Drone Rules for Serra da Canastra
You can legally fly your drone at Serra da Canastra, as the airspace is entirely open for responsible use. To ensure a safe and successful flight, you must register your drone with ANAC/ANATEL, request flight clearance via the SARPAS system, maintain a safe distance from hikers at lookouts and waterfalls, and strictly
The airspace over the magnificent Serra da Canastra National Park is open to responsible drone flight operations under strict ecological preservation and safety guidelines. Protecting a vast area of the Brazilian cerrado biome, this conservation unit is home to rare wildlife, ancient rocky fields, and deep valleys. Drone pilots have a spectacular opportunity to legally record the massive cliffs where rivers plunge into canyons, but flights must be conducted with absolute care to protect the environment and visitors.
Regulatory Framework & Permissions: Drone operations are allowed for recreational and landscape capturing. All operators must ensure their aircraft is fully registered with ANAC and ANATEL, and flights must strictly follow DECEA regulations (ICA 100-40) for unmanned aircraft.
Flight Authorization & Coordination: Standard recreational flights over the general open trails and lookouts do not require a specialized individual environmental permit, but you must log your flight intent and secure normal clearance through the SARPAS portal. For professional, commercial, or documentary media productions inside the park boundaries, obtaining prior written authorization from the ICMBio park administration is mandatory.
Geofencing & Flight Conditions: The park's coordinates are not permanently blocked by manufacturer-level Red Zones in drone firmware, meaning your aircraft will unlock and take off normally. Contudo, os pilotos devem ter muita atenção com as condições atmosféricas nos altos chapadões, onde ventos fortes e rajadas repentinas podem desestabilizar o aparelho e acelerar o consumo da bateria.
Environmental & Safety Restrictions: To keep your flights legal, drones must never disturb or closely track the local fauna, which includes endangered species like the giant anteater (tamanduá-bandeira), maned wolf (lobo-guará), and birds of prey. Além disso, os operadores devem manter uma distância segura e respeitável dos turistas que visitam os mirantes ou tomam banho nos poços das cachoeiras (como a base da Casca d'Anta) para garantir a privacidade e a segurança pública.
Legal Penalties: Operating a drone recklessly over visitors, harassing wild animals, or flying without a valid SARPAS clearance will lead to immediate flight termination by park rangers. Violations are subject to equipment confiscation, heavy administrative fines under federal environmental protection laws, and criminal prosecution under Article 261 of the Brazilian Penal Code for endangering airspace safety.