Bocaina de Farias

Bocaina de Farias sits on the Serra Geral do Paranã, in São João d'Aliança, in Chapada dos Veadeiros. The Tupi name suggests a throat: a crack hundreds of meters long, with walls up to about 50 meters, where the Farias and Farinha rivers meet.

The canyon

Inside the cleft the path switches between dry rock, knee-deep water and short swims. When sunlight reaches the crack, water and stone change color. Outside, the trail crosses open grassland with a view of the Paranã valley, then a strip of gallery forest to the old farm buildings.

How to get there

From Alto Paraíso it is about 50 km, with a long dirt stretch after highway GO-118. The last drop off the escarpment is steep: an ordinary car usually stops early and the group walks, or rides with the guide. Entry is controlled and the visit only happens with a conductor accredited by the property.

Who it suits

The return climbs the same elevation. It is one of the hardest trails around São João d'Aliança and needs fitness, solid shoes and a dry day. In the rains the canyon can close because of flash-flood risk. Carry water and sun protection, and set the time with your guide before you leave.