Rising spray
Water blown upward.
The Smoke Waterfall is one of Brazil's highest, dropping about 340 metres from the edge of a tableland inside Chapada Diamantina National Park. The secret of its name is that the water falls so far that on most days of the year it never reaches the bottom: the wind rising from the valley blows it back up as spray, like smoke. Visitors usually reach it from the village of Vale do Capão on a trail of about six kilometres each way, a hard climb to the plateau followed by easy walking across it, in about two and a half hours. At the top people lie flat on a ledge at the edge to see the drop, the spray and the deep valley. There is no entry fee, and donations to the local fire brigade are welcome. A guide is strongly advised, as visitors have lost their way before. Stay back from the edge unless lying down, and bring water and food.
Water blown upward.
Lying on the ledge.
A walk on top.
Vale do Capão (Caeté-Açu), Chapada Diamantina
It is strongly advised: the trail is long with a hard climb at the start, and visitors have got lost before. There is no entry fee.