Pantanal - Bonito - The Chapada dos Veadeiros - Estação Ecológica da Juréia - Amazonia

Since the 1980's with the rising of the environmental movement, a new form of tourism was born, one that could mix the pleasure of traveling with a more intimate contact with nature: eco-tourism. That kind of tourism emphasized the environmental awareness, the necessity of preserving the environment and of keeping it from predatory development and industrialization.

Brazil is considered as one of the most perfect places on Earth for eco-tourism. From North to South, Brazil hosts ecosystems from the tropical rainforests in the Amazon to Savannahs in Pampas region, and the wetlands in the center.

With such a diverse landscape Brazil is now stimulating eco-tourism in many areas. In the Amazon jungle hotels were built in such a way as to create a perfect integration between man and the environment.

In Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the world, the hotels and inns were conceived following the same principles. Experiencing the environment without being noticed is the motto of Pantanal population. Both foreign and Brazilian tourists are visiting the region looking for adventures in Bonito or just watching its preserved exotic fauna and flora.

Just a few hundred miles from São Paulo lies Juréia, a natural reserve attracting many tourists who, besides having an intimate contact with an area of tropical rainforest in the coast of Brazil, can enjoy wild untouched beaches.

In the heart of Brazil, very close to the National capital, the National Park of Chapada dos Veadeiros keeps intact many species of flora and fauna of the cerrado, the Brazilian savannahs.

You will find here more information on those areas, but there are many more to be seen. These are just samples of what you can find in Brazil.

Pantanal

Pantanal is the biggest wetlands in the world. It is a 200.000 sq. km area located in the upper Paraguay river basin in Brazil, close to the border with Bolivia and Paraguay. Pantanal consists of huge plains of marshy areas in which, during the rainy season (November to March), the rivers flood and the area becomes fully immersed in water.

It is one of the most important environmental sanctuaries of the world with thousand of animal and plant species. It was considered in November 2000 a world environmental heritage site by UNESCO. Although the environment seems untouched by human hands, there are in the Pantanal area many cattle ranches in perfect harmony with the place.

As well as the Amazon, Pantanal is an excellent spot to have a close, intimate contact with nature. Many travel agencies schedule boat visits through the rivers and car travels through muddy roads  with visits to distant isolated farms and natural spots.

The Pantanal area has not the same kind of tourism as in the Amazon, where there are many lodges in the jungle. In the Pantanal most tourists stay in hotels, lodges and inns in the cities and plan to travel for a few days through the rivers or roads. In many cases, many cattle farms offer lodge with a typical daily Pantaneiro (Pantanal cowboy) life.

The New York Times Bestseller "The Testament" by John Grisham offers a necessarily superficial but good view of what the Pantanal is. The reading of this book might constitute an excellent beginning for those who would like to visit this amazing place.

For additional information on the Pantanal, please check the following websites:

www.pop-ms.rnp.br/~miranda/Pantanal 

www.pantanal.org 

 

 

Bonito

 

Bonito is a small city in the inland state of Mato Grosso do Sul, very near to the Pantanal region. Since 1992, it has received thousands of tourists anxious to have a deeper contact with the environment. 

Bonito lies in a region very close to Pantanal (a swamp area in the interior of Brazil), but full of caves, waterfalls and river springs. The water is unbelievably clean and crystalline. Shoals are easily seen with the naked eye. Millions of years ago the sea covered the area known today as the Serra da Bodoquena (Bodoquena Mountains), where the city of Bonito is located; calcium was deposited in large quantities in the area, creating limestone. Nowadays these rocks filter the water of the local rivers, lakes and springs.

Thousands of different species of fish live in those waters, many of them in lakes inside caves. Gruta do Mimoso is a cave with a lake which is known to be perfect for scuba diving. Gruta Azul (Blue Cave) is also another great spot for this kind of sport. Buraco das Araras (Cockatoos hole) is a very interesting cave, its geological origin still unknown. Please note that during the rainy season when the rivers flood, some alligators and fish enter its waters and are trapped inside.

The 15,000 city population is very keen on preserving this precious gift of nature. A severe control of people entering those caves is enforced. Only small groups can enter at a time. Besides, as most of these attractions are located in private farms, their owners try to impose a strict control for the protection of the environment.

The best way to reach Bonito is through Campo Grande, the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul. You can fly from any of the main Brazilian cities to Campo Grande or travel by bus. Once arriving in Campo Grande, there is a bus line, Viação Cruzeiro do Sul, that connects Campo Grande and Bonito. The journey takes 5h and 30 minutes and the one-way ticket costs R$ 19.00 (approximately US$ 10.00). By car, driving from Campo Grande, the distance is 250 km. Take the BR-262 federal road up to the town of Anastacio and then BR-060 to Guia Lopes da Laguna. When you reach the kilometer mark number 21, turn right and take the state road MS 345 (this road is not always in good condition). Bonito has a branch of Localiza rent-a-car.

