It might not be as dramatic or well-known as Iguazu Falls, but Cachoeira do Formiga definitely deserves to be on your bucket list, especially if you love wild swimming.
Literally “ant waterfall” named for the river it sits on, Rio Formiga, this turquoise pool is as clear as they come. Cachoeira do Formiga is situated in the Jalapão State Park, a reserve whose ecology ranges from arid desert to flat-topped plateaus to lush vegetation surrounding water sources.
At 8-meter wide and just around 2-meter deep, it’s not that large, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in dumbfounding beauty. The bright turquoise color is so saturated that it looks Photoshopped, and the water is so clear you can make out the grains of white sand settled at the bottom of the pool.
Cachoeira do Formiga is privately owned and requires an entrance fee of 10-20 Reais ($3-5 USD). But the good news is, camping is allowed here for 30 Reais a night, so you can save on accommodation.
