Mato Grosso, as well as other states in Brazil's interior, has large areas of pristine nature suited for adventure travel. Some regions have wonderful tourist attractions such as rafting, rappelling, scuba diving and agritourism, but these are not internationally known. Below are tips on how to find travel information to visit these hidden treasures.
Tip 1: Search for Travel Information on the Internet
Internet provides a good basis to obtain information on potential tourist attractions in a region or state. Brazilian states as well as municipalities often have websites with a subheading "turismo".
Tip 3: Bring a Dictionary
In lesser known or unknown tourist destinations, Brazilians often don't speak any other language than Portuguese. Bringing a dictionary helps overcome language obstacles when trying to obtain tourist information. While Brazil's major cities may have bookstores with English-Portuguese language books, this most certainly isn't the case in most Brazilian cities – it is best to bring one from home.
Tip 3: Visit Tourist Information Centres
Before heading off into the interior, check the tourist information centre in the capital or another major city. In Mato Grosso this is Cuiabá, where there is a Tourist Information as well as Sedtur [state organisation of Tourism]. Tourist information centres may provide travel information that goes beyond the international guidebooks.
Tip 4: Buy a Local Guidebook
Brazil’s large cities have bookstores that sell local guidebooks but these will most probably be in Portuguese only, so whether they are useful depends on the traveller's knowledge of Portuguese. Local guidebooks most likely offer more detailed travel information on a region than a general, international guidebook.
Tip 5: Sedtur – a State Tourism Development Organisation
Sedtur [Secretaria de Desenvolvimento do Turismo] in Mato Grosso, or other state tourism agencies, may have an office in the state capital and supply tourist information. Even if the staff has no knowledge, do ask for tourist brochures or maps, this may bring surprising results.
Tip 6: Visit the Prefeitura or Secretaria de Turismo
Each town in Brazil has a Prefeitura [town hall], or a Secretaria de Turismo. It is good to check these out when there is no Tourist Information. Much depends on the staff working there whether a visit will lead to a dead end or whether the traveler will be showered with tourist information and assistance in finding tourist attractions in the area.
Tip 7: Talk to the Locals About Tourist Attractions
Talking to Brazilians about possible tourist attractions may lead a traveler to surprising places. In many cases these won't constitute major highlights but may bring something unique or unexpected, resulting in a highlight of a traveler's personal journey. Ask for a local newspaper, these may supply information on special events or festivals in the region.
Tip 8: Ask Hotel and Restaurant Staff About Travel Information
In general, people working in the service industry like hotels and restaurants have more contact with tourists or travelers than other locals, and may therefore better understand the need or wishes of travelers.
Tip 9: Look Through Information Folders for Tourist Attractions
Whether it is in a hotel, a tourist information office or a travel agency, never expect the staff to be complete in the tourist information they give. In most cases this has nothing to do with unwillingness, but rather with a lack of understanding of the needs or interests of travelers.
Look around, are there posters hanging on the wall that give hints on what there is to see? Are there brochures or books lying on the counter or on book shelves? Take the time to look through them, there may be surprises waiting.
Tip 10: Bring a Notebook When Visiting a Museum
Museums may show photographs of waterfalls, other natural scenery or a place of cultural interest like rock paintings or restored churches. They are often a great source of information on the treasures in the area.
Booking.com
Tip 11: Check for Yourself – Don't Take "No" For an Answer
Like people in any other culture, Brazilians have their pride and don't like to lose face. This means that the words "I don't know" are little used. Most likely the answer will be "No, it is not possible" or "No, we don't have that / it doesn't exist". Don't take "no" for an answer easily, but check things out personally. Who knows there is more to be discovered than this particular Brazilian knows.
Tips on Finding Tourist Information in Unexplored Regions of Brazil
Even though a guidebook may have little to tell about a region, there are many ways to obtain travel information. Internet, Prefeituras and museums are good sources of information, or talk to the local people about the tourist attractions in their region.
Tip 1: Search for Travel Information on the Internet
Internet provides a good basis to obtain information on potential tourist attractions in a region or state. Brazilian states as well as municipalities often have websites with a subheading "turismo".
Tip 3: Bring a Dictionary
In lesser known or unknown tourist destinations, Brazilians often don't speak any other language than Portuguese. Bringing a dictionary helps overcome language obstacles when trying to obtain tourist information. While Brazil's major cities may have bookstores with English-Portuguese language books, this most certainly isn't the case in most Brazilian cities – it is best to bring one from home.
Tip 3: Visit Tourist Information Centres
Before heading off into the interior, check the tourist information centre in the capital or another major city. In Mato Grosso this is Cuiabá, where there is a Tourist Information as well as Sedtur [state organisation of Tourism]. Tourist information centres may provide travel information that goes beyond the international guidebooks.
Tip 4: Buy a Local Guidebook
Brazil’s large cities have bookstores that sell local guidebooks but these will most probably be in Portuguese only, so whether they are useful depends on the traveller's knowledge of Portuguese. Local guidebooks most likely offer more detailed travel information on a region than a general, international guidebook.
Tip 5: Sedtur – a State Tourism Development Organisation
Sedtur [Secretaria de Desenvolvimento do Turismo] in Mato Grosso, or other state tourism agencies, may have an office in the state capital and supply tourist information. Even if the staff has no knowledge, do ask for tourist brochures or maps, this may bring surprising results.
Tip 6: Visit the Prefeitura or Secretaria de Turismo
Each town in Brazil has a Prefeitura [town hall], or a Secretaria de Turismo. It is good to check these out when there is no Tourist Information. Much depends on the staff working there whether a visit will lead to a dead end or whether the traveler will be showered with tourist information and assistance in finding tourist attractions in the area.
Tip 7: Talk to the Locals About Tourist Attractions
Talking to Brazilians about possible tourist attractions may lead a traveler to surprising places. In many cases these won't constitute major highlights but may bring something unique or unexpected, resulting in a highlight of a traveler's personal journey. Ask for a local newspaper, these may supply information on special events or festivals in the region.
Tip 8: Ask Hotel and Restaurant Staff About Travel Information
In general, people working in the service industry like hotels and restaurants have more contact with tourists or travelers than other locals, and may therefore better understand the need or wishes of travelers.
Tip 9: Look Through Information Folders for Tourist Attractions
Whether it is in a hotel, a tourist information office or a travel agency, never expect the staff to be complete in the tourist information they give. In most cases this has nothing to do with unwillingness, but rather with a lack of understanding of the needs or interests of travelers.
Look around, are there posters hanging on the wall that give hints on what there is to see? Are there brochures or books lying on the counter or on book shelves? Take the time to look through them, there may be surprises waiting.
Tip 10: Bring a Notebook When Visiting a Museum
Museums may show photographs of waterfalls, other natural scenery or a place of cultural interest like rock paintings or restored churches. They are often a great source of information on the treasures in the area.
Booking.com
Tip 11: Check for Yourself – Don't Take "No" For an Answer
Like people in any other culture, Brazilians have their pride and don't like to lose face. This means that the words "I don't know" are little used. Most likely the answer will be "No, it is not possible" or "No, we don't have that / it doesn't exist". Don't take "no" for an answer easily, but check things out personally. Who knows there is more to be discovered than this particular Brazilian knows.
Tips on Finding Tourist Information in Unexplored Regions of Brazil
Even though a guidebook may have little to tell about a region, there are many ways to obtain travel information. Internet, Prefeituras and museums are good sources of information, or talk to the local people about the tourist attractions in their region.
Comments