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Which is better: Alter do Chão or Bonito?

Short answer

Alter do Chão is in the Amazon (PA), while Bonito is in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS): different regions of Brazil. Alter do Chão: the Amazon's Caribbean; Bonito: rivers so transparent that you float over schools of fish as if you were diving into a natural aquarium. For this month's weather, Alter do Chão has the edge.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap

Most reviewed activity in Alter do ChãoTapajós National Forest Tour★ 8.7 · 3 reviews · from US$ 77 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →

Most reviewed activity in BonitoTransport Between Campo Grande Airport & Bonito★ 8.4 · 5 reviews · from US$ 45 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →

	Alter do Chão	Bonito
Best time to visit	Aug → Nov	May → Aug
Weather this month	33° · 5 days of rain	31° · 9 days of rain
By car	R$ 21 · from Santarém	R$ 166 · from Campo Grande
Ideal stay	3–4 days	3–4 days
Best for	Relax, Adventure, Family	Adventure, Family, Relax

Choose Alter do Chão if

you want a trip for relaxation and adventure seekers: white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water that appear when the Tapajós River drops.

See guide

Choose Bonito if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and families: rivers so transparent that you float over schools of fish as if you were diving into a natural aquarium.

See guide

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Where to stay

Where to stay: Alter do Chão or Bonito

The average nightly rate is around R$ 544 in Alter do Chão and R$ 336 in Bonito; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Alter do Chão on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in Alter do Chão

Compare hotels and places to stay in Bonito on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

9.7 ★★★ · 4 reviews Pousada Rancho Jarinu See on Booking →

8.5 ★★★★ · 11 reviews Wetiga Hotel See on Booking →

See all hotels in Bonito

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Alter do Chão or Bonito: which is better?

What is the best time to visit Alter do Chão and Bonito?

The best time to visit Alter do Chão is from August to November; for Bonito, it is from May to August, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.

Which of the two is cheaper to get to?

By car, leaving from Santarém, Alter do Chão is 37 km (23 mi) and costs about R$ 21 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from Campo Grande, Bonito is 300 km (186 mi) and costs about R$ 166 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.

Where does it rain less, Alter do Chão or Bonito?

Averaged over the year, Alter do Chão has 14 rainy days a month and Bonito has 8. Bonito is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Alter do Chão is March and in Bonito, January. For temperature, Alter do Chão is the warmer one (average high of 31° versus 30°).

How many days should you spend in Alter do Chão and in Bonito?

To see the main sights without rushing, Alter do Chão calls for 3–4 days and Bonito, 3–4 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.

Alter do Chão or Bonito with kids?

Both work with kids: Alter do Chão (Amazon's Caribbean, river beaches, and Borari culture) and Bonito (crystal-clear waters, ecotourism, and river floating). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Bonito has fewer rainy days over the year.

What should you not miss in each?

In Alter do Chão: Ilha do Amor, Lago Verde, Floresta Nacional do Tapajós. In Bonito: Gruta do Lago Azul, Rio da Prata (float), Rio Sucuri (float). These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.