Mato Grosso's Eco Adventure Destinations, Brazil
Tourist Information, Tour Operators and Car Rental in Cuiabá
Oct 23, 2009
Cuiabá is a good city to rent a car to explore Mato Grosso's eco adventure destinations. Travel to the wetlands of the Pantanal, the rock walls of Chapada dos Guimarães, the crystalline waters of Nobres suited for snorkelling and diving, or to the jungle of Alta Floresta.
Tourist information on Mato Grosso's Eco Adventure Destinations
The Pantanal is considered the world's largest inland wetland and one of the world's most diverse ecosystems. It is inhabited by waterfowl, caimans, capybaras, giant otters and many other animals. Along the Transpantaneira – the main, albeit unpaved, road leading into the Pantanal – are accommodations for an overnight stay or to arrange wildlife trips.
National Park Chapada dos Guimarães is a two-hour drive north of the city. The park is famous for its dark-red rock walls, bizarre sandstone formations and numerous waterfalls. It is easily visited independently [by rented car or by bus], as well as through a tour operator either in Cuiabá or in the town of Chapada dos Guimarães.
Nobres is situated about 130 kilometres north of Cuiabá and has ecological attractions like limestone caves, thundering waterfalls and sparkling rivers suited for eco adventures like diving and snorkelling. Nobres is yet to be discovered by mass tourism. It doesn't have a decent tourist infrastructure yet and signing up for an excursion – either from Cuiabá or Nobres – is advised.
One of Mato Grosso's most beautiful but vulnerable – and unfortunately also most destroyed – area is the rainforest around Alta Floresta. Fortunately, several remote fazendas [ranches] have remained untouched and these are the places to go when interested in visiting Alta Floresta's untamed wilderness and eco adventures like hiking. Cuiabá, as well as the town of Alta Floresta, are both options to book a stay at a fazenda or to arrange excursions in this area.
Tourist Information and Sedtur in Cuiabá
The Tourist Office of Cuiabá is located on Praça Rachid Jaudy. A map of the city is available, as are business cards and brochures with accommodation and tour operators in Cuiabá. Friendly as the staff may be, their knowledge is limited. But there is a thick folder with a large collection of brochures of tour operators and places of interest in Mato Grosso. Taking time to go through this folder will prove helpful in deciding on eco adventures.
Sedtur is the Mato Grosso's State Organisation of Tourism Development. It is situated on Rua Voluntários da Patria 118. They have a large cabinet filled with up-to-date brochures and maps of the state of Mato Grosso, that include eco destinations like Chapada dos Guimarães, the Pantanal and Alta Floresta but also lesser known towns like Tangará da Serra.
Car Rental in Cuiabá
Cuiabá has several car rental agencies. Be aware that, apart from the main highways, many roads in Mato Grosso remain unpaved and can become quagmires during the rainy season or even after a heavy rainshower. The Transpantaneira often becomes impassable during the rainy season [Nov-March].
Ask de car rental agency for information on which roads are easily passable and which not at all. Depending on the itinerary decide on renting a regular vehicle or a four-wheel drive. Before renting a car make sure the Brazilian requirements are met like minimum age and type of driver's license.
Cuiabá has several car rental agencies, which makes it possible to organise independent trips to eco adventure destinations in Mato Grosso. Cuiabá numbers many tour operators that organise excursions to surrounding attractions like Nobres, Alta Floresta and Chapada dos Guimarães.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
