Mato Grosso is the country’s third-largest state, situated largely on a vast plateau in the Brazilian highlands and taking in three distinct ecosystems – lush Amazonian rainforests, the rich wetlands of the Pantanal Reserve, and the savannah lands of Cerrado. The region’s highlight attractions include the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, a spectacular wilderness encompassing caves, grottos, waterfalls and exquisite trekking trails; wildlife-viewing in the Pantanal – home to over 1000 animal species and a dazzling array of terrestrial and aquatic birds; and the town of Bonito, with its dramatic limestone formations, crystal clear rivers, and underwater caves offering superb diving and snorkelling opportunities.
An untamed paradise situated in central-western Brazil, Northern Pantanal is an awe-inspiring wetland that encompasses about a third of the total Pantanal area, and the world's largest tropical wetland area. This incredible seasonal floodplain is a natural mosaic of various wetland that forms an extraordinary arrangement number of rivers, lagoons, marshes, lakes and ponds accentuated by forested hills. An unmissable attraction is the city of Pocone, the site of the famous Transpantaneira dirt road which leads travellers to Northern Pantanal's abundant wildlife. Visitors should look out for anteaters, rhea, hyacinth macaws, capybara, caiman and the world's largest concentration of jaguars. Further along the road is Pantanal Mato-Grossense National Park, a pristine wildlife hotspot teeming with over 600 species of birds, giant anteaters, giant otters, tapir, howler monkeys and jaguars.
