Sete Cidades National Park

Sete Cidades National Park, Created 1961, Sandstone Formations Grouped Into Seven 'Cities' With Prehistoric Rock Paintings, In Northern Piauí · Piracuruca, Piauí

Sete Cidades is a small national park in northern Piauí, created in 1961, where wind and rain have carved sandstone into towers, arches and domes grouped into seven clusters that locals call cities. Many rocks are named for what they resemble: the Pedra do Elefante, an Arco do Triunfo, and a rock whose outline looks like the map of Brazil. Scattered across the formations are prehistoric rock paintings in red ochre, figures and signs of uncertain age, and the cracked, turtle-shell surfaces of the sandstone are a sight in themselves. The landscape is a mix of caatinga and cerrado, with mocós, lizards, parrots and marmosets, and in the rainy months the Cachoeira do Riachão runs as a proper waterfall. The park lies about two to three hours by road from Teresina, and most people who come are from Piauí and Ceará, or are travellers breaking the long drive north to Parnaíba and the delta. It is a good day for anyone passing through, not a reason to fly across Brazil, and the heat is serious.

Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades, between Piracuruca and Brasileira, PI, Piracuruca, Piauí, Brazil

The park opens in daytime only and closes before dark; confirm the current opening days and hours with ICMBio or the visitor centre before driving out, because they have changed over the years and some days may be reserved for maintenance. Entry is through the main gate and visitor centre, where you register and, under current rules, arrange a local guide (condutor); confirm whether a guide is compulsory for every circuit or only for some, and whether you can use your own vehicle or bicycle between the cities. The circuits are spread out, so arriving early matters: late arrivals may not have time to see the main clusters before closing. The dry season from roughly June to December brings intense heat by midday, and the Cachoeira do Riachão may be a trickle or dry. The rainy season from roughly January to May fills the waterfall and greens the park, but sudden storms can make dirt tracks muddy and close trails for a time. Holidays and long weekends bring school groups and families from Teresina and Piripiri. Do not expect food or drink to be on sale at every point inside; confirm what the visitor centre sells before relying on it.

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