In the northeast of Brazil lies a paradise of waterfalls, natural pools, scenic viewpoints, and hiking trails.
I first heard about Chapada das Mesas while visiting Lençóis Maranhenses, still during the pand1mc. Our guide spoke so passionately about the region that it felt like pure local pride. I made a mental note, came across a few posts here and there, and, even without many solid references (and with few affordable options for the holiday), off we went during Carnival.
And WOW — Chapada das Mesas really delivers! You'll find waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, crystal-clear pools with just the right water temperature, dramatic canyons, panoramic viewpoints, and trails for all fitness levels. The town of Carolina is a gem, full of simple, authentic charm that invites you to throw on some flip-flops and grab a snack from a stand in the town square.
If you also love discovering Brazil’s lesser-known corners, follow us on Instagram at @danae_explore – you’ll find highlights from this trip — and read on for the full Chapada das Mesas itinerary in this post!
.
All our posts about traveling in Brazil, be sure to check them out before planing a trip to my home country:
- Brazilian Amazon - How to visit the Amazon Rainforest
- What to do in Alter do Chão: Exploring amazonian beaches and rainforests in Brazil
- What to do in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Mato Grosso
- The best tours to do in Bonito, Brazil, in 4 days
- Ultimate Guide to Bonito: Exploring the Southern Brazilian Pantanal's Hidden Paradise
- Bonito, Brazil with kids: When is the right age to visit?
- Complete guide to visiting Lençóis Maranhenses: Tips and essential itinerary
- What to do in Pirenópolis: ecotourism and history in the interior of Goiás
.
Chapada das Mesas – how to get there
The main base for exploring Chapada das Mesas is the town of Carolina, located in the southern part of Maranhão State.
If you're flying, the nearest airport is in Imperatriz, about 220 km from Carolina. Another option is to fly into Marabá, in the state of Pará — though it’s farther, around 400 km away.
You can also reach the region by flying to Palmas, the capital of Tocantins State. It’s 475 km from Carolina, but with one big advantage: if you have the time, you can combine Jalapão and Chapada das Mesas in the same trip. For that, I recommend at least ten days: 5 days in Jalapão, one travel day, 3 days in Chapada das Mesas, and one final day to return to Palmas.
We flew into Imperatriz and rented a car from Localiza via RentCars (they usually offer better prices than booking directly through the rental company). Our flight landed at 2:40 a.m., and to our surprise, the rental desk was open and the service was excellent. Within minutes, we had the car and headed to a hotel in Imperatriz to rest after the late-night journey.
Prefer not to drive? You can opt for a fully guided tour, with a dedicated guide and all logistics taken care of. Here’s a great option: 4 or 5 day tour of Chapada das Mesas from Palmas.
.
Want to explore more of Maranhão? Don’t miss our complete guide to Lençóis Maranhenses!
.
Where to stay in Chapada das Mesas
.
Where to stay in Imperatriz
We landed in Imperatriz in the early hours of the morning, and all we wanted was a bed to crash in. We chose Borges Hotel, a very simple place, but exactly what we needed. The cost-benefit of the quadruple room was unbeatable, and it’s also one of the closest hotels to the airport.
Other accommodation options in Imperatriz that seem a bit more comfortable include Residence Hotel Imperatriz (in the town center), Imperial Hotel (the closest to the airport), and Stay Inn Hotel (a bit farther out, but distances in Imperatriz are short). You’ll also find major hotel chains like Ibis and Oyo in town.
.
.
Where to stay in Carolina, Maranhão
Carolina has the laid-back charm of a small countryside town — think old houses (some better preserved than others) around the central square, snack stands, locals relaxing in beach chairs on the sidewalk in the late afternoon, and kids running around freely. For those of us coming from São Paulo, it feels like stepping into another world, or at least another time.
If you're after luxury hotels, exclusive lodges, or over-the-top experiences, this might not be your place. Carolina is all about simplicity and warmth — places run by real people, for real people.
We stayed at Pousada dos Candeeiros, a beautifully restored historic house right in the town center. Walking into the inn felt like stepping into my childhood at my grandmother’s house. The rooms are comfortable, the service is excellent, and breakfast is generous. It’s well located — across from a square and close to restaurants and snack bars. The pool is tiny (really tiny!), but it was more than enough for the kids to have fun.
