Catarino's Guest House
The best budget option in town, this family-run pousada opened in 2012 and has become a favorite with young travelers. The breakfast goes way beyond what you would expect at this price range.
6 Best Hotels in Brasilia and the West, Brazil
Brasília's hotels cater primarily to business executives and government officials. Most hotels, from the upscale resorts to the budget inns, are found in the Hotel Sectors and along Lago Paranoá. For ease in exploring the city, try to stay in Plano Piloto, close to most architectural landmarks, shopping malls, and a number of good restaurants.
West of Brasília, deluxe accommodations are scarcer. In the Pantanal, the fazendas (farms) are quite spartan, but there are a few extremely comfortable jungle lodges with nearly everything you could need.
When you book a room, note that a 10% service charge will be added.
Pousada Águas do Pantanal
A great budget choice, this inn renovated in 2012 occupies a historic house with lots of antiques. You'll receive a warm welcome from the friendly staff and the attentive owner, Fátima Cordella, who also runs a travel agency next door. The hearty breakfasts, with several kinds of pastries, are a rarity in a region where buttered bread is the norm.
Pousada Araras EcoLodge
Rooms are impeccably clean at this eco-lodge, which has comforts unexpected in an area this remote. All have verandas where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the views. The restaurant serves great Pantanal fish. Environmental education and awareness is the motto here: this pousada goes the extra mile to keep the environmental impact of tourism to a minimum and explains why and how they do it. One highlight is the 3,000-foot wooden walkway over the wetlands. There are two observation towers extending well above the treetops. From there you have a bird's-eye view of the surroundings. There's a two-night minimum stay, which provides you time to join the trekking, canoeing, and horseback riding, all included in the price.
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Pousada Rancho Jarinú
A family-run business, Pousada Rancho Jarinú has friendly owners who go to great lengths to make you feel at home. The brick building helps keep the air cool—a boon in the heat of the tropics—and there's also a well-kept swimming pool. You're just steps from the main business district in Bonito.
Pousada Remanso
Run by the town's former secretary of tourism, this centrally located pousada has bright if small rooms and spacious common areas and a swimming pool, all of which makes for a comfortable stay. Staff are attentive and knowledgeable.
Refúgio da Ilha
This pousada is nestled on a 2,000-acre island in the Rio Salobra delta. Connected by a bridge to the mainland, it can be reached even during the high waters of the rainy season. The lodge, once a farmhouse, has comfortable apartments with tiled floors and pastel color schemes. Among the activities offered, snorkeling on the river and bird-watching are most popular. Large wildlife (especially mammals) are best seen on an evening or dawn tour in a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
