← Maratona de Cuiabá·1 night

Chapada dos Guimarães: A Night on the Plateau

A night in the service town of Chapada dos Guimarães, with the light Véu de Noiva viewpoint walk on the way in or out.

Duration1 night
TransitAbout 56 km by road to the park entrance, roughly 1 hour; the town is about 12 km further
DepartsCuiabá

After the Maratona de Cuiabá: Chapada dos Guimarães

The Route: Cuiabá → Chapada dos Guimarães town → Cuiabá → Cuiabá Marechal Rondon Airport (CGB) Logistics: Hired driver, taxi or organised transfer. About 56 km to the park entrance and 12 km more to the town. Marathon Month: December Duration: 1 night

Cuiabá ──(about 56 km, roughly 1 hr)──> Chapada National Park (viewpoint) ──(about 12 km)──> Chapada town (1 night) ──(same road)──> Cuiabá ──(transfer)──> Cuiabá Marechal Rondon Airport (CGB)

A night in Chapada dos Guimarães town splits the outing into two short days. The park authority, ICMBio, places the town about 12 km and 15 minutes from the main park entrance and describes it as the base for accommodation and services. That means you can visit the viewpoint without a long day of driving, then eat dinner and sleep close to it.

December in Chapada: wet season. A weather station in Cuiabá gives about 193 mm of rain for December. Expect afternoon storms and humid heat. Use the morning for the park and the afternoon for shelter.

Getting There

Go on Monday after a late breakfast. A hired driver or taxi takes about an hour to the park entrance, a little longer if you go on to the town. Agree the fare and the return time. Ask your Cuiabá hotel to hold any luggage you do not need.

Night One: Chapada Town

Book a pousada in the town and ask about breakfast times, air conditioning and whether the room has a bath. No specific property is recommended here, because rooms and rates change. Choose one that is a short flat walk from the centre.

On the way in, stop at the Véu de Noiva viewpoint. The park lists the walk as light, at about 1.2 km return, with entry from 08:30 to 16:00 and exit by 17:00. Walk slowly, use the rails and leave the longer trails. If the afternoon turns stormy, skip it and do the walk on the way out.

Dinner in town should be simple. Eat early and sleep.

Day Two: The Way Back

Use the second morning for a gentle walk around the town or a second short stop in the park if your legs are willing. The park lists closures on 24 and 25 December and on 31 December and 1 January, so check dates if your stay runs close to them.

Getting Home

Return to Cuiabá on the second day. The airport is Cuiabá Marechal Rondon (CGB) in Várzea Grande. Leave a margin of at least a few hours before a flight, since heavy rain slows the road. Ask your hotel to arrange a taxi from the city, and do not book a flight for the afternoon of the return day.