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Which is better: Alter do Chão or Chapada dos Veadeiros?

Short answer

Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Chapada dos Veadeiros is in the state of Goiás (GO): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Chapada dos Veadeiros: on the highest plateau in the Center-West, the Cerrado opens into quartz canyons, icy waterfalls and a night sky that becomes one of the most star-filled in the country. 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 dos VeadeirosZiplining in Chapada dos Veadeiros★ 10 · 2 reviews · from US$ 49 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →

	Alter do Chão	Chapada dos Veadeiros
Best time to visit	Aug → Nov	May → Aug
Weather this month	33° · 5 days of rain	32° · 8 days of rain
By car	R$ 21 · from Santarém	R$ 130 · from Brasília
Ideal stay	3–4 days	4–6 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 dos Veadeiros if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: on the highest plateau in the Center-West, the Cerrado opens into quartz canyons, icy waterfalls and a night sky that becomes one of the most star-filled in the country.

See guide

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Where to stay

Where to stay: Alter do Chão or Chapada dos Veadeiros

The average nightly rate is around R$ 544 in Alter do Chão and R$ 229 in Chapada dos Veadeiros; 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 dos Veadeiros on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in Chapada dos Veadeiros

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

Frequently asked questions

Alter do Chão or Chapada dos Veadeiros: which is better?

What is the best time to visit Alter do Chão and Chapada dos Veadeiros?

The best time to visit Alter do Chão is from August to November; for Chapada dos Veadeiros, it is from May to August, 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 Brasília, Chapada dos Veadeiros is 230 km (143 mi) and costs about R$ 130 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 dos Veadeiros?

Averaged over the year, Alter do Chão has 14 rainy days a month and Chapada dos Veadeiros has 8. Chapada dos Veadeiros 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 dos Veadeiros, December. 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 dos Veadeiros?

To see the main sights without rushing, Alter do Chão calls for 3–4 days and Chapada dos Veadeiros, 4–6 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 dos Veadeiros with kids?

Alter do Chão (Amazon's Caribbean, river beaches, and Borari culture) is the better pick of the two for families. Chapada dos Veadeiros (high-altitude Cerrado; waterfalls and canyons; starry sky) is geared more toward adults or couples. With small children, weather matters: Chapada dos Veadeiros 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 dos Veadeiros: Vale da Lua, Saltos do Rio Preto, Cataratas dos Couros. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.