Cuiabá
South America · Brazil
Did you know?
- Pantaneira cooking puts local fish on the menu.
- Western gear shops sell boots, hats, spurs and chaps.
- Nighttime outings along the Transpantaneira search for capybaras and other wildlife.
See also
Overview
Cuiabá links travelers with the northern Pantanal and the Chapada dos Guimarães highlands. It is a useful stop for arranging journeys into these contrasting landscapes.
Languages: Portuguese
Why go?
Cuiabá is the main gateway to the northern Pantanal—the Transpantaneira Highway starts just 98 km away—and the jumping-off point to the Chapada dos Guimarães highlands. Founded in 1719 as the capital of Mato Grosso State, it's a modern city of 500,000 sitting in Brazilian cattle country where cowboy culture remains visible in street fashion and western gear shops. The city serves as a practical base for wildlife viewing, with lodges along the Transpantaneira offering some of the world's best jaguar, capybara, and bird-spotting opportunities.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting in
Cuiabá's Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB) handles flights from major Brazilian hubs. The city is also accessible by long-distance bus from São Paulo (roughly 18 hours) and other regional destinations. Most travelers arrive by air and immediately head out on Pantanal tours, though the city itself has a pleasant open downtown center with live music, street vendors, and fresh coconut water worth exploring before departing.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting around
The city center and most hotels, restaurants, and sights are within walking distance of the main square, Praça da República. Taxis are inexpensive at R$7 to R$21 for town trips, and are quick for reaching the airport or bus station. The main hotel neighborhood clusters around Avenida Getulio Vargas, about 8 blocks northwest of the square. Lodges typically arrange transportation and pickup from hotels for guests heading to the Pantanal.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to stay
The best hotel neighborhood is around Avenida Getulio Vargas, about 8 blocks from Praça da República. Budget options include Hotel Mato Grosso in the center (rooms renovated with tile floors, R$100-200) and Paiaguás Palace Hotel offering free airport transfer and internet. For Pantanal exploration, Araras Lodge along the Transpantaneira provides 14 rustic rooms with private bathrooms and hammocks on the veranda—the best spot for wildlife viewing. Luxury seekers can try Deville Hotel with business center, room service, and swimming pool.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
Cuiabá offers diverse dining: Italian at Adriano (Av. Getúlio Vargas 985), Arab cuisine at Al Manzul (classified best in Brazil by 4 Rodas magazine), Swiss at Casa Suiça with outdoor area, and French elegance at Le Chez Babet (Quilombo). Regional Pantaneira cuisine featuring local fish is available at Peixaria Popular (Goiabeiras). For nightlife, Garage Club is the electronic music reference for central-western Brazil, hosting international DJs. Praça Popular is a public space with concentrated restaurants and bars.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
Three days is the minimum for the Pantanal; four or five days improves wildlife viewing chances. Take guided hikes along the Transpantaneira with nighttime spotlight drives for capybaras, tarantulas, and jaguars. Horseback riding offers the traditional Pantaneiro experience. Canoeing on North Pantanal rivers spots monkeys and giant river otters. After the Pantanal, consider a day or overnight trip to Chapada dos Guimarães—red-rock formations, plateaus, canyons, waterfalls, swimming holes, and red macaws await.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
When to go
The Pantanal has distinct wet (October-March) and dry (April-September) seasons. The dry season offers easier wildlife viewing as animals concentrate around water sources. The Transpantaneira's posted speed limit is 60 km/h but expect slower travel, especially after rain when roads turn to mud. Only the first 3 km of the highway is paved; the remainder is dirt with over 100 wood and concrete bridges.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Safety
Most of Cuiabá is safe for walking, including the main hotel neighborhood and town center. The only area to avoid is along the riverside. Standard urban precautions apply—watch belongings in crowded areas and avoid displaying expensive items.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Buy
