Bonito Bonito

The Brazilian ecotourism capital

Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, is one of the main ecotourism and adventure tourism destinations in Brazil. The place is worth its name. It is a true heaven, with clear-water rivers and colorful fishes contrasting against the deep greens of the native vegetation. Located in the Bodoquena Hill, the city is 300 km away from the state capital, Campo Grande, and has good access roads.

When to go

You can visit the city at any time of the year, but it is best to go between December and March, the summer and rainy season. During this period, the flora and fauna thrive, the river levels go up and the waterfalls are stronger and more abundant.

Where to stay

Accommodation prices in Bonito tend to oscillate a lot due to its popularity. However, the city offers many hotels, hostels and B&Bs; with all price ranges, easy to afford if you plan in advance.

In Bonito, attractions such as the Blue Lake and the Mimoso Caves, the Natural Aquarium and the Sucuri River are notorious for their beauty and will provide you with tranquility and contact with nature. Rafting, floatation in small natural lakes, treetop walking, waterfalls, caves, tracking and diving are some of the many options of entertainment.

The Abismo Anhumas, a cave located 23 km away, is yet another attraction. For certified divers, the abyss reserves the right of going 18 meters deeper. Underwater diving reveals new images, and all the vastness of one of the most amazing caves of the planet.

The local fauna is rich and expressive, composed of many bird species such as harpies, king vultures, macaws, toucans, mutuns, and other animals like anteaters, armadillos, pumas, maned wolves, stags, foxes and a number of invertebrate animals. Fishes are, obviously, a significant part of the local cuisine. The pacu, the spotted sorubim and the dourado are the most popular, served in a stew, fried or grilled, with a side of banana farofa.

Take the chance to visit other places
Only 8 km away from Bonito is the Rio Formoso Ecological Park, with an astonishingly beautiful scenario and exuberant flora. A second option is the Mysterious Lagoon, 52 km away from Bonito, a charming destination of blue waters that houses the seventh deepest Brazilian cave.

You can also take this opportunity to visit the Pantanal, one of the largest biodiversity reserves in the world, only 160 km away from Bonito.