Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bonito
Nestling in the Bodoquena hills, over three hours by bus from Miranda, and four from
Campo Grande,
BONITO
is a small, somewhat sleepy sprawl of a town, which comes to
life during the main holiday seasons when it's invaded by hordes of young people from
southern Brazilian cities. The town is always swarming with people looking to visit the
excellent
natural atttracions
nearby (see p.452) - especially over Christmas and Easter,
and in July and August - although the mood, out of season, is surprisingly relaxed and
not at all pushy. Situated as the town is at the southern edge of the Pantanal, a visit to
Bonito can happily be combined with a trip exploring the swamp; indeed, between the
two locations it's possible to see a fantastic range of wildlife and several ecological centres.
Culturally Bonito doesn't offer a lot, but in July the four-day
Festival de Inverno
showcases street theatre, art and music.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
BONITO
7
By bus
The rodoviária (
T
67 3255 1606) is located up
Rua Vicente Jacques, several blocks and a 10min walk
from the main street Rua Cel. Pilad Rebuá, where many
of the town's hotels and most of its tour operators are
located. Daily Cruzeiro do Sul buses connect Bonito with
Campo Grande, Corumbá, Dourados and Ponta Porã.
You'll need to stay two nights if you want to include even
one trip to the caves or rivers (organized tours generally
leave around 7.30am), though there are so many
possible day- and half-day trips in the area that most
people stay longer.
Destinations
Anastácio (1 daily; 4hr); Campo Grande
(2 daily; 5hr); Corumbá (Mon-Sat 2 daily; 8hr); Dourados
(1 daily; 5hr); Miranda (Mon-Sat 1 daily; 4hr); Ponta Porã
(1 daily; 7hr).
Tourist information
You'll find the SECTUR tourist
information o
ce at 1780 Rua Coronel Pilad Rebuá
(Mon-Sat 9am-5pm;
T
67 3255 1449 and
T
67 3255
4670,
W
turismo.bonito.ms.gov.br and
W
portalbonito
.com.br). Perhaps a better bet are the very helpful staff at
the CAT tourist information o
ce at Rodovia Bonito/Guia
Lopes Km 0 (Mon-Sat 7am-5pm;
T
67 3255 4670).
GETTING AROUND
Taxis
Taxis are an easy way of getting about Bonito and its
outlying areas, and there are several taxi points in town; Ponto
Taxi, Rua Monte Castelo 824 (
T
67 3255 1760), charges R$15
a ride in and around town. A cheaper alternative, particularly
if you're travelling alone, is taking a
moto-taxi
, or motorbike
taxi (R$5 a ride in town, more for trips to sites out of town).
ACCOMMODATION
Finding a place to stay in Bonito should be easy even in
high season
. There are over a dozen cheapies on Rua Cel. Pilad
Rebuá, two blocks up from the rodoviária - but there are also a fair number of classier options, which often double up as
tour agencies
. Alternatively,
out-of-town accommodation
is available.
Bonito HI Hostel
Lúcio Boralho 716
T
67 3255 1022,
T
67 3255 2646,
W
bonitohostel.com.br.
Located ten
blocks north of the rodoviária and a 15min walk from the
town centre, this hostel is nicer than most, with a pool and
hammocks. Dorms and kitchen are kept clean, and the
reception staff are very good at helping with trips and
transport organization
to Bo
nito's att
raction
s. There are
bikes to rent too. Dorms
R$50
; doubles
R$100
Hotel Pousada Águas de Bonito
Rua 29 de Maio 1679
T
67 3255 1137,
W
aguasdebonito.com.br.
Romantic
pousada
in town with an eco conscience. Hammocks in the
garden invite relaxation, and there's a gym to work off
meals from the on-site restaurant,
Encontro das Águas
. The
pousada
's
own tra
vel agency can arrange trips to local
attractions.
R$350
★
the best backpacker options, this hotel is on the main
road, 300m from the bus station. The staff are very friendly
and speak several languages, including English. Rooms
are spotless, all with private bathrooms, and there is a
pleasant
terra
ce for breakfast. Also has its own tour
agency.
R$100
Paraíso das Aguas
Rua Coronel Pilad Rebuá 1884
T
67 3255 1296,
W
paguas.com.br.
You can't get more
central than this tidy, welcoming and attractive hotel
opposite the popular Taboa Bar. There's a pool and modern
rooms come with a/c, TV and
frigobar
. Most have views
onto the main strip belo
w, but
noise levels don't tend to be
too much of a problem.
R$272
★
Pousada Olho d'Agua
Estrada Baia das Garças
T
67 3255 1430,
W
pousadaolhodagua.com.br.
Set 3km
from the centre on the northwestern end of town, this is no
less luxurious than the
Zagaia Eco-Resort
, but arguably
Muito Bonito Hotel
Rua Coronel Pilad Rebuá 1448
T
67 3255 1645,
W
hotelmuitobonito.com.br.
One of