Bom Jardim, Nobres (Mato Grosso) might just be one of Brazil’s most underrated destinations. Often compared to Bonito but quieter, cheaper and far less touristy — this small village in central Brazil is packed with crystal-clear rivers, natural freshwater springs, limestone caves and vibrant wildlife, including blue-and-yellow macaws.

Located just outside Nobres in the state of Mato Grosso, Bom Jardim is still largely unknown to international travellers. Most travel information is only available in Brazilian Portuguese and during our visit we didn’t encounter a single other foreign visitor — a clear sign this place remains under the radar.

After finishing our Pantanal tour and spending a few days in Cuiabá, we were deciding between Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul) and Bom Jardim. Bonito may be more famous, but high prices quickly ruled it out. When our local host recommended Bom Jardim instead, we took the leap — and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our time in Brazil.

We spent three days in Bom Jardim floating through turquoise rivers, exploring jungle springs and slowing down in a truly untouched part of Brazil. This guide covers everything you need to know to visit Bom Jardim: the best things to do, a relaxed 3-day itinerary, costs, how to get there and practical tips to plan your trip.

Why Bom Jardim (Nobres, Mato Grosso) is one of Brazil’s Best Hidden Gems?

A lot of tourists visit Cuiaba as it’s the gateway to the Pantanal but what most don’t do is hang around. Which is honestly a shame because this part of Brazil is so hidden. One thing you’ll notice about the drive towards Bom Jardim is that it’s pretty dry. But you’ll also notice some lush greenery and crystal clear rivers and that’s because this part of Brazil sits on what’s called the Cerrado-Amazon transition zone. It’s quite a rare area to be visiting!

But anyways, while Bonito is being plastered all over Brazil social media, Bom Jardim sits quietly in the shadows. It’s got a small town hospitality, these crystal clear rivers, natural springs and cave systems. But since it’s relatively unknown, that means everything is also being developed. There’s not much information available in English, very little people speak English – using a translation app helps.

But that’s its charm. This truly is an off the beaten path and it’ll be a fun adventure.

Top Attractions in Bom Jardim, Nobres (Mato Grosso)

Below is a breakdown of the main places you might opt to visit. I visited all of these places, some were as part of a package I had booked through an agency and some we decided to visit on our own. But bear in mind, there is a whole catalog of places you can visit… We chose to spend only 3 days there and this is what fit in for the time we were there.

Aquário Encantado: River Floating + Aquarium

• Duration: 1.5 hrs
• Style: Guided flutuação
• Booking: Required

The main photo you’ll see when you Google Bom Jardim, Nobres. Arguably, the most famous spot in this village is Aquário Encantado (Enchanted Aquarium). Unlike some of the other attractions in Bom Jardim, you book an allotted time slot and join a tour at the attraction. You get a life vest to wear, water shoes, snorkel + mask and off you go. You’ll get convoyed to the start on the back of a truck.

The first stop is this aquarium-like spring and the namesake of this attraction. The visibility is so good that you can see fish gliding across as if you’ve just stuck your head into an aquarium. The second stop is what Brazilians call flutuação or floatation. Literally, all you need to do is float because the river currents will do the work for you.

Why it’s special:

• Only a limited number of visitors enter at a time which keeps the experience peaceful.
• The current is gentle, making it relaxing rather than adrenaline-filled.
• It’s one of the few places where flutuação (gentle guided floating/snorkelling) is done sustainably.
• Water clarity here is unbelievable — great for underwater photos.
• The aquario is full of native fishes.

According to what I’ve seen online, it’s the most Bonito-like experience you’ll get in Nobres. Except for half the price and it’s not as busy! 😉

Refugio das Aguas: Natural spring pool

• Duration: as long as you’d like
• Style: Lagoon swimming
• Booking: Not required

Just minutes from the entrance of Aquário Encantado, is Refúgio das Águas. There’s two natural spring pools you can take a dip in and it’s fantastic. We almost had the whole place to ourselves except for another couple.

Why it’s special:

• The limestone-rich geology naturally filters the water, keeping it crystal clear.
• The spring is full of native fish species.
• There are walking paths, places to relax and areas to swim freely.

This is the spot that really gives Bom Jardim its peaceful, nature immersed vibe. You’re surrounded by forest in a natural spring, it’s fantastic and refreshing going for a dip when it’s a hot day.

Lagoa das Araras: Sunset with Macaws

• Duration: Best at sunset
• Style: Bird (macaw) watching
• Booking: Not required

“Arara” means macaw in Portuguese. This palm lined lagoon is a fantastic place to see the blue and yellow macaws and parakeets up close and in the wild. We were informed that sunset is the best time to visit because flocks of the macaws and parakeets return to their nests. You can spend a long time observing and watching the little dramas between the birds!

