What's on in Lençóis, Brazil through the year

Peak crowds — Festa do Senhor dos Passos, Summer holidays in Brazil

• Festival

  Festa do Senhor dos Passos

  23 Jan – 3 FebReligious feastCrowded

  The old diamond miners' patron is honoured for twelve days: the church steps washed with scented water, a novena, the procession through the historic centre on 2 February and a blessing for the garimpeiros. Source ↗

Still on: Waterfalls at full flow (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Festa do Senhor dos Passos, Carnaval week

• Festival

  Carnaval week

  14–18 FebCarnivalCrowdedBook earlyClosures

  Carnaval is Brazil's biggest holiday: banks, offices and many shops close from Monday to midday on Ash Wednesday, and Brazilians travel in huge numbers, so flights, buses and rooms sell out and cost the most of the year. Book well ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Festa do Senhor dos Passos (23 Jan – 3 Feb), Waterfalls at full flow (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Holiday

  Semana Santa long weekend

  3–5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook early

  Good Friday is a national holiday and the Easter weekend is one of the year's busiest for domestic travel: roads and bus stations jam, beach towns and country retreats fill with Brazilian families, and prices rise. Many shops close on Good Friday. Source ↗

Still on: Carnaval week (14–18 Feb), Waterfalls at full flow (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Semana Santa long weekend

• Season

  Trekking season

  15 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyTrail season

  The Vale do Pati and the long routes out of town are walked from about April to October, when the river crossings are low and the tracks are firm. The falls run on less water, and the pools are clearer.

Still on: Semana Santa long weekend (3–5 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Trekking season (15 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — São João, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  São João

  20–23 JunMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Forró pé-de-serra on stages through the colonial centre for the best part of a fortnight, with a horseback procession in from Tanquinho beforehand. It is the busiest the small town gets all year. Source ↗

Still on: Trekking season (15 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — July winter break in Brazil, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Trekking season (15 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

• Hazard

  Wildfire season

  1 Aug – 30 Nov · usuallySmoke seasonClosures

  Late in the dry season fires set to clear pasture regularly escape into the Chapada, and volunteer brigades from Lençóis spend weeks fighting them. Trails can shut and smoke hangs over the valleys. Source ↗

Still on: Trekking season (15 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Trekking season (15 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Wildfire season (1 Aug – 30 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Trekking season (15 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Wildfire season (1 Aug – 30 Nov (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Wildfire season (1 Aug – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Brazil, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Waterfalls at full flow

  1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyHigh waterRisk

  Summer rain pushes the Chapada's falls to full volume and colours the rivers. It is also when flash floods shut canyons for a day and guides turn groups round at the crossings.