I came across this video that brought back fond memories of a trip to Bonito and a dive in the Sucuri river nearly 9 years ago.

Bonito is an outstanding ecotourism destination in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Destination: Bonito is our information resource for that destination.

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Here’s our anual rewrite of our list of our list of favourite places in Brazil (previous editions include Top 10: favourite places in Brazil and 10 must-see places in Brazil). Here is the 2010 ranking of my 10 must-see places in Brazil. Click on the names of the places to go to their full destination cards here at the blog, and find out more about them. Some of the destinations are really well-known. Others fall within the hidden jewel description. I have only included places I have been to (places I’ve read/heard about but I haven’t visited didn’t make it into the ranking).

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1. Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco)

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2. Paraty (Rio de Janeiro)

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3. Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão)

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4. Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro)

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5. Iguaçu falls (Paraná and Argentina)

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6. Brasilia (Distrito Federal)

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7. Boipeba (Bahia)

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8. Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)

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9. Inhotim (Minas Gerais)

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10. Rio de Janeiro

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RELATED POSTS:
Brazil 12 months 12 destinations
top 10 Brazilian beaches – 2009 edition
São Paulo’s top ten

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Nearly two years after the publication of my first list of favourite places in Brazil (Top 10: favourite places in Brazil) a revamped version of that list makes the blog’s frontpage – gaining a catchier title in the process. So here is the 2009 ranking of my 10 must-see places in Brazil. Click on the names of the places to go to their full destination cards here at the blog, and find out more about them. Some of the destinations are really well-known. Others fall within the hidden jewel description. Bear in mind I have only included places I have been to (places I’ve read/heard about but I haven’t visited didn’t make it into the ranking).

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1. Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco)

Noronha is where you will find the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Brazil, and crystal-clear waters of unparalleled beauty. If that wasn’t enough, locals do care about the environment, no mean fate in the Brazilian context. A unique place. Not even its dear price tag will remove it from the number 1.

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2. Paraty (Rio de Janeiro)

Atlantic rainforest, desert beaches and the best preserved colonial architecture in the country come together to make of Paraty a very special destination.

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3. Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão)

While it’s not easy to reach the Lençóis Maranhenses, the reward more than makes up for the long journey. A unique landscape of dunes and lagoons where mass tourism hasn’t left its mark yet.

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4. Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro)

In spite of the numerous threats looming, Ilha Grande is a fantastic and incredibly beautiful nature destination.

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5. Boipeba (Bahia)

Wild beaches and crystal-clear waters the way you won’t find anywhere else in Brazil – bar Noronha. On top of that, a charming quiet village where civilization has yet to leave its imprint.

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6. Iguaçu falls (Paraná and Argentina)

The breathtaking beauty of the falls will captive you the moment you set your eyes on them.

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7. Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)

In the southernmost tip of the Pantanal lies Bonito, a mecca for ecotourism and fun in close contact with nature.

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8. Morro de São Paulo (Bahia)

A unique combination of sublime beaches with a great atmosphere at the end of the day.

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9. Arraial d’Ajuda (Bahia)

Great variety of beaches and a lovely village. Rest and relax during the day, have fun when the night begins.

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10. Jericoacoara (Ceará)

Another destination with a nearly-mythical status among travellers. Captivating sand dunes in a remote setting.

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HONOURABLE MENTION. Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)

The only reason for Florianópolis not making the top 10 is that rather than a single destination, the island of Florianópolis contains an exciting collection of villages and beaches.

Ready to make that trip and looking for accommodation in Brazil? Choose from a wide range of cheap to luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro and many other cities from beautiful Brazil!

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Animal-shaped phone booths (phone booths are known in Portuguese as orelhões) are not uncommon in Brazil. The authorities of Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, made it sure that their phone booths would stand out.

I’ve also seen booths in the shape of flowers and even a clog-shaped booth in Holambra, state of São Paulo!

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RELATED POSTS:
destination: Bonito

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Bonito is an eco-tourism destination quite popular among Brazilians and little known among foreigners. It is located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in the southernmost tip of the Pantanal region. There is an entry for Bonito on this blog, destination: Bonito. From the trip made in 2001 I uploaded a handful of snapshots (taken with a 1MP digital camera and with a reflex camera and then scanned at home) at Photo album: Bonito.

