The Casca D’Anta Waterfall is the largest fall of the São Francisco River and is formed when the National Integration River leaves its “cradle” in the Canastra Mountains, in Minas Gerais.

The most important region of Serra da Canastra is the already regularized area of ​​the National Park, where Casca D’anta Waterfall is located, considered the greatest attraction of Canastra and can be visited from the top of the mountain or from below, in both cases with relatively easy access via unpaved roads.

Casca D’Anta Waterfall has a free fall of 186 meters.

The name comes from the tree Bark D’Anta (Drimys winteri) which, in turn, was named because it has medicinal, healing properties. According to the researchers, the  anta animal rubs itself against the tree trunk to heal superficial injuries.

To reach this impressive waterfall, there are three accesses available through the gates installed in the vicinity of the Serra da Canastra National Park:

01) Ordinance installed in São Roque de Minas (8 km from the city). This access leads to the upper part of the Casca D’anta waterfall;

02) In the district of São José do Barreiro, ordinance installed 9 km away from the village, which in turn is 14 km from the city of Vargem Bonita, where the access by asphalt ends and the land road begins. Through this access you reach the lower part of the waterfall;

03) In the district of São João Batista da Serra da Canastra (1 km away from the village). São João Batista da Serra da Canastra is located at the top of Serra da Canastra, an entry way for those coming from Tapira (about 40 km of overland road) and Araxá-MG. This way is also the access to the high part of the waterfall.

See the best way to get to Casca D’anta for those departing from the main regions of the country:

For those leaving BELO HORIZONTE, SOUTH MINAS, RIO DE JANEIRO or SÃO PAULO:

The main access to Casca D’anta is via the MG 050 highway, which connects Belo Horizonte to the northeast region of the State of São Paulo.

Arriving in the city of Piumhi, located 60 km from the city of São Roque de Minas, and 50 km from the city of Vargem Bonita, both by paved road, the visitor must enter the first interchange (for those coming from Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro) or at the second interchange (for those coming from São Paulo) and cross the city following the signs to the secondary road following the signs for Serra da Canastra, São Roque de Minas and Vargem Bonita.

Access to the lower part will be on the path that passes through the city of Vargem Bonita.

At the high end, the path passes through the city of São Roque de Minas.

Both accesses are initially made by asphalt, through the MG-341 highway, departing from the city of Piumhi.

source: Wikipedia