Bahia: Chapada Diamantina has a winery, waterfall and museum – 05/24/2023 – Tourism

Tourists looking for peace of mind will find a trail route and historical visits to three destinations in Bahia, located in the Chapada Diamantina National Park.

For those arriving at Salvador airport, the ideal is to rent a car. It is about 450 km to Mucugê (on average, six hours). It is better to avoid the stretch of BR 242 that passes through Itaberaba, due to the poor road conditions.

Here, the charm is immediate. The city, listed by Iphan (National Artistic Heritage Institute), is one of the oldest in the Chapada and where the first diamonds of great value in the region were found, during the cycle of exploration of the stone, in the 19th century.

The colonial mansions and stone paving were preserved. Accommodation options are varied. They range from simpler inns, with a daily rate of R$ 230, to a boutique hotel that can cost, per day, R$ 1,100.

On the banks of BA-142 is the Santa Isabel cemetery, also called Byzantine, for emulating the neo-Gothic architecture of the Eastern Roman Empire. In the mausoleums, painted entirely in white, traditional families from the heyday of mining are buried. The visit is free.

Mucugê is surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. Two of them, Piabinha and Tiburtino, are inside the Municipal Park. Access is through the Semper Viva Project, aimed at education and environmental preservation, at the cost of R$ 20 per person.

The trail, due to the easy signage, is accessible for children and the elderly, even eliminating the presence of a guide.

In just three minutes, you arrive at the Piabinha waterfall, where there is a slight waterfall. Walking for another 1.5 km, the tourist already sees the meeting point with the Tiburtino River. The bath is cold and invigorating.

Off the trails, a good option is the UVVA winery, opened in March 2022. The space is on the edge of the Serra do Sincorá, the first being dedicated to the production of wines in the region.

During the visit, it is possible to take a tour of the vineyards, closely monitor the production and storage of wines and taste the labels produced by UVVA, such as Cordel, an award-winning wine and one of the main products of the house.

The visit is accompanied by an expert. There are three options for tours, which cost between R$ 160 and R$ 310 per person. It is important to make a reservation in advance through the website. Children under 12 years old cannot enter.

It is possible to leave Mucugê and visit other cities close to Chapada. One that is very worthwhile is Ibicoara, 80 km away, where the Buracão waterfall is located, one of the most beautiful in the region.

The trail there has a moderate degree of difficulty, which makes the presence of a guide essential. For most of the way, for 6 km, the terrain is flat, and visitors go along the Espalhado river — there are some steep sections with slopes.

Upon arriving at Buracão, it is mandatory to wear a life jacket and swim across the river to the canyon. It’s a ten-minute ride to the top of the waterfall.

The waterfall is 85 meters high. For the more adventurous, you can rappel down to the well, always accompanied by a professional.

Some important tips for the visit: when entering the place that gives access to the trail, you have to pay R$ 15 per person and it is mandatory to hire a local guide (about R$ 50 to R$ 60 per person).

If hunger strikes after the trail, a good alternative is to stop at one of the small snack bars along the road and enjoy a pastel or coxinha filled with jackfruit palm, a Chapada delicacy.

You can extend your visit to the district of Igatu, belonging to Andaraí. It takes about 40 minutes from Mucugê.

Igatu is known as “Machu Picchu in Bahia”, an allusion to the historic Inca city in Peru, as most of its constructions are preserved in stone. There it was also an important warehouse during the diamond exploration and, today, it is a true open-air museum.

In the Historical Park of Igatu, it is possible to see the ruins of the houses in which the miners lived with their families.

There is the Arte e Memória Gallery, which presents works by local artists, in addition to exhibiting utensils used at the time of diamond exploration. Entry is free.

An almost obligatory stop is the Igatu bar, or Seu Guina bar. The place is simple, but it’s worth trying a cachacinha from the region and talking to the owner, who was born and raised in the city and makes a point of narrating the stories of the district and its residents.