Now Emília, a Brazilian friend of this blog, has began her own blog: A Turista Acidental. Her first trip report is about Bonito, where she went recently. The entries of her blog are quite extense and filled with useful information and plenty of photographs. It is in Portuguese, though. No language skills needed to look at the pictures but you will need some basic linguistic skills to understand the texts.

Emília’s trip report begins at Bonito: Páginas Amarelas and going back in time takes us to Anhumas abyss, snorkelling on the rio da Prata, waterfalls on the rio Peixe, Acuario natural, Gruta del Lago Azul and snorkelling on the rio Sucuri.

If you needed more reasons to make up your mind whether to go to Bonito or not, now you have them. Emília loved it. I loved it too. Fun that does not harm the environment.

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[read the 2010 update: 10 must-see places in Brazil]

This is a list of my top 10 favourite places in Brazil. It only includes places I have visited – for that reason you will not find on the list potential jewels such as Ilha Grande. Click on the names of the places to find out more about them.

1. Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco)

Noronha is where you will find the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Brazil, and crystal-clear waters of unparalleled beauty. A place like no other in Brazil.

2. Paraty (Río de Janeiro)

Atlantic rainforest, desert beaches and the best preserved colonial architecture in the country come together to make of Paraty a very special destination. On top of that, Paraty is close to Rio and São Paulo.

3. Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão)

While it’s not easy to get to the Lençóis, the reward more than makes up for the long journey. A unique landscape of dunes and lagoons where mass tourism hasn’t left its mark yet.

4. Jericoacoara (Ceará)

Another destination with a nearly-mythical status among travellers. Captivating sand dunes in a remote setting.

5. Iguazu falls (Paraná and Argentina)

The breathtaking beauty of the falls will captive you the moment you set your eyes on them.

6. Arraial d’Ajuda (Bahia)

Hard to believe you would find a charming place like Arraial d’Ajuda so close to Porto Seguro.

7. Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro)

Rio is a city like no other, not just in Brazil, but throught the world. Its serious problems do not allow for a higher place on the list.

8. Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)

In the southernmost point of the Pantanal lies Bonito, a mecca for ecotourism and fun in close contact with nature.

9. Trancoso (Bahia)

Trancoso is near Arraial d’Ajuda and shares with its neighbour a series of wonderful beaches and a relaxed atmosphere.

10. Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais)

In spite of the sorry state of conservation of its World Heritage, Ouro Preto makes it to the top 10 because of the truly mesmerizing historical riches found in its churches.

MyMaps!: mash-up that will allow you to locate of all the places listed above at GoogleMaps!

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Along the roads in Bonito, in the southernmost part of the Pantanal, cattle travel in search of new pastures. Now is the right season to move, as the level of the rivers is low enough to travel.

I took this picture with my first digital camera, a 1.2 megapixels Sony camera.

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Although there are scores of diving (and snorkeling) locations along the Brazilian coast, the honest truth is that few would rank highly on a global scale. The exception to this would be the best diving destination in Brazil (or, should I say, the diving destination), the island of Fernando de Noronha.

Top-notch diving in Noronha, with great underwater paleovolcanic landscapes and consistent marine life (it’s a national park). Not that great when it comes to coral reefs. There are three dive operators on the island: Águas Claras, Atlantis Divers and Noronha Divers.

As well as diving, the beauty of Noronha is that snorkelling is just a few metres away from any of the island’s beautiful beaches. Best beaches for snorkeling are Sancho, Porcos, Atalaia and the entrance to the harbour – where a shipwreck is found. Be aware that from November to March, the sea is quite rough. Calm waters from August to October.

Other important diving spots in Brazil are the National Marine Park of Abrolhos (state of Bahia), Bonito (state of Mato Grosso do Sul), for river snorkelling and cave dives, Arraial do Cabo (state of Rio), the southern coast of the Rio state (Ilha Grande, Paraty), and part of the coast of the São Paulo state (Ubatuba, laje de Santos).

