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Which is better: Alter do Chão or Chapada Diamantina?

Short answer

Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Chapada Diamantina is in the state of Bahia (BA): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Chapada Diamantina: flat-topped hills, tall waterfalls and blue-water caves in central Bahia, with Lençóis as the main base. For this month's weather, Alter do Chão has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Alter do ChãoTapajós National Forest Tour★ 8.7 · 3 reviews · from US$ 77 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Most reviewed activity in Chapada DiamantinaChapada Diamantina Caves Tour + Morro do Pai Inácio★ 9.3 · 3 reviews · from US$ 118 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Alter do Chão Chapada Diamantina
Best time to visit Aug → Nov Jun → Sep
Weather this month 33° · 5 days of rain 32° · 9 days of rain
By car R$ 21 · from Santarém R$ 231 · from Salvador
Ideal stay 3–4 days 4–5 days
Best for Relax, Adventure, Family Adventure, Relax
Choose Alter do Chão if

you want a trip for relaxation and adventure seekers: white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water that appear when the Tapajós River drops.

See guide
Choose Chapada Diamantina if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: flat-topped hills, tall waterfalls and blue-water caves in central Bahia, with Lençóis as the main base.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Alter do Chão or Chapada Diamantina

The average nightly rate is around R$ 544 in Alter do Chão and R$ 511 in Chapada Diamantina; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Alter do Chão on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in Alter do Chão

Compare hotels and places to stay in Chapada Diamantina on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Pousada Alto do Cajueiro in Chapada Diamantina 8.4 ★★★ · 2 reviews Pousada Alto do Cajueiro See on Booking → Pousada Casa de Jorge in Chapada Diamantina 7.2 ★★★ · 1 review Pousada Casa de Jorge See on Booking →
See all hotels in Chapada Diamantina

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Alter do Chão or Chapada Diamantina: which is better?
Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Chapada Diamantina is in the state of Bahia (BA): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Chapada Diamantina: flat-topped hills, tall waterfalls and blue-water caves in central Bahia, with Lençóis as the main base. For this month's weather, Alter do Chão has the edge.
What is the best time to visit Alter do Chão and Chapada Diamantina?
The best time to visit Alter do Chão is from August to November; for Chapada Diamantina, it is from June to September, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from Santarém, Alter do Chão is 37 km (23 mi) and costs about R$ 21 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from Salvador, Chapada Diamantina is 410 km (255 mi) and costs about R$ 231 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Alter do Chão or Chapada Diamantina?
Averaged over the year, Alter do Chão has 14 rainy days a month and Chapada Diamantina has 10. Chapada Diamantina is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Alter do Chão is March and in Chapada Diamantina, March. For temperature, Alter do Chão is the warmer one (average high of 31° versus 30°).
How many days should you spend in Alter do Chão and in Chapada Diamantina?
To see the main sights without rushing, Alter do Chão calls for 3–4 days and Chapada Diamantina, 4–5 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Alter do Chão or Chapada Diamantina with kids?
Alter do Chão (Amazon's Caribbean, river beaches, and Borari culture) is the better pick of the two for families. Chapada Diamantina (flat-topped hills, tall waterfalls, and blue-water caves) is geared more toward adults or couples. With small children, weather matters: Chapada Diamantina has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Alter do Chão: Ilha do Amor, Lago Verde, Floresta Nacional do Tapajós. In Chapada Diamantina: Poço Azul, Poço Encantado, Cachoeira da Fumaça. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.