Buraco das Araras: A Macaw Paradise

Buraco das Araras is one of Brazil's largest sinkholes, with a circumference of 500 meters and a depth of 100 meters. The doline was formed approximately 300,000 years ago due to the collapse of sandstone boulders and the dissolution of limestone. The sinkhole was discovered in 1912 by cowboys and was initially called 'buracão' (big hole). The site is now a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), protecting 29 hectares of Cerrado biome. It's home to a diverse ecosystem, including over 150 bird species, mammals like armadillos and anteaters, reptiles like caimans, and a variety of plant life. The main attraction is the red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), which nests in the rocky walls of the sinkhole. Visitors can observe these 'flying rainbows' from two viewing platforms, offering remarkable viewing and photographic opportunities. The reserve offers guided tours led by bilingual guides or environmental monitors, with a maximum of 15 visitors per group. The standard tour is an easy walk of about one kilometer from the ticket office to the outlook and back, accessible to wheelchairs. The tour provides insights into the sinkhole's formation, the macaws' life cycle, and the conservation efforts to protect this unique environment.