Bonito enchants at every moment; check out what I liked the most – 02/22/2023 – Tourism

Nothing you’ve read about Bonito is capable of translating the beauty and experience of a trip to this small town in Mato Grosso do Sul, famous for being an ecological paradise. Nothing I write here reflects the surprise and delight of each moment.

I’ve heard about Bonito for years. My husband was there on business and came back ecstatic. I thought, Ok, one more place in this beautiful Brazil. He brought the subject up a few times, until fate arrived with an invitation to Bonito and off I went. How did I not come sooner? Words fail to describe the nature, the
walks, food, cleanliness, environmental awareness.

When I was there I felt like I was in New Zealand. Not because of the landscape, but because of the people’s respect and love for the region, the harmony between nature and tourism that has developed and, of course, because it’s much more than just beautiful.

First thing: there are direct flights from São Paulo to the city’s airport — it’s the most practical way to get there without having to go through the state capital, Campo Grande, and face another four hours on the road. There’s a catch, even with tourism booming — it’s the weather conditions that decide whether you can make it. There is no modern equipment and the planes depend on the weather.

No more bad news. Now it’s just joy and ecstasy. Bonito is a place for all kinds of people, with a varied profile, with more or less willingness for adventure.

That’s why it’s essential that you follow the suggestions of agencies and guides. Don’t try to get into a walk where you have to face a longer trail, climbs and descents, if your knee groans just from
look up a flight of stairs.

There are programs for an entire week. All tours must be booked in advance through accredited agencies because the destinations have limited capacity.

Leave high-heeled shoes and sandals at home. They will only end up serving to fill the suitcase, which needs room for a few purchases. Take bathing clothes and sports shoes for walking, prefer those that face the water well.

Plus: raincoat, quick-drying towel, hat, change of light clothes and a small backpack to carry all this stuff, as well as sunscreen and repellent. If you have a good waterproof phone case, I guarantee you won’t regret it. I ended up buying it in one of those little shops in the houses that serve as support for the tours. I dived with the device without fear. Lie, it was scared, but everything worked out.

There’s more good news, everything in Bonito ends in food. Trail, food. Diving, food. Rafting, food. And it’s always that meal made in the wood oven, with a taste of grandma’s house and dulce de leche for dessert.

At night, there is more food in the restaurants in the small city center. Pacu, betrayed, painted, alligator. Enjoy that way they don’t bite. Here’s a selection of what I saw and liked the most.

Tours

Eko Park Porto da Ilha
When I saw the name “park” I thought about how to get away from that experience. I confess that apart from the Disney parks, I have a certain horror. It seems like a more family program, but every grown man has fun. It has rapids lively enough for you to go down in tubes or boats, and calm waters for kayaking and stand-up paddle.

On Instagram: @ekoparkportodailha

Mimosa Estancia
It’s the Disney of waterfalls, a circuit with ten falls of various shapes and heights, nine stops for bathing, including a jump from a lookout point for the brave ones —I jumped in really scared and I haven’t regretted it. Some form beautiful lagoons, delicious for bathing. The trail is not heavy, but requires minimal physical preparation and willingness to face the icy water.

On Instagram: @estanciamimosa

Blue Lake Cave
Even on a rainy day, as was the case on my visit, the lake inside the cave has an intense blue color, which changes according to the light. Animal fossils have been discovered inside the lake, such as the saber-toothed tiger. You can’t see any of that, but just knowing they’re there makes the ride more beautiful. Relief to also know that the place was listed by IPHAN,
the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute.

On Instagram: @grutalagoazul

Mysterious Lagoon
After a peaceful walk along a trail and a staircase with lookout points, the breathtaking view of the lagoon is a few meters below, hidden and designed by the surrounding nature. The depth is not known, but the visibility is 40 meters, which makes it possible, in addition to floating with a snorkel, to dive with a cylinder. It is in this setting that one of the most iconic photographs of Bonito is taken, repeated by all tourists. I, of course, made mine.

On Instagram: @lagoamisteriosa

Recanto Ecologico Rio da Prata
Is required. I confess that I thought I would die of boredom floating down a river for three or four hours. It was the other way around. Unique experience of contact with nature, in the midst of the silence of the forest and the exuberance of the world submerged in water. There are people who are lucky enough to see snakes and alligators. I was lucky not to see any. The tour is done with wetsuits and snorkel, always with a guide.

On Instagram: @riodapratarecantoecologico

Where to eat

john’s house
Mix of restaurant, shop and museum with exquisite food. For starters, guinea fowl bait (R$70) or traíra cone (R$20). Go for Vó Irene’s moqueca (R$255, four people) as the main dish. But if you don’t like live music, stay away.

R. Nelson Felício dos Santos, 664-A. On Instagram: @casadojoaorest

Juanita Restaurant
I spent my life stuffing my mouth to say that I don’t like river fish just to shut my mouth with a lot of pacu made on the grill (R$ 264.98, for four people), the flagship of this friendly restaurant with a neat menu. Crispy alligator (R$64.87) and rib fritter (R$54.83) are among the entrees.

R. Our Lady da Penha, 854, Center. On Instagram: @juanitarestaurante

Where to buy

DiBonito Cachaça
Just going there is a big deal because the attendants promote a tasting to show everything they have in the store. And there is something for all tastes, pure and flavored with, for example, typical fruit from the cerrado. I brought an extra premium one, aged 15 years in oak barrels. I don’t understand anything about cachaça, but I thought it was delicious. Just like the dulce de leche liqueur — and I don’t even like sweets. A bestseller is the clitoris liqueur, a purple flower that looks, as its name suggests, part of the female genitalia.

R. 15 de Novembro, 862, Centro. On Instagram: @dibonitocachaca

Udu Ceramics
All handmade, with shapes, colors and textures inspired by the exuberant nature of the region. I came back like a bag from Paraguay, full of plates, platters, cups. Only later did I find out that they ship all over Brazil. The site is worth visiting.

R. Gal. Osório, 611. On Instagram: @uduceramica