\n \ud83e\uddf3 Plan your trip to Brazil\n <\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe8 Hotels:<\/strong> Browse the best hotels on Booking.com<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Tours & activities:<\/strong> Find tours on Civitatis<\/a> \u00b7 \n <\/p> \ud83d\ude97 Car rental:<\/strong> Compare prices on Rentcars<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udee1\ufe0f Travel insurance:<\/strong> Get a quote here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Caldas Novas is located in the state of Goi\u00e1s, in central-west Brazil, approximately 185 km south of Goi\u00e2nia (the state capital) and 280 km south of Bras\u00edlia. It sits at an altitude of around 740 meters above sea level in the Brazilian cerrado \u2014 the vast tropical savanna that covers most of the country’s interior.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t The city is accessible by road from S\u00e3o Paulo (approximately 900 km, about 9 hours), Bras\u00edlia (280 km, roughly 3 hours), and Goi\u00e2nia (185 km, about 2 hours). Its own airport, the Nelson Ribeiro Guimar\u00e3es Airport (CLV), sits about 2.8 km from the city center and receives regional flights from major Brazilian cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About 30 km west of Caldas Novas, the municipality of Rio Quente is often treated as part of the same destination \u2014 it’s home to the Hot Park, one of the region’s largest water parks, and the Costa do Sau\u00edpe-style resort complexes that most international visitors associate with “thermas Brazil.” The two cities together form what Brazilians simply call the “regi\u00e3o das thermas.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n For broader context on the region, see our Central-West Brazil travel guides<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indigenous Kayap\u00f3 and Bororo peoples lived in this region for centuries before Portuguese colonizers arrived, drawn initially by gold and later by the strange phenomenon of water that came out of the ground already hot. The springs were documented by colonizers in the 18th century, and the settlement that grew around them was officially elevated to municipality status in 1911.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most of the 20th century, Caldas Novas developed as a domestic health tourism destination \u2014 the thermal waters were believed to have therapeutic properties, and Brazilians came from the cities to take cures. The resort economy built on top of this tradition accelerated from the 1970s onward, when water parks and family resorts began replacing the old sanatorium-style establishments. The city today is the product of those five decades of rapid tourist infrastructure development, and it shows: the hotels are plentiful, the parks are large, and the entire urban economy is oriented around visitor spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before getting into specific attractions, it helps to understand how the thermal system here actually works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Caldas Novas aquifer produces water naturally heated by geothermal activity deep underground. The water rises to the surface at temperatures between 43\u00b0C and 57\u00b0C, is then cooled or blended to safe swimming temperatures (typically 35\u201342\u00b0C depending on the pool), and fed into the resort complexes, clubs, and water parks that draw millions of visitors annually. The underground reservoir is estimated to cover an area of approximately 130,000 km\u00b2, making it genuinely one of the largest hydrothermal systems in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The waters are rich in minerals \u2014 primarily calcium, magnesium, and sodium \u2014 and have a long tradition in Brazilian folk medicine as beneficial for rheumatism, skin conditions, and circulatory problems. Whether or not you’re coming for therapeutic reasons, the practical effect of spending a morning in pools at 38\u00b0C is straightforward: the heat is deeply relaxing, the mineral content leaves skin feeling smooth, and the combination of warm water and cerrado air is genuinely pleasant in a way that doesn’t require scientific backing to appreciate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The water quality is regularly tested and considered safe for all ages. Children and elderly visitors make up a significant portion of the city’s visitors, and the infrastructure reflects this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The largest and most visited water park in the city \u2014 and one of the largest in Brazil \u2014 diRoma Acqua Park is the flagship of the diRoma resort complex, which also encompasses several hotels (diRoma Resort, L’acqua diRoma, Piazza diRoma) with shared access to the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The park covers a significant area with a wave pool, lazy river, multiple high-speed slides (including the “c\u00e1psula radical,” a near-vertical drop slide), and a dedicated children’s section. Thermal pools at various temperatures are integrated throughout the complex, meaning you can transition from a fast slide directly into a warm soak. It’s designed to accommodate large numbers of people and does so reasonably well, though in peak season (January and July) the queues for the most popular slides are real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entry for non-hotel guests runs approximately R$120\u2013180 per day depending on the season. Guests staying at the