Why this place
Palmas & Taquaruçu
Palmas works best when treated as more than an airport stop. The planned capital sits beside the Serra do Lajeado and close to Taquaruçu, a mountain district with waterfalls, local food and outdoor activities. Together they form the most useful staging point for travellers linking Brasília, Jalapão and the wider Tocantins interior.
Praça dos Girassóis offers a good introduction to Tocantins and its young capital, while Parque Cesamar and the waterfront show the city at a less ceremonial pace. Palmas spreads out rather than gathering all its sights in an old-town walking district. Go early or late in the day to avoid the worst heat, and use transport between distinct areas rather than trying to walk everywhere.
Taquaruçu, around 30 km from central Palmas, provides the nature contrast. You can choose a comparatively straightforward waterfall stop or a more demanding forest route to Roncadeira and Escorrega Macaco. These sites do not share a universal admission ticket; private-land access, trail condition and rappelling arrangements must be checked separately. In June 2026 the municipality announced works to expand the sandy area at Praia da Graciosa, so verify which lakeside stretches are open before making the sunset stop the centre of your evening.
