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Corumbá

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Corumbá is the third largest city in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul and its main tourist destination. Located next to the border between Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, it is the gateway for the famous Pantanal region. It also boasts well-preserved historic buildings of European influence, and particular customs, traditions and history.

Its inhabitants are called corumbaenses.

Travel to Corumbá & Visa Requirements

Corumbá is just across the river from the Bolivian border town of Puerto Quijarro.

The Bolivian Fronteira (Border) is served by taxis on the Bolivian side. Typically a taxi from the train station to the Fronteira/Immigration costs about 5 Bs per person and takes around 5 minutes. Be prepared to share your taxi with other travellers. Bolivian Immigration is located on the border from which it is a short (100 yards) walk across the border to the Brazilian buses and taxis.

The Brazilian Fronteira is served by taxis, motos and the city bus. A taxi to the center of Corumbá will cost you R$20-25. The bus runs once an hour, -at 45 minutes past the hour from the Fronteira and 15 minutes past the hour to the Fronteira. The cheapest cikets are from the cafeteria next to the bus stop. Double the price on the bus.

Brazilian Immigration is in the bus station which is approximately 5 blocks north of the center of town, you can catch the bus from the center which is destined for "El Cristo". The bus station is a large open building next to an multipurpose arena and a football field. Brazilian Immigration is only open for about 4 hours per day and it is not unusual to get your immigration stamp the following day after arriving in Corumbá. For this reason, if you are travelling from Corumbá to Bolivia, it is advisable to get your exit stamp the day before you travel.

There are connections by bus to Campo Grande (5 hours), São Paulo (20 hours) and Rio de Janeiro (25 hours).

Corumbá has an airport served by TAM [1]. The Bolivian town Puerto Suarez also has an airport.

Tours & Getting around Corumbá

If your staying in the center of Corumbá, everything is walkable, with the exception of "O Cristo" which is on a hill that overlooks the city. The bus for "El Cristo" will take you close to the steps which lead to the top where you can have a view of the town.

Prepaid bus tickets are freely available from people in or outside the bus stations (These people do not work for the bus companies) This is the preferred method of buying tickets for the bus. Typically these are a gold colored plastic coins but more recently they are introducing paper tickets. These tickets can also be used in many small corner shops to buy goods just as you would use money. It is advisable to check what their exchange rate is first.

If you need to get out of the center then a common method of transport is the moto taxi. You need to know where you want to go and can go a modest distance for R$1-2.

From the main coach station there are regular buses daily to Campo Grande and São Paulo; these are served mainly by Andorinha [2].

Corumbá attractions and sightseeing

A number of day tours and multi-day tours to the Pantanal can be booked. The easiest way to find these are to ask in a number of hotels, and it is advisable to shop around before making a confirmed decision.

Corumbá city tours

There are a number of community swimming pools which are often clean with changing areas open at the weekends. Entry is quite cheap.

Corumbá souvenirs & shopping

You can buy some local crafts (artesanato). Being close to the Bolivian border, there is a duty-free zone imports and Bolivian crafts too.

Handicrafts

  • Sculptor's House (Casa do Escultora) - In the Izulina Arts Xavier building, there is a selection of handicrafts made from rock and concrete, ceramics and wooden items. It is open from 8 to the 5 pm during the week.
  • Craftsman's House (Casa do Artesão) - In the building that until 70 years ago functioned as the public jail, you can buy handicrafts in leather, wood and ceramics made by craftsmens of the region, native handicrafts. You can also find delicious homemade liqueurs. There is no record of the construction of the building, only of its first restoration (1893). The house was established in 1975 and the cells were transformed into market stalls.
  • Adobe House (Casa do Massa Barro) - Created to stimulate ceramic arts. Its artists are adolescents who model the Pantanal flora and fauna in clay.

Mall

  • Pantanal Gallery

Corumbá Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Food in Corumbá is inexpensive. There are several pizza and barbecue restautants around town.

