Among rapids, caves and waterfalls, Alto Araguaia reveals a distinctive river landscape. Queijo Cabacinha adds a cultural connection that complements the focus on nature. Two questions can help you get your bearings: How does the Rio Araguaia shape the area, and how far is each waterfall from the town centre?
River Landscapes and Geographic Location
The Rio Araguaia rises in Alto Araguaia, in the Serra do Caiapó, at an elevation of 850 metres. It runs along the municipal seat and also forms the border with the neighbouring state of Goiás. Alto Araguaia is also associated with the source of the Rio Araguaia near Parque Nacional das Emas. The landscape includes large rapids, extensive caves, cascades and waterfalls. Together, these features create a natural profile that extends from the river’s source to a variety of waterways.
Waterfalls by Distance
Cachoeira dos Padres is a waterfall on the Rio Araguaia, located 500 metres from the town centre. Balneário Córrego Boiadeiro is also 500 metres from the centre. Cachoeira do Rio Araguaia is another waterfall, three kilometres from the town centre. This means that alongside nearby destinations, there are also waterfalls much farther away.
Cachoeira Couto Magalhães, also a waterfall on the Rio Araguaia, is 35 kilometres from the town centre. Cachoeira da Onça, on Córrego da Ãgua Emendada, is 41 kilometres away, while Cachoeira do Sonho, on the Rio Araguainha, is 67 kilometres away. The waterfalls therefore differ not only in their names and waterways, but also in their distance from the centre. If you are deciding which to visit, you can use these distances as an initial guide to their locations.
Hiking Trails and Water Experiences
On a visitor route in 2023, a hiking trail led to Loca do Barbicha; the route ended with a swim in the Rio Araguaia. A nature walk in 2013 followed a hiking trail to Cachoeira Couto Magalhães. A visit to Cachoeira Salto das 3 Quedas was also part of a local tourism route in 2023. These examples show different connections between trails, waterfalls and rivers. If you are planning to visit a particular trail or waterfall, check the current visitor conditions in advance.
A kayak trip on a 1.9-kilometre course was scheduled for 30 August 2026 as part of the Festival Náutico in Alto Araguaia, and residents and visitors could take part.
Queijo Cabacinha and Local History
Queijo Cabacinha has been part of Alto Araguaia’s culture for many years and is recognised as intangible cultural heritage of the municipality. During a visit to Fazenda Córrego Rico in 2023, guests learned how the traditional cheese is made and were able to taste it. This brings the product’s long-standing cultural significance together with a hands-on experience of its production.
A notable date in the town’s history is 1920, when the foundation stone for Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora was laid in the main square of the settlement of Alto Araguaia. Events have also brought culture and community activities together. In September 2018, the seventh edition of Vem Pro Parque brought gastronomy, culture and leisure together at Parque Municipal Atanael Farias da Costa. Local history and the cheese-making tradition thus complement the natural attractions with other aspects of a stay in Alto Araguaia.
Discover more destinations: Poconé, Jaciara, Coxim, Marcelândia, Nortelândia, Santo Antônio do Leverger, Novo Mundo, São Gabriel do Oeste.
For the main travel overview: Mato Grosso.