diRoma hotels have included access. The complex opens daily from 9am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Located 30 km west in the municipality of Rio Quente, Hot Park is the closest equivalent to a major international water park that Brazil has produced. The park occupies a large area with over 40 water attractions \u2014 slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and the Corumb\u00e1 River running through part of the complex. The Corumb\u00e1 River integration is the distinctive element: sections of the real river are incorporated into the park experience, with natural thermal water feeding some of the pools and the overall landscape feeling more organic than a standard concrete water park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entry costs approximately R$150\u2013230 per day depending on season. The resort complex around Hot Park (the Rio Quente Resorts properties) is the most internationally polished accommodation option in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Book a Hot Park day trip from Goi\u00e2nia with Civitatis<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 organized transport from Goi\u00e2nia with park entry included, a practical option for visitors based in the state capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the older and more traditional thermal clubs in Caldas Novas \u2014 the Lagoa Termas Parque has been operating since the early days of the city’s tourism development and retains a character that the newer mega-resorts have traded away. Eight pools, saunas, thermal showers, and a setting within cerrado vegetation at water temperatures around 37.5\u00b0C. The atmosphere is quieter and more spa-oriented than the big water parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the recommendation for visitors who want thermal water experience without the slides, crowds, and adrenaline of the major parks. Entry costs around R$80\u2013120.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The state park sits about 15 km from the city center and covers around 12,000 hectares of preserved cerrado. The park has marked trails, several waterfalls (including Cascatinha and Cascata Pared\u00e3o), and an observation deck with panoramic views over the region. It’s the best option in the immediate area for people who want to spend time outdoors in nature rather than in pools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entry costs R$27. Guided trail options are available and recommended for the longer routes, which pass through dense cerrado vegetation and require some navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the large water parks, Caldas Novas has approximately 20 additional thermal clubs and smaller spa facilities scattered through the city and surroundings. The Clube Priv\u00ea is one of the more popular among domestic visitors for its slightly more relaxed atmosphere and reasonable pricing. Most clubs charge R$40\u201380 per day and offer a quieter alternative to the mega-parks, with pools at different temperatures, food service, and the basic infrastructure of a Brazilian club experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The central square comes alive in the evenings with the Feira do Luar \u2014 a nightly market selling local handicrafts, regional food, jewelry (Goi\u00e1s state is famous for its semi-precious stones), and the kind of casual street food that serves as background to any Brazilian public gathering. It’s free, it runs every night during peak season, and it’s where the city’s social energy concentrates after the water parks close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not a typical shopping mall but a tourist attraction in its own right \u2014 Serra Verde is known for its distinctive architecture and as the best place in the city to buy artisanal chocolates, regional sweets, and semi-precious stones from Goi\u00e1s. Worth an hour if you’re in the city center.<\/p>\n\n\n The state capital of Goi\u00e1s is 185 km north of Caldas Novas \u2014 about 2 hours by car. Goi\u00e2nia is one of Brazil’s most planned cities (designed in the 1930s with a radial street layout that makes navigation either very logical or very confusing, depending on your orientation), with good museums, excellent food, and a cultural scene that visitors based in Caldas Novas rarely explore. The Mercado Central de Goi\u00e2nia is particularly good \u2014 fresh produce, regional specialties, and the opportunity to try genuinely local goiano food beyond what the resort restaurants serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Book a panoramic bus tour of Goi\u00e2nia with Civitatis<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 a good introduction to the capital if you’re making the trip and want guided context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Book a Caldas Novas water parks day trip from Goi\u00e2nia with Civitatis<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 for travelers based in Goi\u00e2nia who want to experience the thermal parks without an overnight stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Corumb\u00e1 River, which runs through the Hot Park complex in Rio Quente, also has natural swimming spots accessible outside the park. Local operators offer boat rentals and guided river excursions. The water is warm (heated by the same geothermal system), clear, and lined with cerrado vegetation \u2014 a genuinely good outdoor alternative to the pool environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About 