Mato Grosso offers a range of highlights: the landscapes of the Pantanal, trails and waterfalls in Chapada dos Guimarães, and places of cultural and historical interest. If you’re looking for a hotel, first decide which destinations will shape your stay.

Pantanal: Routes, Protected Areas, and Wildlife Watching

The Estrada-Parque Transpantaneira connects Poconé with Porto Jofre and is one of the most important tourist corridors in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso. It is around 145 kilometers long and has 125 bridges. These endpoints and the route’s length provide a concrete point of reference for this regional highlight.

Between Poconé and Barão de Melgaço, Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas protects around 109,000 hectares of biodiversity. The area is one of the most important regions of the Pantanal for jaguar sightings and offers favorable conditions for birdwatching. RPPN Sesc Pantanal preserves around 108,000 hectares in Barão de Melgaço, between the Cuiabá and São Lourenço rivers. Both areas are protected landscapes, but their descriptions emphasize different features: the wildlife sightings mentioned here, and the location between two rivers there.

Access to the headquarters of Parque Nacional do Pantanal Matogrossense is by river. From Porto Jofre, at the end of the Transpantaneira in Poconé, the journey continues 150 kilometers downstream on the Rio Cuiabá. The national park’s attractions include bird roosting and nesting sites at Baía do Burro, as well as wildlife watching from a boat. Visits are possible only in exceptional cases and with prior authorization.

Chapada dos Guimarães: Trails, Waterfalls, and Views

In the wider regional area, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park has several visitor areas, each with its own opening hours and rules. The park is open daily, except on December 24 and 25 and December 31 and January 1. Check the information for the specific area before your visit. The main entrance is via the MT-251, which connects Cuiabá and Chapada dos Guimarães.

Public transportation to the national park is limited to the Véu de Noiva visitor area. Vans run back and forth every 1.5 hours between the bus stations in Cuiabá and Chapada dos Guimarães. Since transportation arrangements may change, check the connection before setting out. At the Cachoeira Véu de Noiva lookout, the trail is self-guided and rated easy: it is about 620 meters each way, or around 1.2 kilometers round trip.

For those who want to focus on waterfalls and swimming spots, Circuito das Cachoeiras is another option: the trail follows Córrego Independência to four waterfalls and a natural pool where swimming is permitted. Cachoeirinha and Cachoeira dos Namorados are also open to visitors; swimming is possible at one of the two waterfalls. The destinations therefore also differ in terms of which swimming options are specifically described.

Other locations are known for their viewpoints and distinctive rock formations. At 850 meters, Morro de São Jerônimo is one of the highest points in the national park and offers panoramic views. Cidade de Pedra lies on the edge of the Planalto dos Guimarães; from there, you can see sandstone cliffs, ruiniform landforms, and Veredas. Mirante do km 43, also called Belvedere, is a viewpoint on kilometer 43 of the MT-251, with views of the cliffs of Chapada dos Guimarães. In Vale do Rio Claro, you can swim in the river and access Crista do Galo, a residual hill formed by the retreat of the Escarpa do Planalto dos Guimarães.

History and Cultural Sites

The region’s history can also be traced through specific places. In 1957, Igreja de Santana do Sacramento in Chapada dos Guimarães was the first site in Mato Grosso to be listed for protection by IPHAN. Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade was the first capital of Mato Grosso. Rio Guaporé flows through the city; the mountains of Parque Estadual Serra Ricardo Franco can be seen in the background.

Within the urban area of Vila Bela are the Ruínas da Antiga Igreja Matriz, whose construction began in 1771, and the Palácio dos Capitães Generais, dating from 1752. These historical details make Vila Bela a different travel highlight from the natural areas. Further afield, a 20-meter-high marble obelisk in Cuiabá preserves the original marker of the Marco do Centro Geodésico da América do Sul.

In Campo Novo do Parecis, seven Indigenous villages on the banks of crystal-clear rivers are part of a tourist route that offers insights into Indigenous culture and nature. Specific access options may vary by village. Ecological trails lead to waterfalls, viewpoints, and caves; birdwatching is also available.

Maria Isabel, a dish made with dried meat and rice, was registered as a typical symbol of Mato Grosso in 2011. This clearly defined culinary highlight adds to the nature and history themes to consider when planning a trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rondonópolis, Lagoa, Copacabana, Cuiabá, Chapada Dos Guimarães, Várzea Grande, Tangará Da Serra, Lucas Do Rio Verde, Pantanal, Cuiabá Da Larga, Nobres, Sorriso, Barra Do Garças, Picada, Poconé, Mimoso, Feliz Natal, Santo Antônio Do Leverger, Cáceres, Glória De Dourados, Sinop, Nova Maringá, Barra Do Aricá, Primavera Do Leste, Aguaçu, Estivado, Campo Verde, Sucuri, Barão De Melgaço, Monjolo, Alto Taquari, Acorizal, Coxipó Do Ouro, Pontes E Lacerda, Cabeceira Bento Gomes, Barra Do Bugres, Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Mirassol D'Oeste, São Saturnino, Campo Novo do Parecis, Querência, Garimpo Rio Claro, Comodoro, Ribeirão das Pedras, Nova Mutum, Nova Mutum, Jaciara, Santo Antônio do Leverger, Alta Floresta, Alto Araguaia, Coxim, Novo Mundo, Poconé, Marcelândia, São Gabriel do Oeste, Nortelândia.

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