Ministério do Turismo

Bonito

The city of Bonito is located on the southwestern corner of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul and can be visited any time of the year. But experienced travelers advise: the ideal time is between December and March – the rainy season. During that season, local vegetation is green, animals come out from their hides – since there is plenty of food to be taken -, rivers’ water levels are high and waterfalls are gorgeous. Between May and August local fields are dry, there is constant burning for pasture and local fauna runs away looking for better hides. Visitors arriving to Bonito soon realize it: the word “bonito” (“beautiful”) is not enough to describe the wonders created by nature in that region. This humble city lost in the heartlands of Mato Grosso do Sul surprises everyone with its crystalline water rivers with plentiful fish, grouts and waterfalls that attract tourists from the world over. The great concentration of lime in the soil around the area where Bonito is located is responsible for the transparency of waters and by then existence of a wide variety of geological formations. And the best way of appreciating local natural beauties is by going on an adventure tourism tour. The most indicated activities include diving in caverns, observing the underwater fauna and walking along trails in the forest. Places like Grutas do Lago Azul (Blue Lake Grouts) and the Mimoso Grout, the Natural Aquarium, ands rivers Sucuri, Peixe, Formoso and Prata, are the most indicated. There are a great number of grouts with underground, deep lagoons into which experienced divers may risk to explore. It was here, in Lagoa Misteriosa (Mysterious Lake), that diver Gilberto Menezes de Oliveira reached the depth of 121 metros, the deepest underwater dive ever recorded in Brazilian caverns. Some agencies offer dives going no deeper than 20 meters without risks for amateur divers, in the Mimoso Grout. But pay attention, espeleo-diving is indicated only to those who have great experience and an adequate equipment. Bonito is a model-city in terms of tourism organization. It has adopted a system of visitations with the purpose of preserving the local natural environment. Therefore, tourists may only visit rivers, lakes, caverns and forests – the majority of which are located inside private properties – if accompanied of guides accredited by local agencies. To avoid negative impacts on nature, it has been established a maximum number of tourists per day who may visit each attraction. And nature thanks. Come and visit Bonito, and appreciate its natural beauties, in the very heartlands of Brazil. Those who come here just love it.

Basic information
Weather:
Bonito’s weather is humid and tropical. It is hot and rainy between October and March. But between June and August, the weather is dry and cold, and temperatures may go below 10ºC. Annual average temperature is of 22ºC.
Events
The Festival is held every year for a week during July, with music performances and ecological videos, theater, folklore and fine arts exhibits. For more information, call +55 (67) 325-0082.
City facts
State: Mato Grosso do Sul
Region: Central-western
Population: 16.827 inhabitants
Area code: (67)

Distances
Campo Grande: 280 km
Sao Paulo: 1.170 km
Rio de Janeiro: 1.600 km
Brasilia: 1.470 km
Accommodation / Restaurants
Bonito offers good infrastructure in terms of lodging and gastronomy. There are a great number of inns and hotels, with different levels of comfort. It also offers camping fields and hostels.

The city’s restaurants serve a wide range of local specialties. But the highlight goes for dishes made with river fish - like “pintado” and “pacu” – fried or in a stew.

For more information on the city’s outlets, visit Bonito’s official website: www.portalbonito.com.br
How to get there
By plane: daily domestic flights take visitors to the Airport of Campo Grande, the State capital. In the airport visitors can contact car rental and small local flying companies.
By Bus/Car: for visitors coming by car from Campo Grande, the 290-km long route, BR-060, runs through the cities of Sidrolândia, Nioaque, Guia Lopes da Laguna and finally, to Bonito. By bus, the only connection is offered by Viação Cruzeiro do Sul, with daily departures from Campo Grande, at 6 am and at 3 pm.
Services
Setur – Tourism information: +55 (67) 251-1799

COMTUR (the Bonito Municipal Council for Tourism): +55 (67) 255 -2160

International Airport of Campo Grande: +55 (67) 368-6000

Bonito’s Bus Station: +55 (67) 255-1606

Bank Agencies
Two national banks have agencies in Bonito.

