Want to experience the lush environment of caves, waterfalls and colourful rivers while on your holidays to Brazil? Why not take a tour to see these natural wonders near the inland regions of Pantanal and Bonito.
Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul
The river water around the town of Bonito is startlingly clear. Depending on the light, the waters here can appear bright turquoise, and its clarity makes it easy to see the fish that make rivers such as the Sucuri River, their home. You might encounter diverse species such as the large round piraputanga and the tiny gleaming silver fish, aptly named ’shiners’.
The water is crystal clear because it filters naturally though the region’s limestone rock. With snorkels and floatation devices you can drift along with the current enjoying the view of the vegetation and wildlife as you go, as the dappled sunlight brightens the river floor. There are a number of Brazil tours that enable you to enjoy Brazilian scenery in this way; most are comprised of a combination of overland trekking and underwater exploration.
Preserving the beauty of the area around Bonito is a priority for local people, so operators offering Brazil tours have to be registered and the number of visitors to the region is regulated. This means those who visit on holidays to Brazil are a privileged few.
The Blue Lake Cave (Gruta do Lago Azul)
A hundred metres underground you can see the Blue Lake Cave, which is filled with water to a depth of a further ninety metres. When undisturbed, the surface of the lake provides a magical mirror image of the rock formations above. Stalactites and stalagmites bedeck the sides and ceiling of the cave in straw-like, feathery or bulbous shapes left by deposits over thousands of years. There are great opportunities to take some stunning Brazil holiday photos here.
The best time to visit the cave is in the morning. At this time of day, the sunlight will shine through a hole in the grotto’s ceiling to show the true colours of the water, with hues of sapphire or topaz. Scuba divers on archaeological expeditions have discovered the bones of prehistoric animals in the cave. Although home to animals for aeons, the cave was not discovered by man until 1924, and now its beauty can be enjoyed by visitors on holidays to Brazil.
Boca da Onca Waterfall
The Boca da Onca Waterfall is one of several falls near Bonito. You can find it in an area of forest that is lush and green. People enjoying their Brazil tours here will be invited to take a dip in the picturesque plunge pool at the base of the falls, where you can feel the rhythm of the water falling around you.
The water drops from a height of about a hundred metres, cascading in several sections, rounding and smoothing the rocks into curved shapes. There are steps in the pools and caves in the walls of the gorge that you can swim through.
Once again, ecological concerns mean that visitors on holidays to Brazil are asked to take a shower before they enter the pools because some chemicals in sun cream can be poisonous to fish and local wildlife. If you’re lucky, you might see vultures, toucans, armadillos or anteaters in the area surrounding the falls.
It’s just one of many exciting ways to experience the amazing South American environment while on your Brazil holidays.
Louise Mumford is a holiday specialist at South American Experience, a company that specialises in tailor-made arrangements for Brazil Tours. Our dedicated team has two decades of first-hand experience in the Latin America region.
