The Sucuri River, along with the Rio da Prata in the Bonito region, is one of Brazil's clearest rivers and among the world's ten clearest. The Sucuri River’s vibrant hues range from azure blue to green where vegetation grows. It is also an incredible place to observe the local fauna in this part of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Snorkelling in the Sucuri River is one of the region's most sought-after activities. If you want to appreciate the river’s beauty but don’t want to snorkel, you can float down the river with the group in the support boat that accompanies the snorkellers.
The river’s name, “Surcuri,” means “anaconda”. The name is said to come from the river’s serpentine, winding nature and the vibrancy of its colours, especially when viewed from above, rather than the actual serpents that occasionally appear along the river. No worries, though, snorkellers aren't on the Anaconda's lunch menu.
It is important to distinguish that there are two different Snorkelling Tours on the Sucuri River:
Nascentes do Sucuri at São Geraldo Farm, which this page covers, and Barra do Sucuri. They are two different tours, not just two different names for the same thing. Nascentes do Rio Sucuri, or Rio Sucuri Ecoturismo, includes a visit to the river's headwaters, where springs, or ‘resurgences’, percolate up from the sandy bottom. The tour takes place on an extensive ranch and includes a short safari in an open-air safari car across the savanna to the headwaters, a 500-metre trail, and about 1800 metres of snorkelling. Barra do Sucuri starts with an electric boat trip upstream on the Sururu River, then snorkelling on the way back down. The total distance snorkelling is 1300 metres.
This tour begins at the Rio Sucuri Ecoturismo visitor centre. You will be outfitted with a neoprene wetsuit, a life jacket, water sandals, and a snorkel—all included in the tour price. From there, snorkelers board a rustic open-air safari vehicle to cross the farm and head toward the dense forest. You follow a 500-meter trail through a riparian forest to reach the Sucuri River springs. One spring even bubbles up from beneath a tree's roots. This part is already beautiful; you can observe various types of vegetation and spot local wildlife, like capuchin monkeys. Upon arriving at the Sucuri River, snorkellers receive an orientation and test their skills on a submerged wooden deck—stepping on the riverbed is prohibited to avoid stirring up sediment. Meanwhile, the snorkelling activity is open to children aged 4 and up. It covers about 1,800 metres downstream, where you can spot various fish species and underwater plants. It’s neither as short as the floating experience at Nascente Azul (300 meters) nor as long as the one at the Rio da Prata (2,200 meters). A small boat travels slowly alongside, keeping pace with the people in the water. Sucuri River: In the river, you might see fish species such as piraputanga, the endemic matogrosso (tetra), peixe-cachorro (dogfish), cascudo (armoured catfish), and dourado. From the boat, you can spot various bird species. If you choose snorkelling and get tired or cold along the way, you can hop on the boat to finish the route. The entire experience lasts about two and a half hours, with approximately 45 minutes spent in the water.
If you arrive early or finish the tour hungry, you’ll be glad to know the Rio Sucuri Ecoturismo visitor centre is well equipped. The facilities include a restaurant, a bar, a souvenir shop, a hammock area, restrooms, and even a swimming pool (though not very large). It also has a lovely garden with a jackfruit tree and hives for stingless native bees. It’s well worth spending an hour or so there, either before or after snorkelling.
