VISIT CANTÃO
The "Visite o Cantão" (Visit Cantão, in english) project was launched in 2025 by Instituto Araguaia to boost sustainable, community-based ecotourism in Cantão. To welcome visitors, Instituto Araguaia expanded the trails within its Privately Protected Areas (PPAs) and fully equipped its visitor center. We also built scenic observation decks overlooking one of the PPA lakes and acquired a boat with a silent motor to minimize environmental impact. The initiative aims to support the local economy while showcasing the unique biodiversity where the Cerrado and Amazon biomes meet. Tourists can experience these stunning attractions by booking through partner agencies and hiring local guides. This collaborative model ensures that tourism directly benefits the community while preserving the pristine ecosystem. By bridging conservation and exploration, the project offers an unforgettable and responsible travel experience.
Goal: To develop sustainable, community-based ecotourism in the Cantão region by connecting visitors to the Cerrado-Amazon transition zone through local guides, thereby generating income for the community while preserving the environment.
Doors open! Our Visitor Center is fully equipped and ready for ecotourists.
In 2024, we hosted an exclusive fam tour with selected travel agencies that already operate ecotourism within the state of Tocantins, especially in Jalapão. The goal was to introduce them to our PPAs, the town of Caseara, and the available local hotel and restaurant options. These specific agencies were chosen because they align perfectly with the Instituto Araguaia's core purpose: to share knowledge, raise environmental awareness, and show deep respect for both the territory and its local people.
We also successfully opened our PPAs to local ecotourism guides, who previously focused primarily on sport fishing but occasionally guided ecotourists. We provided them with specialized training on ecosystem interpretation and facilitated their hiring by ecotourism operators from Palmas. Additionally, we conducted presentations for local hotel and restaurant owners in Caseara, focusing on understanding and meeting ecotourists’ expectations to further elevate the hospitality experience in the region.
One of the Fam tour edition.
In 2025, we hired a specialized marketing agency to develop the visiteocantao.com.br website and launch dedicated social media channels to promote the region both within Tocantins and across Brazil. The campaign has been an absolute success, attracting a high volume of website traffic and exceptional engagement with our content on social media.
A Proven Success: We Are Now Open and Top-Rated!
Thanks to this incredible reach, we are now in full operation, welcoming visitors from all over, and we are proud to share that we have already achieved the #1 ranking for attractions on TripAdvisor in our region!
The true hallmark of hiking the trails within the Instituto Araguaia's PPAs is the deep, unparalleled knowledge we share, built on over 15 years of dedicated conservation work and active monitoring in the area. Having conducted extensive biodiversity surveys, we have comprehensively mapped the local birds, mammals, flora, and various other wildlife groups. This means that the visitors won't just witness the breathtaking landscapes where the Cerrado meets the Amazon; they will also have the unique opportunity to encounter these incredible animals while learning about their ecosystem through the lens of true scientific conservation.
With over 400 cataloged bird species, the PPAs of Instituto Araguaia are a paradise for birdwatching.
In addition to land trails, it is possible to take a water trail on the Coco River and in the flooded forest.