Home » Bahia Travel Guide » 10 Interesting Facts About Rio de Contas That You Didn’t Know

When we hear about the Chapada Diamantina, the town that immediately springs to mind is Lençóis in Bahia, which, for this reason alone, becomes the top choice for a trip to the Chapada, leading the whole stream of tourists to opt for it, as it has facilities tailored to their needs.

But when we travel, we want peace and quiet; we don’t want to find attractions and footpaths crammed with people.

That is why Rio de Contas is a town with some great attractions that is every bit as good as other towns in the Chapada Diamantina (Lençóis, Andaraí, Igatu and  Mucugê). Below, we’ve put together 10 interesting facts about the town that few travellers know before they visit.

See the map of Chapada Diamantina

Map of the Trails and Tourist Attractions in the Chapada Diamantina

Rio de Contas is a town where adventure and history go hand in hand: it boasts incredible Baroque architecture listed as a historic monument, hospitable locals and breathtaking beauty.

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Imagens Aéreas de Rio de Contas

RIO DE CONTAS - SUA HISTÓRIA08:57

História de Rio de Contas08:39

Rio de Contas Guia de Turismo06:03

Rio de Contas Patrimonio Nacional06:59

Rio de Contas na Chapada Diamantina12:51

Rio de Contas Dicas de Viagem02:17

Rio de Contas Guia de Viagem07:48

Rio de Contas - Drone12:01

Igreja de Santana em Rio de Contas10:06

AS BELEZAS E A HISTÓRIA DE RIO DE CONTAS08:39

História de Rio de Contas na Chapada Diamantina05:05

Waterfalls, hiking trails, peaks reaching heights of up to 2,000 metres and a wide variety of flora are all features of this municipality in Bahia.

During Carnival, Rio de Contas turns into one big party — let’s not forget that Rio de Contas is in Bahia!

10 Interesting Facts about Rio de Contas

1. Founding and History

Rio de Contas is one of the oldest towns in Bahia and the Chapada Diamantina region; it was founded in the 17th century and boasts well-preserved colonial architecture dating from that period. In 1745, it became Brazil’s first planned town, during the height of the gold rush, when gold seemed to be an inexhaustible resource.

2. Origin of the Name

The name ‘Rio de Contas’ is linked to the presence of bandeirantes in the region and to a type of ‘conta’ — an object used to make notes and keep records of trade and the exchange of goods. Another explanation is that the name derives from the ‘accounting’ of the wealth extracted from the area, particularly during the gold mining era in the 17th and 18th centuries.

3. Communities and Culture

The town is home to communities of people of Portuguese descent who, to this day, maintain the tradition of marrying only amongst themselves, living at an altitude of 1,500 metres. Meanwhile, two Black communities, descended from Africans, are settled at an altitude of 1,050 metres, preserving their own cultural heritage.

4. Historical Archive

The municipal historical archive holds valuable documents, such as manumission deeds, ecclesiastical judgements and slave certificates, providing an overview of local history and the colonial period.

5. Rich Flora

In 1974, more than 100 British and Brazilian researchers carried out a study into the region’s botanical diversity, cataloguing more than 1,100 species and discovering more than 100 previously unknown species.

6. Two Churches That Were Never Completed

The Church of Santana, built by slave labour in the first half of the 18th century, is one of the city’s most intriguing landmarks — despite its grandeur, it was never completed. Work was halted around 1850, when part of the population migrated to the diamond mines of Mucugê, Lençóis and Andaraí, and the roof eventually collapsed in 1914 following heavy rains. It was not restored until 1960, after being listed by IPHAN. The Santíssimo Sacramento Parish Church, with its gold-plated altars, suffered the same fate.

7. Masked Carnival

The Rio de Contas Carnival is famous for its masks and folk traditions, attracting visitors with its unique cultural and musical atmosphere.

8. Rio de Contas on the big screen

The town’s main square was the setting for scenes in the film *Broken April* (2001), directed by Walter Salles — a fact that often surprises visitors to Rio de Contas who are unaware of this connection with Brazilian cinema.

9. Climate and Natural Landscapes

Situated at an altitude of around 1,200 metres, the town enjoys a mild climate and beautiful mountainous scenery, as well as natural attractions such as the Fraga Waterfall and the Poço das Andorinhas.

10. Trails and Mountains

Rio de Contas is the starting point for challenging trails, such as the treks to Pico das Almas and Pico do Itobira, both of which are among the highest peaks in north-eastern Brazil.

Bahia.ws is the largest tourist guide for Bahia and Salvador.

Rio de Contas Tourist Guide in the Chapada Diamantina

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →

Published on 28/11/2012 · Updated on 16/08/2026

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