Waterfalls
Barata and Paiva.
Ingrid Torres de Macedo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ingrid Torres de Macedo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bruno.karklis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ingrid Torres de Macedo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Felipe Mavignier de Alencastro Graça — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carlos Marques — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ingrid Torres de Macedo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bruno.karklis — CC BY-SA 4.0
Serra do Tepequém is a mountain plateau in Amajari, Roraima, some 210 kilometres from Boa Vista, its flat top rising to 1,022 metres above the surrounding plains. Its name is thought to come from Indigenous words meaning «god's fire». For eight decades the plateau was reshaped by intensive diamond mining, which officially began around 1936 and peaked in the 1940s and 1950s; the Funil waterfall was blasted with dynamite by prospectors many times. With stricter environmental laws and the rise of tourism, nature has begun to recover. A paved road climbs to Vila do Paiva, the main settlement on the plateau, with guesthouses, restaurants and campsites. The plateau is known for its many waterfalls, such as Barata, Laje Preta, Laje Verde and Paiva, and for hiking and cycling trails, caves, birdwatching and orchids. Its climate is milder than the heat of the plains, making it a favourite holiday escape for the people of Boa Vista.
Barata and Paiva.
Views of the plains.
A small village.
Amajari municipality, about 210 km from Boa Vista, Roraima
About 210 kilometres, roughly three hours by car.