Amazon Adventures

Brazil

Bonito

Bonito, a small town of Serra da Bodoquena, is in the middle of a region which is being discovered as "Caribe do Centro-Oeste" due to the unbelievable blue colour of its rivers and springs. Owing to the enormous quantity of limestone in the ground, the water of these rivers passes through a real natural filter where impurities are deposited at the bottom of the river bed and the result is the absolute transparency of the water. The region stands out due to the conscious exploration.of tourism and has developed an infra-structure which receives and directs the tourists, at the same time as it cares for the preservation of every visited site, maintaining its. greatest riches, the environment. The local guides also function as real inspectors of Nature. Bonito is a region rich in caverns and waterfalls and presents countless attractions for travelers of all tastes and ages. Gruta do Lago Azul is a calcareous formation, greenish due to the deposit of vegetation, sediments and its Lago Azul (Blue Lake) is 100 m. below the ground (to maintain preservation of the site no swimming in the lake is allowed). However, diving in the Acquario Natural (Natural Aquarium) is a must and is done among enormous aquatic plants and shoals of coloured fish. Another trip which cannot be missed is the descent of Rio Olho D'agua to its end, on Rio da Prata, in an extraordinary dive in crystalline water brimming with fish. Rafting on Rio Formosa provides a touch of adventure to the trip and the opportunity to appreciate the vegetation and. the fauna on the river banks (meeting with monkeys, toucans and macaws).

1ST. day: Arrival at Campo Grande and transfer to Bonito. Arrival and accommodation at the chosen hotel; dinner.

2nd. day: After breakfast we leave for the Formoso river, where - during a trajectory of a few kilometers - we will explore, while rafting, its course and its waterfalls. The ride is done on rubber boats, for 8 km on the Formoso River that flows into the Miranda River. The most exciting part is the descending on the cascades with the boat. We may see birds and wild animals on the banks of the river beside anacondas that during the winter will come out of the water and embrace the trees. We return to Bonito and spend the rest of the afternoon doing optional activities.

3rd. day: Right after breakfast we shall visit one of the most famous places of Bonito, the Lago Azul grotto. Blue Lake Cave is doubtless the most beautiful and imposing cave of the region. It is approximately 400 million years old. The access is by stairway with 292 steps that descends to the level where we see the lake rich in water with calcium carbonate and magnesium that gives its blue color of hypnotic intensity. It’s the largest submerged gallery in the world. Divers have reached depths of 57 meters and found fossils of pre-historic animals, such as the giant sloth, saber-tooth tiger and others. Afternoon free.

4th day: Floating in an aquarium! That is what you will feel when you float down the 900 meters covering the wellsprings of Baía Bonita. With snorkel and neoprene clothes you will see the water fauna and flora and the diversity of fish. Trails through well preserved woods will take you to the meeting of three rivers where you can swim, play on a bouncing bed or fly over the area suspended from a cable system. Equipment included: snorkel, mask, life vest and support boat. During the afternoon, we return to Bonito.

5th day: Transfer from Bonito to Campo Grande (airport)

2006 Price per person in US$ from:

Hotel	season	single	double	triple	quad
Wetega	low	$1281	$699	$639	-
Wetega	high	$1402	$783	$704	-
Olho D'Agua	low	$981	$583	$499	$410
Olho D'Agua	high	$1102	$679	$588	$491
Cabanas	low	$1009	$591	$511	$426
Cabanas	high	1094	$651	$572	$479
Pousada Arauna	low	$965	$559	$471	$394
Pousada Arauna	high	$1054	$631	$544	$447

High Season = The months: December, January,February and July and when the following holidays occur during your trip: Carnival, Easter, April 21st, May 1st, All Saints, September 7th, the week of October 12th, November 2nd, November 15th.

INCLUDED:
roundtrip airport transfers, all above mentioned trips, lodging in Bonito in a hotel selected by you, meals as in hotel descriptions below, specialized local guides ( airport transfers with tour guide available for extra charge)

NOT INCLUDED:
beverages, meals during transfers, other meals not mentioned, phone calls

LODGINGS:
Hotel Wetega Category: First Superior
Location: Downtown Bonito.
Description: Inaugurated in 2002. Three-story horizontal construction, the architecture has been inspired in the asymmetric curves of nature.
Apartments: All apartments have TV, telephone, air-conditioned, mini bar and hairdryer.
Hotel Services: 1 restaurant, room service, laundry, Internet , TV room , 1 swimming pool, 1 Jacuzzi hydromassage, bar at the swimming pool
rates include buffet breakfast and dinner and taxes
children up to 7 years old staying with 2 paying passengers, pays $20 per night

Olho D'Agua Category: Tourist
Location: 3km from downtown
Our lodging-house is built in a 65000 square meter area, surrounded by woods, yards, and kitchen garden. The rooms are located under the native trees found in the woods, with fridge, T.V., telephone, and a nice verandah for you to spread a hammock and relax. We also offer you soccer and volleyball fields, specially illuminated pool for night swims, a kiosk prepared for you to have a nice and tasty Brazilian barbecue, bar, living room, restaurant and a lot of space for walks.
rates include buffet breakfast and taxes
children up to 5 years old staying with 2 paying passengers, stays for free, children from 6-11 years old staying with 2 paying passengers, pays $23 per night

