'''Cuiaba''' is a city in Mato Grosso, Brazil
Get in
The capital of Mato Grosso state, Cuiaba is a modern, pleasant town of 500,000 that sits in the middle of Brazilian cattle country. It was not unusual to see folks on the street in cowboy duds, but through recent years, Cuiaba has been greately modernized. And, it's a great place to stock up on boots, saddles, and other western gear. The city serves as the main gateway to the northern part of the Pantanal -- the Transpantaneira Highway starts just 98km (61 miles) away -- and as the jumping-off point to the Chapada dos Guimaraes. However While in The City There is So much to do and see. three spacious shopping malls, Amazing restaurants, and A late night clubs. Not to mention The Beautiful open downtown center where you can find live music, open air shopping, street vendors,and fresh coconut water.
History
Cuiaba was founded in April 08, 1719 as the capital of Mato Grosso State.
Get around
Most people arrive in Cuiaba and immediately leave on a Pantanal tour. The hotels, sights, and restaurants all within walking distance of the town center. The main hotel neighborhood and center of town is quite safe. The only part of town to avoid is along the riverside. Taxis are inexpensive -- R$7 to R$21 (US$2.30-US$6.95) to get around town -- and quick for getting out to the airport or bus station. Lodges will usually arrange transportation and pickup from hotels.
'''Driving the Transpantaneira''' -- There are a couple of ironies about the Transpantaneira. Though the name implies that the road traverses the entire flood plain, the highway stops in Porto Jofre, 144km (89 miles) from where it began, and at least that far from the opposite edge of the Pantanal. The other irony is that the project, which if completed would likely have destroyed the Pantanal (by skewing the ecosystem's drainage pattern), has instead, in its unfinished state, become one of the great wildlife-viewing areas of the world. Ditches on either side of the roadbed have become favorite feeding grounds for kingfishers, capybara, egrets, jabiru storks, giant river otters, and caiman by the dozen. Spend but a day on the Transpantaneira, and you'll see more wildlife than you'd see in a week in the Amazon.
See
'''Sights in Cuiaba''' - The excellent Secretaria de Turismo gives out a very detailed map showing all the various sights in Cuiaba, complete with pictures. It's a nice try, but pleasant though the city is, there's really little to see here.
'''Basilica do Senhor Bom Jesus de Cuiaba''', Praca da Republica. Tu-F 8AM-11AM and 2PM-6PM. A stylish modern cathedral with some nifty Art Deco features and great stained glass. Mass is at 6am and 6pm daily.
Almost next door there's the yellow baroque '''Palacio de Instrucao''' tel: 065/321-3391. M-F 8AM-5PM, now home to Cuiaba's history and natural history museums. Admission is R$1 (US35__) for both. The history museum is mostly devoted to the 1860s war between Brazil and Paraguay, largely fought in this remote region. The natural history wing features a wide assortment of stuffed dead animals -- all rather tatty looking -- and some great Indian clubs and arrows and headdresses.
Down by the renovated riverside port area there's the '''Museu do Rio Cuiaba''' and the '''Municipal Aquarium''', Av. Beira Rio s/n (where the Av. 15 de Novembro crosses the river; tel; 065/623-1440. Tu-Su 9AM-6PM. Features displays and exhibits on the changing face of the river, and a small collection of local Pantanal fish.
The centerpiece of Cuiaba is a small green square called '''Praca de Republica'''. The modern but very stylish basilica fronts this square, as does the tourist information office and the small natural history museum. The most important street in Centro (central Cuiaba), Avenida Getulio Vargas, runs northwest from Praca da Republica. Most of the city's better hotels and several restaurants cluster around Avenida Getulio Vargas about 8 blocks from the square. Directly northeast of Praca Republica, there's a small shopping district, centered on Rua Eng. Ricardo Franco. Two blocks southeast of Praca Republica, Avenida Getulio Vargas hits the broad traffic arterial Avenida Ten. Cel. Duarte. On the far side of this street there's a large city park, '''Parque Antonio Pires de Campos''', and on the ridge behind that, the neighborhood of Bandeirantes, where there are a few cheaper hotels. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to walk from either Banderiantes to Praca Republica, or from Praca Republica to the Avenida Vargas hotel enclave.
