Experiences and local guides in Bonito

Nature

Bonito, in the south of Mato Grosso do Sul, has rivers so clear you can see fish 30 metres away: the limestone bedrock filters the water and settles the sediment. The Sucuri, Prata and Formoso rivers, the Gruta do Lago Azul with its 90-metre-deep lake, the Anhumas abyss, the Buraco das Araras with red macaws and, two hours away, the Pantanal with jaguars and caimans.

Activities

• Snorkel floating on the Sucuri and Prata rivers among dorados, piraputangas and pacus
• 72-metre abseil and diving in the Anhumas abyss, Gruta do Lago Azul and São Miguel cave
• Boca da Onça waterfalls (the highest in the state) and Estância Mimosa, with swimming and abseiling
• Buraco das Araras at dawn, Lagoa Misteriosa (deep diving), stand-up paddle on the Formoso river
• Day trip to the southern Pantanal: photo safari, caimans, capybaras and jabiru storks

When to go

All year; the water is clearest from May to September (dry season) and the heat is strong from October to March, with afternoon rain. Book attractions ahead in high season (July, December and January).

How to get there

Bonito airport (BYO) has flights from São Paulo and Campinas; or Campo Grande (CGR), 300 km away, with flights from all of Brazil and 4 hours by bus or van. Attractions are outside town, 20 to 60 km away: they are booked with vouchers through local agencies, with fixed times and limited places, and reached by car or transfer.