One of the greatest natural treasures with an origin in the karst topography of Chapada Diamantina, Poço Encantado (the Enchanted Pool), in the vicinity of Itaetê, is a flooded cave at the bottom of a sinkhole.
Though the cave is open to visitors, floating is not allowed as it is in Pratinha or in nearby Poço Azul two other popular attractions in Chapada Diamantina.
The flooded cave's name owes itself to the magical visual effect created by the direct incidence of the sun's rays on the crystal clear water between April and September.
But you don't need to be there in the morning hours when the phenomenon takes place to see far into the subterranean pool, whose depth reaches up to 60 meters (nearly 197 feet).
Part of the Una River Basin karst with origins dating back to the Proterozoic Eon, Poço Encantado was formed when there was a lowering in the levels of water flowing through the easily eroded sedimentary rock in tunnels known as phreatic conduits. As the water flow was redirected to new, lower conduits, the hollow, dry ones above them collapsed, creating wonders such as the main chamber at Poço Encantado, where the space between the surface of the water and the highest point in the roof is nearly 100 feet.
The cave is the natural habitat for a kind of blind catfish (subfamily Heptapterinae) and several bat and arthropod species.
The cave was closed to visitors for three years due to irregularities in the management of the site. According to the Federal Public Ministry, the main problem was the construction of the existing 102-step staircase in the sinkhole by its guardian.
The reopening of the cave to the public in 2011 was only possible after the signature of an agreement involving the Bahia branch of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), Ibama (Brazil's Environmental Institute), the Chico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of Biodiversity (ICMBio) and guardian Miguel Jesus da Mota.
Compensatory measures required by the MPF for reopening included a commitment to the planting of native trees and the observance of guidelines in a management plan produced by the National Center for Research and Conservation of Caves (Cecav), including limits on the maximum number of visitors (no more than ten at a time). Also required: free visits for students of public schools in the towns of Itaetê, Andaraí, Mucugê, and Nova Redenção.
it is possible to visit Poço Azul and Poço Encantado on the same day, and several receptive tour agencies in Chapada Diamantina offer you just that.
The best place to stay in small and quiet Itaetê is Pousada Poço Encantado, which occupies a converted farmhouse at heights with a view of the town and the Paraguaçu River.
Lençóis, the main gateway to Chapada Diamantina, is an 87-mile drive to the northwest, or nearly a two-hour trip, and still that's the departure point of choice for many travelers because Lençóis has so many hotels and pousadas to choose from.
For a closer home base, Mucugê (47 km, or about 29 miles, to the west) is another good choice; the city has cute pousadas and a pretty historic center among other attractions.
Andaraí, about 28 miles to the northwest, is a good option for the budget traveler, with home style accommodations such as Pousada Sincorá and a wealth of attractions, such as Igatu and many waterfalls. Pousada Sincorá and Kabana de Pedra are excellent sources for tours of the area as well.
When to Visit:
April to September, from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., is when the shaft of sunlight creates the famous effect in the pool waters. However, the visibility is impressive year round.
Visitor Tips:
Poço Encantado is one of the few attractions open to visitors in Chapada Diamantina where children under 12 are not allowed. Other restrictions may apply, as in the case of pregnant women.
Your best bet to make the best of what Chapada Diamantina has to offer is to book a tour with a dependable receptive tour agency which works with certified guides. English-speaking professionals are available.
Some of the agencies which offer tours of Poço Encantado and Poço Azul:
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