Borborema Plateau

The Borborema Plateau is an upland region in northeastern Brazil that forms a prominent highland separating the coastal zone from the interior sertão. The plateau is a wide, dissected area of ridges and isolated peaks stretching across several states.

Travelers encounter a mix of rocky ridges, tablelands and valleys with local agricultural communities and scenic highland vistas. Notable summits such as Pico do Jabre rise to around 1,190 metres, and the upland terrain supports distinct plant communities compared with nearby lowlands.

The region is not typically a single recreational park but comprises multiple protected areas, rural landscapes and small towns used as bases for local exploration. Roads cross the plateau linking state capitals and regional centres.

The Borborema highlands have long formed a distinct cultural and economic zone in northeastern Brazil, influencing settlement patterns, water catchments and local agriculture. The uplands have been sites for small-scale farming, mining and strategic routes between coastal and interior regions.

The plateau spans parts of several northeastern states, forming an inland highland that lies inland from the Atlantic coastal plain. It links upland areas across states such as Paraíba, Pernambuco and Ceará and is a defining feature of northeastern Brazil’s interior.

• Geographic role: The Borborema complex forms an elevated inland region that separates Brazil's humid Atlantic coastal zone from the drier interior 'sertão' landscapes.
• Elevation range: Elevations typically range from a few hundred metres up to around 1,200 metres, creating a mosaic of valleys, ridges and isolated hills across several northeastern states.

What to See #

• Pico do Jabre (notable summit): The plateau's highest points reach above 1,000 metres in places; Pico do Jabre in Paraíba is commonly cited among the highest summits at around 1,190 metres.