Rio Da Prata, Bonito: A Natural Aquarium

What more can you ask for with waters this clear and fishes all around

I was in Bonito for 6 days and this was by far the top destination! With crystal clear waters teeming with pacus and dourados, snorkeling in Rio da Prata is like swimming in an aquarium. On a good day, sunlight shines through the foliage into the water creating beautiful beams of light. The calcium carbonate rich water acts as a natural filter of sorts and causes sediments to sink to the bottom.

Just look at the pictures below to see how clear the water is! (even though my camera fogged up halfway there were still some awesome shots)

Protip: Bring a waterproof camera and use an anti-fog spray or anti-fog insert

Taking the jeep to our starting point

Going to Rio da Prata can only be done through a tour easily booked at your hostel/hotel or at any one of the multiple tour agencies in Bonito. The funny thing about tours in Bonito is that they usually don’t include transport to the attraction itself so don’t be too surprised! (full breakdown of costs and duration below)

Our trip to Rio da Prata began with a simple briefing where the guide ran through the route with some do’s and don’ts. Most guides don’t speak much english but you can easily get by with body language and help from fellow tourists. Wetsuits, snorkels, booties and a bag for your dry clothes/towel are provided so we didn’t have to worry about anything. We could even rent waterproof cameras!

Protip: Leave your valuables and anything you don’t need with your transport driver.

Geared up and all ready to go!

After the briefing, we got ferried to the start point where we did a short trek through the jungle before arriving at the beautiful Rio Olha d’ Agua. Don’t worry if you can’t swim because there are lifejackets. The wetsuit helps you to float easily too!

Getting into the water was an amazing experience for me because it was insanely clear with fishes everywhere. For the first part, we simply floated downstream, and enjoyed the live marine show. We then got out of the water to avoid some rapids before returning to the river again. For some reason, the second part was foggier but still great for viewing fishes.

Protip: Take more pictures at the first part. It is harder to get clearer pictures once you get into the foggier waters.

Getting into the water… see the contrast?

Loved the reflections Underwater selfie
Water was higher than usual that day because of the rain so even the platforms were submerged Fooling around in the water Happy and sad at the same time cause it was the end

After about 3hrs, we ended back near the start point and dried up in the basic changing rooms before taking the transport back to the entrance.

This is definitely a must do if you are in Bonito! :D

Cost: R$132 (excluding lunch); R$40-60 (2 way transport depending on no. of people)

Duration: Transport from Bonito to Rio da Prata (1hr), Activity (3hrs), Transport back to Bonito (1hr)

Other attractions in Bonito:

Abismo de Anhumas – Rappel down Middle Earth (cave) into a lake and snorkel/dive in the underground lake. I really wanted to do this but didn’t cause it was too expensive and it is best done between dec-feb where the light coming into the cave is perfect.
Gruta do Lago Azul – Great cheap cave with an underwater lake and beautiful stalactite formations. Postcard view of Bonito!
Boca da Onca Ecotour – A trek through the jungle to 11 waterfalls with lots of opportunities to swim.
Balneario Municipal: Natural swimming pool with lots of fish along the Rio Formoso. Nice place to cycle to and chill out for half a day. Food, lockers, lots of monkeys.

All photos are taken by me on my GoPro Hero 3 Black. Follow me on Instagram @pohtecktoes for more pictures and videos!

Love what you see or have any attractions in Bonito to add/share? Drop a comment below!