Where to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros: best hotels & cities
Located in the heart of the Brazilian Highlands, Chapada dos Veadeiros is often listed as one of Brazil’s most incredible landscapes, along with other-worldly National Park destinations like Lençóis Maranhenses and Iguazu Falls. I spent over a week exploring the region and am excited to share my thoughts on where to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros.
In this travel guide, we’ll cover the best places to stay across the three available base cities in Chapada dos Veadeiros: Alto Paraíso, São Jorge, and Cavalcante
TL;DR? Here are the highlights of this article:
🚶♀️➡️Best cities for each type of traveler: Alto Paraíso for solo travelers, São Jorge for party lovers, Cavalcante for families
✅ Best places to stay in Alto Paraíso: Camping & budget, mid-range, luxury
✅ Best places to stay in São Jorge: Budget, luxury
✅ Best places to stay in Cavalcante: Budget, mid-range
Base cities & places to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros
There are three main cities to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros, Alto Paraíso, São Jorge, and Cavalcante, with each of them having its own character! The important thing is that all three cities have everything you might need as a tourist: nice accommodations, restaurants, markets, and pharmacies.
Important to note: Colinas is another town that can serve as a base for a Chapada dos Veadeiros trip, but tourism there has not developed yet, making it hard to find guides and tours. Also, I’ve heard from tour guides that Colinas’ locals are often not welcoming to tourists.
Before we discuss each base city in detail, it is important to note that all Chapada dos Veadeiros attractions are available regardless of where you choose to stay!
In fact, all three cities are just a day trip away from each other: Alto Paraíso and São Jorge are only a 30-minute drive away, and Cavalcante is located one hour north of them.
Important to note: All three base cities we will be discussing are incredibly safe! I, a solo female traveler, walked around alone with my phone during the day and at night and never felt unsafe! It is always best practice to follow the safety guidelines for traveling in Brazil, but in these cities, you can expect the same level of safety you’d see in rural France!
Important to note: Accommodations at Chapada dos Veadeiros sell out very quickly during the peak of the dry season, which goes from May to August. Make sure to book your accommodations in advance if you are visiting the Chapada during those months!
Alto Paraíso de Goiás: the hyped and spiritual base town
Overview of Alto Paraíso de Goiás
Alto Paraíso de Goiás is the most developed and famous base city for Chapada dos Veadeiros. The city has a lot of accommodations and trendy cafes/restaurants for all types of budgets.
For vegans and vegetarians, Alto Paraíso is the best place to stay, as it offers the widest variety of restaurants, many of which have a dedicated vegan section on their menus.
Alto Paraíso is also a hub for those seeking spiritual experiences, as the town offers many retreats and mystic shops.
Storytime: I accidentally booked myself in a hostel (Espaço Cultural Lotus) where all kinds of spiritual rituals would go on at night, so I could barely sleep due to late-night ayahuasca, cacao, and new moon ceremonies!
For solo travelers, Alto Paraíso is an amazing base city, as it offers the best chances to join group day tours and save over 50% on tour costs.
Budget accommodation option: Espaço Cultural Lotus for a cheap and spiritual stay
Espaço Cultural Lotus offers affordable camping spaces, hostel beds, and private rooms. They are well located, only a 5-minute walk from restaurants and 20-minute to the tourist center.
It is important to note that they host rather loud spiritual events some nights, so avoid this place if you’re looking for long nights of sleep. Also, if you plan to stay in one of their rooms bring lots of anti-mosquito products, as their rooms are not air-conditioned.
Mid-range accommodation option: Pousada dos Guias for a central location
Pousada dos Guias is a centrally located and comfortable place to stay. There, you’ll find the conveniences of a good B&B and a bit more: a large pool, a restaurant, and a rich breakfast.
Luxury accommodation option: Villa Annapurna
Villa Annapurna has big and new buildings, a nice pool, and a beautiful garden. The view from the pousada is absolutely stunning, featuring epic sunsets and sunrises.
As a budget traveler, I did not spend a night there, but I did hear people say incredible things about this pousada!
São Jorge: the best parties in the Chapada!
Overview of São Jorge
São Jorge used to be a small village where independent quartz miners were based. After quartz mining became obsolete in the region, São Jorge turned into a tiny party town with lots of charming restaurants and boho accommodations.
The little town is the closest one to the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park entrance, and many of the Chapada’s best attractions are very close by.
São Jorge is the perfect base city for young folks looking for a fun (yet simple) nightlife.
Budget accommodation option: Namaste for a calm and secluded stay
Namaste is a calm place to sleep in the party-heavy town of São Jorge! With a very reasonable price tag of R$170-250 per night, you can have a peaceful and air-conditioned stay.
My friend stayed there and very much enjoyed it!
Luxury Option: Baguá Bangalôs for a modern stay
Banguá Bangalôs is one of the few places at Chapada dos Veadeiros where you can enjoy modern facilities!
