Fervedouro do Ceiça: Floating in Jalapão's Oldest Spring

The Fervedouro do Ceiça is the oldest fervedouro opened to tourism in Jalapão, and it remains one of the most accessible. Its water pressure is so strong that floating is involuntary; you physically cannot touch the sandy bottom, roughly 2 meters down. Entry costs around R$20 per person, and each group gets 15 to 20 minutes in the water. Fees are subject to change — check with your agency or the site for current rates.

Fervedouros are artesian springs where groundwater pushes up through white sand with enough force to keep a human body afloat. Jalapão has more than 60 catalogued springs, but only about 16 are open to visitors. Ceiça sits on private land roughly 25 km from Mateiros along the TO-110, surrounded by buriti palms and banana trees. The pool itself is modest — a bubbling eye about 3 meters across feeding an oval lagoon of perhaps 10 meters — but the clarity is what people remember. On a dry-season morning the water shifts between pale blue and turquoise, and the white sand bottom reflects sunlight straight up.

Getting There and Understanding the Site

Location and access from Mateiros

From Mateiros, the drive takes about 40 minutes on sandy dirt road. The final approach is short and flat, following the edge of a natural stream — no real hiking involved, which makes Ceiça one of the easiest fervedouros in the park to reach on foot. That accessibility is precisely why it became the first spring opened to tourism, and why it still draws the largest crowds.

The road itself is the challenge. Deep sand, erosion gullies, and soft shoulders mean a conventional car has a real risk of getting stuck. A 4x4 is required, not merely recommended. Most visitors arrive as part of a guided Jalapão package from Ponte Alta do Tocantins or Palmas, and the drive from Palmas to the park entrance runs about 180 km — up to 8 hours if you include stops and road conditions.

Facilities and queuing system

Ceiça has more infrastructure than most fervedouros: toilets, a small bar, and a shaded waiting area with chairs and hammocks. Groups enter in batches of about 8 people (some sources say up to 12), and a monitor controls the clock. If no group is waiting behind you, the time limit often stretches — several visitors report staying 30 to 35 minutes in low season. In peak July, expect to wait.

One rule surprises people: sunscreen and insect repellent are not allowed in the water. The chemicals damage the spring's delicate ecosystem. Use natural alcohol as a mosquito repellent while you wait, and apply sunscreen before you arrive rather than at the poolside.

What the Experience Is Actually Like

The sensation is strange the first time. You step in, try to stand, and your feet never find bottom. The upwelling pressure holds you at the surface like a slow elevator. Locals describe the sand underfoot as feeling like cornstarch — soft, shifting, alive. Water temperature stays around 24°C year-round, cool at first contact but comfortable within a minute, and a genuine relief when the Cerrado heat pushes past 35°C in August and September.

Ceiça is smaller and shallower than the Fervedouro Bela Vista, and some travelers rank it lower on sheer beauty. What it offers instead is a gentler introduction — the entry point lets you glide into the larger pool rather than jump, which suits nervous swimmers and children over 5 who can already swim. The adjacent stream is also open for swimming at no extra charge, a detail many day-trippers miss because they rush back to the vehicle.

My advice: visit early morning or late afternoon. Midday brings tour convoys, and the 15-minute slot feels shorter when a queue is forming. Late afternoon light also hits the water at a better angle for photographs — the blue reads deeper.

When to Go and How to Plan Around It

The dry season from May to September is the window. Roads firm up, the water clears to its brightest turquoise, and rain rarely interrupts a day. August and September deliver the most reliable conditions but also the highest heat and the heaviest crowds; July is peak holiday season in Brazil, so book 4x4 rentals and guides well in advance.

The rainy season from October to April is not impossible. Vegetation turns lush green, and the park empties out. But sediment washes into the springs, dulling the famous transparency, and some access roads become impassable. If your heart is set on that glass-clear water, do not gamble on the wet months.

Allow 1 to 2 hours at Ceiça including waiting time. Most 4-day Jalapão itineraries pair it with the Fervedouro Bela Vista, the Formiga waterfall, and the orange dunes in a single loop out of Mateiros. A licensed NATURATINS guide is required for park visits, and agencies in Ponte Alta often sell day tours cheaper than hotels do — sometimes 40% less.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Fervedouro do Ceiça cost?

Entry runs about R$20 per person, verified in early 2024; rates can change, so confirm with your guide. The adjacent river access is free. Most visitors pay this as part of a package that bundles several attractions.

Can you sink in the fervedouro?

The water pressure makes it impossible. The pool is roughly 2 meters deep, but the upwelling current holds your body at the surface no matter how hard you try to descend. Non-swimmers float comfortably, though children should still be supervised.

How long do you get in the water?

Groups are limited to 15 to 20 minutes when others are waiting. Off-peak, the monitor often allows 30 minutes or more. Arrive at opening time (around 7 AM) or after 4 PM to reduce queuing.

Is Fervedouro do Ceiça suitable for children?

Yes, for children aged 5 and up who can swim. The gradual entry and shallow lagoon make it one of the friendlier fervedouros for families. Sunscreen is banned in the water, so dress kids in UV-protective swim shirts instead.

Do you need a 4x4 to reach it?

A 4x4 is mandatory. The dirt roads from Mateiros include deep sand and erosion channels that trap conventional vehicles. Rental 4x4s in Palmas sell out fast in July, so reserve ahead.