Canyon walls
From a catamaran.
Ajuliafotos — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ajuliafotos — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sidiney90 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · High source — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Xingó canyons are deep gorges of the São Francisco River on the border of Sergipe and Alagoas, flooded into a long lake behind the Xingó Dam, a rock-fill dam 140 metres high and 830 metres long built between 1987 and 1994 for power, water supply and navigation. Part of the lake and canyons is protected as the Rio São Francisco Natural Monument, covering 26,736 hectares. The classic outing is a catamaran trip of about three hours from Canindé de São Francisco, boarding at the Karrancas restaurant beside the dam's dikes; it sails between the canyon walls and stops for a swim at the Paraíso do Talhado. From there small motor canoes take those who wish into the narrow Talhado gorge for an extra fee (about R$20 to R$30, cash). Catamaran tickets cost about R$135 to R$150 per person, half price for children aged 5 to 9, and most visitors come on a long day trip from Aracaju.
From a catamaran.
By small canoe.
140 metres high.
Canindé de São Francisco, on the Sergipe-Alagoas border
In Canindé de São Francisco, Sergipe, near the Xingó Dam; it takes about three hours with a swimming stop.