'''Alto Paraiso de Goias''', often shortened to ''Alto Paraiso'' (Highland Paradise), is a city in the Brazilian state of Goias. It is the main gateway to the Chapada dos Veadeiros region.

Get in

It_Ls located 230 km north of Brasilia, you can leave by car going to satelite city Sobradinho and turn left after Planaltina. There are lots of road signs.

Get around

The city itself is very small and easy, a Main Avenue (Avenida Ary Valadao Filho) starts on the road and cuts through the whole of it. The Bus Station is two blocks to the right of Main Avenue and all the food and shopping options that are not at Main Avenue are close to Bus Station. It_Ls that simple.

There are a lot of waterfall options around Alto Paraiso (Loquinhas are the closest and coziest, and ther is a hiking trail to Sertao Zen, a little harder), but the best ones are around Vila Sao Jorge (St. George Village) 42 km west, the gateway to the National Park. There are vans and little difficulty to hitchhike. The road is very scenic, half of it is paved already, but the dirt part can get a little annoying during the rainy season (October-April).

See

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is a must, its waterfalls are like cathedrals consecrated to Mother Nature. Vale da Lua (Moon Valley) is unbelievable. Morada do Sol (Sun_Ls Home) is less scenic but easier to small children. Sao Bento and Almecegas are closer to Alto Paraiso than to Sao Jorge, in private property with rooms, chalets and camping facilities, ideal for families and romantic couples. There are A LOT more waterfalls, local people will be happy to talk about them.

Do

There is a New Age quality about Alto Paraiso, lots of people come there looking for Positive Vibration and alternative stuff. As a rule of thumb, "quiet" people stay here and "party" people stay at Sao Jorge.

Buy

Crystal souvenirs, hippie clothing and pinga de arnica (pinga: strong liquor, arnica: spicy vegetable with medicinal properties)

Eat

APG has some options, two pizzarias (Oca Lila and Pizzaria 2000, both are at Main Avenue) and some self-servers too. Sao Jorge has good food as well.

Drink

Bar do Pele and Bar do Bodinho. Both are in Sao Jorge, have pool tables and cold beer.

Sleep

Sao Jorge has more options and more action. Most people set camp there.

Get out

If you don_Lt enter Alto Paraiso and keep on the road going north, you_Lll end at Cavalcante with another hundred waterfalls (try looking for Rei do Prata). If you go through Main Avenue all the way, you_Lll end at Vila do Moinho (Mill Village), home to Anjos e Arcanjos (Angels & Archangels waterfall). Both are worth the trip and both trips have very beautiful landscapes.