Brazil's state of Mato Grosso possesses some of Brazil's hidden natural treasures that are suitable for adventure activities. "Coliseum Aventuras" in Tangará da Serra, at 240 kilometres from Cuiabá, offers outdoor activities like rafting, rappelling, mountain biking and scuba diving.
Adventure Activities at Coliseum Aventuras
"Coliseum Aventuras" is Tangará da Serra's gym, where locals daily come to work out on gymnastic apparatus or to practise jujitsu. The gym is led by the charismatic and easygoing José Ricardo Tognon who has lived in Tangará da Serra for 38 years and who graduated as a teacher in physical education. He wrote a thesis on adventure sports, and that is where his heart lies. He is a dedicated fan of rappelling, scuba diving and rafting and is familiar with all corners of Mato Grosso where these adventure trips can be enjoyed.
Outdoor Activities in Tangará da Serra
Coliseum Aventuras offers the following adventure trips:
- Scuba Diving.
- A rafting trip is done in groups on one of the nearby rivers. The six-hour rafting trip on the Rio Formoso is excellent value for money.
- Rappelling may be done in different locations like at the vertical walls of Novo Limpio or waterfalls in the region.
- Mountain biking in Serra Tapirapuã.
- Hiking. Prices depend on the number of people, the type of hike and length of the trip.
- Snorkelling is possible in several rivers in the surrounding region.
Prices vary from 40 reais for mountain biking, 70 reais for snorkelling or a rafting trip to 170 reais [40-100 US dollars] for scuba diving.
How to Reach Coliseum Aventuras
Activities can take place on any day of the week but please make reservations about one week ahead. The region is suited for all outdoor activities all year round. Ricardo doesn't have a website yet but can be contacted by:
- Email: zeircots@terra.com.br or acoliseu@terra.com.br.
- Phone: [65] 3326-3601 / 9968-5395
- By visiting his gym: Coliseum Aventuras / Rua Júlio Martinez Benevides, 158-E, Centro, Tangará da Serra, MT
Ricardo loves adventure activities. Because of his training as a phys.ed. teacher he knows how to address groups and give clear instructions. He takes care of his equipment, which is of high quality, and radiates confidence and authority in what he does. At this moment he is the only person in Tangará da Serra who offers adventure activities.
Tourist Infrastructure at Tangará da Serra
Tangará da Serra is not mentioned in tourist guides, the town has neither Tourist Information nor tourist infrastructure to speak of. The city numbers 82,000 inhabitants and is a commercial centre for agriculture.
It is no problem to find a hotels. Expect to pay 60-100 reais [35-60 US dollars] for a night, although very basic accommodation may be found at 40 reais, and nearby resorts may be a bit more expensive. There is a large choice of restaurants or eateries, the majority outdoors. Cars can be rented at several rental agencies at about 100 reais per day.
Travellers who want to learn more about Tangará da Serra or the surrounding areas can visit the Secretaria de Turismo:
- Rua José Corsino, 273 W-Centro / phone: [65] 3311 5106 / 9987 0984
- Email: turismo@tangaradaserra.mt.gov.br
Adventure Travel at Tangará da Serra's Natural Scenery
While Tangará da Serra may not have a tourist infrastructure, this also means it isn't overrun by tourists yet. Typical for this area of Mato Grosso, Tangará da Serra offers an excellent mixture of tranquil natural scenery and adventure trips like hiking and mountain biking or water sports like rafting, snorkelling or scuba diving. Travellers interested in beautiful, hardly discovered natural scenery may enjoy Bom Jardim's and Campo Novo do Parecis' outdoor activities as well.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
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