Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul

Infobox City
official_name = Município de Bonito


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nickname = Capital do ecoturismo
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map_caption = Location in Brazil
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name = Flagicon|BRA Brazil
subdivision_name1 = Center-West
subdivision_name2 = Mato Grosso do Sul
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = José Artur Soares de Figueiredo PMDB
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1948
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.934
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population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 17.275
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 3.6
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = UTC-4
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST = UTC-3
utc_offset_DST = -3
latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longs= |longEW=
elevation_m = 315
elevation_ft =
blank_name = HDI (2000)
blank_info = 0.767 – medium
website = [http://www.bonitoonline.com.br Portal Bonito]
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Bonito is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Its population was 17.275 (2007) and its area is 4,934 km². [IBGE - [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/default.php] ] .Bonito is in the middle of a region which is being discovered as "Caribe do Centro-Oeste" (Carribean of the Central-West) due to the unbelievable blue colour of its waters.

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, leaving the rivers to be some of the clearest and most transparent in the world. A number of fish and plant species have adapted to this high calcium environment, so that all rivers teem with life. The government of the region has consciously aimed to promote tourism and develop infrastructure for receiving and directing tourists, while strictly controlling the numbers of tourists allowed. These limitations are aimed at preserving the rich natural beauty of the area, maintaining popular tourist sites as close as possible to their natural state.

Tours

There are more than 30 tours available in and around the Bonito area. The majority of the tours are based around exploring the ecology and natural environment of the area. Almost all of the tours need to be booked through an official tourist agency in the town and require an accredited guide, although this will be organised at the time of booking. Some of these most popular tours include:RIO DA PRATA (Silver River)This award-winning snorkelling tour features crystal-clear water, lots of fish,a walk through the forest and a delicious lunch.

AQUÁRIO NATURAL (Natural Aquarium)The tour starts with a 25 minute walk through the jungle, followed by a 900 m snorkel, where you float with fish and appreciate the underwater vegetation. After starting the trek where you can see varieties of animals of the region, you can finish with a visit to the museum of natural history.

CIRCUITO ARVORISMO (The trees circuit)The adventure trek allows you to walk through the treetops on a suspended steel walkway installed in native trees such as Aroeira and Mahogany. The walkways have platforms fixed in the trees, varying in height from 10 to 20m.

GRUTA DO LAGO AZUL (Blue Lake Cave)The tour starts with a 10 minute walk to the entrance of the cave, which was discovered by a local Indian in 1924. In its interior, after descending 100 meters, it is possible to see the lake of crystal clear water and depth of approximately 90 meters, which makes it one of world’s biggest flooded caves.

Tour Agencies

Many tour agencies exist in Bonito, although increasingly they are being located in the hotels and “pousadas” (small hotels) in the town. It is best to ask about tour agencies when you book your accommodation.

Accommodation

Bonito has a full range of hotels and “pousadas” (small hotels), catering from expensive five star resorts to back-packer budget accommodation. In the holiday season (July and December to March), accommodation can be very hard to find and prices also rise accordingly. English is spoken at the more expensive hotels and resorts, but very few of the lower priced hotels have competent English speakers, although Pousada Villa Verde does have English speaking staff.

References

[http://www.bonitoonline.com.br | Portal Bonito] [http://www.zagaia.com.br | Zagaia Eco Resort] [http://www.pousadavillaverde.com.br | Eco-Pousada Villa Verde]