The Chapada dos Veadeiros offers an extraordinary range of outdoor activities, almost all of them outside the town. Hiking and trekking through the cerrado to hidden waterfalls is the main draw — trails lead through quartz-strewn scrub to luminous natural swimming pools at the base of cascades. The two essential excursions are to Cachoeira Santa Bárbara inside the Kalunga territory at Engenho II, and to the cluster of falls at Veu de Noiva.
Birdwatching is excellent in the diverse cerrado habitat — toco toucans, blue-and-yellow macaws, and the very large rhea all turn up regularly. More adventurous options include rappelling down canyon walls, canyoning, mountain biking, and horseback riding through the savanna. The town visitor centre maintains the list of accredited guides; visits to most falls require one.