  • Espeto de Ouro , Av. Barão do Rio Branco, 121, 67 3231-1323. Churrascaria.
  • Laço de Ouro, Rua Frei Mariano, 708, 67 3231 - 7371. Churrascaria.
  • Rodeio, Rua 13 de Junho, 760, 67 3231-6477. Churrascaria.
  • Paladar Pizzaria and Restaurant, R. Anônio Mª Coelho, 455, 67 3231 4581.
  • Peixaria Bom Peixe , Rua 15 de Novembro, 164, 67 ' 3232-1490. Fish market and restaurant.
  • Peixaria do Lulu , Rua Dom Aquino, 67 3231-4936. Fish market and restaurant.
  • Restaurante, Churrascaria e Pizzaria do Gaucho , Rua Frei Mariano, 879 - Center, 67 3231-5220/3629.
  • Ceará, Rua Albuquerque, 516, 67 3231-1930. Fish market and restaurant.
  • Miguéis, Rua Tiradentes, 775, 67 3231-4798. Fish market and restaurant.
  • Antonellos, R. Frei Mariano, 837, 67 3231-0010, [3]. Fish market and restaurant.
  • Restaurante Flutuante Caiçara , M. Cavassa, 67 3231-3126. Floating restaurant on the river.
  • São Paulo Restaurant, Ed Rocha, 1118, 67 3231-4095
  • Trivial, Rua 15 de Novembro, 188, 67 3231-6758

Corumbá nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

The night can start in the Marechal Rondon Ave, filled with bars, beer places and restaurants. Don't miss a stop at the mirantes to see the moon reflected on the waters of the Paraguay River.

Bars and beer places

  • Bar Tuiuiu , Rua D Corrêa Aquino, 2060, Center.
  • Lousa Bar , Alta Santa Luzia, 56.
  • Multicoffe Express Coffee , R. Delamare, 1190, 67 3231-7966.
  • Pedro's Choperia and Espeteria , Rua Columbus, 1826, Center.
  • Skinão Snacks , Rua Frei Mariano, 407, 67 3231-5552.
  • Scorpios Ice Cream Parlor , R. Cuiabá, 983, 67 3231-4532.
  • Titio´s Snacks , Rua 15 de Novembro, 907, 67 3231-4930.

Clubs

  • Boate Refúgio, Rua Campo Grande, 2146, Nossa Senhora de Fatima.
  • Excalibur
  • Studio 1054, General Av. Rondon, 1,054, 67 3231-6056
  • Wisqueria Pantanal, R. 7 of September, 492, 67 231 3822

Corumbá cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Boat-hotels

  • Albatroz, 67 3231-4851; Fax 67 3231-5888
  • Celebridade, Rua Domingos Saib, Nº 843 Cervejaria, 67 3231-9060
  • Eldorado Pantaneiro, 67 3231-6369
  • Juruanã, 67 3231-8522
  • Kalypso, 67 3231-1460
  • Kayamã, 67 3232-4048
  • Netuno, 67 3231-6369
  • Paola, 67 3231-5235
  • Scorpions, 67 3231-3372
  • Sort’s, 0800 67-5300
  • Triton, 67 3231-2179
  • Tuiuiú, 67 3231-2052
  • Yatch Millennium, 67 3231-3372/3470

Hotels and inns

  • Hotel Beira Rio, Rua Manoel Cavassa, 109, 67 3231-2554.
  • Hotel City, Rua Cabral, 1031, 67 3231-6373/9825.
  • Hotel Gold Fish, Av. Rio Branco, 2799 – saída para Ladário, 5 km., 67 3231-5106.
  • Hotel Lincoln, Rua 15 de Novembro, 205 - Centro, 67 3231-4483.
  • Hotel Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Rua Totico de Medeiros, 333, 67 3231-4814.
  • International Palace Hotel, Rua Dom Aquino Corrêa, 1457, 67 3231-6343, hpalace@brasinet.com.br .
  • National Palace Hotel, Rua América, 936, 67 3231-6868/6202, hnacion@pantanalnet.com.br .
  • Pousada do Cachimbo, Rua: Guaporé, 44, 067 3231-4833/3910.
  • Santa Mônica Palace Hotel, Rua Antônio Maria Coelho, 345, 67 3231-3001/7880/3490/1701, stmonica@pantanalnet.com.br.

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This page was last edited at 08:21, on 5 November 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Paul Trippett, Hannes Mannerheim and Ricardo, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Episteme and Janki and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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