Serra da Bodoquena National Park Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Serra da Bodoquena National Park is a protected natural area in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in the Pantanal region of Brazil. Lush forested mountains give birth to numerous streams with cold, crystal clear waters that frequently tumble over the park's many waterfalls. The park attracts hikers to its miles of marked trails and naturalists can observe myriad plant and animal species including flocks of colorful parrots.

The park is quite large, covering an area of about 77,000 hectares. It is one of several parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the region that make up the Pantanal Biosphere Reserve. Together, these parks constitute a huge protected natural area with pristine habitats and astounding biodiversity.

The park was created as part of the Brazilian national parks system in September 2000. It is operated by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.

The park preserves an ecosystem known as the cerrado, which is a wet, tropical savanna with significant biodiversity.

The park's cerrado landscape is hilly with tropical forests and with open plains of grasslands. A number of rivers begin in the park, where rushing streams have crystal clear waters. Many geological features are found in the park with deep canyons, karst caves, and sheer cliffs that are ideal for climbing and rapelling.

The park is rich in biodiversity with about 200 bird species, more than 50 mammals, and a large range of reptiles and amphibians. A number of endangered species live in the park including the catfish Ancistrus formoso, and large jungle cats like the Jaguar (Panthera onca) and the locally threatened puma (Puma concolor). Birdwatchers will be richly rewarded with the large numbers of colorful birds in the park including several species of parrot and parakeet.

There is a small regional airport in Bonito but there are limited flights available. A larger airport with a better selection of flights is Campo Grande, which is 260 km (about a 3-1/2 hour drive) to the park.

From Campo Grande, drive west on highway BR-262 for 208 km where you will find the town of Miranda. Turn south on state highway MS 339 to Bodoquena.

From Bonito, take state highway MS 178 to Bodequana. It is about a 1-hour drive.

Two companies operate buses to and from Bodoquena (and to nearby towns such as Bonito and Miranda):

• Expresso Mato Grosso do Sul - Buses from Campo Grande to Bodoquena take 5 hours and cost about BR125
• Cruzeiro do Sul - Buses from Bonito to Bodoquena take 1-1/2 hour and cost about BR33

• Waterfalls
• Canyons
• Caves
• Macaws Hole - gaping 100m deep sinkhole inhabited by toucans, parrots, macaws, monkeys, and more
• Serra do Bodoquen Waterfall

• Hiking
  • Salabra River Canyon Trail (7.5km)
  • Boca de Onca Falls (2.2 km, rappel descent 90 m)
  • Santa Maria River Trail
  • Poco Encantado Trail
  • Sumidouro and Resurgence Trail

• Mountaineering

• Birdwatching

There are hotels in nearby towns.

• Hotel la Sierra (in Bodoquena)
• Recanto 3ELL (in Bodoquena)
• Hotel Aguas de Bodoquena (in Bodoquena)

• Bonito
• Corumbá