Day 1: Starting from Lençois, we travel by car for an hour to the community of Capivara, 9km (6mi) away. Once there, we visit the Palace of Ogun and Caboclo Sete Serra, and the Shrine of Umbanda God and Oxalá, living museums honoring gods of the syncretic religion of Jarê, the Candomblé-derived religion that is most prominent in Bahia’s interior. A lunch of local community dishes as well as dishes used to commemorate the different festivals of Jarê will follow, as well as a short time to rest. In the afternoon, we hike to the Capivara River and participate in the “Colar de Guias” workshop where you will create Necklaces of Protection following the local Indigenous traditions while learning about the culture and history of the people who continue to use and wear these necklaces for guidance and protection. We end out first day around a campfire as we hear stories about Jarê and Pedro de Laura, one of the region’s biggest Pai de Santos, or Jarê priests. Following the story circle, we spend the night in the House of Jare, Palace of Ogun Caboclo Sete.

Day 2:  The day starts with a breakfast of local foods prepared by our hosts, after which we hike to top the Capivari Waterfall; a walk that involves climbing for about 2 hours before walking across the top of Goat Hill to arrive at the waterfall’s peak, and its beautiful view. We then climb down the waterfall to swim and relax in the waterfall while appreciating the beauty of our surroundings. Following this trek, we will return first to Capivara to retrieve our belongings before driving back to Lençois.

Day 1: Starting from Lençois, we travel by car for 40 minutes to the quilombola community of Remanso, 20km (12.5mi) away. Upon arriving in the community, we will have a short tour of the community, ending with a  Griô Pedagogy workshop in the school or in the home of Master Aurino, acclaimed accordionist and community elder. After this will we have lunch in community homes with a 2 hour resting period. In the afternoon, there will be the following community workshops with  griôs and masters: fishing and trapping, flour making, forest tour and xarope (a local cold medicine) and other herbal medicine making. In the evening, a dinner of local foods followed by a small party/lesson in the local music genre of Forró Pé de Serra with Master Aurino and other community residents. We will  spend the night in the homes of community members.

Day 2: Breakfast will be served in the individual homes before we all come together for a 2 hour rowboat ride through the Mini-wetlands of the Marimbus River. Along the ride you can enjoy seeing local flora and fauna up-close and personal, as well as learn the history of the local fishermen. The wetlands end in a small river clearing where you can take a quick swim before we walk begin the one hour walk to the natural pools and jacuzzis of the Roncador River. We will stay at the river for about 3 hours, enjoying a picnic and a relaxing swim. Returning by boat through the wetlands, we will stop in Remanso briefly to collect our belongings before returning to Lençois.

The tour starts with a welcome reception held at Grãos de Luz e Griô to present the organization, the young adults who participate in and run the organization’s workshops and you, the tour’s participants. There will also be a presentation to introduce  the culture and universe of diamond miners in the Chapada Diamantina region. We will then leave Grãos and walk to the Serrano River, where we will stop for a short swim in the natural pools, called cauldrons by locals. We will then visit the miner’s dens, the salon of colorful sands, with more than 20 different shades of sands used in the creation of local artisinal crafts, and take a swim in the cachoerina (Little Waterfall). We will then have a break for lunch, a picnic in the forest surrounding the waterfall, before visiting the house of Sr. Cori, a miner who created, in his yard, a simulated mining manual to show exactly how it is done. From Sr. Cori’s home, we will walk about 50 minutes to the Ribeirão do Meio River where you can swim and enjoy an exciting ride down the river’s natural waterslide.

Starting from Lençois, we travel 40 minutes by car to the Quilombola community of Iuna, 20km (12.5mi) away. Upon arriving, we will have a tour of the community, ending with a conversation circle workshop in the community’s school with the Griô and midwife, Dona Jovita. Lunch will follow in the homes of community members. In the afternoon, we leave Iuna by car and travel for about an hour to the Mucugezinho River for a relaxing swim. Following this visit, we will drive another 40 minutes to arrive at the Pai Inacio Hill where, after a 30 minute climb to the top of the hill, you’ll be awarded a 360° view of the surrounding Cercado Valley. As the sun sets over the valley, we will hold a story circle and tell stories of local myths and  legends of the Colonel system in Lençois, including how the hill got its name. After the sunset we will return to Lençois.