Brazil isn’t all about the beach. There are some wonderful destinations inland too. Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, five hours drive west of Salvador, offers nature in abundance, including hikes, waterfalls and caves to explore.

This is an extraordinary place – the curious flat-topped mountains and ridges date back billions of years and were once at the bottom of the ocean. The Capão Valley itself is 1000 metres high. The temperature is lower here than the coast of Bahia, averaging 19°C year round.

Chapada Diamantina National Park offers panoramic mountain views, thundering waterfalls and swimming pools. Lençois and Mucugê are two old diamond-mining towns located within the park, with colonial architecture and charming pousadas to explore.

Lençóis and Palmeiras are the two best towns to base yourself in to explore the park.