Drone Rules for Chapada dos Guimarães National Park
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Drone Operations Prohibited in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Drone Operations Prohibited in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park
AUTHORIZATION STATUS: CRITICAL PERMIT REQUIRED (RECREATIONAL FLIGHTS 100% BANNED)
- Recreational / Amateur Flights: Completely forbidden. There is no instant or paid online permit available for tourists anywhere inside the park boundaries.
- Commercial, Media, or Research Flights: Allowed ONLY under strict, advance analysis. You must hold a formal environmental license issued by ICMBio and a cleared flight plan from DECEA at least 45 days prior.
Operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV/drone) inside this federal preservation sanctuary without prior official clearance is illegal due to strict environmental protection laws, public safety along vertical cliffs, and severe geographical aviation hazards.
🗺️ Geographic Map Boundaries (Where it is prohibited)
The flight ban applies to the entire official polygon of 32,630 hectares (326.3 km²) of the National Park, located in the state of Mato Grosso, covering parts of the municipalities of Chapada dos Guimarães and Cuiabá.
- Canyon and Waterfall Sectors: Includes the iconic Véu de Noiva Waterfall (86m drop), Cachoeirinha, Circuito das Cachoeiras, and Vale do Rio Claro.
- Vertical Cliffs Edge: The entire line of sandstone cliffs (paredões), including the Cidade de Pedra and Morro dos Ventos viewpoints, where drone loss of signal is common.
- Trekking Trails Corridor: All pedestrian tracks, including the Mirante do Centro Geodésico paths, where unauthorized drones pose safety risks to visitors.
📜 Key Regulations and Specific Legal Articles
- ICMBio Normative Instruction No. 61/2020: Federal administrative ordinance governing all Conservation Units in Brazil, completely banning recreational remote-controlled aviation inside National Parks.
- Federal Law No. 9,605/1998 (Environmental Crimes Act - Art. 29 & 40): Penalizes any acoustic action that alters wildlife behavior. High-frequency drone noise induces intense stress and nesting failures in birds of prey that breed directly on the vertical sandstone walls, including the Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloropterus) and various falcon species.
- DECEA ICA 100-40 & Thermal Wind Hazards: The dramatic topography creates extreme atmospheric updrafts and sudden wind shear along the cliff faces. Drones face high risks of thermal runaway, compass errors caused by mineral interference in the rocks, and immediate signal loss, causing aircraft to crash into inaccessible ecological zones.
⚖️ Penalties for Violations
Failure to comply with these federal regulations will result in immediate legal actions:
- Immediate Equipment Seizure: Physical confiscation of the drone, remote controller, and all storage media by ICMBio Federal Rangers or Environmental Authorities.
- Administrative Financial Sanctions: Severe environmental fines applied by ICMBio starting at R$ 5,000.00 under Federal Decree 6,514/08.
- Criminal Penalties: Detention and criminal prosecution under Article 261 of the Brazilian Penal Code for endangering air transport safety and violating federal environmental laws.
🎥 Official Media and Research Licensing (How to request)
For institutional, scientific, or licensed commercial cinematography:
- Permits must be requested at least 45 business days in advance through the official ICMBio SISBIO System.
- Pilots must obtain specific airspace clearance via the DECEA SARPAS system, matching the precise coordinates of the intended sector.
Thank you for protecting the Cerrado wildlife, respecting public safety along cliffs, and helping preserve the natural integrity of Chapada dos Guimarães.