190 km northeast of Caldas Novas, Piren\u00f3polis is one of the best-preserved colonial towns in Goi\u00e1s state \u2014 cobblestone streets, baroque churches, and a well-developed ecotourism infrastructure based around the Pireneus mountain range and its waterfalls. It’s a popular day trip from Goi\u00e2nia and works as an overnight addition to a longer Goi\u00e1s itinerary. The contrast between Piren\u00f3polis’s colonial character and Caldas Novas’s resort modernity captures two very different faces of the same state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About 330 km north of Caldas Novas, the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is one of the most spectacular natural areas in central Brazil \u2014 waterfalls, quartz crystal formations, cerrado highland landscapes, and some of the best hiking in the country. It’s too far for a comfortable day trip but works well as an extension of a central Goi\u00e1s itinerary, particularly for visitors spending a week or more in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Nelson Ribeiro Guimar\u00e3es Airport (CLV) in Caldas Novas receives flights from S\u00e3o Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and other major Brazilian cities \u2014 Azul and GOL are the primary carriers. The airport is 2.8 km from the city center, and taxis and transfers take around 15\u201320 minutes to the main hotel areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more flight options, the Goi\u00e2nia Santa Genoveva Airport (GYN) is 185 km away (about 2 hours by road) and has more frequent and diverse connections. Many visitors fly to Goi\u00e2nia and drive or take a bus to Caldas Novas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drive from S\u00e3o Paulo takes approximately 9 hours (900 km) via the BR-050 and BR-153 highways. From Bras\u00edlia, it’s about 3 hours (280 km). From Goi\u00e2nia, 185 km and roughly 2 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having a car is genuinely useful in Caldas Novas \u2014 the resort complexes are spread across a relatively large area, and the day trip to Hot Park in Rio Quente (30 km) is much easier with your own transport. It’s also the best way to access the state park, the Corumb\u00e1 River spots, and the secondary thermal clubs outside the immediate center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compare car rental rates in Goi\u00e2nia and Caldas Novas on Rentcars.com<\/a> \u2014 picking up at Goi\u00e2nia airport and driving to Caldas Novas is the most flexible option for visitors combining the state capital with the thermal resort city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular bus services<\/a> connect Caldas Novas with Goi\u00e2nia, Bras\u00edlia, and S\u00e3o Paulo. The Goi\u00e2nia connection runs multiple times daily and costs around R$50\u201380. From S\u00e3o Paulo, the overnight bus journey takes approximately 11\u201312 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caldas Novas’s accommodation options run almost entirely on the resort model, most of the significant hotels either have their own thermal pools or provide access to a partner water park. The choice between properties is primarily about which park you want to be closest to and how much you want to spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The diRoma group (diRoma Resort<\/a>, L’acqua diRoma<\/a>, L’acqua diRoma II<\/a>, Piazza diRoma<\/a>, diRoma Fiori<\/a>) is the largest and most present brand in the city, with properties at various price points all sharing access to the diRoma Acqua Park<\/strong>. Prices range from around R$100 to R$194 per night depending on the specific property and season, and the park access makes these a reliable base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lagoa Quente Hotel<\/a> and Rio das Pedras Thermas Hotel<\/a> are well-reviewed options with thermal pool access and good overall infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For visitors prioritizing the Hot Park experience in Rio Quente over the Caldas Novas water parks, the Rio Quente Resorts<\/a> complex offers accommodation directly adjacent to the park, pricing is higher but the access is unmatched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During January and July (the two main Brazilian holiday peaks), accommodation in Caldas Novas fills quickly and prices increase by 30\u201350%. Booking 6\u20138 weeks in advance for these periods is the minimum. The Christmas and New Year period (mid-December to early January) is the absolute peak \u2014 book months ahead or expect very limited options.<\/p>\n\n\n January is the single busiest month, when Brazilian families on summer holiday fill every resort to capacity. The city feels maximally alive, the nightlife runs hard, and the energy is at its highest. It’s also hot (around 28\u201334\u00b0C), and the queues at the major water parks are longest. If the full-crowd holiday atmosphere is what you want, this is when to come. If not, there are better options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n July is the second peak, driven by the mid-year school holiday. The weather is drier and slightly cooler (22\u201328\u00b0C), which makes the warm water particularly appealing. The Caldas Novas Winter Festival (Festival de Inverno) runs in July with shows, concerts, and cultural events alongside the thermal park experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May, June, and August to November offer significantly shorter queues, lower accommodation