Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, National park in Mato Grosso, Brazil
Chapada dos Guimarães National Park is a protected area in the Cerrado biome near Cuiabá and Chapada dos Guimarães, covering plateaus, valleys, and sandstone formations. The terrain extends across red rock cliffs, waterfalls, and forested areas connected by a network of trails.
The protected area was established in April 1989 to preserve archaeological sites with rock inscriptions. These carvings document human presence reaching back thousands of years.
The Casa de Pedra cave served as shelter for members of the Prestes Column during their journey through the Brazilian backlands in the 1920s. Hikers today can explore the same rock formations that once provided refuge.
Visitors must hire authorized guides to reach certain attractions, as some trails require expertise. Accommodations are available in the nearby towns of Chapada dos Guimarães or Cuiabá.
The geographical centre of South America, long marked by a white marble obelisk in Cuiabá, actually lies inside the park near the town of Chapada dos Guimarães, at a lookout called Mirante de Geodésia. Visitors can stand at this point on the plateau.
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