Lençois

Weel worth a weekend visit! A very pretty village in the Chapada Diamatina National Park. The area has mountains, caves, waterfalls and pools and a very pretty river near through the village.

The overnight bus leaves from the rodoviaria at 11:30pm and is air-conditioned with reclining seats, on board toilet and free water. You arrive in Lençois at about 5:30am and if you have booked a pousada most of them will let you have the room immediately for a few hours sleep, they will just charge you for beackfast.

We stayed at Pousada Cantos das Aguas (Song of the waters), which is right next to the river. We couldn't fault it, great service, great food, nice rooms, lovely pool. We paid around U$$ 50 per night (each), but there are lots of cheaper places (march '07).

The Hotel fixed us up with a private English speaking guide, Rogerio Oliverio (R$ 80) and car (R$ 140) for full day. He was excellent. Alternatively, when you get off the bus there are always tour guides waiting who will show you to your hotel so that they can give you their business card.

By car in a day you can visit the mountains, tour a cave and hide along the river to swim in one of the pools under a waterfal. There are also a number of walking tours routes.

The return bus leaves from the same place you are dropped off at 11:30pm, so you get two really days there. The fare was R$ 54 each way, but we booked through the travel agency in the Hotel Tropical da Bahia at Campo Grande and they add about R$ 10 each way as a fee. Not sure where else you colud get a ticket, except the Rodoviaria (bus station), which is quite a distance - suggest you chech with CCS staff.

Taxi to/from the Rodoviaria is around R$ 22 each way, and at these times of night/morning routes only about 20 minutes. We were home by 6am, so if you can sleep on the bus you caould go to work on Monday.

Angela 20-04-07