America

Bonito, Brazil - May 16, 2024 Few places in the world have such an eloquent toponymy. Bonito, a corner blessed by nature in southwestern Brazil, not far from the border with Paraguay, warns the visitor from the beginning. Known for its crystal clear rivers (the Sucuri is the third most transparent river in the world), its caves and endless waterfalls, Bonito has a wide arsenal of attractions to impress the most experienced of ecotourism lovers. The town itself, with a population of just over 20,000, is a tranquil base camp for exploring the surrounding area, the true protagonists of the trip. A trip to the Boca da Onзa (mouth of the jaguar) farm is a good way to familiarize yourself with the terrain. The farm is located in the wildest part of Bonito, the Bodoquena mountain range, which in the indigenous language means 'spring on top of the mountain'. The star of the show is the waterfall that gives its name to the property, which at 156 meters is the highest in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It competes in spectacularity with the Buraco do macaco (the monkey hole), a kind of cenote in which it is possible to bathe under two enormous waterfalls. Those seeking strong emotions can always choose to descend 90 meters in the largest rappel in Brazil, which has breathtaking views over the Salobra River and its valley, covered with lush vegetation, one of the last remnants of Atlantic forest in this part of Brazil. The secret of Bonito lies in the limestone, which in addition to keeping the water incredibly clean by sedimenting impurities, makes the subsoil of the region like a huge gruyere cheese (there are more than 60 caves, many of them still unexplored). The most spectacular is the Anhumas Abyss. To access it you have to descend 72 meters on a rope, crossing a gigantic vault of stalactites, an underground dome that opens onto a lake the size of a soccer field. This footage illustrates the Sucuri River in Bonito, Brazil,