In increasingly dark times for Brazilian biodiversity, the Terra Booma farm hotel, in Alto Paraíso de Goiás (GO), 230 kilometers from Brasília, is an opportune refuge for those looking to connect with the environment. At the foot of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, with its more than 240,000 hectares of savannah, the place promises guests an experience of total immersion with nature.
Comprised of six chalets (with options for two or three people), kitchen and shared area, the accommodation is located on a five-hectare farm where courses are offered on organic and agroforestry fundamentals, a technique that seeks to imitate nature’s behavior in cultivation. land, in search of sustainability and profitability at the same time.
The rate includes half board and everything produced there —including the cooked and grated cassava that makes the local tapioca—can be tasted for breakfast or included in baskets with organic products, such as free-range eggs, which must be ordered on the spot. of arrival so that the guest can take it home.
Lettuce trees, organic passion fruit and manioc share space with pine trees and plants endemic to the cerrado, such as the baru nut. The objective is to form a combination of low plants, arboreal-shrubs and taller trees composing a canopy – hence the role of pine.
“This was pasture when I bought the land. I arrived here and listened to nature to understand from it what needed to be done on this land”, says Ray, 45, one of the space partners.
Of Turkish origin, he came to Brazil after the use of medicinal plants and ayahuasca, an entheogenic tea widely used in the region for purposes of spiritual search and healing. In the country of origin, he founded the first “application” to sell food for delivery, with orders still sent via fax. In Goiás, he fell in love with the region, decided to drop everything and stay there.
“When I arrived, I didn’t know anything about agroforestry. But, in the same way, I saw that it was possible to transform the degraded soil with a successive line of plants. I have vegetables, two steps ahead, tomato, two more steps, lemon, two more steps, broccoli, cassava, and so on, until the agroforestry is formed”, he explains.
The expectation of reaching the foot of the hills that form the characteristic plateau of the chapada —and where the Cerrado vegetation expands—, however, will be left for the next generations.
“In a generation time, the plantation will still continue here, but with each new cycle the soil becomes more effective, the plants develop better and one day it will all become savanna again”, he says.
Those who want to immerse themselves in the world of agroecology can opt for courses that last four weeks, with accommodation and food included. In addition to the workshops, the sale of organic produce guarantees the farm’s income, since the chalets have recently been offered to people outside the agroecological experience.
“Everything we earn is transferred 100% to pay our employees and collaborators, so we don’t make any profit”, explains Ian Lazoski, 36, the Brazilian partner, noting that the space is a social business.
In addition to relaxing, looking at the stars and listening to the sounds of nature, the Chapada region includes tours such as trails in the park and numerous waterfalls in the region — there are more than 300 in the area. Tourists can also take advantage of their stay to “recharge” their energies with the region’s crystals — the chapada is on the largest quartz reserve in the world.
Whether the goal is to isolate yourself, connect with nature or go on a spiritual quest, the place brings the tranquility and atmosphere of a camp, but with the comfort of a hostel, including private bathrooms.
Terra Booma accommodation. Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Goiás. Rates from R$ 200 (for the couple). Website www.terrabooma.org.
Tours in the region
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park
Rod. GO 239, Vila de São Jorge. Tickets: adults R$ 25 (per attraction), foreigners R$ 50, foreigners Mercosur R$ 40, and residents of the region R$ 5. Every day, from 8 am to 6 pm (entry until noon). Trail of the Canyons and Cachoeira das Cariocas, 11 km, medium difficulty, from 4 to 8 hours.
Angels and Archangels Waterfall
Village Mill Parque Solarion. Tickets: R$ 30 per person. Every day from 8 am to 5 pm. Trails from 1 (Angels) to 3 km (Arcanjos) to the waterfalls.
Moon Valley Waterfall
Highway GO-239, km 29 s/nº Rural area. Tickets: R$ 30 per person. Every day from 7 am to 5 pm. Trail of about 1.2 km to the jump.
Almécegas I, II and São Bento Waterfalls
Entrance to Fazenda São Bento, via GO-239. Tickets: R$ 70 per person. Every day from 8 am to 5 pm. Trail with about 2 km round trip to the waterfalls.
