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Welcome to Pousada dos Duendes The Travellers Paradise |
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Welcome to Pousada dos Duendes The Travellers Paradise |
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Longer Trip 6 - 4 or 5 day Hike Capão Valley The Paty Valley trek with its spectacular views of the huge open plateaus and the majestic mountains, also boasts some spectacular swimming holes and waterfalls. It is easier than the Fumaça por Baixo walk, and is also possible to use mules for carrying equipment. The Paty Valley is still home to a handful of families living off the land as they have done for the past 150 years. Although times have changed since the diamond era when many tonnes of coffee, bananas and manioc flour was produced here the families still farm using traditional methods. There is no electricity or mains water here and the nearest road is about an 18 km walk for most. Today some of the families are turning to tourism by allowing visitors to stay overnight in their houses and cooking meals for them. This not only means we can carry less with us but gives us a fascinating insight into how they survive in an ever changing world. |
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Day 1 – After walking through the Valley of Capão take an uphill trail to the Gerais do Vieira plateau. This vast plain has spectacular views of the surrounding hills. The first day is fairly short so there is plenty of time to swim in the waterholes and admire the views. The night is spent camping on the plateau. |
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Day 2 – A long day that starts by walking across the plateau until dropping down into the Calista Valley. This part of the trail is no longer used by the local community and lay closed for many years. In the dense forest it is possible to see the ruins of old dwellings and coffee and banana plantations. After a long down hill stretch we reach the valley floor and the impressive Calista Waterfall. A refreshing swim before lunch is much appreciated. Once ready it is out the other side of the valley where we come across the first signs of habitation. |
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The current Coffee, banana and manioc plantations can be found on the steep valley sides, and after a while we discover some of the first houses in the valley and maybe pick up some fresh eggs or home grown fruit or vegetables for the days ahead. Now we find ourselves in the Paty Valley and stop overnight in the ruins of the office that once controlled the movement of coffee and other goods out on the valley. Local families collect wood and maintain the building for the tourists as well as supplying food from their gardens. |
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Day 3 – Setting out up the valley along the meandering trails made deep by hundreds of years use, we come across Senor Wilson’s (photo to the left) house. Here we enjoy a home cooked lunch with the family then a short walk to the Funils waterfalls for a lazy few hours setting off to the old community church where we spend the night. |
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Day 4 (Optional) – After lunch on Day 3 we can also opt to leave any excess baggage here for a trek up the Paty or Castle Hill. From here there are the most fantastic 360° views of the surrounding area. At the top of the hill is a cave which goes through the mountain to give us a view of the valley on the other side. The night is spent in the cave which was formerly used by hunters. After a light breakfast its back down the hill to a bigger breakfast at Senor Wilson’s! After that breakfast it is a time to relax at the Funil Waterfalls before setting off to the old community church where we spend the night. |
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Day 5 – Leave the church and tackle the steep uphill climb onto the Gerais do Rio Preto plateau. This gives us a spectacular view of the area where we walked on Day 1. The rest of to the day is spent following the escarpment before dropping back onto the Gerais do Vieira and back to the Valley of Capão. |
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Pousada dos Duendes, Rua do Pires s/n, Lençóis, Bahia 46960-000, Brazil |
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Last updated 13 September 2008 | |