prices, and a more relaxed version of the same experience. The thermal water doesn’t care about the season \u2014 it’s the same temperature year-round. The cerrado landscape is particularly attractive in September when the late dry-season flowering begins. This shoulder season period is consistently the best recommendation for international visitors who have flexibility in their dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid Carnival week (February) if you want a quiet experience \u2014 the city receives up to 300,000 additional visitors during that period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caldas Novas is considered one of the safer tourist destinations in central Brazil. The city’s economy is almost entirely oriented around tourism, and the concentrated nature of the resort infrastructure means most visitors spend their time in well-managed, secure environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The typical safety concerns of urban Brazil \u2014 petty theft in crowded areas, awareness on public streets at night \u2014 apply here, but at a lower intensity than in larger cities. Within the resort complexes, safety is generally excellent and the managed environment reduces most risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few specific points for the thermal context: the parks have lifeguards at all pools and slides. Water temperatures are regulated. The state park trails are safe when accompanied by a guide but can be disorienting without one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Travel insurance is worth having regardless of your destination in Brazil. SafetyWing<\/a> covers medical emergencies across Brazil from approximately USD $42\/month, including water-based activities and minor injuries that are common in water park environments. It’s a small cost relative to what it covers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The food scene in Caldas Novas reflects its Goi\u00e1s identity more than its resort environment, which works in the visitor’s favor \u2014 goiana cuisine is genuinely good and tends to be underestimated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The staples of Goi\u00e1s cooking are hearty and honest: pequi (a distinctive cerrado fruit with a rich, pungent flavor that divides opinion but is unmistakably regional), empad\u00e3o goiano (a deep-dish meat and vegetable pie that is one of the most satisfying things you can eat in central Brazil), arroz com pequi, and carne de sol served with mandioca frita and farofa. These appear on menus across the city and at the Feira do Luar<\/a> at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Empad\u00e3o Goiano da T\u00e2nia<\/a> (4.7 stars, R$20\u201340) is the most consistently well-rated casual option in the city for traditional goiana food \u2014 affordable, generous, and genuinely good. Chicago Restaurante<\/a> (4.6 stars) and Coliseu Grelhados<\/a> (4.6 stars) are the strongest options for grilled meat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Inside the resort water parks, the food tends toward expensive versions of standard Brazilian snacks \u2014 grilled meat, pizza, fast food. Eating outside the resort for at least one meal per day saves money and gives you a better sense of what the city actually tastes like.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere is Caldas Novas?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A brief history<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The thermal springs: what you need to know<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Main attractions in Caldas Novas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
diRoma Acqua Park<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hot Park (Rio Quente)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lagoa Termas Parque<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Parque Estadual da Serra de Caldas Novas<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Clube Priv\u00ea and other thermal clubs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Feira do Luar and Pra\u00e7a Central<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Serra Verde Shopping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Colonial](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Museu-em-Caldas-Novas.png\")
Day trips from Caldas Novas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Goi\u00e2nia \u2014 the circular city<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Corumb\u00e1 River and natural swimming<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Piren\u00f3polis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chapada dos Veadeiros<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to get to Caldas Novas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
By air<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By road<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By bus<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where to stay<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Water](\"https:\/\/doinbrazil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Linda-fonte-localizada-entre-as-pedras-localizado-em-Caldas-Novas-no-municipio-de-Goias-Brasil.png\")
Best time to visit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is Caldas Novas safe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Food in Caldas Novas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Practical information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n