Hotel Cabanas Category: Tourist
Location: 6 km from downtown Bonito, in the Jardim/Bonito direction.
Description: Inaugurated in 2001. Cabins distributed over 30 hectares of greenery between 2 rivers of crystal clear waters: Formoso and Formosinho. Lodging includes trekking on trails and free access to the rivers. There are also 2 optional tours: tube-floating and water-toboggan. this hotel is recommended for bird watchers.
Apartments e cabanas: All apartments and cabins have TV, telephone, air-conditioned and mini bar The cabins are built in wood on treetops. Apartments - 10 units, Cabins - 4 units
Hotel Services: 1 restaurant with bar, 1 room with TV, DVD and video, handcraft store , 1 swimming pool
beach volleyball, 2 rivers with crystal clear water, woods
rates include buffet breakfast and taxes
children up to 4 years old staying with 2 paying passengers, stays for free

Hotel Pousada Arauna Category: Tourist
Location: 800 meters from downtown Bonito.
Description: Inaugurated in 2002. Horizontal construction in an area of 40.000 m2 of green vegetation.
Another 8 apartments due to be finished by June 2005.
Apartments: Sixteen spacious suite-like apartments with TV, air-conditioned, mini bar, phone and balcony.
Hotel Services: 1 restaurant with bar, Internet, 1 swimming pool, beach volleyball, wooded area with crystalline creeks, resting area with hammocks
children up to 5 years old staying with 2 paying passengers, stays for free, children 6-11 years old staying with 2 paying passengers has 50% discount

Other Tour options:

Rio da Prata + Buraco das Araras (Macaws´ Hole)
One-hour walk along a jungle trail as far as the Olho d’Água wellspring. A one-hour and a half snorkeling in the springs and down the Olho d’Água River without a support boat. Mask, snorkel, neoprene clothing and boots included.The Buraco das Araras is a 124-meter deep doline (a cave whose roof caved in) with a circumference of 500 meters. In its interior there is a very special ecosystem made up by a forest and a lake complete with microalgae and fish. In this environment there is a fauna represented by fruit-eating bats, insect-eating bats, some species of reptiles, little rodents and birds, among them, the bright and wonderful red-and-green macaw (Ara chloroptera)- This tour takes place in the city of Jardim, 50 km from Bonito
- Duration: full day

Sucuri River
This is some of the clearest river water in the world, with a visibility and transparency of 100%, due to the calcareous composition of the soil. Visit to the headwaters were we see the water come out the sand in a phosphorescent blue and green color. Afterwards, floating snorkeling for 2 km down in the main current to observe flora and fauna of the river. Unforgettable! Included equipment: snorkel, mask, life-vest and back up boat. Duration of tour: half-a-day.

Tube-floating in Bonito
Descent of Formosinho River on special tube-floaters for about 30 minutes, past several rapids. Accompaniment of guides along all the way. Not recommended for children under 10; the tour is canceled when the river floods. - Duration: one hour

Ybirá-Pe Canopy Tour
Thrilling crossing balancing tour way on steel cables and platforms installed on trees between 10 and 20 meters from the ground. The elements of this crossing are cables, horizontal ladders and zip lines, among others.All this on the riverbank of the Formoso River, one of the most crystalline in the region. All equipment Included. Duration of the tour: half a day
- Pre-requisite: participant must be, at least 1,40 meter tall, in other to reach the safety system and to be able to switch between cables.

The Estancia Mimosa (Farm)
A walk on an interpretative trail along the river Mimoso bank forest with the observation of orchids and bromeliads; contemplation and bath on several cascades rich in calcareous tuft formation. Typical snack included. Duration of tour: half day

Boca da Onça Ecotour (Jaguar’s Mouth)
A 2.780 jungle trail, where one will be in contact with hundred-year-old trees and 12 waterfalls, one of them bearing the most suggestive name of “ Indian Caldron” , a real natural massage. At the end of the trail we will be face to face with a beautiful waterfall: the Jaguar’s Mouth. A deserved stop for waterfall bathing in a natural swimming pool formed by the falls. The highlight of the tour is floating in the pool as one watches the waterfalls plunging from on high, feeling all of Nature’s energy. With a height of 156 meters this is the highest waterfalls in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Rappel - The rappel is done here from a 90-meter high platform. It is necessary to have some preliminary training the previous night. Rappel is allowed for children aged eight and up. Equipment included. Duration: whole day. (this is normally offered during transfers to Pantanal lodges)

Discover Scuba

Formoso river or Da Prata river
Discover scuba starts with a brief instruction about the basics of scuba. You will be guided by a divemaster through the Bonito crystal clear water and have the chance to see our colorful fishes and submerged gardens.All necessary equipment included. Durations of tour: half-a-day (can combine Da Prata river diving with snorkeling + Macaw's Hole for full day tour)

The Anhumas Abyss (requirement: open water diver)
An opening on the ground, a vertical abyss of 72 meters, a true trip to the center of the Earth. The descent is made by rappel as far down as a lake with crystal waters with a surface of 7.000m2. Under the surface, divers will be confronted by enormous conical structures of up to 16 meters high. Visibility of up to 60 meters. In the dry area there are several speleothemes, real nature-carved sculptures. The night before the tour there is a hands-on rappel training sessions. All necessary equipment included. Duration of tour: half-a-day

DON’T FORGET:
A small rucksack, walking boots or tennis shoes which won’t slide, flashlight, water bottle, anorak, bathing suit, a small towel, insect repellent, shorts, cap, sunfilter and a camera.