Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Car -- The main Chapada town of Lençóis is 427km (265 miles) from Salvador. Take BR-324 to Feira to Santana, turn onto BR-116 to Argoim and then BR-242 to Lençóis. The road is paved the entire way, but the asphalt breaks up in places on the BR-242.

By Bus -- Real Expresso (tel. 0800/617-325; www.realexpresso.com.br) makes the approximately 5-hour journey between Salvador and Lençóis at a cost of R$45 (US$23/£12). Buses depart the Salvador Rodoviaria for Lençóis daily at 11:30pm (arriving at 5am) and 7am (arriving 1pm). From Lençóis, buses depart the bus station on Av. Senhor dos Passos s/n (tel. 075/3334-1112) for Salvador daily at 7:30am and 11:30pm.

Visitor Information

In Lençóis, the local tourism agency Sectur Lençóis, Av. Sr. dos Passos s/n, opposite the Portal Lençóis Hotel on the far side of the river from the main square (tel. 075/3334-1327), has pamphlets on tours and attractions in the area, and a color brochure on the Chapada for sale for R$10 (US$5/£2.70). Staff speaks Portuguese only.

The official city tourism website is www.guialencois.com. In English, there's a reasonably good website with geology, trail maps, and more at www.gd.com.br/candomba/english.

Two worthwhile books on the Chapada Diamantina are A Visitor's Guide to the Chapada Diamantina Mountains by Roy Fuchs and Trilhas e Caminhos: Circuito do Diamante by Roberto Sapucaia, worth it just for the top-quality topographic map. (Visit the website that goes with the book: www.trilhasecaminhos.com.br.) Both books are usually available in Lençóis at Loja Dois Irmaos on the main square, or in bookstores in Salvador.

Getting Around

All parts of Lençóis can be reached by foot in less than 15 minutes. Excursions to the many caves and waterfalls in the area all include transport . Car rental is best done in Salvador.

Fast Facts

The Banco do Brasil, Praça Horario de Matos 56 (main square), is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm. ATM is open 24 hours -- PLUS/Visa only. There's Internet access at Pede Trilha, Rua Miguel Calmon s/n, opposite the market hall (tel. 075/3334-1124); it's open daily from 8am to 10pm. Connection costs R$6 (US$3/£1.65) per hour. For laundry, there's Lavandaria Lençóis on Rua 10 de Novembro 8 (tel. 075/3334-1694). Cost is R$8 (US$4/£2) per kilogram to wash and dry. For first-aid and medical supplies there's Pharmacia Maciel, Av. 7 de Setembro 50 (tel. 075/3334-1224), open daily from 8am to 8:30pm (will close Sat and Sun afternoons if business is slow). The post office is at Av. Sete de Setembro 18. Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.