Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
60m, pounding into the forested basin below. All visits must be accompanied by a
guide - all of the operators based in Cuiabá can arrange your trip (from around R$60/
day/person, depending on how big the group is).
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
CHAPADA DOS GUIMARÃES AND AROUND
By bus
Nine daily buses run by Expreso Rubi make the
90min journey from Cuiabá's rodoviária
to Chapada dos
Guimarães.
Tourist information
Centro de Apoio Ao Turismo, on
the corner of Rua Dr. P. Gomez with Rua 7 Perimetral, just
a few blocks from Praça Dom Wunibaldo (Mon-Sat
9am-6pm;
T
65 3301 2045,
T
65 3301 1690). A helpful
o
ce that can assist with details of bus times,
information on campsites, contact lists for local guides
and maps of the Chapada. Information can also be
obtained from the national park o
ce (daily
8.30am-5pm;
T
65 3301 1133), while the website
W
chapadadosguimaraes.com.br offers photos, hotel
information and so on, though all in Portuguese.
TOURS
Atma
Rua Cipriano Curvo 655
T
65 3301 3391,
W
chapadatma.com.br.
Specializes in adventure tours -
mainly trekking and caving and cascading, but also offers
trips to the main sites in the area.
Eco Turismo Cultural
Praça Dom Wunibaldo 464
T
65 3301 1393,
E
ecotur@terra.com.br.
Organizes
good-value and reliable tours of the region and has an
English-speaking guide; their prices depend on numbers
but range from around R$60/person a day, upwards.
7
FROM CUIABÁ
Ecoverde Tours (see p.473) can arrange a guide and/or
transport for a day-trip or longer excursion here. Pantanal
Nature (see p.473) also run tours to the Chapada - you can
combine a trip to the Pantanal with the Chapada by opting
for their five-day/four-night package tour.
ACCOMMODATION
IN THE VILLAGE
Hotel Turismo
Rua Fernando Corréa 1065
T
65 3301
1176,
W
hotelturismo.com.br.
This pleasant hotel has
comfortable beds and good showers and can sometimes
chang
e dollar
s cash. There's a small pool and lovely
views.
R$316
Pousada Bom Jardim
Praça Dom Wunibaldo 641
T
65 3301 2668,
T
65 3301 1244.
Located right on the
central square, this clean and very friendly hotel is good
value for money and serves decent
breakfa
sts; some rooms
have a/c and are nicer than others.
R$120
Pousada Villa Guimaraes
Rua Neco Siqueira 41
T
65
3301 1366,
W
pousadavillaguimaraes.com.br.
This
lovely
pousada
housed in a bright yellow building has large
comfortable rooms with all the usual mod cons, a
s well a
s a
pool and living areas to relax in and helpful staff.
R$275
Solar do Ingles
Rua Cipriano Curvo 142
T
65 3301
1389,
W
solardoingles.com.br.
Close to the main square,
this
pousada
is full of character and offers quaint and
comfortable accom
modatio
n with pool and sauna. There's
a lovely garden too.
R$330
SURROUNDING AREA
Pousada do Parque Eco Lodge
Estrada do Parque Km 52
T
65 3391 1346,
W
pousadadoparque.com.br.
Owned by
the same people behind
Pousada
Araras Lodge
(see p.468) and
Pantanal Explorer (see p.473), this eco-friendly
pousada
is set
next to the national park, offering fantastic views of the
Chapada, and perfect for nature-lovers and birdwatchers.
Rooms are on the small side, but you're unlikely to be spending
much time in them as the focus here
is on t
he surrounding
nature - the treks here are wonderful.
R$370
Pousada Penhasco
On the southern precipice side of
town, beyond the outskirts of the village
T
65 3301
1555,
W
penhasco.com.br.
A large, quite plush place.
There are fifty apartments with great scenic views, six
pools, a sau
na and
plenty of sports facilities, plus lots to do
for kids too.
R$377
EATING
Bistro da Mata
Km 2 of the MT-251 towards Campo
Verde
T
65 3301 3483.
It's worth venturing out of
the town centre for this romantic restaurant with
wonderful views of Cuiabá down below. Get there before
sunset and stay for a candlelit dinner. You need to
book in advance.
Fri 8pm-1am, Sat 5pm-1am, Sun
noon-4pm.
Chalé da Fondue
Rua Quinco Caldas 333
T
65 3301
3000.
This cosy restaurant with chequered tablecloths and
chessboards is a favourite among 30-something couples.
Variations of fondue range from the usual suspects such as
cheese and meat, to more unusual specialities like fish and
coconut. The filet mignon fondue comes with delicious
sauces.
Thurs-Sun 6.30-11pm.
Estilo
Av do Penhasco, s/n, Quadra 48, Bom Clima
,
T
65 3301 3430.
Doing one thing, but doing it well,
Portuguese restaurant
Estilo
is the place to come for
bacalhão
(salted cod) in many different guises. Start off