CHAPADA
DIAMANTINA, ILHÉUS,
SANTO AMARO and SÃO LUÍS
Chapada Diamantina is the heart of Bahia. Here in these
exotic canyons, grows 90% of the fountains that forms the
Paraguaçu, Jacuípe and Contas Basins and where is found the
three highest peaks of the state: Almas with 1958m, Itobira with
1970m and Barbados with 2080m, where fantastic caves and
subterranean lakes awaits visitors seeking experience and
adventure.
See the Glass Fall with 370m of free fall and the fascinating
Enchanted Well, part of an array of natural attractions of the
region. The colonial mansions in Lençóis, 624 km from
Salvador, is part of its history where tales of fast richnesses
and diamond mines are abundant.
The place is so beautiful that many visitors end up staying
here, like the american biologist Roy Funch, who lives in
Lençóis for more than 20 years and was the pioneer of the
Chapada Diamantina National Park idea, created in 1985, that now
covers more than 152.000ha including the municipalities of
Lençóis, Palmeiras, Sincoré and Mucugê and the Sincorá
Range to the west.
The Chapada cities had their origin in the full Ore Cycle, by
the XVII century, during the gold fever and the dream of fast
richness. These cities and villages, as well as all the Chapada
region, has anything involving the fantastic. All residents
still telling incredible stories of perverse colonels, hidden
treasures and sacrificed slaves that became ghosts.
The historical patrimony of Chapada Diamantina is a true
portrait of what one day was the saga of gold mining. Each
alley, each centenial big house, each stone way of the cities of
Lençóis, Rio de Contas, Andaraí, Mucugê and Igatu is full of
history and culture.
SERVICES AT CHAPADA DIAMANTINA -
TRANSFER
By car or bus leave Salvador by the BR-324 (109 km to Feira de
Santana), and then take the BR-116 (72 km to Paraguaçu) and the
BR-242 (219 km to Lençóis). It is also possible to arrive by
Lençóis, where there is a modern airport with domestic flights.
Local agencies offer several trekking and off road tours in the
region, including sports such as hang gliding, rapel and canyioning
from two to ten days, with guides, equipment rental, tents and
mules.
Also
know...
ILHÉUS
When the Portuguese arrived in 1500, the place was
already inhabited by the Tupinambá Indians. Ilhéus
soon became an important economic center of the colony.
Meanwhile the courts of Europe discovered the cacau and
its product the chocolat giving birth to the cacau
cicvilization, building empires in this region, and the
name of Ilhéus became known as the cacau capital of the
world.
Presently, Ilhéus is a modern town, home of great
Brazilian writer Jorge Amado, offering all the
experiences a beautiful tropical city can offer.
SANTO AMARO DA PURIFICAÇÃO
Located 75 km from Salvador, birthplace
of Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia, Santo Amaro is
home of the celebration of Nossa Senhora da
Purificação for more than 200 years, including
extensive religious programs and the washing of the
entrance of the Church of Nossa Senhora da Purificação,
on the last Sunday of the month of January. Built in
1667, the Church is part of a rich architectural
heritage of architectural monuments such as the Santa
Casa de Misericordia and other buildings reminding of
the city's rich colonial past.
SÃO LUÍS
Bathed by the Atlantic, shines São Luís, dotted
with old palaces, is the only brazilian capital that
wasn't born from the Portuguese. The french gave it it's
name and life, after their king Luís XIII. Thus was
born the city of the small porcelain palaces. Then came
the Dutch and the Portuguese fighting over its heart.
The city of Gonçalves Dias its major poet, rests
eternally in love with the sea and the waters of the
São Marcos River.
