Serra do Tepequém

Tabletop Mountain In Northern Roraima And An Old Diamond Mining Area, With Waterfalls And Viewpoints About 3 Hours By Road From Boa Vista · Amajari, Roraima

Serra do Tepequém is a flat-topped mountain rising out of the open savanna of northern Roraima, in the municipality of Amajari, roughly three hours by road from Boa Vista. On top sits Vila do Paiva, a small village that grew up during a diamond rush in the twentieth century, when garimpeiros dug and washed the streams by hand and with pumps. The mining has largely stopped, but its scars remain: bare gravel slopes, old pits and reshaped stream beds that are part of the landscape and its story. What people come for now is simpler. Several waterfalls, above all the Cachoeira do Paiva and the Cachoeira do Barata, have cool pools for swimming, and the edge of the plateau gives wide views over the lavrado, the grass savanna that surrounds Boa Vista. The air is noticeably fresher than in the lowlands. Honestly, this is Boa Vista's weekend escape rather than a national destination: a handful of simple pousadas, weekend crowds from the capital and quiet weekdays. Mount Roraima, the state's famous tepui, is climbed from Venezuela and is a separate trip.

Vila do Paiva, Serra do Tepequém, Amajari, RR, Amajari, Roraima, Brazil

The plateau is open land with no gate, so there are no opening hours for the mountain itself, but a visit has its own rhythm. Waterfalls are best visited in daylight, from mid-morning when the sun reaches the pools to mid-afternoon; paths are unlit and there is no one on duty after dark. Some waterfalls cross private land or pousada grounds and may charge a small entry or ask you to come with a local guide - confirm when you arrive. Pousadas and the few restaurants in Vila do Paiva are busiest from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon and on long holiday weekends, when rooms fill with visitors from Boa Vista; on weekdays some kitchens close early or serve only guests, so ask ahead about meals. The road up from the BR-174 is paved for much of the way but the final climb and side tracks can be rough after heavy rain in the wet season, roughly April to August - confirm conditions before driving up. There is little or no public transport, so most people drive or book a tour from Boa Vista that runs on set days. Mobile signal is weak or absent in places and card machines may not work, so plan cash and bookings before leaving the city.

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