Other good options in Carolina include Pousada Maktub, also centrally located, and Pousada do Lajes, which is a little farther from downtown.
.
.
Where to stay in Riachão
Riachão is a town about 100 km from Carolina, home to some of Chapada das Mesas’ top attractions. We chose to base ourselves in Carolina and took a day trip to Riachão — totally worth it, as the attractions there are unmissable!
Accommodation in Riachão is simpler and more rustic than in Carolina. Pousada Nordestina seems to be an option, as well as Pousada Além-K.
.
Want to explore more of Maranhão? Don’t miss our complete guide to Lençóis Maranhenses!
.
Best time to visit Chapada das Mesas
.
Chapada das Mesas can be visited year-round: it’s always hot, and there will always be some rain, but certain months experience less rainfall.
Most people recommend visiting during the dry season, from May to October. During these months, the weather is more stable, and the waters become clearer and even more inviting. Temperatures can be slightly hotter, often reaching around 35ºC during the day.
We visited during the Carnival holiday at the end of February and beginning of March, and it was wonderful! The days were hot, perfect for swimming, the vegetation was lush and beautiful, and the evenings cooled down just enough to be pleasant. We encountered rain only on the day we visited Chapada das Mesas National Park, but it didn't affect our experience at all.
From my own experience, I can confidently say that any time is a good time to visit Chapada das Mesas. My travel mantra: Go when you can; don’t skip a trip just because it's not the "ideal" season!
.
.
What to do in Chapada das Mesas
Overview of our 3-day itinerary in Chapada das Mesas
We visited Chapada das Mesas during the Carnival holiday on a five day trip: one day traveling from Sao Paulo to Carolina, three full days exploring, and one day to return home. It was definitely tiring — but extremely rewarding!
With three full days, you can cover a fantastic itinerary in Chapada das Mesas:
🌿 Day 1: Pedra Caída Complex and Portal da Chapada viewpoint
💦 Day 2: Riachão – Encanto Azul, Poço Azul, and Santa Bárbara Waterfall
🏞️ Day 3: Chapada das Mesas National Park – São Romão and Prata Waterfalls.
The attractions on days 1 and 2 can be reached with a rental car, but be mindful: Riachão is 100 km from Carolina, and the attractions require an additional 25-30 km drive on dirt roads. The visit to the National Park (day 3) must be done with a guide and a 4×4 vehicle. If you prefer, you can also book complete packages, including guide, transportation, and accommodations.
.
.
Pedra Caída Complex
The Pedra Caída Tourist Complex is the closest major attraction to Carolina, located 38 km away. The route there is fully paved along the Transamazônica Highway, and paid parking is available on-site.
As its name suggests, Pedra Caída offers multiple attractions and excellent infrastructure — including a restaurant, swimming pools, cable car, zipline, scenic viewpoint, and numerous waterfalls. Visits to the waterfalls are guided and scheduled at fixed times: typically one departure in the morning and another in the afternoon. Only the impressive Sanctuary Waterfall (Cachoeira do Santuário) has departures every hour (from 9 am to 3 pm), but it gets busier later in the day. I recommend arriving early to enjoy the relative peace of the morning, have lunch, relax by the pools or other facilities, and visit another waterfall in the afternoon.
The trail to the Sanctuary Waterfall is easy, following wooden walkways and ramps for about 800 meters until you reach a striking canyon with 40-meter-high cliffs. From there, the trail continues through shallow water until you arrive at the spectacular 45-meter waterfall, where the water temperature is a perfect 22°C. It’s an absolute must-see!
Within the complex, we also visited the Capelão and Caverna Waterfalls . To reach these, we hopped onto an adapted truck and bounced along a 6-km dirt road through the cerrado forest. After a short trail with walkways and steps, we passed through a cave (thus the name, "Caverna") before reaching another stunning waterfall, complete with a delightful swimming area. It’s remarkable just how warm and inviting the waters are in Chapada das Mesas!