Their newly built space is the perfect blend of luxury and nature, featuring outdoor hot tubs, open-floorplan common areas, and an incredible view. The cherry on top is a clean and new bathroom in each room, which is a rarity among stays at Chapada dos Veadeiros.
Banguá Bangalôs is the perfect place for couples to go to enjoy a very romantic getaway!
Cavalcante: a calm and romantic getaway
Overview of Cavalcante
Cavalcante is the most culturally-rich base city at Chapada dos Veadeiros! The town is home to one of Brazil’s largest communities of descendants of ex-communicated slaves, and tons of unique cultural activities take place there.
Also, it is the most conservative of the three base cities, so if you’re seeking a calm and remote getaway, Cavalcante is the best base for you! If I were to visit Chapada dos Veadeiros again with my husband or future kids, Cavalcante would be my top choice.
Cavalcante is close to some of the Chapada’s best attractions, such as Cachoeira Santa Bárbara (often considered one of Brazil’s most beautiful waterfalls) and Complexo do Prata.
In 2025, a new entrance to the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park will open in Cavalcante, making the town an even more attractive destination.
Budget accommodation option: Chalés Pássaros do Cerrado
Chalés Pássaros do Cerrado was a real dream come true for me! For ~R$170, I had a full house (with a semi-equipped kitchen), air conditioning, and a host that promptly helped me find transportation and guided tours.
This accommodation is a 20-minute walk from the tourist center, and its location a bit far away from the downtown provided me with a peaceful but still well-connected stay.
Although quite simple, Chalés Pássaros do Cerrado was an amazing place to stay at Cavalcante and I highly recommend it to anyone – from solo travelers to families!
Need an even more affordable option? You can camp for cheap (~R$60-70) at some of Chapada dos Veadeiros’ top sights like Cachoeira Santa Bábara and Complexo do Prata. To book a stay in those places, contact them directly via WhatsApp.
Mid-range accommodation option: Pousada Aruana
Pousada Aruana is incredibly nice! Their space is very large and well-integrated with nature. Their facilities are some of the best I’ve seen in Cavalcante, with large common areas that are perfect for families or couples seeking a romantic getaway.
They are at the perfect distance from downtown (about ~15-minute walk) and offer many hotel-like services we’re all used to! They have a lobby, a mini convenience shop, and some stunning shared spaces with hammocks and whatnot.
Also, I got a load of laundry done there for only R$35, and the service was fantastic!
Tips for selecting the best place to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros
1. Select a room with an air conditioner
The Chapada dos Veadeiros region has a huge amount of mosquitoes and flies, and an air conditioner helps to keep them away. Also, the cerrado sun is unforgiving, and spaces tend to get very hot, especially during the dry season.
Storytime: I stayed in a non-airconditioned room at Espaço Cultural Lotus and I was eaten alive by mosquitoes! I am sure that the folks camping there came across fewer mosquitoes than me.
2. Stay downtown if you don’t have a car
None of the cities in Chapada dos Veadeiros has widely available transportation. No official taxis, no Uber, and no vans heading to the tourist attractions!
When there, your only transportation option is hiring a local that does this kind of service on their personal cars, which typically comes at a higher price.
The good news is that all three base cities are very walkable and safe! To know if a given accommodation is near downtown, just use Google Maps to check the walking distance between the accommodation and the tourist center (Centro de Atendimento ao Turista, CAT) in each base city. If you consider that distance walkable, go for it!
Helpful links: Location of the tourist centers (CAT) in Alto Paraiso, São Jorge, and Cavalcante
3. Have reasonable expectations
Although tourism at Chapada dos Veadeiros is well developed, you should not expect a Four Seasons… or even a Holiday Inn! There, you will be mostly staying at pousadas, which are boutique B&Bs.
Do not expect 24/7 check-in desks or English-speaking staff, although you might find some! Places are typically very comfortable, but they are still simple and deprived of many of the conveniences you’ll find in the large hotel chains we’re all used to.
Also, showers in Brazil are mostly electric, so do not expect much pressure or temperature control!
Fun fact: Being remote in nature does not mean that you’re free from super loud noises. During my stay in the Chapada dos Veadeiros, I heard birds sing almost as loud as NYC ambulances!
Hiking and ecotourism destinations in Brazil
If Chapada dos Veadeiros fits your vibe, you’ll also like other incredible hiking destinations in Brazil!
The wrapup: Where to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros
With beautiful landscapes and unique communities, Chapada dos Veadeiros offers a range of experiences that cater to every type of traveler. Whether you’re a solo adventurer, a nature lover seeking tranquility, or a family wanting to explore together, the accommodation choices between Alto Paraíso, São Jorge, and Cavalcante provide something special for everyone.
I hope this guide has given you the insights to find where to stay in Chapada dos Veadeiros for an epic trip to one of Brazil’s most incredible national parks.
