-241 for the last 21 km.

Get around
Cavalcante is a small town and you can easily get around on foot or by bike. But the best way to the waterfalls is by car.

See
A guide is highly recommended to visit the attractions listed here because most of them are in remote locations and without mobile phone network coverage. Use your discretion! Guides are available at the Tourist Information Center. . The guides are also available to provide camping support like helping with tents and cooking.

Do
Most of the waterfalls will provide you a hiking experience with easy, moderate or difficult trails. Some of them can also be visited by mountain bike.


 * Visit the Kalunga communities - The Kalunga People are the descendents of escaped slaves from Africa who took refuge among the mountains during and after the colonial era in Brazil. They lived in isolated communities without contact with the outside world until the 1960s. They have interesting traditions that they have carried on for centuries. They are noted for their festivals and their hospitality.

Buy
There's a small selection of local handcrafted products. Nothing special. Ask the guides at the information center.

Go next

 * Chapada dos Veadeiros