Rio da Prata River Snorkeling

Rio da Prata is the most complete river snorkeling tour in the Bonito region and, for many visitors, the best. It is not actually in Bonito: the Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata reserve sits in the neighboring municipality of Jardim, about 50 km from the town center, and the tour fills half a day between trail, river and lunch. What you get for the distance is a drift of more than 2 km, with lots of large fish, spring-fed stretches and a river of a size that neither the Sucuri nor Nascente Azul can match.

A quick note on the activity itself: what Brazilians call “flutuação” (floating) is a guided river snorkel. You wear a wetsuit, life vest, mask and snorkel and drift downstream with the current, face down, in single file behind a guide. There is no swimming required.

What the tour is like

Groups of up to nine people collect wetsuit, vest, mask and snorkel at the reception. Before getting in the water there is a trail of about 50 minutes through riverside forest, on flat ground, to the entry point on the Olho d’Água River. The guide uses the walk to go over the rules and point out wildlife: monkeys, toucans and, with luck, tapirs along the banks.

The float starts at the Olho d’Água spring, where the water is clearest and the schools of piraputanga, dourado and curimbatá come closest. From there the group drifts downstream in single file, without swimming: the vest and the gentle current do the work. At a few points the guide stops the group to show springs bubbling up through the sand. At the end, the Olho d’Água meets the Rio da Prata, wider and darker, and the route finishes at a dock a few meters from the vehicle pickup point. Expect about 2 hours in the water.

Then comes a shower and the buffet lunch, included in the price. The restaurant is large and serves regional food; groups commonly linger until mid-afternoon.

Rules that apply to every river snorkel

Nobody enters the water with sunscreen or insect repellent on their skin: the products form a film that harms the river. The showers at reception exist precisely to rinse off any residue. Touching fish, plants or the riverbed is also prohibited, and the guide will stop anyone who stands up on the sand. Vest and wetsuit are mandatory, and the group only moves in single file behind the guide.

Best season and time of day

The dry season, May to September, gives the most predictable water. On days of heavy rain visibility drops and the tour may be rescheduled. As for time of day, morning is better: light enters the river at a wider angle and the early departures avoid groups bunching up at the spring. See also our article on the best time to visit Bonito.

Price

The reference price, in Brazilian reais (BRL), is shown in the info box on this page with the date it was checked. It already includes lunch, equipment and the guide. Not included: transport (quoted separately by the agency) and Jardim’s municipal environmental fee, charged per day of visit. As with every tour in the region, you buy through a licensed agency at the same price everywhere, under Bonito’s single-voucher booking system.

How it compares to the Sucuri River

These are the two best-selling river snorkels, and the question comes up constantly. The Sucuri River has clearer water, a shorter route (about 1.8 km with a boat ride back), sits 19 km from town and takes around 2.5 hours. Rio da Prata is longer in the water, has more fish and more varied scenery, but requires the drive to Jardim and a full day. Those with time do both; those who have to pick one and are not traveling with small children usually prefer Prata.

Is it worth it?

Yes. Among the river snorkels it gives you the most for every real spent, even though it is the most expensive of them. The caveat is logistics: 100 km round trip and half a day committed. To make the drive count, book Buraco das Araras, 15 minutes away, or Lagoa Misteriosa, on the same property, for the same day. That combination is the standard “Jardim day” in our 4-day itinerary.

If you want to compare every option before deciding, our hub on snorkeling in Bonito lays out the differences in length, price and who each river suits.