It’s also a really nice spot in general to watch the sunset…

Why it’s special:

• A natural sanctuary, this is not a feeding site.
• Magical for wildlife photographers. Macaws sometimes fly overhead – if you’re quick enough to capture it!
• Best visited at sunrise or sunset when birds are active.

It’s one of those simple but unforgettable wildlife moments.

Balneário Estivado: Lunch + Relaxed Swimming with Fish & Monkeys

• Duration: as long as you’d like
• Style: Lagoon swimming + Lunch
• Booking: might be a good idea on the weekends for lunch

This is a super popular spot amongst local families. The water is clear, the swimming lagoon is shallow with fish everywhere. Sometimes you’ll see cheeky monkeys wandering and causing some chaos. But like all wildlife encounters – they are curious but they are wild… please don’t feed them! The nice thing about this place is that your entrance will also include a local Brazilian buffet lunch with fresh meats off the asado, beans and rice, veg and fruits. It’s a nice spot but it does get really crowded on the weekends.

Why it’s special:

• Casual, local and family-friendly.
• Great for a post activities swim.
• A nice contrast to the more structured tours.

Think of it as a laid back Sunday afternoon in nature.

Boia Cross Duto do Quebó: Floating Through a Limestone Tunnel

• Duration: 1 hrs
• Style: Tubing + Floatation
• Booking: Required

This was a pleasant surprise during our time in Bom Jardim. Boia Cross Duto do Quebó is another flutuação activity but it’s done with an inflatable tube and drift. You don’t have to book a set timeslot for this attraction but you will need to join the guided tour. You get water shoes, a helmet and a tube. The explanation is unfortunately only in Portuguese but essentially, you just float and watch out for the limestone formations/overhanging branches.

You will also go through a big cave with bats! But of course with the pandemic, I had a bit of PTSD and just wanted to get out of the cave quickly 😀

Why it’s special:

• It’s the only cave/tunnel in the region open to visitors.
• Completely different from the lagoon and river experiences.
• Perfect for travellers who like low key adventure.

Definitely a contrast to Bom Jardim’s other attractions which feature a nice big lagoon or relaxed flutuação rivers.

3 Day Itinerary for Bom Jardim (Nobres, MT), Brazil

The following structure is what we personally had done and I would recommend it. It was very relaxed, not too rushed and you get to see all the attractions mentioned above.

Day 1: Arrival & Sunset At Lagoa das Araras

Set off with your rental car from Cuiabá and head north on the MT-351 highway. It’s a paved highway with some beautiful views of Chapada dos Guimarães National Park. If you set off early, you could do a little detour to the national park and visit Cachoeira Véu de Noiva – a beautiful waterfall on the outskirts of the village. Entrance is free and the walk is short. If you’re lucky, you might spot some macaws flying around.

Otherwise, continue on the MT-351 until you reach Bom Jardim. This drive will take about 2 – 3hrs. Settle into your pousada before heading to Lagoa das Araras for sunset. There’s not too many restaurants in the village and it’s a quiet town so you’ll probably have an early night.

Day 2: Snorkel & Float

In the morning, head to Refúgio das Águas and enjoy swimming in the lagoon. You might actually be the only ones there. Keep in mind that the attraction is closed between 1200 – 1300hrs.

Afterwards, you can decide to have lunch either at the Refugio das Aguas or Aquario Encantado.

While waiting for your time slot for Aquário Encantado, you can relax in the garden area. And then you’re ready. The whole tour takes about 1.5hrs to complete. The instructions and information are in Portuguese again but the guide does try to use a Translator app to give you the information.

After a full day of water activities, head back to town, have dinner and relax.

Day 3: Tubing + a wind down afternoon

You’re going to have an early-ish start today. Check out of your pousada and drive an hour away. The roads will be mainly gravel so drive carefully! You first stop of the day will be Boia Cross Duto do Quebó. Get there for 10am and join that tour. Enjoy the 45mins of floating on the river, through the caves and on crystal water.

Afterwards, you’ll probably start feeling peckish, so drive back down to Bom Jardim and head to Balneário Estivado for lunch and a laid back swim in the little lagoon.

By the late afternoon, you’ll be ready to head back to Cuiaba to return the car and call it a night!

How Much Does Everything in Vila Bom Jardim Cost?

From our research, prices are far from affordable than visiting Bonito. And if you’re already in Cuiaba, it’s a lot easier to get to Bom Jardim than it will be to Bonito. Prices are accurate as of October 2025 and quoted for a couple (2 pax). Note: at the time of writing, USD$1 = 5.4 BRL

Experiences: 1012 BRL (USD$187)

• Lagoa das Araras: 70 BRL (USD$13)
• Refúgio das Águas: 160 BRL (USD$30)
• Aquário Encantado: 300 BRL (USD$55)
• Boia Cross Duto do Quebó: 270 BRL (USD$50)
• Balneário Estivado (lunch inclusive): 212 BRL (USD$40)

Accommodation: 600 BRL (USD$110)

We stayed at Pousada Lagoa Azul which is owned by a tour company called Anaconda Adventure We had a double room, ensuite bathroom and breakfast included for 600 BRL for 2 nights.

