Bonito

Bonito, Brazil’s best kept secret

Bonito, in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, is one of the main destinations for ecotourism and adventure tourism in Brazil. Situated in Serra da Bodoquena, the city is 300 km from the State capital (Campo Grande) and has good access by road. In the crystal clear waters of its rivers, the colors of the fish make for an incredible contrast with the intense green of the native forest.

In Bonito, attractions such as the Grutas do Lago Azul e do Mimoso (Grottos of the Blue Lake and the Mimoso), the Aquário Natural (Natural Aquarium),and the Sucuri river stand out for their beauty and provide ample contact with nature and a distinct peacefulness. Rafting, floating in the small natural lakes, trees, waterfalls, grottos, trails and diving are some of the the many leisure options in the region.

You can visit the city at any time of the year, but the ideal period is between the months of December and March, during the rainy season. During this period, the flora and fauna proliferate, the levels of the rivers increase and the waterfalls have strong,abundant waters.

The Anhumas abyss, a cave 23 km away, is another attraction of Bonito. For certified divers, the abyss offers the right to dive to 18 more meters. Autonomous scuba diving reveals new images, light and all the spaciousness of one of the most wonderful caves on the planet.

The local fauna, rich and expressive, is composed of numerous bird species such as harpy eagles, king vultures, macaws, toucans, curassows, and of other animals such as anteaters, armadillos, cougars, maned wolves, deer, small foxes and a huge number of invertebrate species. Fish is obviously an important part of the local gastronomy: the pacu is the most sought after and can be served stewed, fried or grilled, accompanied by a delicious banana farofa (a Brazilian side dish made of toasted cassava flour).

Location and Weather

The location became known as Nobres because this is the name of the municipality where many of the attractions exist, but the attractions are located around the Village of Bom Jardim, which lies some 65 km (40 miles) from the urban limits of the city itself. Actually, if you were to look deeper, some of the most prominent attractions are in the neighbouring municipality of Rosario do Oeste and in the even smaller villages of Nobres such as Roda d’agua and Quoqueral and the Cerquinha Cave District. A little over a decade ago due to poor conditions and limited infrastructures such as hospitality the pioneers of tourism based their tours out of the Nobres and made excursions into Bom Jardim by van service or 4 x 4. While still in its infancy, the village of Bom Jardim, not only has the road connecting the village to the city of Nobres been paved, there is also a newly paved highway passing along a scenic route connecting Bom Jardim to Chapada dos Guimaraes, another of the most popular tourist destinations in Mato Grosso.

Getting there

Plane/ airport
Access by air can be made by Campo Grande Airport, capital of the State, which receives flights from Santa Cruz de la Sierra. There is also the possibility of arriving in Bonito by air taxi.
Road (bus)
From Campo Grande, you can get to Bonito by the highways BR-262 and the BR-060.

Personal or Rental Vehicles

When to go

As in the Central West the landscape changes much according to the rainy season, the ecosystem of Bonito is no different – and so every month of the year has its specific pros and cons to get to know the region better.

But the truth is, if you go to Bonito at two different times of the year, you can see two completely different natures – and equally passionate!
Best time to see animals and waterfalls: From December to March, during the rainy season, which is when the vegetation is greener, the level of the rivers is higher and the waterfalls are more intense. It is also a good time to see more animals, since the food at this time of year is more abundant. For those going to stretch to the Pantanal, the flood season is a good request as well. Negative side: lots more mosquitoes, and diving trips are usually closed at this time (and depending on the amount of rainfall, some rides can be unmarked as well).

Best time to dive and snorkel: The dry season is the best for those who are looking for these activities, because it is when the waters are more crystalline, and that goes from May to September. Especially when it comes to the Mysterious Lagoon, which is one of the highlights of the region with its stupidly blue waters – and that closes from October to April, only working for certified dives.
Negative side: as it is also the winter season, there may be some cold fronts that throw the temperature down there, and the temperature of the waters may be very cold – but the thermometer can also happen there by 32 degrees – and fall there in water is a refreshment only!

And also, if it’s cold, it’s nothing a neoprene will solve!

Best time to visit Anhumas Abyss: between the end of December and the beginning of February, when the sun’s rays fall vertically over the crevice of the abyss and make the photos even more beautiful!

What I did: I went in early May to Bonito, when the dry season was just beginning. Result: I was lucky because I caught beautiful sunny days alternating with a day of heavy rain and a little cold, but nothing that would spoil the schedule. I particularly enjoyed it and would return at this time of year!