Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PANTANAL TOURS
Organized tours inevitably include at least some water-based transport and a guide who can
tell you about what you see. Numerous tour companies are based out of the main access
towns Corumbá, Campo Grande and Cuiabá; as ever, you get what you pay for, and the
cheaper options don't always enjoy a good press.
CORUMBÁ TOUR OPERATORS
Águas do Pantanal Av Afonso Pena 367, Miranda
T 67 3242 1242, W aguasdopantanal.com.br. This
company organizes programmes in the southern
Pantanal, as well as fishing trips and visits to tradi-
tional local farms where you can stay overnight. They
also own a pleasant pousada offering both upscale
and economical rooms in Miranda, between Corumbá
and Campo Grande.
one-week-long 4WD trips exploring the Nhecolândia
region to cave diving in Lagoa Misteriosa and the Gruta
do Lago Azul.
CUIABÁ TOUR OPERATORS
Ecoverde Tours Pousada Ecoverde, Rua Pedro
Celestino 391 T 65 3624 1386 or T 9638 1614,
W ecoverdetours.com.br. Well-established company
run by respected guide Joel Souza from his inimitable
pousada (see p.331). Keen to foster sustainable
ecotourism and offering a variety of nature tours, from
birdwatching to jaguar treks deeper into the Pantanal.
Stay at a fazenda -lodge or camp.
3
CAMPO GRANDE TOUR OPERATORS
Pantanal Tours Rua Terenos 117 T 67 3042 4659,
W pantanaltours.com. Dutch/French-run company
offering a wide range of activities and packages from
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane Campo Grande's international airport, the
Aeroporto Antonio João ( T 67 3368 6000), is at Av Duque
de Caxias. Local bus #408 (R$2.80) will take you into town
via central Av Afonso Pena, while a/c minibus #015 (R$8)
makes the rounds of the downtown hotels.
Destinations Rio de Janeiro (8-15 daily; 3hr 25min-6hr
30min); São Paulo (6-7 daily; 1hr 45min-6hr 20min).
By bus The new rodoviária is 20min south of town at Av
Gury Marquis 1215 ( T 67 3026 6789). Local bus #87 or #85
will take you into the centre (R$2.80) though you'll need
a prepaid card, available from the central info kiosk in the
station; without a card, you'll need to get off and pay (and
wait for another bus) at the nearby Morenão interchange.
Destinations Andorinha ( W andorinha.com) serve Corumbá,
Rio and - along with Viação Motta ( W motta.com.br) - São
Paulo. Motta and São Luiz ( W www.viacaosaoluiz.com.br)
serve Brasília, and Eucatur ( W www.eucatur.com.br) serve
Foz do Iguaçu. All companies serve Cuiabá. Brasília (3 daily;
22-23hr); Corumbá (9 daily; 6-7hr); Cuiabá (21 daily; 11-
12hr); Foz do Iguaçu (1 daily; 18hr); Rio (2 daily; 21-22hr);
São Paulo (8 daily; 14-15hr).
Tourist information There's a tourist information kiosk
at the airport (daily 6am-midnight; T 67 3363 3116),
a small o ce at the rodoviária (24hr; T 67 3313 8705) and
a large, very helpful downtown o ce at Av Noroeste 5140,
on the corner with Av Afonso Pena (Tues-Sat 8am-6pm,
Sun 9am-noon; T 67 3314 9968).
Ì Fiorella Pizza On the eastern corner of Praça da
República and Rua Delamare. In with a shout as the best
pizzeria in the Pantanal, with decent prices (R$8-30),
alfresco tables in a quiet location, fast, friendly service,
delicious wood-fired bases and mouthwatering toppings;
try the wonderfully garlicky Buffalo with sun-dried
tomatoes. Daily 6-11.30pm.
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange There's a host of banks including
HSBC, some with ATMs, on Rua Delamare west of Praça da
República.
Car rental Localiza is at Rua Edu Rocha 969 ( T 67 3231
6000) and at the airport ( T 67 3232 6000).
Internet M@bo Cyber Coffee, Rua Antonio Maria Coelho
192 (daily 8am-6pm; R$2.50/hr).
Police Rua Luiz Feitosa Rodrigues 664 ( T 67 3231 2493).
Post o ce The main post o ce is at Rua Delamare 708,
opposite the church on Praça da República (Mon-Fri
8.30am-5pm, Sat 8am-11.30pm).
CAMPO GRANDE
Capital of the state of Mato Grosso do
Sul, CAMPO GRANDE is the most popular
gateway into the Pantanal on account of
its excellent transport links with the rest
of Brazil, plethora of tour companies and
good facilities for visitors. The city itself
was only founded in 1877 but its growth
has been rapid, and today it is a large city
with some 800,000 inhabitants.
ACCOMMODATION
Anache Rua Marechal Cândido Rondon 1396 T 67 3383
2841, E hotelanache2007@hotmail.com. A great location,
 
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