Jalapão: what it is, where it is and what to visit

Jalapão is a marvel. One of the many wonders on the land called Brazil. There you can enjoy waterfalls, dunes, boiling waters and lots of nature and wildlife.

Therefore, to discover a little more about this incredible place, continue reading until the end.

What is and where is Jalapão

Firstly, it is necessary to discuss what Jalapão is and where it is located and then talk about how to get there, its wonders and the activity options that you will find when visiting the place.

Therefore, starting from the beginning, Jalapão is a state park, a Brazilian conservation unit for integral nature protection located in the eastern region of the state of Tocantins, precisely in the municipalities of Mateiros and São Félix do Tocantins, among others.

The region is known for its incredible natural landscapes, such as orange sand dunes, waterfalls, rivers, boilers (crystal clear water springs) and plateaus.

Furthermore, Jalapão is considered one of the most preserved regions of the Brazilian cerrado and covers an area of approximately 34 thousand square km in length.

However, getting to the park is more complicated, as access there is more limited. With dirt roads impassable during rainy periods, a 4×4 car or hiring a tour guide is necessary to explore the region safely.

Mateiros is the common starting point for excursions in Jalapão. However, the region is inhabited by other communities, some of quilombolas and people originally from the region, who maintain their traditions and culture and are still active.

Jalapão is a popular destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, canoeing, rappelling and climbing. The local economy is based on tourism, but there is also agricultural and extractive activity in the region.

Jalapão is close to which city?

Still on the subject of communities close to Jalapão, you will find several cities, in addition to those already mentioned, such as Mateiros and São Félix do Tocantins.

However, when it comes to large cities with a national impact, the distances between the park, or its base city, are different.

Palmas, the capital of Tocantins, is about 300 km from Mateiros. Meanwhile, the country's capital, Brasília, is approximately 660 km away. For example. This shows how isolated and protected the Jalapão reserve is.

How to get to Jalapão

This notion of distance is an important factor for you if you want to visit the region, its cities, culture and the Jalapão state park.

Therefore, this topic will deal with how to travel from a point to the Jalapão region. These points, however, are some of the most important cities in the country for the park region.

• São Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Brasilia
• clap

There are other important cities that can be listed here, however, this is just a momentary excerpt – some routes are not direct, so take that into consideration.

Also, remember that the roads in Jalapão are mostly dirt and can be difficult to navigate at certain times of the year, especially during the rainy season. So be careful.

São Paulo to Jalapão

Starting from São Paulo You can get to Mateiros, the gateway to Jalapão, by plane or car.

Flights from São Paulo to Palmas are quick, around 2 hours long. The capital of Tocantins is approximately 300 km from Jalapão Park and to transfer between the two points you have options of rental cars, tour agencies and buses.

However, getting there by car is more difficult. The capital of São Paulo is approximately 1,700 km from the park. The quickest way is to take the BR-153 to Brasília and then take the BR-010 to Palmas and, from there, continue to Mateiros.

Rio de Janeiro to Jalapão

Of Rio de Janeiro, following by plane, it will take you around 3 hours to reach the capital of Tocantins, Palmas. From there, just like the previous route, you can contact a travel agency, hire a rental car or use the public transport service.

When going by car, you will face 2.2 thousand km to Jalapão. Therefore, it is important to follow the fastest route, which is the BR-040 to Brasília, and then follow the BR-0190 until reaching Palmas. From there, head to Mateiros.

Brasilia to Jalapão

If you are in Brasilia, going to Palmas by plane is much faster. It should take you about 1h to 1h30. Once there, as with other topics, you will have a journey of around 4 hours, to be covered by rental car, transfer or public transport.

Going by car, you will find something around 800 km ahead to Jalapão. The quickest route to follow – as can be expected after reading the other topics – is to take the BR-010, to Palmas.

Palmas for Jalapão

Going from clap For Jalapão, your option is land transport. As you have already seen, getting from the capital of Tocantins is slow, taking 4h30 and about 300 km away. To do this, you will have options between a rental car, tour agency and public transport.

Your public transport option is limited by timetables and it is recommended that you check them in advance to avoid being left stranded.

What to do in Jalapão?

Now that you've arrived in Jalapão and gone through the entire previous process, it's time to enjoy it. These are some tips on activities and tours you can do when visiting the state park.

• Waterfalls
• Dunes
• Boilers

However, it is important that you realize that this is a time frame. These attractions may or may not be functional during your visit depending on the weather or time of year, so keep an eye on possible calendars or information.

Waterfalls

Jalapão is known for its diversity of natural attractions, and one of the most incredible of them are the waterfalls. Which, however, can vary in size and shape, but are absolutely beautiful.

Some examples of these waterfalls that you will find in the Jalapão state park are Cachoeira da Velha, the largest waterfall in the region, one hundred meters wide and 15 meters high, with its two parallel waterfalls.

Another example is the Araras waterfall, great for swimming, with a shallow and accessible pool and two waterfalls. It is surrounded by vegetation which gives the place an even more beautiful and pleasant appearance.

Furthermore, one of the most famous and beautiful waterfalls is Formiga, with its crystal clear waters that turn green due to the vegetation that surrounds it. She is quite small, but is perfect for swimming in her pool and playing in her fall.

Dunes

Jalapão State Park is an impressive place that brings together many types of natural attractions in the same place. And the most famous of these attractions are the Jalapão Dunes.

With its orange sand dunes that resemble a desert and an idyllic setting, the place is also known as the Jalapão Desert and has been used as a setting for several films and audiovisual productions.

Additionally, when visiting the dunes, it is important to respect the state park rules. It is very common to have inspectors at the top of the dunes to check the attitude of tourists who, for example, sometimes throw themselves off the dune wall where it is not allowed.

Boilers

Fervedouros are springs of crystal clear water that create a visual effect of air bubbles at the bottom, giving the sensation that the bather is floating – and in fact, it is not possible to sink in one of them.

Therefore, when it comes to the Jalapão boilers you come across incredible specimens, mainly due to the vegetation that surrounds them and the possibility of diving into them.

Some of the most famous and beautiful boilers in the state park are: Buriti, Buritizinho, Soninho, Ceiça and, finally, the Bela Vista boiler.

Conclusion

In short, visiting the Jalapão state park is a perfect travel option for those who want to have contact with nature and want to see beautiful scenes that only the imagination can create.