its serene emerald water. But this natural wonder is not easy to reach. To get to the village of Engenho II in Cavalcante, Brazil – which is over 310 kilometres from Brasilia and about 510 kilometres from Goiânia, the state capital – visitors have to brave unpaved dirt roads. And for those that want to visit the waterfall, a hired guide is compulsory.
In addition to bringing visitors to the waterfall, guides provide information on the area and the strong cultural history of the local people. The Kalunga are an Afro-Brazilian community, descended from escaped slaves, who have inhabited Cavalcante for 300 years. The Kalunga Historical and Cultural Heritage Site occupies 262,000 hectares of land near Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, which is where Santa Bárbara Waterfall is located. So, while exploring the waterfall's turquoise water and the biodiversity of this UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, visitors also have the opportunity to connect with a part of Brazil that is often unexplored.