Tips
- Visits to the majority of attractions in Bonito may only be made through guidance of local tourism agencies and always require the help of an accredited guide. Hotels provide for contact with agencies representatives. Since there is maximum number of visitors allowed for every attraction, it is highly advisable that visitors book tours with antecedence.
- During summer, the regions hot sun and heat require light clothes, a hat and solar protectors. For trail walks, it is important to carry a backpack, to wear antiskid sneakers or sandals, and raincoat.
- Visitors need not bring diving masks, snorkel and diving wear to go on floating tours on local rivers. This equipment’s rental fees are already included in tickets prices.
Tips
Visiting the majority of Bonito's attractions must be previously arranged with local receptive tourism agencies, which shall appoint an accredited guide to follow visitors. Hotels may provide contact with agencies' representatives. Since there is a maximum number of visitors at each attraction, it is recommended that visitors make reservations with some days of antecedence, especially during the high season (January and July).

Heat and strong sunrays in the area during summer seasons suggest the use of light clothing, hats and solar protection. For trail walks, it is important to carry backpacks, to wear on-slipping sneakers or sandals and raincoats.

Visitors don't need to bring diving mask, snorkel and neoprene suits to go on floating tours in local rivers. Equipment rent is included in ticket prices.
Related links

www.portalbonito.com.br
www.bonitoonline.com
www.bonitoweb.com.br

Attractions
Floating
Wearing special neoprene outfits, a mask and snorkel, visitors float on calm and crystalline water rivers, being able to see with excellent visibility the underwater flora and fish from the Pantanal region – “piraputangas”, “pintados”, “pacus” and “dourados”. Check below main locations for floating tours.

Natural Aquarium – Baía Bonita Ecological Park
Floating occurs along the 600-meter area near Baía Bonita River spring. Along the Animals Trail, which is also inside the ecological reservation, it is possible to see local specimen like oysters, armadillos, “guará” wolfs, alligators and anacondas.

Prata River
The tour starts with a one-hour walk along the trail – inside the native forest that is the habitat of species like hogs, monkeys and birds. Floating occurs for 2 km along rivers Olho d’Água and Prata, one of the most crystalline in the whole region offering also a great diversity of fish. Visitors can also opt to go on a horse ride.

Bonito Adventure
It includes descending Formoso River and exploring natural submerged grouts. After walking along some 2 km in a forest trail, visitors may float on the transparent waters of Formoso River, which runs along river rapids and rocky formations.

Sucuri River (The Anaconda River)
The transparency of its calm waters, with large shoals of fish, springs and exotic plants are all just incredible. Floating on Sucuri River goes on along a 2-km stretch, with average duration of 45 minutes. It is located on São Geraldo Farm, where visitors also have access to walks on trails in the forest and horse or bicycle tours.


Grouts

Gruta do Lago Azul (The Blue Lake Grout)
Incredible geological formation with limestone rocks, with width of 100 meters and depth of 70 meters, full of espeleo-themes. At the end of the grout there is a lagoon of transparent waters, resembling a huge bluish mirror.

Gruta de São Miguel (The Saint Michel Grout)
The grout is rich in limestone formations. Access is available through a suspended trail surrounded by native forest. Located in the Anhumas Vale Ecological Park Natural Reserve, it is considered one of the best attractions in Bonito.


Waterfalls

Peixe River Waterfalls
One of the most beautiful natural scenarios in Bonito.

Boca da Onça Eco Tour
It offers trails, waterfalls, the practice of “rapel” and plenty emotions on Bodoquena Hills.

The Aquidabã Waterfalls
It is one of the highest waterfalls in the area, from where visitors can view the Bodoquena Hills, inside an indigenous protection reserve.

Mimosa Ranch and Eco Tourism
A delicious and unforgettable adventure in ecological tourism - respect for natural environments, interaction with nature and regional culture.

