Serra da Bodoquena National Park

MATO GROSSO DO SUL

Ecotourism in Bodoquena

Crystal clear, greenish and bluish waters, a dense forest, and a formation of mountains of limestone rocks shape the scenery of the Serra da Bodoquena National Park. Considered one of the most interesting ecosystems in the Pantanal, the place is home to the largest stretch of Atlantic Forest in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul.

The conservation unit was created in 2000 and is in a region that presents consolidated tourism and in which several ecotourism activities take place. However, the park is closed to visitors and does not have support infrastructure.

The project aimed to carry out analyzes and technical, economic, and financial feasibility studies for the development of public use and ecotourism in the park. The potential of the area was evaluated and proposed activities for accommodation, recreation, food, among others foreseen in its Management Plan.

The Park has 76,481 hectares, divided between the North and South fragments. It is 350 km from the capital Campo Grande and covers the municipalities of Bodoquena, Jardim, Porto Murtinho and Bonito, well known for ecotourism and natural beauty. Among the four, Bonito acts as a regional ecotourism hub, attracting most visitors to the region.

The park’s Management Plan points out that the structuring of the region could offer an alternative to the visitor looking for the attractions of Bonito. Still, the richness of the park’s natural attractions – rich flora and fauna, crystalline water bodies, canyons, and caves – can integrate a still untapped niche in the local tourist market, further leveraging the regional vocation for tourism.

The activities and infrastructure for public use proposed are implemented in each fragment of the park, in which two nuclei have been identified in each. The proposed interventions are related to the characteristics and potential of each area.

There are planned several groups of activities that can be implemented in the park: walks (trails and bathing); adventure activities (abseiling, diving and floating, cave diving and kayaking); environmental education and interpretation activities (visitor center, expography); accommodation (camping, glamping, research support); commerce (local products and handicrafts store, convenience store); food (restaurant, cafeteria, kiosks) and transport (parking and internal transport of the park).