Lençois is a quiet little town which serves as a basis to explore the Chapada Diamantina national park. It has a few colored colonial buildings and inexpensive accommodation. Compared to other Brazilian cities, you will be surprised by the lack of security systems (no armed guards, no electric fences, no metal bars on windows etc.) – that’s because it’s a safe place.

I reached it overland from Salvador de Bahia, with the “Real Expresso” bus company: there are two buses a day, one leaving at 13.00 and one at 23.00. Both take around 6 hours, traffic permitting.