My 3-Day Vale do Pati Trek
This was on my bucket list for years. I’ll tell you honestly, the landscape is extraordinary. But I’ll also tell you what I’d do differently.
Day 1: Subida dos Aleixos, Gerais do Rio Preto & Mirante do Pati (~10 km)
We left Lençóis at 7am and drove two hours to Guiné, the trek’s starting point, the first hour of road was fine, the second a bone-rattling dirt track. After a quick stop to eat, buy last-minute supplies, and mentally prepare, we started climbing.
The Subida dos Aleixos is steep and unforgiving, there’s no easing in. We took our time. Once at the top, the view back over where we’d come from was already impressive. On the other side, the terrain flattened into the expansive Gerais do Rio Preto, a wide plateau with the mountains already visible in the distance, which was quietly exciting.
We walked to the river, ate lunch, and jumped in the cold water, absolutely worth it after that climb. Then we crossed the plateau toward Mirante do Pati and when we arrived at the viewpoint, the valley opened up below us. It’s one of those views that stops you mid-sentence.
We descended to the base camp for the night: simple but fully equipped with beds, hot food, cold showers, and a small shop. The food was genuinely excellent, abundant, home-cooked on a wood-fire stove. That night, we had music and a fire with the other trekking groups. A perfect end to a hard day.
Day 2: Morro do Castelo & Cachoeiras do Funil (~12 km)
We started at 9am, slower than planned due to morning fog, which actually made the valley look even more dramatic. Our bags were lighter since we’d return to the same base camp. Good news.
The walk began on dirt tracks with limited views, but as the fog cleared, the full scale of the valley appeared, that impressive plateau suddenly visible on all sides. We descended to the river and entered the forest, where the climbing got serious again.
This is where you might spot micos or capuchin monkeys jumping through the canopy, those monkey are the most common to spot in South America, but still a genuine highlight if it happens. The forest is beautiful, the rock formations on top of Morro do Castelo are spectacular, and the views from the summit are among the best of the entire trek.
We came back down through three waterfalls on the Rio Funil circuit, Cachoeira das Bananeiras, Cachoeira do Funil, and Cachoeira da Altina. We all swam. It was busy but worth it.
Day 3: Cachoeirão por Cima & Back to Guiné (~18 km)
The longest day. We packed everything and left the base camp for good.
The route took us back toward the starting point, but with a detour to the Cachoeirão por Cima viewpoint first. We stashed most of our bags in the bush at a junction (yes, really) and walked 1–2 hours to reach the viewpoint. At 300 meters, the Cachoeirão is massive, on clear days, it throws a rainbow across the mist. The lookout from above is genuinely one of the most beautiful things I saw on the entire trek.
I was flying my drone up there when an eagle decided to challenge it. Brief moment of panic, but I managed to bring it back safely. Memorable, to say the least.
After lunch at the viewpoint, we retraced to the bags and then it was 2 hours across the plateau followed by 1 hour down the Aleixos descent. The legs were already well done, nearly couldn’t walk anymore when reaching the cars. Two more hours back to Lençóis, arriving around 8pm. The trek was officially complete !
What Could Have Been Better
Honesty matters, so here it is:
- We were told to meet at 7am on Day 1, we actually left at 8:30am, meaning most of us didn’t had a proper breakfast, and we climbed the steepest section around midday in full sun.
- Water supply on Days 1 and 3 was not well managed by the guides. They already carry our food, but not water. You cannot refil on the river, it’s not advised. So you need to carry more than you think you’ll need.
- The guides were good navigators but frequently rushed the group at viewpoints, which is frustrating when you’ve hiked hours to get there
- The vibe from the guide team was slightly flat overall, nothing serious, but noticeable. Maybe because only one out of the three were speaking ‘english’. It was difficult to create a strong bond.
None of that makes the trek less worth doing. But if I went again, I’d set firmer expectations upfront.
What if you’re doing It Solo ?
You don’t need an agency. Several people at the base camp had hiked in independently from Lençóis. The path is navigable and the base camps are open to individual travelers.
- Base camp costs around 250 BRL per night, food included
- You can stay as long as you like at each point, no guide rushing you along
- The trail is circular, starting and ending at Guiné
For context, I did the Colca Canyon trek in Peru solo, and honestly enjoyed it more. Going at your own pace, stopping as long as you want at each viewpoint, not depending on a guide’s mood, it makes a real difference. The Vale do Pati is absolutely doable solo too, and the base camp system makes it straightforward. If I did it again, I’d skip the agency.
If you’re a confident hiker and want full control over your pace, going solo is a genuinely good option.
