Palmas, the beautiful capital of Tocantins

Palmas is a young city but has a strong culture and landscapes worthy of paintings that portray the beauty of the Brazilian cerrado. The capital of Tocantins is full of places to go, even if the most famous are dominant among visitors.

So, to discover more about this incredible place, continue reading until the end.

What is Palmas

Firstly, it is very important to understand what Palmas is – even though the name is minimally known by all Brazilians. Therefore, starting from the obvious, Palmas is the capital of the state of Tocantins.

It was founded 34 years ago, on May 20, 1989 and is the youngest capital that a Brazilian state has. Located in the central-north region, the city was planned and built with the aim of being a model for the recently created Tocantins.

An important detail, too, is the position chosen for the capital of Tocantins: it was built on the banks of the Tocantins River. This detail, in itself, creates a more palpable natural landscape in the region thanks to the environmental preservation areas and rivers in the surroundings.

However, despite being very recent, when compared to other state capitals, the city offers a good quality of life for its inhabitants. The infrastructure is well developed, with a wide range of services for all local inhabitants.

Furthermore, you will find a wide range of tourist attractions in the region. Parque Cesamar, one of the city's largest urban parks. Praça dos Girassóis, one of the largest public squares in the world or Praia da Graciosa, on the banks of the Tocantins.

In summary, Palmas is a young and growing city, known for its urban organization, charming natural landscapes, expanding economy and quality of life.

How to get there?

To get to Palmas, capital of Tocantins, you have a robust network of varied transport that connects the city to the rest of the country. Therefore, you will have a wide range of options within well-defined air routes and land routes.

The following list of examples includes three Brazilian capitals, Fortaleza, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro. However, when it comes to air routes, they will all be very similar, a flight to Palmas International Airport – Brigadeiro Lysias Rodrigues (PMW).

Starting from Strength, capital of Ceará, via the air route, you will need to take a flight at Fortaleza – Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR). From there, to the ground, at Palmas airport, it takes about 2 hours to fly.

By land route, without major stops, like those that must happen if you choose public transport as a base, the trip lasts around 24 hours on around 1,700 km of roads – the BR-020 and BR-230 in sequence.

However, when leaving Curitiba, the trip will be long. By plane, you will face at least 4 hours and a flight with at least one stopover. To do this, you must take a flight at Afonso Pena International Airport (CWB) and check the stopover proposed by the ticket.

Going via land transport makes the trip quite long. There are almost 2,200 km that separate the two capitals and, on a private car trip, a 27-hour journey along the BR-050. Public transport requires more than 48 hours of travel and varies greatly.

Of Rio de Janeiro, it will take you 25 hours to cover almost 2,000 km of BR-040. Public transport will provide more than two days of travel. 

However, the air route covers this route, including connections, in around 4 hours of travel. 

Most interesting attractions in Palmas

Palmas is a large city, it has many tourist attractions that are responsible for many visits, both from residents and tourists who are getting to know the city.

Some of these places, however, are more famous than others. However, you will see that they are all pleasant and very beautiful places to visit – and discover on your first visit there.

• Cesamar Park
• Sunflower Square
• Graciosa Beach

However, these are just three examples of many others that you can explore during your trip. Palmas is a very big and beautiful place, surrounded by beauty and interesting places to see. 

These are just some of the tourist attractions that Palmas and its surroundings have to offer. The city combines urban attractions, such as parks and squares, with the opportunity to explore the exuberant nature of Tocantins. 

Therefore, each of these options provides a unique experience, allowing visitors to discover the culture, history and natural beauty of the region.

Cesamar Park

Parque Cesamar is a large urban park located in the central region of Palmas. Therefore, it offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, such as walking trails, bike paths, picnic areas and, most importantly, wild capybaras.

Furthermore – or perhaps because of one of these natural attractions – the park is very well maintained. Its gardens and peaceful atmosphere are great places to relax and enjoy nature, which makes it very popular.

Sunflower Square

Praça dos Girassóis, located right in the center of Palmas, is considered one of the largest squares, not only in Brazil, but in the entire world. Therefore, it has an extensive area and is surrounded by government buildings, as well as important monuments.

However, the seat of the state government, the bible monument and the statues in places that are inspired by the history of the creation of the capital of Tocantins stand out. 

The square is an emblematic location in the city and a popular meeting point for events and demonstrations.

Graciosa Beach

Located on the banks of the Tocantins River, Praia da Graciosa, which is the most famous of the freshwater river beaches that exist along the river, attracts tourists and local residents due to the refreshing alternative to combat the local heat, the waterfront services and the sunset.

Considered an oasis where you can bathe, enjoy restaurants, bars and other services and also enjoy incredible landscapes, it also stands out for its size, being one of the largest in Brazil.

Furthermore, Praia da Graciosa is very well located in the center of Palmas next to Ponte da Amizade.

Conclusion about Palmas

In short, Palmas is a very beautiful place that has a local history that is very accessible for visitors to learn about. Therefore, when you visit, enjoy everything this jewel of the Brazilian cerrado has to offer.