Poço do Diabo (Devil's Pool) is one of the most spectacular swimming holes in Chapada Diamantina — a deep, bright-turquoise pool fed by a waterfall in a narrow canyon, with sheer quartzite walls rising on both sides and the water so clear that the sandy bottom is visible at several metres depth. The name suggests danger but the pool itself is calm, accessible, and exceptional.
The trail from the trailhead takes about 2-3 hours through campo rupestre and cerrado. Along the route, the canyon walls carry panels of prehistoric rock art — geometric designs, hand prints, and animal figures painted in red ochre by the pre-colonial inhabitants of the region, some estimated to be 5,000-10,000 years old. The combination of swimming in the pool, the canyon walk, and the cave paintings makes this one of the richer half-day excursions in the park. A guide is required, as the trail is not consistently marked.