WHENEVER I LOOKED at a map of Brazil, my eyes were drawn west. Why? My guidebook devoted only a handful of pages to Brazil’s second largest state, Mato Grosso, concentrating on Cuiabá (the capital), the Pantanal wetlands, and Guimarães National Park. I wasn’t convinced. Such a large region, I thought, there must be something more to explore. Besides, if we didn’t like it we could simply turn around and return east, couldn’t we?

My partner Coen and I ended up traveling in Mato Grosso for five months. Few people spoke English; our Portuguese was limited. Apart from the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland, there was no tourist infrastructure of note. Yet we were overwhelmed by all there was to discover. Along with extraordinary natural scenery and wildlife, outdoor adventures, and historic culture, this visit gave us some insight into the lives of the region’s indigenous people, as well as the cattle breeding and soya and corn production that’s helping fuel Brazil’s behemoth of an economy.

All photos by MatadorU graduate Coen Wubbels.

1

Campo Novo do Parecis: Rappelling down waterfalls

A two-hour drive from Cuiabá, two of Mato Grosso's largest waterfalls lie in the Indigenous Reserve of Utiariti: the Utiariti Waterfall and the Salto Belo Waterfall, both of which draw rappellers. You need a guide and permission to enter the reserve, which you can organize in Campo Novo do Parecis at the Prefeitura. Also, the nearby Rio Sacre and Rio Verde are two of Mato Grosso's rivers suitable for rafting.

2

Quatro Cachoeiras: Visiting an indigenous community

From Campo Novo do Parecis, you can also organize a tour to Quatro Cachoeiras ("Four Waterfalls"). Visiting this indigenous village taught us much about the struggle of indigenous groups who are transitioning from their ancient way of life into the modern world. The chief Narciso Kazoizax explained to us how he wanted to hold on to his culture, whereas his kids and grandkids are no longer interested in doing so; in his traditional oca (a hut made of palm leaves) the television blared and the fridge hummed while cassava was cooked on an open wood fire outside.

3

Sapezal: Agrotourism + technotourism

In Mato Grosso, there's a constant conflict between indigenous groups trying to hold on to their land and Brazilian farmers running major agricultural operations looking for more to grow their soya, corn, and cotton. Sapezal has a Rota Agricultura, mostly for farmers but also for other travelers. What's available on this Agricultural Route depends on the season and your interest, but possible options are: visiting a cotton factory or a sunflower plantation, and watching the processing of rice, beans, and/or popcorn. Sapezal's technotourism is related to the hydroelectric dams on the Juruena River. Check with the Prefeitura for more information.

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4

Cristalino Jungle Lodge (Alta Floresta): Wildlife

In 2013, the Cristalino Jungle Lodge was selected as one of National Geographic Traveler's 25 Best Ecolodges. The lodge is located in Cristalino’s Private National Heritage Reserve on the southern edge of the Brazilian Amazon, north of Alta Floresta. The reserve is home to 600 bird species, 2,000 butterfly species, and other diverse wildlife, which can be seen from some 20km of hiking trails, on boat rides on the Cristalino River, and at sunrise from a 60-meter observation tower. Bonus: The acidity of the Cristalino River keeps mosquitoes away.

5

Campo Verde: Visiting an MST community

MST stands for Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra. The Landless Workers’ Movement occupies pieces of land and subsequently claims them. Some believe this is the only way to force rich people to give up land and share it with the poor, whereas others, not surprisingly, see it as theft. Unfortunately, violence has too often become part of the struggle. In Campo Verde, there are a couple of MST communities from the early days that are considered to practice the 'right' way of how MST should work. They have grown into successful assentamentos, such as a tropical flower plantation and a farm cultivating and processing cassava. As you will need a guide to visit the assentamentos, check with a travel agency in Campo Verde or the Prefeitura.

6

Bom Jardim: Outdoor adventures

The region northeast of Mato Grosso's capital Cuiabá is home to limestone caves (Cerquinha and Duto do Quebó), the waterfall of Porta das Pedras, streams great for snorkeling among thousands of fish (Reino Encantado and Aquário Encantado), nests with blue-and-yellow macaws that you can watch from up close, and, when open to the public, Lagoa Salobão, which is a unique diving spot. To get to these places you need a permit, which you can obtain in Bom Jardim; they cap the number of people per day to minimize disruption of the natural areas.

7

Barra do Garças: UFO spotting

Barra do Garças has the world's first official UFO airport (called a Porto Disco Voadores). According to the mystic visions of Dom Bosco, the nearby beautiful Serra Roncador Mountains will be the home of a new civilization, which will rise up in the third millennium. Until that happens, just enjoy the hiking trails. In 1925, the mountains were also witness to the mysterious disappearance of the legendary British explorer Col. Percy H. Fawcett, which will be the theme of The Lost City of Z, a movie that filmmaker James Gray has been planning to make for years.

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8

Rondon Telegraph Route: Digging into history

Around 1900, Mato Grosso was finally connected with Brazil's commercial center in the southeast of the country (Rio de Janeiro) through the construction of telegraph stations. It was the military officer Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, also known as Marechal Rondon, who was in charge of this groundbreaking work, which made him a hero among Brazilians. The telegraph station near Barra do Garças has been beautifully preserved, while the Campo Verde telegraph station was reconstructed in 2009 (situated in Assentamento Taperinha Capim Branco). Other museums dedicated to Rondon's work are in Cáceres (Palácio da Instruçao, or the Museum of History) and in Cuiabá (the Rondon Museum, or Museo do Indio).

9

Vila Bela de Trindade: Hiking

In the Ricardo Franco Mountain Range, you can hike the easy trail to the Cascata dos Namorados (Valentine's Waterfall) and take a refreshing dip in its pool. A much more difficult waterfall to reach is Cascata do Jatobá, which can only be found with a guide. The arduous but extraordinary hike leads through cerrado and jungle and over often hardly discernible trails. The Jatobá Waterfall tumbles down from a vertical canyon wall that is home to many birds that roost in the rock. It's also a good spot from which to watch red-and-green macaws. Wear hiking boots and long pants. Other outdoor activities in the area include canyoning the tributaries of the Guaporé River, and spotting pink dolphins.

10

Jaciara: Rock paintings

There are quite a number of ancient rock paintings in west Brazil, but most lie on private property and can't be visited. Jaciara is a pleasant exception. Vale de Perdida is private property but can be accessed if you find a guide (ask around for Nerida, recommended). The Prefeitura is a good place to start. If you're interested, go now, as there is no money to conserve most of these rock paintings and climate change and pollution are contributing to a rapid deterioration and subsequent disappearance of this ancient art.