Bonito, Brazil: snorkeling rivers and booking

Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, is known for floating down clear spring-fed rivers among fish, plus caves, sinkholes and waterfalls. Every attraction is sold through local agencies, using a voucher the municipal tourism council created in 1995. The town is about 300 km (186 mi) from Campo Grande, roughly 4 hours by car. The municipal tourism site lists 59 agencies.

Why go

Bonito sits on limestone, which filters the rivers until they run clear as glass. You float face down with a mask and snorkel, drifting over fish, plants and sandy springs. Few places on earth offer this in fresh water.

The town is also a model of managed tourism. Daily caps, mandatory guides and a single booking system keep the rivers clean and the crowds small. That control is why the water stays so clear, and it is why you must plan ahead.

How the voucher system works

The voucher is your personal ticket for one attraction, date and time. Accredited local agencies issue it. It shows your name, the activity, the date and time, the guide, a confirmation code and the seats reserved. Each attraction has a daily limit, and the voucher system enforces it.

In practice, you choose your activities, book them through an agency in town or online, and receive a voucher for each. You cannot buy at the attraction itself. Vouchers are personal and not transferable. If you miss your slot, you may lose the booking without a refund.

The council that runs the system, COMTUR, was created by Lei Municipal nº 695/95 of 21 June 1995. Separate municipal laws, Lei 689/95 and Lei 919/2002, made local guides mandatory on visits to all attractions. Part of the voucher revenue funds the municipal tourism fund, FUMTUR.

Changes ahead. Bonito is reviewing the system. Some attraction owners now run their own accredited agencies and sell directly. In 2026 the Município de Bonito opened a tender for a new “Voucher Digital” platform, so the way you book may change. Attractions in the neighboring towns of Bodoquena, Jardim and Miranda are outside Bonito’s rule and may sell directly.

Check before you go: cancellation and refund rules, and whether you can change a voucher’s date. Each agency sets its own terms, so ask before you pay. For questions about the system itself, contact the Secretaria de Turismo de Bonito at turismo@bonito.ms.gov.br or (67) 99254 8990, Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 17:00.

The tourist center and the agencies

The Centro de Atendimento ao Turista (CAT) is at Rua Cel. Pilad Rebuá 1780, Centro, Bonito. Its phones are (67) 3255-1850 and (67) 3255-1449. It opens on weekdays from early morning, and hours can vary, so call before you go.

The municipal tourism site lists 59 agencies with addresses, phones and emails. Most are on or near Rua Cel. Pilad Rebuá, the main street. Compare a few, since they sell the same attractions but package them, and add transport, differently. Many attractions are 30 km or more out of town on dirt roads, so ask whether transport is included.

What to do

The municipal site groups attractions into river floats (flutuações), waterfalls, caves, swimming spots (balneários), adventure, diving, horseback riding, biking and sightseeing. Most visitors mix one or two floats with a cave and a waterfall day.

River floats. The floating category includes Aquário Natural, Barra do Sucuri, Gruta do Mimoso, Nascente Azul, Rio Sucuri, Lagoa Misteriosa, Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata and Rio Azul. Rio da Prata and Rio Sucuri are the classic long floats. Operators supply masks, snorkels and wetsuits, and guides brief you on the rules. You must not touch the riverbed, stand on it or feed the fish.

Caves. The Gruta do Lago Azul has a deep blue lake inside a cavern, seen from a stairway. Other caves include Gruta Catedral and Gruta São Miguel. Cave visits are short and suit all ages.

Adventure. Abismo Anhumas is a rappel down into a cave with an underground lake, with a diving option. The Boca da Onça waterfall is 156 m high, and its rappel is the largest in Brazil from a suspended platform. Both have limited places, so book them first.

Waterfalls and swimming spots. Several farms offer trails past a string of waterfalls with swimming holes. The balneários are riverside swimming areas, good for a lazy afternoon.

Buraco das Araras. This sinkhole is in Jardim, near Bonito. It is about 100 m deep and 500 m around, in a 29-hectare reserve with more than 120 red macaws (araras-vermelhas, not hyacinth macaws). Visits are guided only, and you do not enter the sinkhole. The trail is 970 m and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. Prices ran from R$ 117 to R$ 385 in 2025 (about US$23 to US$76, checked Oct 2026), depending on the package.

Float rules. Skip sunscreen and insect repellent before a float, since they pollute the water. Wear a rash guard and a hat instead.

Getting there

By road. Bonito is about 300 km (186 mi) from Campo Grande, about 4 hours by car. The route runs on BR-060 to Sidrolândia, BR-419 to Guia Lopes da Laguna and MS-382 to Bonito. Viação Cruzeiro do Sul runs the bus, which is usually cheaper than a rental car. A car helps once you arrive, since attractions are spread out.

By air. Direct flights land at the Aeroporto Regional de Bonito (BYO), about 15 km (9 mi) from the town center. GOL flies from São Paulo/Congonhas and Azul from Campinas, and flights average 2 hours 5 minutes. From 25 October 2026, LATAM flies Bonito to São Paulo/Guarulhos three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. GOL flies on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and Azul on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Check before you go: bus fares and timetables between Campo Grande and Bonito change by season. Buy at the Campo Grande bus station or on the company’s website, and check flight schedules with the airlines, since frequencies change often.

When to go

Bonito works all year, with trade-offs. The dry season, from about May to September, brings the clearest water and fewer mosquitoes, but cooler days and colder water. The wet summer months are hot, and heavy rain can cloud some rivers for a day or more. Spring-fed floats near the source stay clearer after rain than rivers further downstream.

The town’s season calendar marks these peak periods for 2026: Holy Week (3 to 5 April), Corpus Christi (4 to 7 June), school holidays (11 July to 2 August), Independence (5 to 7 September), 10 to 12 October, 31 October to 2 November and school holidays (19 to 31 December). Book weeks ahead for these dates, since daily caps fill quickly. See best time to visit Brazil for the regional climate.

Where to stay

Most visitors stay in Bonito town, which has hotels, hostels and pousadas within walking distance of the agencies and restaurants. Staying in town keeps evenings easy and lets you join agency transport.

Some farms and eco-lodges sit out near the attractions. They suit drivers who want quiet and early starts. Book any lodging early for the peak periods above.

Costs

Bonito is one of Brazil’s pricier nature destinations, because each activity is a separate ticket with a capped number of places. Prices are set by each attraction, and many floats include lunch at the farm.

Budget by activity. Short cave visits and swimming spots cost the least. Long river floats sit in the middle. Rappels and diving cost the most. Ask agencies for a full quote, including transport, and compare. For federal park fees elsewhere, see Brazil’s national parks: fees.

Practical tips

• Book your top two or three activities before you arrive, especially in peak periods.
• Plan one or two activities a day. Drives on dirt roads take time.
• Bring a rash guard, a hat and reef-safe habits. No sunscreen before floats.
• Carry a light jacket in the dry season. Mornings can be cool.
• Leave a flexible day for weather or a sold-out slot.

Skip it if

• You want to decide on the morning itself. Capacity limits mean popular slots fill up.
• You are on a very low budget. Each attraction is a separate ticket, and costs add up fast.
• You cannot swim or dislike water. Floats are the main draw, though life vests are provided.
• You expect Pantanal wildlife. Bonito is a separate area, and Miranda or Aquidauana, the southern Pantanal gateways, are about 150 km (93 mi) away by road.

Pair Bonito with the wetland in the Pantanal guide, or follow the 7-day itinerary. For macaws and other animals, see where to see jaguars, macaws and giant otters.