The route to the riverbank
By car, van, or transfer, you reach Nova Caraíva, on the opposite bank of the Caraíva River. From Trancoso it's about 33 km, much of it on dirt road — manageable in any car on dry days, though some stretches get rough after heavy rain. Those arriving by their own car leave it in one of the guarded parking lots (around R$30/day).
The canoe crossing
From the riverbank to the village, the crossing is done in canoes operated by local residents, running 24 hours. It takes under 5 minutes and costs between R$5 and R$10 per person. There's no other way in — no cars, no motorcycles, no bikes cross — just on foot, by canoe.
What to know before you go
Inside the village, getting around means walking, horse-cart (for luggage), or bicycle. Pack light and skip rolling suitcases — the sandy streets aren't kind to them. Bring cash: internet signal is unreliable, and card machines sometimes don't work. Electricity only arrived in 2007 and the streets have no public lighting, so a flashlight or your phone helps after dark.