Caminho dos Garimpeiros Serra Pelada
Amazon gold rush crater expedition
Follow the muddy tracks that once carried fortune seekers to Brazil’s most famous gold rush at Serra Pelada, now a water-filled crater surrounded by secondary forest. The 85-kilometer route from Curionópolis winds through dense rainforest on deteriorating mining access roads, crossing the Rio Itacaiúnas three times before reaching the overlook where 80,000 miners once swarmed like ants in the world’s largest open-pit mine. Abandoned equipment and settling ponds dot the landscape between settlements that boomed and busted with gold prices.
This is challenging wet-season territory requiring mud tires, winch recovery gear, and waterproof storage for electronics and supplies. Dry season (June-November) offers the only reliable access, though creek crossings remain technical year-round. Fuel and supplies are available in Curionópolis, but carry extra food and water for the 2-3 day round trip. You’re following actual Brazilian history here — the route that changed thousands of lives and carved one of the 20th century’s most dramatic mining stories into the Amazon.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 53 mi / 85 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2297 ft |
| Best season | June-November |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD with mud tires |
| Nearest town | Curionópolis, Pará |
| Land manager | IBAMA |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.