The Mountains Were Calling: Lençois, Bahia

The decision to head inland to one of Brazil’s most beautiful national parks was spontaneous at best. We were planning on heading to yet another beach, an Island off of the coast of Salvador, but once we had merely a quick glance at a fellow travelers shots on their cell phone we both immediately agreed the mountains would be a lovely change of pace. Cool rivers, immense cascading waterfalls, and plenty of hiking awaited. After 10 hours at the bus station and another five hour bus ride, we arrived in quaint Lençois, an old mining town in the hills right outside of Chapada Diamantina. The people were welcoming, and super chill. “Organic,” and “Natural” food signs were everywhere, along with 4 wheel drive jeeps and people sporting outdoor gear such as hiking shoes and climbing accessories. Crystals hung from store windows, and precious stones were for sale everywhere. It felt like the Colorado of Brazil with a South American twist. The architecture was similar to that of the Pelourinho, colorful and well maintained but without the edge, grit or hustlers.

I instantly fell in love with the vibe of the town, and considered never leaving when I happened upon a gorgeous, pink granite waterfall slide while on a run through the trails right behind our Pousada. The hiking was amazing, and the geography extremely diverse, varying from jungle, to desert landscapes, vast rock fields, to marshes, with every kind of stone surface imaginable. The food was also some of the best I had in all of Brazil.