The main commercial district is around Praça da República. Three major malls serve different needs: Pantanal Shopping Mall (one of the biggest west of Brazil), 3 Americas Shopping (budget-friendly), and Goiabeiras Shopping (close to downtown). For cowboy gear, Texas Country (Av. Getulio Vargas 1021) and Selaria e Sapataria Centro Oeste (Av. Ten. Cel. Duarte 318) offer authentic boots, hats, jeans, gloves, spurs, and chaps. Native crafts are available at Artindia (Funai-run, Rua Pedro Celestino 301) and Casa do Artesão (Rua 13 de Junho 315, daily 08:00-18:00). The weekend crafts market at Feirada Artesanato runs Saturday 08:00-20:00 and Sunday 15:00-21:00.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day trips
The Transpantaneira Highway runs 144 km from Cuiabá to Porto Jofre, passing through prime wildlife habitat where ditches have become feeding grounds for kingfishers, capybara, egrets, jabiru storks, giant river otters, and caiman. Chapada dos Guimarães, the highlands north of the city, offers day or overnight trips with hiking, waterfalls, swimming holes, and red macaws. Várzea Grande is just across the river for quick visits.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
The main onward destination is Várzea Grande, just across the river from Cuiabá. From here, travelers can access the broader Pantanal region or continue to other Mato Grosso destinations. The Transpantaneira continues south into the heart of the Pantanal wetlands, and the Chapada dos Guimarães highlands lie to the north for hiking excursions.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Araras Lodge
Likely the best spot for exploring the Pantanal. The location by the Transpantaneira is excellent, and lodge owner Andre Thuronyi has done extensive work to improve the local wildlife habitat. With only 14 rooms, the lodge is pleasantly small and rustic. No fancy rooms or amenities; each guest room comes with a private bathroom and a hammock on the veranda.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Deviller Hotel
It's the only luxury hotel in Cuiabá, but rooms are fairly standard. They're comfortably furnished with a desk, armchair, and table; the colors and decor are slightly dated, but the bathrooms are modern and come with bathtubs. It's the amenities that you really get what you pay for: it's the only hotel in town with a business center, room service, spacious swimming pool, and sun deck.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Mato Grosso
In the center of Cuiabá, just a few blocks from the Praça da República. The hotel has just completed renovating the hallways and rooms. The rooms have had the carpets replaced by tiles, making for a much cleaner and brighter look. Rooms are either standard or deluxe; standard rooms are a bit small and dark (they look out the side of the building). The more spacious deluxe rooms overlook the front of the hotel and come with a queen-size bed. There are deluxe rooms on the quieter upper floors. The suites aren't worth it -- they're really just two adjoined bedrooms. The eighth and ninth floor are nonsmoking.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Paiaguás Palace Hotel
One of the better bets for affordable accommodations in Cuiabá. Because of its location on a busy road, a 10-minute walk from the Praça de República stands, the Veneza tries harder, including goodies like free airport transfer, free Internet access, and a very steep discount during at least half the year. Rooms are pleasant, with a good-size queen bed, table, writing desk, and standard-size bathroom.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Adriano
Italian.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Al Manzul
Classified by the magazine 4 Rodas as the best Arab restaurant in Brazil.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Casa Suiça
Chef Hans has an alpine-style restaurant with a great area outdoors. Besides plates of Swiss cookery, it serves some adaptations as well as petiscos and draft beer.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Cedro's
Arab food.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Connectivity
Mobile coverage is good in the city. WiFi available at hotels. International roaming recommended for wildlife lodge areas where landline coverage may be limited.
Language
Portuguese is the local language. English is limited outside tourist establishments. Basic Portuguese phrases helpful for interactions with local guides and lodge staff.
Money
Brazilian Real (BRL) is the local currency. ATMs available in the city center. Credit cards accepted at hotels and larger restaurants.
Safety
City center and main hotel areas are safe for walking. Avoid the riverside area. Standard urban precautions apply.
Transport
Taxis cost R$7 to R$21 for town trips. The Transpantaneira is 144 km of dirt road with 100+ bridges—expect slow driving, especially after rain.
Weather
Tropical climate with wet season October-March and dry season April-September. The dry season offers easier wildlife viewing as animals concentrate at water sources.