Diamantina National Park (Lencois)

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Not far from the current town of Lencois, diamonds were found in 1822. Fortune seekers set up tents that looked like fluttering sheets from the nearby hills and that’s why the city of "Lencois" is called that way (literally it means “sheets”) - and this was the beginning of the beautiful village. The settlement changed in the years of tents into houses and the French even built a consulate-building in Lencois.

After the diamond "tree" had died out, the sleepy town was looking for a new source of income and that was coming. In 1985 the nearby nature reserve was changed into a protected national park and Lencois became a tourist attraction, a historical base for hikers and other tourists who want to visit this unique piece of wilderness with high cliffs, a lot of greenery, waterfalls and some amazing hiking-trails. 

Lencois - Salvador: Several daily buses go to Salvador. Ask at the bus station in Lencois.  

Lencois - Seabra: there is a local bus to the northern town Seabra. This one drives around the park so that you can step out on the north side of the park and given you the possibility to "walk back" (hiking) to Lencois.

In the evening a local gentleman walks around with a cart with hot sandwiches in the town of Lencois. Try I would say! Tasty and cheap. In addition, you can enjoy a cold beer on the Praca Aureliano Se, near the bridge - a hotspot.

In a narrow short side street near the small bus station in Lencois we found a "pousada" where we booked a double room including breakfast. The room was fine and the shower is hot (it is so nice after a two-day hike). Breakfast was served on the roof of the property with views over the city and the national park.

In the evening it gets chilly (fresh) in Lencois while it can be pretty hot during the day. Take this into account if you go hiking or in the evening to eat (or drink) on the terrace.