Campo Grande, Gateway to the Pantanal in Brazil
Mato Grosso do Sul's Tourist Information, Car Rental, Pantanal Tours
Sep 18, 2009
Campo Grande is a point of departure for the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland. It is a practical city to arrange a wildlife trip, to book lodgings in the Pantanal and to obtain tourist information on the region. Car rental is an option when wanting to visit the Pantanal independently.
History of Mato Grosso do Sul
The first settlers in the western part of Brazil, nowadays the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, were Spanish adventurers. They arrived in the sixteenth century after they had heard stories about the great opportunities of raising cattle in this region. They were thrown out by the Brazilian Bandeirantes – golddiggers and slave hunters from São Paulo – but had to leave their cattle behind. Only in the eighteenth country did this Wild West territory of Brazil gain fame, thanks to the gold that was discovered in the northern Pantanal.
The depletion of the gold mines brought the development of the area to a standstill. Nowadays the main source of income of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul is cattle. Large areas of the state are covered in agricultural fields or grasslands. Other revenues come from manganese, rice and soy, as well as rural tourism. More and more tourism is organised in the form of accommodation at fazendas [ranches], fish farms, wildlife trips into the Pantanal or adventure trips to the nearby town of Bonito.
Pantanal Tours Operators in Campo Grande
As soon as the traveller steps into the bus station of Campo Grande, he may expect to be besieged by travel agents. All of them offer lodgings at fazendas in and/or wildlife trips to the Pantanal. The majority of Campo Grande's travel agencies is situated at the bus station.
If this does not lead to a satisfactory choice, pay a visit to the Tourist Information on Avenida Alfonso Pena, downtown [Mon-Fri 9am-8pm], where they are more than helpful to point out different possibilities. There are many tour operators, excursions as well as lodging possibilities – and just as many prices. Take the time to compare them before choosing the one that suits your needs. The Tourist Information also provides a good map of the city – the city warrants a day on its own for its cultural sights like churches and indigenous arts.
The Tourist Information is situated in one of Campo Grande's few well-maintained colonial buildings, "Morada dos Baís" ["Baís House"]. It was built in the beginning of the twentieth century by Bernardo Franco Baís. It not only houses the Tourist Information but also regularly hosts expositions of local artists.
Campo Grande is a especially a good place to organise tours to the southern part of the Pantanal. Other gateways to the Pantanal are Corumbá [on the border with Bolivia], which is especially suited for those interested in a fishing trip, and Cuiabá on the northern end of the Pantanal – for those who want to travel down the Transpantaneira Route.
Car Rental in Campo Grande
Campo Grande has several car rental agencies, among which small, local ones as well as international car rental agencies like Localiza. Although choosing an organised tour to visit the Pantanal has its advantages, it is by no means a must. Visiting the Pantanal independently gives travellers the freedom to stop wherever and for how long they want. Driving to Corumbá along the Estrada Parque is perfectly feasible without a guide and lodgings can easily be found along the way at one of fazendas or pousadas that line that route. For more info on the pantanal check the Resources for Travel in the pantanal.
Campo Grande is an easy-going city with helpful inhabitants. It is a practical place to arrange tours, to rent a car and to obtain tourist information about the region, but the city also merits a stay for its own cultural sights. Campo Grande has some beautiful churches and is known for its indigenous art.
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