PESCAN: Caldas Novas' Free Cerrado State Park

Parque Estadual da Serra de Caldas Novas sits about 6 km from downtown Caldas Novas, and entry costs nothing. The 12,315-hectare reserve, created in 1970, is the oldest state park in Goiás and protects the recharge zone that feeds the city's famous hot springs. Most visitors spend three hours here walking two short waterfall trails, which is enough to trade water slides for cerrado silence. Do not expect thermal water inside the park gates. The streams and falls here run cold, and that surprises plenty of people who assume everything in Caldas Novas comes out of the ground at 40°C.

The park is usually called PESCAN, short for Parque Estadual da Serra de Caldas Novas, and it straddles the boundary between Caldas Novas and Rio Quente. Locals treat it as the antidote to the water parks. On a weekday morning you may share the trails with a handful of joggers, a school group and a seriema or two — the bird is the park's unofficial mascot and calls constantly from the plateau.

Getting There and Orientation

The entrance sits on Avenida Bento de Godoy in the rural outskirts, roughly 5 to 6 km from the center of Caldas Novas. The road is paved the whole way, so a compact rental car handles it fine. From Rio Quente, add about 30 km.

By car or taxi

Driving from downtown takes 10 to 15 minutes. Taxis and app-based rides are easy to arrange from Caldas Novas hotels, and a round trip with waiting time is the simplest option if you are not renting a car. The access road climbs gently onto the plateau, and the gate appears before you reach the trailhead parking area.

By bus and on foot

The nearest public transport stops are on the GO-139 highway, about a 43-minute walk from the entrance, or at the Caldas Novas bus terminal, roughly 50 minutes on foot. Bus lines 256, 535, 370 and 415 pass nearby. Walking the access road in the heat is unpleasant — most people who try it regret spending their energy on asphalt instead of the trails.

Layout of the park

The structure is simple. A visitor control post registers you on arrival, a small museum near the entrance explains the geology of the Serra de Caldas, and the trailheads sit within a few hundred meters. There is a restroom at the headquarters, which matters because the Cascatinha waterfall is about 400 m from the nearest facility. Bring your own water — the park has drinking fountains, but the dry season is brutal and you will drink more than you expect.

Trails, Waterfalls and the Museum

Two self-guided trails are the core of a visit, both rated easy to moderate. The Cascatinha trail is the shorter and gentler of the two; the Paredão trail adds distance and a rock wall that impresses more than the waterfall itself in dry months.

Cascatinha trail

This is the one to pick if you have limited time or are hiking with children. The path winds through cerrado scrub and gallery forest to a small waterfall with a shallow pool. Water volume swings enormously with the seasons — in the dry months of June through September the flow can thin to a trickle, and some pools shrink to stagnant puddles.

Paredão trail

Longer and slightly steeper, the Paredão route ends at a rock face and a waterfall that rewards you mainly with cool shade and birdlife. Trail signs are adequate but not exhaustive; download an offline map before you go, because the online maps for this area are not reliably updated.

Beyond the two main trails

The park's public use plan also lists attractions such as Cachoeira da Confusão, the Cânions Irmãos and the Quebra Canela sector, with waterfalls like Pedra Furada and Naves. Most of these are not part of the standard visitor circuit and access is limited or requires authorization. Treat them as future possibilities rather than itinerary items, and ask at the control post what is actually open that day.

The museum and viewpoints

The small museum covers the Serra de Caldas geology. The range looks like the remnant of an extinct volcano, and for decades that misled people into blaming volcanic heat for the thermal springs. The real mechanism is geothermal — rainwater sinks through quartzite layers, warms at depth and returns to the surface between 34°C and 57°C. Viewpoints along the internal roads look over the plateau toward Caldas Novas and, on clear days, a long way of cerrado.

Hours, Rules and When to Go

Published hours conflict across sources, which is the single most frustrating thing about planning a visit. The state government's own documents have listed 6:00 to 18:00 with last entry at 16:30, while the environment secretariat SEMAD has advertised 8:00 to 17:00 for managed parks, and the park has at times closed on Mondays. Confirm the current schedule by phone at (64) 3453-5805 before you drive out.

Entry fees

Entry has been free in recent government communications, and individual visitors do not need to book ahead — you just register at the gate. Some older sources and third-party listings mention a R$5 or R$10 charge. Fees are subject to change, so check the official Goiás parks channel for current rates rather than trusting a travel blog.

Rules that get enforced

Campfires, dogs, littering and picking flowers, fruit or rocks are prohibited. Cycling is allowed only on the internal roads, never on the trails. Visitors must follow signage and staff instructions, and entry registration is mandatory — it is how rangers identify who is inside if something goes wrong. In the dry season, watch for snakes and insects along trail edges, and carry out everything you bring in.

Best months

April through August is the sweet spot: dry air, blue skies, daytime temperatures around 20°C to 30°C and far fewer people than the July school holidays bring. The trade-off is that waterfalls run low. From November to April the landscape turns green and the falls actually flow, but afternoon downpours are frequent and trails get slippery. Visitor numbers peak in December, January, June and July, so a Tuesday in May is a very different experience from a Saturday in July.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to enter PESCAN?

Recent Goiás state government information says entry is free, and solo visitors do not need to reserve. Some older listings still cite R$5 to R$10, so confirm by phone before your visit — fees are subject to change.

Can you swim in the waterfalls?

Yes, the pools below Cascatinha and Paredão are shallow and used for cooling off. They are cold, not thermal, and in the dry season from June to September the flow can drop enough that some pools barely hold water.

How long does a visit take?

About three hours covers the museum plus both main trails at an unhurried pace. If you only walk Cascatinha, an hour and a half is realistic, and note that last entry has been enforced as early as 15:00 or 16:00 depending on the season.

Is the park accessible without a car?

It is possible but awkward. The nearest bus stops on GO-139 leave a 43-minute walk to the gate, and the access road is fully paved. A taxi from central Caldas Novas takes 10 to 15 minutes and is the practical choice.