About Bonito, Brazil: Where It Is, Why the Water Is Clear and How Tourism Works
Jardim, MS: Tours, Distances and How to Fit It into Your Bonito Trip
Three of the most popular tours in the Bonito region are actually in the municipality of Jardim. See what is there, the distances and how to combine it all in a single day.
Updated September 24, 2026 · Guia de Bonito editorial team
Jardim is the municipality just south of Bonito, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), and many visitors only realize they have been there when they look at their voucher. Three of the most popular tours in the region are on Jardim’s territory: Rio da Prata, Buraco das Araras and Lagoa Misteriosa. In practice, they are sold by Bonito’s agencies under the same voucher system (every tour is booked in advance through a licensed agency at a fixed price), and together they make up the “Jardim day” in most itineraries.
Where it is
The town of Jardim is about 60 to 70 km from the center of Bonito, depending on the route, on a paved road. The attractions lie between the two towns, with short dirt stretches on the access roads:
| Attraction | Distance from Bonito | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Lagoa Misteriosa | about 45 km | snorkeling and scuba diving (April to October) |
| Rio da Prata | about 50 km | river snorkeling with a trail and lunch |
| Buraco das Araras | about 53 km | watching macaws in a sinkhole |
By car, allow about 1 hour to Rio da Prata. The Bonito map shows where each attraction sits in relation to town.
The tours in Jardim
Rio da Prata
The most complete river snorkeling tour in the region (“flutuação”, as it is called locally: you drift with the current in a wetsuit, life vest, mask and snorkel, without swimming). It includes a forest trail, about 2 hours in the water and lunch. Adult voucher in 2026: R$ 470 to R$ 570 (Brazilian reais). Stated minimum age 5 (some sources say 6). It is the tour that sells out most: book 60 to 90 days ahead in high season.
Buraco das Araras
A sinkhole more than 100 meters deep where pairs of red macaws live. A short, flat trail with two viewpoints, about 1 hour 20 minutes of visit. Adult voucher in 2026: about R$ 185. It is accessible for people with reduced mobility and works for all ages.
Lagoa Misteriosa
A sinkhole of blue water more than 220 meters deep. Snorkeling is on the surface, with a 1.1 km trail and a staircase. Adult voucher in 2026: R$ 270 to R$ 298, from age 6. It only operates from April to October.
Extra activities at the Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata
If you are spending the day at Rio da Prata, you can add horseback riding, about 1.5 hours (R$ 220 in 2026, from age 6, up to 120 kg), or an introductory scuba dive in the river (R$ 410 in 2026, from age 10). Both are separate vouchers.
How to plan your Jardim day
| Time of day | Classic option | April to October option |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Rio da Prata (lunch included) | Lagoa Misteriosa |
| Afternoon | Buraco das Araras, late in the day | Buraco das Araras |
Rio da Prata plus Buraco das Araras is the most classic day in the region and appears in the 3-day, 4-day and 5-day itineraries. Leave Bonito early. Do not squeeze a northern tour into the same day: Rio da Prata in the morning and Boca da Onça in the afternoon, for example, add up to more than 200 km of driving.
Practical tips
- Book Rio da Prata for the second or third day of your trip. If heavy rain clouds the river, there is still time to reschedule.
- Check the transfer. Most rate sheets do not include transport. For 3 or 4 people, a rental car usually works out cheaper than transfers to both tours. See Bonito by car.
- Snacks in your daypack. The day is long, with plenty of driving between tours and on the way back to Bonito.
- Buraco das Araras in the late afternoon. The birds are most active in the early morning and at the end of the day.
- Conservation fee. Bonito’s Environmental Conservation Fee is charged per day of tours sold by the town’s agencies. Check with the agency whether there is an additional municipal charge at the Jardim attractions.
Stay in Jardim or in Bonito?
For most itineraries, Bonito is the right base: the town has more guesthouses, restaurants and agencies, and the other tour areas (caves to the west, waterfalls to the north) are closer to it. Sleeping in Jardim only pays off if you will spend two days in a row at the southern attractions, for example Rio da Prata one day and Lagoa Misteriosa with a scuba dive the next. Accommodation options in Bonito are in where to stay in Bonito.
Jardim and the Serra da Bodoquena
Jardim, Bonito, Bodoquena and Guia Lopes da Laguna belong to the same tourist region, on the edge of the Serra da Bodoquena mountain range. The northern attractions, such as Boca da Onça and the Serra da Bodoquena Waterfalls, are in the municipality of Bodoquena. Our Serra da Bodoquena guide explains the geography of the region, and the hub on snorkeling in Bonito compares Rio da Prata with the other river snorkels.
Related tours
River snorkeling · Jardim
Rio da Prata River Snorkeling
The longest river snorkel in the Bonito region: over 2 km of drifting with the current, a forest trail and lunch included, 50 km from town.
- 50 km from town
- 4h
- Minimum age: 5+
from R$470 *
Sightseeing · Jardim
Buraco das Araras Macaw Sinkhole
A sandstone sinkhole about 100 meters deep and 500 meters around, home to red-and-green macaws. An easy 1 km trail with two lookouts, in Jardim.
- 53 km from town
- 1.3h
from R$185 *
River snorkeling · Jardim
Lagoa Misteriosa Sinkhole Snorkeling and Diving
A flooded sinkhole with blue water and a measured depth of over 220 meters, for snorkeling or scuba diving. Open April to October, in Jardim, next to Rio da Prata.
- 45 km from town
- 2h
- Minimum age: 6+
from R$270 *
Horseback riding · Jardim
Horseback Riding at Rio da Prata
A horseback ride of about 1.5 hours at the Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata reserve, sold separately from the river snorkel. Good for anyone spending the whole day in Jardim.
- 50 km from town
- 1.5h
- Minimum age: 6+
from R$220 *
Frequently asked questions
How far is Jardim from Bonito?
The town of Jardim is about 60 to 70 km from the center of Bonito, depending on the route, on a paved road. The attractions are along the way: Lagoa Misteriosa about 45 km from Bonito, Rio da Prata 50 km and Buraco das Araras 53 km.
What is there to do in Jardim, MS?
The most popular tours are river snorkeling at Rio da Prata, watching the macaws at Buraco das Araras, and snorkeling or scuba diving at Lagoa Misteriosa, which only operates from April to October. The Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata also offers horseback riding and introductory scuba dives.
Is it worth staying in Jardim instead of Bonito?
For most people, no. Jardim's tours fit into one day from Bonito, and the rest of the trip is north and west of Bonito. Sleeping in Jardim only makes sense if you will spend two days in a row at the southern attractions.
Can you do Rio da Prata and Buraco das Araras on the same day?
Yes, it is the most common combination in the region. Rio da Prata takes the morning, with lunch included, and Buraco das Araras comes in the late afternoon, when the birds are most active. The two properties are a few minutes apart.
Rules, prices and schedules change. This page lists its sources and when they were checked; confirm before you travel.
Sources and verification dates
- Guia Premium de Bonito 2026 (official sources and licensed agencies) · Sep 2026
