Bonito Tours: Every Attraction with Price, Duration and Effort Level
River Snorkeling in Bonito: How It Works, Which River to Choose and the Rules
Mask, snorkel, wetsuit and a river of transparent water. What river snorkeling in Bonito is like, which river suits you and what you cannot do in the water.
Updated September 24, 2026 · Guia de Bonito editorial team
Flutuação, the local name for river snorkeling, means drifting down a river with a mask, snorkel, life vest and wetsuit, without swimming: a gentle current carries the group and all you do is look. It is the experience that made Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, famous, and the one tour that justifies the trip on its own. The list below shows every river registered in this guide, with distance, duration and a reference price.
What the tour is like
Every river snorkel follows the same routine: reception at the farm, equipment handed out (wetsuit, life vest, mask, snorkel and, in some places, boots), a short trail to the spring or entry point, and a practice session in still water where the guide adjusts your mask and teaches you to breathe through the snorkel. Then the group enters the river and drifts downstream in single file, guide in front. The rule is not to kick, so as not to stir up sediment or scare the fish.
Time in the water ranges from 40 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the river. At the end there is a return leg, on foot or by vehicle. Most attractions have a restaurant, changing rooms and showers.
Which river to choose
| River | Distance from center | Time in the water | Minimum age | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sucuri River | ~19 km | about 1 hour | stated by the agency | The clearest water and a half-day tour |
| Nascente Azul | ~30 km | about 1 hour | stated by the agency | An intensely blue spring and full-day facilities |
| Rio da Prata | ~50 km (Jardim) | about 2 hours | stated by the agency | The longest river with the most large fish; combine with Buraco das Araras |
| Aquário Natural | ~7 km | about 40 minutes | stated by the agency | Children, beginners and anyone short on time |
| Lagoa Misteriosa | ~50 km (Jardim) | about 30 minutes | stated by the agency | Snorkeling in still water inside a sinkhole, or scuba diving |
Our opinion: on a first visit, do the Sucuri River or the Rio da Prata. The Sucuri wins on clarity and proximity; the Prata wins on length and variety of fish, and lets you combine Buraco das Araras on the same day. With four days or more, do both. Nascente Azul is the alternative when the Sucuri is full. Aquário Natural is the right choice with small children or for anyone who has never used a snorkel.
Rules in the water
- No sunscreen or insect repellent on skin that goes in the river. Attractions ask you to shower first or arrive clean. The wetsuit covers arms and legs.
- Do not touch fish, plants or the riverbed. Do not stand on the bottom.
- Do not kick. The technique is to stay horizontal and let the current carry you.
- No feeding the fish. Some attractions used to be flexible about this; the current rule is no.
- Small group, with a guide. You cannot go down the river on your own.
Best time of year
Between May and September, the dry season, the water is at its clearest. Between December and March, rain clouds the rivers more often and the attraction may suspend the tour on the day. That does not mean snorkeling is bad in the southern summer; it means there is a risk of rebooking. Details in best time to visit Bonito.
Price
River snorkeling sits in a middle range between the river beaches and the technical tours. Reference prices, quoted by agencies in September 2026 in Brazilian reais (BRL): each river’s price appears on its card, with the date it was checked. The price is the same at every agency under the single-voucher system. Transport, lunch and photos are charged separately at most attractions.
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 *
River snorkeling
Sucuri River Snorkeling (Rio Sucuri)
The clearest river snorkel in Bonito: 1.8 km drifting from a spring with the current, 19 km from town, with a boat ride back.
- 19 km from town
- 2.5h
- Minimum age: 4+
from R$349 *
River snorkeling
Nascente Azul Spring Snorkeling and River Park
A short snorkel in a deep blue spring, with a full day-use river park to spend the rest of the day, 32 km from Bonito on the road to Bodoquena.
- 32 km from town
- 2.5h
- Minimum age: 4+
from R$374 *
Adventure
Anhumas Abyss (Abismo Anhumas)
A 72-meter rappel into a cave with a lake at the bottom, then snorkeling or scuba diving among limestone cones. Bonito's most expensive and most restricted tour.
- 23 km from town
- 4h
from R$997 *
River snorkeling
Barra do Sucuri River Snorkeling
A short river snorkel where the Sucuri meets the Formoso River, with a boat ride upstream and a drift back down with the current. One of the cheaper snorkels in the region.
- 17 km from town
- 2.5h
from R$269 *
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 *
River snorkeling
Aquário Natural Spring Snorkeling
A snorkel of about 800 meters on the Baía Bonita River spring, 8 km from the center of Bonito. The gentlest option for children and first-timers.
- 8 km from town
- 2.5h
- Minimum age: 5+
from R$352 *
Adventure
Formoso Adventure (Bonito Aventura): Zipline and Canopy Course
Adventure circuit in the riverside forest of the Formoso River, 7 km from town: a hike, a long zipline, a suspended trail between platforms and a float down the river to finish.
- 7 km from town
- 2.8h
Cave
Mimoso Cave Snorkeling (Gruta do Mimoso)
A partly flooded cave 30 km from Bonito where you snorkel among stalactites, in groups of up to 10 with limited daily slots.
- 30 km from town
- 1.5h
- Minimum age: 8+
from R$314 *
Related tours
River snorkeling
Sucuri River Snorkeling (Rio Sucuri)
The clearest river snorkel in Bonito: 1.8 km drifting from a spring with the current, 19 km from town, with a boat ride back.
- 19 km from town
- 2.5h
- Minimum age: 4+
from R$349 *
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 *
River snorkeling
Nascente Azul Spring Snorkeling and River Park
A short snorkel in a deep blue spring, with a full day-use river park to spend the rest of the day, 32 km from Bonito on the road to Bodoquena.
- 32 km from town
- 2.5h
- Minimum age: 4+
from R$374 *
River snorkeling
Aquário Natural Spring Snorkeling
A snorkel of about 800 meters on the Baía Bonita River spring, 8 km from the center of Bonito. The gentlest option for children and first-timers.
- 8 km from town
- 2.5h
- Minimum age: 5+
from R$352 *
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to swim to snorkel in Bonito?
It is not required. You wear a life vest and a wetsuit, which keep you afloat, and the guide stays with the group the whole time. What matters is being comfortable with your face in the water and breathing through the snorkel. Anyone with a fear of water should tell the agency in advance.
Which is the best river snorkel in Bonito?
It depends on what you want. The Rio da Prata is the longest and has the most large fish; the Sucuri River is the clearest and the closest to the town center; Nascente Azul has the most beautiful spring; Aquário Natural is the gentlest, recommended for children and beginners. If you can do two, the Sucuri and the Rio da Prata complement each other.
Is the water in Bonito's rivers cold?
The temperature stays around 22 to 24 °C (72 to 75 °F) all year. With the wetsuit it is comfortable even in winter. Without one, you can feel cold after an hour in the water.
Can I wear sunscreen while snorkeling?
Not on any skin that goes in the water. Sunscreen and insect repellent form a film that reduces the water's clarity and affects the wildlife. Attractions require you to enter without sunscreen; the wetsuit covers most of your body and protects you from the sun.
Can a snorkeling tour be cancelled because of rain?
Yes, when rain clouds the water enough to spoil visibility. The decision is made by the attraction, not the agency. In that case the usual rule is to rebook for another day or switch to another tour; confirm the policy when you book.