At this blog’s Brazil Diving Guide we pointed to a PDF guide where you can find out more about diving spots in Brazil.

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RELATED POSTS:
Brazil Diving Guide
destination: Bonito
destination: Ilha Grande
destination: Fernando de Noronha
Nautical Tourism in Brazil

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I have been to scores of places in Brazil where I’ve been able to see and photograph wildlife. These are the top 10 places (in no particular order).

1. scarlet ibis in Alcântara, Maranhão [chances of spotting them: high - at the Praia da Baronesa and a nearby wetland. The scarlet ibis go to the shore to feed when the tide is out]
2. dolphins in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco [chances of spotting them: high - on the boat trip around the island or from the Baia dos Golfinhos viewpoint]
3. turtles in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco [chances of spotting them: medium - snorkelling at the Santo Antônio harbour and at the baia do Sueste]
4. fish in Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco [chances of spotting them: high - snorkelling in most of the island beaches and definitely diving]
5. fish in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul [chances of spotting them: high - snorkelling in the Sucuri river and the Rio da Prata]
6. dolphins in Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte [chances of spotting them: medium - at the aptly named Baia dos Golfinhos in the morning]
7. toucans in Foz de Iguazú, Paraná [chances of spotting them: 100% - at the Parque das Aves]
8. monkeys in Vassouras, Maranhão [chances of spotting them: high - there is a forty-odd colony of monkeys living near the huts, ask the locals]
9. scarlet ibis in Caburé, Maranhão [chances of spotting them: medium - near then mangrove in Caburé when the tide is out]
10. macaws in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul [chances of spotting them: medium - at the Buraco das Araras]

N.B.: in actual fact, the toucans at the Parque das Aves in Foz do Iguaçu are not in the wild, they are kept within giant cages.

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Bonito is a very popular ecotourism destination not very well known outisde Brazil. The main reason for its relatively unknown status outside Brazil might be due to its remote location (see the GoogleMaps link below): Bonito is a village in the southernmost part of the Pantanal, 300 km away from the nearest major airport (Campo Grande).

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1. WE LIKE THE MOST:
The crystalline waters of the rivers around Bonito, snorkelling surrounded by fish, the apparent concern for the environment.

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2. WE LIKE THE LEAST:
The big distances that need to be covered through dirt roads to get to the different attractions; the construction of large hotels and a landing strip; the expensive prices of the trips.

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3. HOW TO GET THERE:
There are two options: by bus (from São Paulo, it’s a 15-hour journey) or by plane (to Campo Grande and from there a three-hour drive to Bonito).

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4. CAREFUL WITH:
Anacondas in the Sucuri river (no, I’m just kidding; I mean, there are anacondas but you won’t come across them; sucuri is the Brazilian word for anaconda).

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5. FAVOURITE PLACES:
The Gruta Azul, the Sucurí river, the Rio da Prata, the Buraco das Araras.

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6. PIECE OF ADVICE:

• the different natural attractions have a maximum number of visitors allowed each day – the limit is strictly enforced. Don’t go anywhere without booking first.
• take an underwater camera, even if it is a disposable one. You will get plenty of chances to use it while snorkelling on the Bonito rivers.
• don’t forget to bring plenty of insect repellent with you.
• don’t expect big emotions from the whitewater rafting at the Formoso river, there is just one exciting rapid, the rest is all calm.
• if you buy a package holiday to Bonito, do find out which trips are included; the main trips are very expensive, from R$150 upwards.

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7. HEALTH:
While not compulsory, you are strongly adviced to get your yellow fever shots if you are visiting the area. Yellow fever is present in the area of Bonito.

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8. LINKS:
Bonito Turismo (city council), Bonito Online

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9. ACCOMMODATION:
Check our full listing of hotels and pousadas in Bonito

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10. WEATHER FORECAST:
The weather in Bonito for the next 10 days

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11. GOOGLE MAPS:
Bonito

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12. PHOTOS:
Bonito

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RELATED POSTS:
Bonito – trip report
snorkeling in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul

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