Overall, it’s an amazing experience. The waterfalls are stunning, but prices can be steep. Besides the general admission (when we visited, R$80 for adults, with standard discounts available), each waterfall or attraction has an additional cost (with no discounts applicable). Visits to individual waterfalls range from R$40 to R$65 per person, the cable car costs R$85, and the zipline is either R$90 (1200 m) or R$120 (1400 m). Be sure to check the updated prices on their official website. Lunch at the restaurant is served buffet-style by weight (traditional Brazilian style "por quilo"), and the food is just ok. There are clean bathrooms and changing rooms with showers, and accommodation is also available if you wish to stay overnight.
.
.
Portal da Chapada das Mesas
At the end of the day, we left Pedra Caída and stopped at the famous Portal of Chapada das Mesas Viewpoint, located about 17 km toward Carolina (approximately 21 km from the town itself).
This well-known landmark and postcard-perfect site of Chapada das Mesas is situated on private property. Admission was R$20 per adult (standard discounts for kids and elderly apply), with free parking available right alongside the Transamazônica Highway.
From the entrance, it’s about a 500-meter hike along a varied trail composed of sand, wooden steps, dirt, and rocks until you reach the top. The highlight here is a rock formation sculpted over time by wind and rain, curiously resembling the shape of the neighboring state, Piauí. Through this distinctive rock opening, you're treated to an incredible view, including Morro do Chapéu in the distance.
But brace yourself: due to its Instagram fame, the place was ABSURDLY CROWDED during our visit. Dozens of people waited in line just to take their "perfect" Instagram shot seated on the rock formation. When their turn finally came, each visitor behaved like a diva, monopolizing the space with endless poses (most of them embarrassingly cliché). Honestly, it was ridiculous. We even witnessed a tour guide rudely yelling at others, acting as if he owned the spot while staging an elaborate photo shoot for his clients. It was one of the most shocking examples I've seen of people's obsession with the "Instagrammable photo."
The best solution is to explore different angles . You can capture excellent photos slightly off to the side, or better yet, ignore the crowds altogether and follow the cliff-top trails leading to other viewpoints. These alternate vantage points offer equally fabulous views without the hassle. Those extra twenty meters are truly worth it.
.
.
Encanto Azul
About 100 km from Carolina lies the town of Riachão, home to some of Chapada das Mesas' most beautiful attractions.
Imagine a natural pool, surrounded by cliffs over 15 meters high, filled with clear, warm water. The Encanto Azul ("Blue Charm") truly lives up to its name—amazingly blue and utterly enchanting. We spent the entire morning there, swimming in some of the most pleasant water I've ever experienced. The trail leading to the pool is short, consisting mostly of wooden and stone steps.
If you visit during holidays or weekends, expect it to feel crowded: the pool itself is quite small, so even a moderate number of visitors can feel busy. Of course, many people just stop briefly for the obligatory Instagram shot before moving on. But unlike the chaos we saw at the Portal da Chapada, Encanto Azul maintains a peaceful atmosphere, with enough space for everyone to enjoy comfortably.
Encanto Azul is 137 km from Carolina, with around 30 km of dirt roads. We visited during the rainy season, and while parts of the road were muddy, our rental cart managed perfectly without any issues.
Admission to Encanto Azul is R$40 per person. Facilities are minimal—there are only basic restrooms available.
.
.
Poço Azul and Santa Bárbara Waterfall
One of Chapada das Mesas' most famous attractions, Poço Azul ("Blue Natural Pool") is part of the Cachoeira do Rio Cocal Nature Reserve. It’s located 30 km from Riachão, including 25 km along a dirt road (it's about 6 km before Encanto Azul).
Returning from Encanto Azul, we stopped at Poço Azul for lunch. Normally, entry costs R$80 per person, but since the swimming area had been closed in previous days due to heavy rains, everyone paid half-price during our visit.
Poço Azul offers excellent infrastructure: a pleasant restaurant (more affordable and tastier than at Pedra Caída), decent bathrooms, and a comfortable rest area. The complex also has a small inn for those wanting to stay overnight.
They say during the dry season, the water in Poço Azul really is vividly blue, but when we visited, the waters were a stunning emerald green. After a short walk, we received the best news of the day — the pool had reopened for swimming! We got incredibly lucky, as we were the first group allowed into the water, giving us several precious minutes with the beautiful "Blue" (or green, in this case!) natural pool entirely to ourselves. The water temperature is fantastic, and the pool is surrounded by small waterfalls, some of which are remarkably warm.
