TOUR AQUARIO NATURAL - HALF DAY

Bonito is located at the edge of the Amazon basin and is a gateway to the Pantanal wetlands, featuring its own unique river systems, lakes, and waterfalls known for crystal-clear waters. The Amazon River basin covers a significant portion of Brazil, but Bonito lies in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, which is not within the main Amazon basin. The region's waterways, such as the Prata River, are famed for their transparent waters, which are rich in limestone.  Brazil has three major river basins: the Amazon, Tocantins-Araguaia, and Paraná. Bonito's waters are part of a system separate from the Amazon.

 I took TOUR AQUARIO NATURAL - HALF DAY today. The guide gave a quick lesson before the trip, especially not touching fish, plants, or river bed.  We took a 700-meter walk along a trail of wooden walkways, until reaching the source of the Baía Bonita River. We floated at the source for 15 minutes; the 800-meter route lasts about 40 minutes. The experience is like swimming in a giant aquarium, with abundant fish and lush underwater vegetation right from the start. There was a support boat accompanying the group for the entire duration of the float. I saw much  more and different color fishes here than in Bosque das Águas where I biked to yesterday.  Then came the zipline over the Formoso River (I didn’t do it), and the animal trail. A project for rescued animals is also on-site.

One roommate stringly recommended the Rio da Prata tour, and I almost decided to add this tour. While both the Rio da Prata and Aquário Natural offer unforgettable snorkeling experiences in Bonito, they differ in terms of the trail, length of the float, and surrounding environment. I went with Aquário Natural which is a shorter, more tranquil and cheaper option. While Rio da Prata provides a longer, more adventurous journey for those with lunch, it is too similar to Aquário Natural, so i will not do the Rio da Prata tour.