A newly discovered cave, named “Gruta do Vale,” has been found between Posse and Guarani de Goiás in the northeastern part of the state. This discovery was made by a team of independent explorers after three years of research and mapping. The cave, located in the Vale do Rio Água Quente, was identified on January 15 by Rafael Sant’Ana, a 42-year-old firefighter and tour guide, along with two friends. Although they managed to get within 20 to 30 meters of the cave, they could not enter due to a lack of proper equipment. The group plans to explore the cave further in the coming days.
The cave was spotted during a visit to a nearby waterfall in 2023 when the team noticed a fracture in the rock through a long-range camera lens. After obtaining permission from the landowner, the explorers used advanced equipment, including a high-resolution drone, to locate the cave. The dense vegetation and steep terrain posed significant challenges, but the team persevered, eventually reaching the cave’s vicinity.
Rafael Sant’Ana, who has been guiding tours at Parque Terra Ronca for over a decade, expressed excitement about the potential for ecotourism in the region. The area between Mambaí and Terra Ronca is already renowned for its caves and waterfalls, yet many attractions remain undiscovered. The explorers aim to map these sites and provide data to local authorities to boost tourism development.
Jocy Cruz, coordinator of the National Center for Cave Research and Conservation at ICMBio, explained the process for registering newly discovered caves. While only caves in areas requiring environmental licensing must be registered, voluntary submissions are encouraged. The cave’s name, “Gruta do Vale,” follows guidelines suggesting names related to the location or significant geographical features.
Toquinho Moreira, the Tourism Secretary of Guarani de Goiás, acknowledged the region’s untapped potential for adventure tourism. Although investment in tourism began only two years ago, the area already attracts enthusiasts with its natural attractions, including the largest cave park in Latin America, Parque Terra Ronca. The discovery of “Gruta do Vale” adds to the growing list of attractions, promising to draw more visitors and enhance the local tourism landscape.