Poço Azul may be the main draw here, but Santa Bárbara Waterfall is equally breathtaking! Plunging from over 70 meters, it's the highest waterfall in Maranhão state. Reaching it involves following wooden walkways and suspended bridges over the river, eventually passing through a cave. During the dry season, when water levels are calmer, swimming at the waterfall base is possible — but during our visit, the powerful currents made that impossible.
The complex also houses other beautiful falls, including Namorados and Santa Paula waterfalls.
.
.
Chapada das Mesas National Park
With dramatic rock formations and flat-topped mountains sculpted over millions of years by wind and rain, Chapada das Mesas National Park was established in 2005 to protect over 160 hectares of cerrado landscape in south-central Maranhão.
Visits to the National Park must be done with a guide and a 4×4 vehicle . Don’t attempt it with a regular car—we saw more than one vehicle stuck on the sandy trails.
As our guide informed us, despite the park having numerous waterfalls, viewpoints, and points of interest, currently only two waterfalls—São Romão and Prata—are open to the public.
.
.
São Romão Waterfall
The São Romão Waterfall, located on the Farinha River (a tributary of the Tocantins River), is the waterfall with the largest water volume in Maranhão. It’s possible to swim in a section of the river at the base of the falls, but be careful as the current is quite strong.
The absolute highlight here is walking behind the waterfall. You’ll get completely soaked, but the feeling of standing behind a torrential curtain of water is an unforgettable blend of adrenaline, awe, and pure enchantment — especially when you see your photos later.
There’s basic infrastructure available, including a restaurant, restrooms, and a small relaxation area. Admission costs R$40 per person.
.
.
Prata Waterfall
After lunch, we continued to the Prata Waterfall, also within Chapada das Mesas National Park and likewise formed by the Farinha River. Here, another R$40 per person was charged for admission (standard discounts apply).
Upon arrival, you’ll find a small community-run support area. Soon after, you’ll see the waterfall from above — it's impressive! Following a short trail and crossing a suspension bridge, you reach another viewpoint to see the falls from below.
During the dry season, the waterfall splits into two distinct cascades. However, since we visited during the rainy season, the river was at its peak, creating one massive, powerful waterfall. The volume was so impressive that I joked on my Instagram stories that it felt like a mini-Iguaçu Falls. According to our guide, swimming is possible here during the dry season — if you try it, please let me know, because I honestly can't imagine anyone entering that massive flow of water!
.
.
Other activies in Chapada das Mesas
If you have extra days in Chapada das Mesas, consider hiking the 3 Encantos Trail. Our guide described it as a beautiful, approximately 6-km trail that passes by scenic viewpoints, natural springs, and additional waterfalls. The highlights are Olho de Orion, Pedra do Surf, and the Tapui Waterfall.
Another recommended activity is a boat tour on the Tocantins River, heading towards Pedra Encantada.
You can also cross the Tocantins River by ferry to visit a river beach in Filadélfia, a town in Tocantins state, right next to Carolina..
However, if your schedule is as tight as ours was, three days still offer a wonderful taste of just how incredible Chapada das Mesas can be. I admit I left wishing we'd had more time—but also thrilled to discover that Maranhão isn’t just about Lençóis Maranhenses after all.
.
.
All our posts about traveling in Brazil, be sure to check them out before planing a trip to my home country:
- Brazilian Amazon - How to visit the Amazon Rainforest
- What to do in Alter do Chão: Exploring amazonian beaches and rainforests in Brazil
- What to do in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Mato Grosso
- The best tours to do in Bonito, Brazil, in 4 days
- Ultimate Guide to Bonito: Exploring the Southern Brazilian Pantanal's Hidden Paradise
- Bonito, Brazil with kids: When is the right age to visit?
- Complete guide to visiting Lençóis Maranhenses: Tips and essential itinerary
- What to do in Pirenópolis: ecotourism and history in the interior of Goiás
.
.
Let’s Stay Connected!
Instagram @danae_explore
Pinterest @danaeexplore
Comments or questions? Contact me on social media! I love talking about travel 😉
Now after all these great tips, SAVE THIS PIN to your PINTEREST account, so you can find this post with the complete guide to visiting Chapada das Mesas whenever you need it!
.