Do
Three days is the minimum reasonable itinerary for the Pantanal. Four or five days allows you to take things easier; with wildlife viewing, the longer you spend in an area, the better your chances of seeing animals. Spend the minimum possible time in Cuiaba then a take a slow wildlife-spotting drive out along the Transpantaneira to a lodge.
'''Take a guided hike''', and after sunset, go for a spotlight drive on the Transpantaneira to see the night creatures: capybaras, tarantulas, and (with the most incredible of luck) jaguars. It is also strongly recommended that you take the time to explore the Pantanal as it was meant to be seen, on the back of a horse.
'''Canoeing''' one of the North Pantanal's small rivers is a great way to spot monkeys and giant river otters.
After exploring the Pantanal, consider a 1-day or overnight trip to the '''Chapada dos Guimaraes''', the highlands to the north of Cuiaba. The beautiful red-rock formations, plateaus, and canyons offer excellent hiking and fabulous views, great waterfalls and swimming holes, and some excellent birdlife, including red macaws.
Buy
The main commercial district in Centro is concentrated around the Praca da Republica. You'll find many stores selling clothing and shoes, as well as stationery, toiletries, film, batteries, and food. There are 3 great malls:
'''Pantanal Shopping Mall''', [http://www.pantanalshopping.com.br] (one of the biggest in west of Brazil).
'''3 Americas Shopping''', [http://www.shopping3americas.com.br] (finest stores).
'''Goiabeiras Shopping''' (close to downtown).
'''Native & Regional Arts and Crafts''' - A number of excellent crafts stores with native and regional works can be found around Centro.
'''Feira de Artesanato''', Praca Santos Dumont, at the corner of Avenida Getulio Vargas. A weekend crafts market Saturday from 8AM-8PM and Sunday from 3PM-9PM.
'''Artindia''', Rua Pedro Celestino 301, Centro, tel: 065/623-1675. M-F 8AM - 11:30AM and 1:30PM - 5PM. Run by Funai, the Brazilian federal Indian department, to promote indigenous arts and crafts.
'''Casa do Artesao''', Rua 13 de Junho 315, tel: 065/321-0603. daily 8AM to 6PM. A bit further out of downtown, towards the river. Located in a lovely tile-covered colonial building, the Casa's collection is very large.
''' Porto''', Rua 13 de Junho 315 at the corner of Avenida Metelo, tel: 065/321-0603. Daily 8AM-6PM. Expensive but the quality is high.
'''Cowboy Equipment & Clothes''' -- Cuiaba is the place to pick up everything you need for that real Pantaneiro cowboy look. If you need a hat, boots, or jeans, stop by:
'''Texas Country''', Av. Getulio Vargas 1021, Centro, tel: 065/322-1301).
'''Selaria e Sapataria Centro Oeste''', Av. Ten. Cel. Duarte 318, tel: 065/622-1584. Another great store to get properly outfitted. The store sells inexpensive quality clothing and gear for real cowboys, no trendy Shania Twain-look-alike stuff. We're talking boots, hats, good jeans, gloves, spurs, and chaps; if you're going riding, your various body parts will thank you for it.
Eat
For long years Cuiaba was a city moved away from the great cities and mainly became a city of passengers that developed a proper culture, in the cuisine. Much contributed for the cuisine the caldelosos rivers, the immense territory with native cattle lives and still the diversity of animal species of the Pantanal. The base of the dishes is the fish, followed of the bovine meat, and exotic fruits as banana and the cashew.
'''Arab cuisine '''
Al Manzul - (Parque) Cachoeira das Garcas (acesso pela Av. Arquimedes Pereira Lima - old highway of the mill). Classified by the magazine 4 rodas as the best Arab restaurant in Brazil.
Cedro's - Pca. April 8, 1046 (Goiabeiras) tel.: 624-9134
'''French cuisine'''
Le Chez Babet - Av. President Marques, (Quilombo) restaurant neoclassical style. The atmosphere is elegant and the service excels for the description. The menu is changed to each station.
'''Italian cuisine'''
Adriano - Av. Getulio Vargas, 985 (I Center) tel: 623-1664.
'''Pantaneira cuisine (From panatanal)'''
Peixaria Popular - Av. S. Sebastiao, 2324 (Goiabeiras); tel: 322-5471. Typical plates done with fish of the area.