You can also reach Bonito by plane. Unfortunately, there are no commercial flights to Bonito, but you can rent a small airplane with a pilot at the cost of R$ 350.00 (about US$ 170.00). It is suggested that you book in advance.

There are many options of hotels, inns and bed-and-breakfasts in Bonito. However, we strongly suggest that you book  with a 60-day advance. For a list of hotels, please call your travel agent or visit Bonito's website (unfortunately, the site is not in English).

The Chapada dos Veadeiros (Deers Savannah)

Is a national park protected by the Brazilian Government, which lies approximately 155 miles north of Brasilia, in the north of the state of Goiás. It is considered one of the most beautiful national parks of the Brazilian Savannah (known as Cerrado)..

Many different species of animals, including Veadeiros (Brazilian Deers), and many exotic fruit and plant species live in the area of the park.

It is an excellent spot for people who like to trek. Its large area and its diversity of landscapes (not only savannahs, but waterfalls, rock canyons and hot water springs) attract thousands of people who wish to have a closer contact with the environment. Access to the park is extremely controlled and can be made only in the company of a guide, who can be hired locally at the park entrance (generally about US$ 20.00 for a 3-hour walk). Such a control, besides keeping the park protected from crowds of tourists, prevents people from getting lost inside it. 

Most trekkers are amazed by the waterfalls, where they can take a bath, and with the "lunar" landscape rocks of the Vale da Lua (Moon Valley).

From Brasilia, you can reach Chapada dos Veadeiros by car or by bus. By bus, it is a 3 1/2 hour trip. You can take the bus at Brasilia's Main Bus Terminal (Rodoviária do Plano Piloto) to Alto Paraíso. By car, take the road BR-020 until Planaltina, after passing the entrance of this city, turn left at the GO-118 state road in the direction of Alto Paraiso and São João da Aliança. Once arriving at Alto Paraíso, turn left to São Jorge (entrance of the park). If you drive early, you can visit the park and drive back to Brasília in the same day. For those who want to stay a bit longer, São Jorge and Alto Paraíso offer many hotel accommodations. For more information, visit the following website:

www.chapada.com/english/chapadaeng.htm

After visiting the park, it is always good to have a good lunch, specially because food is not allowed inside the park. Nevertheless, it is suggested that visitors book a place to eat after the visit before starting the trek. Your guide can do that for you and you will be delighted to eat in a family home at an extremely low price.

Estação Ecológica da Juréia

is an ecological sanctuary in the coast of São Paulo state. It is located 150 km from São Paulo city, very close to the city of Peruíbe, which is considered its main entrance. The sanctuary covers 820 km of tropical rain forests and wild-desert beaches. 

Although it is located in a place settled by the Portuguese  colonizers in the 16th century, Juréia still holds one of the last spots in the coast of Brazil covered with the tropical rain forest that used to cover most of Brazilian coast. Thousands of animal and plant species are protected in this sanctuary. Access is restricted in order to protect the environment.

The place is not only covered with wonderful paradisiacal beaches, but there are also many waterfalls and trails for those who love trekking. 

Although Peruíbe is the official entrance of the Juréia Sanctuary, other cities are located in the neighboring area and offer excellent places to visit. Cananéia and Iguape are good examples of this. They rival on beaches, many of them are excellent for the practice of surf.

In Cananéia, you can also find the State Park of the Ilha do Cardoso (Cardoso Island). It is a park with 22 thousand ha. formed by rock, beaches, islands, river deltas, lakes, swamps and plain areas covered with Mata Atlântica - the tropical rain forest of the coast of Brazil. It is a wonderful place for trekkers and beach lovers.

You can reach this region by bus or by car from São Paulo city.

For more information on this region visit these websites:

www.peruibe.com.br

www.naturalsul.com.br/hotel1.htm

www.iguape.net

 

 

Amazonia

 

Located in the Negro River, very close to the city of Manaus (approximately 100 km), capital of the state of Amazonas, this is a group of about 400 river islands that shelter a very complex and delicate ecosystem. The 350.018 ha. area is a ecological sanctuary and is protected by federal law.

This is the largest group of fluvial islands in the hemisphere and they are considered one of the most beautiful preserved areas of the whole Amazon rain forest. Many of these islands hold internal lakes which have many exotic and different species from the rest of the region.

The sanctuary is totally protected. Fishing and hunting are forbidden inside the sanctuary by the Brazilian authorities. Nevertheless, many jungle lodges are located in this area, all of them fully committed to protect the environment and to prevent predatory tourism. For a list of jungle lodges click here.   

The lodges are built under the forest trees. They offer a intimate contact between the human being and the environment. For most people who visit them, it is a unique opportunity in life to have a close encounter with mother-nature in its whole essence.