Bonito, Mato Grosso du Sul
Bonito means beautiful in Portuguese and the town is very aptly named. Lying in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, the city of Bonito and its neighbour Bodoquena with its National Park are the most fascinating natural areas of water leisure in the world. A little paradise at the south of the Pantanal, the real beauty lies in the waters of the numerous rivers which flow through the area with their crystal clear visibility and abundance of fish.
Simply put, there is no better place, outside the Great Barrier Reef to see so many fish. And it’s easier too, as you don’t need to learn to dive. You can walk along the banks of the River Sucuri, which is lined with lush strands of pink and purple orchids and if you are lucky,Toucans flying past. Then to an entry point where you don masks and wetsuits, (yes it’s chilly, but the same cold drives away the Piranhas) and then begin a magical float down the river, following the current.
This river is nicknamed the Aquarium for a reason! There are millions of fish swimming around, lurking in the reeds or hiding between the rocks. You can find dourado, piripitanga and corimba amongst the hundreds of other colourful tropical fish which make this their home. In this region, there are numerous waterfalls including Boca da Onca (mouth of the jaguar), by far the largest in the area, where you can swim or learn to abseil.
Also famous is the Blue Lake Cave , impressive because of its geological formations and its blue-coloured lake, one of the largest underground lakes in the world. Found by a Terenan Indian in 1924, this cave has attracted the attention of tourists and researchers from all over of the world. At certain times of the day, sunbeams permeate the water, producing a spectacle of breathtaking beauty. Both the cavern’s roof and bottom are full of limestone deposits of different shapes and sizes. The cave harbours many prehistoric skeletons including a giant ground sloth and a sabre tooth tiger.