'''Fish'''
Meridian 56 - Av. Issac Povoas, 1039 (Goiabeiras); tel.: 322-4321.
'''Portuguese cuisine'''
Taberna Portuguesa - Av. 15 de Novembro, 40 (Porto); tel.: 321-3661.
'''Regional Cuisine'''
Regionalissimo - R. 13 de Junho, 314 (Porto) tel: 624-1773.
'''Switzerland Cuisine'''
Casa Suica - Av. Subtle Miguel, 4200 (I Prick of the Love); tel.: 624-2077. The Chefe Hans presents a restaurant in Alpine construction with great area outdoors. Besides plates of the Swiss cookery, it serves some adaptations as well as petiscos and draft beer.
Varied
'''Others'''
Cafe Cancun [http://www.cafecancun.com.br/cuiaba.html] - It's called "funny restaurant", an entertainment house to have a fun eating, drinking and dancing with Mexican food and wide variates of drinks. The sound is salsa, mambo e merengue.
Getulio Grill - Av. Getulio Vargas, 1147 (Goiabeiras); tel 624-9992 - Meats, sushi bar and chop, still counts in the weekends with very busy nightclub.
Morro of Santo Antonio - Av. Isaac Povoas, 1167 (Goiabeiras) tel: 622-0502 - restaurant, Bar and Nightclub
Morro dos Ventos - (Park) Access for the highway for Campo Verde, Km 1 (Farm Hills of Winds), 3 km; tel.: 301-1280. Regional food.
O Mestrinho - R. Quinco Caldas, 119; tel.: 301-1690. Regional food. Weekends it has meats.
Nivio's Tour - Pca. D WUNILBALDO, 631; tel.: 301-1206.
Drink
Sleep
'''Deviller Hotel''', [http://www.deville.com.br/nossos_hoteis/deville_cuiaba_hotel.asp]. It's the only luxury hotel in Cuiaba, but rooms are fairly standard. They're comfortably furnished with a desk, armchair, and table; the colors and decor are slightly dated, but the bathrooms are modern and come with bathtubs. It's the amenities that you really get what you pay for: It's the only hotel in town with a business center, room service, spacious swimming pool, and sun deck.
'''Araras Lodge''', [http://www.araraslodge.com.br]. Likely the best spot for exploring the Pantanal. The location by the Transpantaneira is excellent, and lodge owner Andre Thuronyi has done extensive work to improve the local wildlife habitat. With only 14 rooms, the lodge is pleasantly small and rustic. No fancy rooms or amenities; each guest room comes with a private bathroom and a hammock on the veranda.
'''Hotel Mato Grosso''', [http://www.hotelmatogrosso.com.br]. The best hotel in the center of Cuiaba, just a few blocks from the Praca da Republica. The hotel has just completed renovating the hallways and rooms. The rooms have had the carpets replaced by tiles, making for a much cleaner and brighter look. Rooms are either standard or deluxe; standard rooms are a bit small and dark (they look out the side of the building). The more spacious deluxe rooms overlook the front of the hotel and come with a queen-size bed. The best rooms are the deluxe rooms on the quieter upper floors. The suites aren't worth it -- they're really just two adjoined bedrooms. The eighth and ninth floor are nonsmoking.
'''Global Graden''', [http://www.globalgarden.com.br]. Offers by far the best accommodations in Cuiaba, provided you don't need amenities such as a pool, business center, or room service. Every unit is a full suite; all are spacious with complete kitchens and lots of closet space -- perfect for a family. To splurge, go for the duplex penthouse. There are four of them on the top floor, and they are huge! On the top floor there's a sitting room, kitchen, and a large deck with a barbecue. Down the spiral staircase are two spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms.
'''Paiaguas Palace Hotel''', [http://www.hotelpaiaguas.com.br/]. One of the better bets for affordable accommodations in Cuiaba. Because of its location on a busy road, a 10-minute walk from the Praca de Republica stands, the Veneza tries harder, including goodies like free airport transfer, free Internet access, and a very steep discount during at least half the year. Rooms are pleasant, with a good-size queen bed, table, writing desk, and standard-size bathroom.
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