Tocantins

Day Trips

Touch down at Brigadeiro Lysias Rodrigues Airport and ease into the tropical climate while settling into a lakeside hotel. Stroll along the shores of Praia da Graciosa and watch fisherfolk haul in their morning catch. Sample fresh açai and regional fruits from a local market stall.

Head to the Palácio Araguaia to admire modernist architecture and panoramic city views. Wander through the vibrant Feira do Bosque artisanal market and chat with local craftsmen. Cool off with açaí na tigela under the shade of towering urban trees.

Dine at a riverside restaurant serving grilled pirarucu and tucunaré with farofa. Sip on a caipirinha made with local pequi fruit as the sun dips below the Tocantins River. Join lively street music sessions and taste brigadeiro de colher for dessert.

Begin with a sunrise yoga session on the deck overlooking Lago de Palmas. Visit the grand Catedral de Palmas to admire its stained glass and soaring ceilings. Enjoy a breakfast of tapioca crepes filled with queijo coalho and guava paste.

Explore the winding trails of Parque Cesamar, spotting iguanas and native bird species. Learn about regional history at the Casa da Cultura de Taquaruçu, housed in a restored colonial manor. Refuel with a hearty galinhada at a family-run bistrô.

Catch a performance of traditional forró and sertanejo music at a local cultural center. Taste freshly baked coxinhas and pão de queijo accompanied by guaraná. Wander the illuminated waterfront path and breathe in the warm evening air.

Set off early in a 4x4 convoy toward the rugged beauty of Jalapão. Stop at quilombola settlements to learn about Afro-Brazilian heritage and sample homemade bolo de mandioca. Ascend the rocky slopes of Serra do Espírito Santo for vast savannah panoramas.

Descend into the park’s interior for a picnic of pão de queijo, bananas and fresh coconut water. Wade into crystalline pools beneath the golden cliffs of Formiga Canyon. Enjoy birdwatching as kingfishers and jacus flit among aquatic plants.

Camp under the Milky Way with a guide pointing out constellations in the nearly unpolluted sky. Roast local carne de sol over an open fire and braid stories of Brazilian folklore. Drift to sleep to the distant calls of nightjars and howler monkeys.

Dive into the warm, spring-fed fervedouros where buoyant currents lift you effortlessly. Listen to the lush canopy crackle with life as toucans peep before dawn heat. Savor a lakeside breakfast of tapioca pancakes and passion fruit juice.

Hike to the emerald cascades of Cachoeira da Formiga, slipping into natural pools for a refreshing swim. Marvel at the waterfall’s curtain framed by golden sandstone walls. Indulge in a riverside lunch of maniçoba and fresh salad.

Relax in a rustic lodge with handwoven hammocks strung between palms. Share tales with fellow travelers over caipirinhas infused with cupuaçu. Drift off to the lullaby of flowing water.

Rise at dawn to climb the Gallion dunes and witness a fiery sunrise over rippling golden sands. Feel the soft grains shift beneath your feet as you explore dune seas. Refuel with fruit smoothies and regional tapioca wraps.

Visit Mumbuca Village, known for its traditional cotton weaving and capim dourado handicrafts. Join artisans at work and try crafting your own bracelet. Relish a communal lunch of feijão tropeiro and crunchy banana chips.

Sip herbal teas by lantern light while listening to elders recount local legends. Enjoy a forró dance lesson in the village square under swaying palms. Retreat to eco-cabins laced with golden-grass décor and friendly fireflies.

Gear up for an exhilarating rapids run on the crystal-clear Rio Novo. Paddle past limestone gorges and lush gallery forests alive with monkeys and macaws. Pause at tranquil eddies for a riverside snack of cheese buns and fresh fruit.

Dock at a shaded riverbank to savor a picnic of grilled fish, cassava purée and tropical fruit salad. Wade into calm pools for a cooling dip beneath overhanging vines. Spot otters frolicking near submerged logs and herons perched on river rocks.

Camp riverside with a guide demonstrating traditional fishing techniques by torchlight. Share stories around a crackling fire while sampling smoked fish and cold local beer. Fall asleep to the gentle burble of the river.

Embark on a guided trek through the Serra do Lajeado trail, crossing savannah plateaus and rocky outcrops. Gaze at endemic orchids and spotting elusive anteaters in the underbrush. Stop for a snack of cancha and fresh coconut water at a scenic lookout.

Descend into a hidden canyon to swim beneath a veil-like waterfall and cool off on sun-warmed rocks. Enjoy a riverside barbecue of local game meat and cassava cakes. Capture photos of the multicolored rock strata framing the falls.

Return to base camp as the sky ignites in sunset hues across the savannah. Dine on hearty feijoada with trim décor of native herbs. Recount the day’s wildlife encounters with fellow trekkers under a star-lit canopy.

Launch kayaks onto the crystalline Rio Cristalino and glide past towering sandstone cliffs draped in vines. Keep an eye out for turtles sunning on exposed rocks. Snack on manioc chips and guava nectar afloat.

Pull up at riverside caves to explore prehistoric rock art and hidden chambers. Listen to dripping stalactites as you learn geological tales from your guide. Feast on a packed lunch of smoked beef, rice and tropical salads.

Settle at a remote riverside lodge where lantern-lit pathways guide you to dinner. Indulge in fresh river fish grilled with herbs and served with banana flambé. Relish the silence punctuated only by frogs and night birds.

Arrive at a traditional Tocantins village to be welcomed with coffee brewed over an open flame. Participate in a cassava flour grinding workshop and taste freshly prepared beiju. Chat with local families about daily life on the cerrado frontier.

Learn to weave palm fronds into baskets and hear stories of indigenous influences on regional crafts. Share a family-style lunch featuring farofa, grilled vegetables and fresh cheese. Explore cocoa orchards and pick ripe pods for a chocolate-making demonstration.

Join a communal feast under a starlit pavilion, enjoying moqueca de peixe and regional desserts. Dance around a bonfire to the rhythms of tambor de crioula. Sleep in a rustic cabin lulled by distant rooster calls.

Travel back to Palmas, passing through rolling landscapes of cerrado and rivers. Stop at roadside stands for last-minute purchases of capim dourado jewelry and honey. Arrive in time for a leisurely lakeside brunch of fruit salads and tapioca.

Stroll the colorful murals of Palmas’ urban art district and capture final photos of city landmarks. Visit the Central Market for souvenirs of spices, wood carvings and local sweets. Enjoy one last caipirinha on a rooftop bar overlooking the Tocantins River.

Reflect on your Tocantins journey during a riverside dinner of seafood stew and grilled plantain. Transfer to the airport under a canopy of twinkling stars. Depart with the warm embrace of Brazilian hospitality in your heart.