The Waterfalls Park
A trail going through six beautiful waterfalls from where visitors can view beautiful landscapes and photograph, and also freshen up in a delicious bath.

Ceita Core Farm
Beauty and color, trails and grouts, waterfalls and animals, all that in a single place.


Tours

Araras Dig
A trail along a hill’s underground path 124 meters deep, with a diameter of 500 meters.

Vivo Project
Leisure and environmental education to demonstrate that it is possible to ally nature conservationism, ecological tourism and production in a regular farm.

Boating on Formoso River
The river’s descent is an "Indiana Jones"-type adventure.

Monte Cristo Resort
It offers plenty waterfalls and a very beautiful landscape.

“Float” Cross
Thrilling adventure on Formosinho River waterfalls, with more than seven river rapids visitors can float down.

Formoso River Ecological Park
It offers trails in the riverside forest surrounded by exuberant flora including a descent along Formoso River.

City Resort
It offers a great variety of fish to couple with great leisure times.

The Cowboy’s Route – “Quadricycle”
Fun and adventure on top of four wheels through the old cowboy’s trail.

Discovery Dive
It is excellent for inexperienced divers who wish to try the sensation of diving with "scuba" equipment. It also pleases more experienced divers since it offers a view completely different from that of seawaters. In Formoso River, along millions of waterfalls’ bubbles, or in Prata River, along with fish, it is possible to dive for approximately 30 minutes, after visitors receive guidance on safety and dive always in the presence of an Instructor.

Baía Bonita Ecological Reserve
Snorkeling under waters deemed among the most transparent in the world.

Sol Resort
On the margins of Formoso River, it’s a magical location.

Sucuri Bar
Nature in its most beautiful state of preservation and environmental balance.

Eno Bokóti
In Terena language, it means "plenty waterfalls". This tour hides many unforgettable surprises along the two thousand meter stretch along riverside forests sideling Peixe River.

Tarumã Resort – Lomba Farm
Ecological complex with a beautiful natural pool, including a trail leading to a pretty waterfall.

Segredo Farm
For visitors who wish to spend an unforgettable day.

Padre Island
Great number of waterfalls and natural pools along Formoso River

Prata River Ecological Nook
Unforgettable dives in one of the most crystalline rivers in the world.

Peixe River
It offers a trail in the forest full of birds, into 11 waterfalls and natural pools of crystalline waters for floating, diving and viewing shoals of fish.


Adventure Tourism

The Anhumas Abyss
An opening on the ground takes us down into a vertical abyss. It is necessary that visitors use the techniques of “rapel” to get to the bottom of the cave, 72 meters below the surface. Down there, there is a lake with approximately 8- meters in depth, where diving allows viewing limestone formations.

“Lagoa Misteriosa” (the Mysterious Lagoon)
40 km away from Bonito, in the municipality of Jardim, this Lake thrills visitors due to its depth and transparency of water. During winter months – from June to September -, visibility surpasses 40 meters. Access to this blue-water lake is quite difficult, however, the effort pays due to the landscape it offers to divers. Diving is allowed according to the limits established by the certification granted to each diver. There are also special circuits for “Cave Divers”.

Mimoso Grout
Located 35 km away from downtown Bonito, it is one of the most beautiful caverns in the world for diving, one that requires more experience from divers. Divers must be certified, at least, as “Overhead Divers” so they can risk exploring the 70-meter extension of the cavern, located 20 meters below the surface. To enter the Cones Hall, named after the immense rocky formations of up to 8 meters high found inside that “hall”, divers need an “Intro to Cave”-type certificate. Mimoso Grout is considered one of the most amazing cavern-diving points in Brazil.


Shopping

Indigenous Handcraft
Ceramics works made by the Kadiwéu, from the Bodoquena Hill; accessories made with seeds, like collars – Rua Cel. Pilad Rebuá – tel.: +55 (67) 255-2294

Wood and bone objects
Furniture and accessories made of noble recycled woods with detailed engravings of cattle bones – Rua Duque de Caxias, 203 – tel.: +55 (67) 251-1713

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