Meals: 478 BRL (USD$89)

Car costs: 852 BRL (USD$157)

Total: 2 950 BRL (USD$550)

Not the cheapest BUT affordable by Brazil standards especially when comparing to its counterpart of Bonito.

Booking everything in Bom Jardim

Since there isn’t a lot of information available in English, allow me to share some tips.

I went with Anaconda Adventure since they had a 3 day 2 night package promotion: accommodation + breakfast, entrance to Refúgio das Águas, Aquário Encantado, Boia Cross Duto do Quebó all for 1300 BRL for two.

It was very easy to book with them, I just sent a reservation via WhatsApp. I did double-check the prices for the 3 attractions included in the package and they don’t include any additional charges. This makes is super easy because for most of these attractions, the easiest thing to do is buy a voucher from a tour agency and hand it to them.

They also have a booklet of other attractions you’d like to visit that isn’t on this list.

How to Get to Bom Jardim (Nobres, MT)

Nearest airport: Cuiabá (CGB)
You’ll be able to get to Cuiaba from Sao Paolo and a couple of other large Brazilian cities with the local airlines.

From Cuiabá:

If you rent a car, it’s a 2 – 3 hrs drive north on the MT-351.

I would strongly recommend hiring a car. It’s doable to get to Bom Jardim with public transport, however majority of the attractions aren’t in the village itself and quite a drive away. When you purchase tickets, you have to get there yourselves. You’ll save a lot of headaches by renting your own car!

Note: the local roads to the attractions are mostly unpaved. It’s manageable without a 4×4 in dry season, but take it nice and slow so you don’t accidentally have any incidents.

Best Time to Visit Bom Jardim

The best time to visit is during dry season. The climate is relatively similar to that of the Pantanal, so dry season is May – September. We went in the shouldering season (in early October) but we lucked out on the weather. It didn’t rain but it was a bit cloudy so we didn’t get the strong emerald colour. But it was still beautiful nonetheless.

Dry season would be the best time as the weather will be lovely, water is clear + best visibility… additionally, the roads won’t be washed out so a lot easier to drive without a 4×4.

Should you visit this hidden paradise in Brazil?

There are so many beautiful destinations in Brazil. However, not a lot of them are still hidden away from the foreign tourists and still keep that raw, local and undiscovered vibe… With untouched rivers, turquoise springs, chilled adventures and amazing wildlife, it’s the perfect off grid escape. Trust me, it is one of those places that is a hidden gem and actually feels like it.

Although it’s starting to gain a lot of popularity from the local Brazilian crowds so it’s only time before this secret gets out! If you happen to be in Mato Grosso, I’d highly recommend adding Bom Jardim to your Brazil bucket list.

In a rush? Read all these FAQs about Bom Jardim 😉

Is Bom Jardim in Brazil worth visiting?
Yes!! Bom Jardim is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you’re looking for a quieter, more affordable alternative to Bonito. With crystal-clear rivers, freshwater snorkelling, limestone caves and abundant wildlife, it offers some of the best nature experiences in Mato Grosso, particularly when paired with a Pantanal trip.

How many days do you need in Bom Jardim, Nobres?
Three days is ideal. This allows enough time to visit top attractions like Aquário Encantado, Refúgio das Águas, Lagoa das Araras and Boia Cross Duto do Quebó without rushing.

Is Bom Jardim cheaper than Bonito?
Yes. Bom Jardim is significantly cheaper than Bonito. Entrance fees, guided activities, accommodation and food all cost less, while offering very similar freshwater floating and snorkelling experiences.

Do you need a car to visit Bom Jardim?
Renting a car is strongly recommended. Most attractions sit scattered around Nobres. You’ll drive mainly on unpaved roads, but in the dry season, you can manage them easily without a 4×4.

What is Bom Jardim best known for?
Bom Jardim is best known for flutuação (gentle river floating) through crystal-clear rivers, swimming in natural freshwater springs and spotting blue and yellow macaws at Lagoa das Araras.

Is Bom Jardim good for snorkelling?
Absolutely. Freshwater snorkelling in Bom Jardim is excellent thanks to exceptional water clarity and limestone filtration. Aquário Encantado is the most popular site.

What is the best time to visit Bom Jardim, Mato Grosso?
The dry season (May to September) offers the clearest water and easiest road conditions. Early October can also be a good shoulder-season option.

Can you visit Bom Jardim as a day trip from Cuiabá?
It’s possible, but not recommended. Staying one or two nights allows for a far more relaxed experience.