Capital · Brazil
Cuiabá
Treat Cuiabá as a 1-night staging post: land, sleep in Centro, leave at dawn for the Pantanal or Chapada dos Guimarães. Skip it as a city break.
Cuiabá is the capital of Mato Grosso and the practical gateway to the northern Pantanal and the Chapada dos Guimarães highlands. The city itself is a modern cattle-country town with a compact centre, a handful of museums and good regional food; almost everyone passes through on the way to wildlife. Plan one night before a tour and one after, not a sightseeing stay.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BRL
- Best months
- May–Sep (dry season, cooler and better for wildlife)
- avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain, flooded Transpantaneira, 33–35 °C (91–95 °F) heat)avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain, flooded Transpantaneira, 91–95 °F (33–35 °C) heat)
- Airport
- CGB
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
- Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
- Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
- Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Cuiabá190 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Cuiabá, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$).Brazil-wide
- SIM or eSIMVivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.Brazil-wide
- Tap waterDo not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.Brazil-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.Brazil-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/N. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Brazil-wide
- SafetyCentral Cuiabá and the hotel district are fine on foot by day and early evening; avoid the riverside area, take taxis after dark…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPut toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.Brazil-wide
- Emergency numbers190 police · 192 ambulance · 193 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysCarnival shuts many businesses for several days; museums often close on Mondays.Brazil-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCGB Marechal Rondon International Airport (In Várzea Grande, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from central Cuiabá; almost all flights are domestic…CGB Marechal Rondon International Airport (In Várzea Grande, about 6.2 mi (10 km) from central Cuiabá; almost all flights are domestic…
- Getting aroundCentro is walkable: Praça da República to the Avenida Getúlio Vargas hotel strip is 10–15 min on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or fresh coconut waterR$5–15 (≈ US$1–3)
- BeerRegional fish plate (pacu, pintado, piranha)R$40–90 (≈ US$8–17)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across townRideshare often cheaper.R$7–21 (≈ US$2–4)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekR$40–80 (≈ US$8–15)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Palácio de Instrução)R$1–10 (≈ US$1–2) (check)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$70 (≈ US$13)
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomR$320 (≈ US$60)
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomR$550 (≈ US$110)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$350 (≈ US$65) · High R$700 (≈ US$130)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CGB Marechal Rondon International Airport (In Várzea Grande, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from central Cuiabá; almost all flights are domestic, usually via São Paulo or Rio.)CGB Marechal Rondon International Airport (In Várzea Grande, about 6.2 mi (10 km) from central Cuiabá; almost all flights are domestic, usually via São Paulo or Rio.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Feb
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Best
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Sep
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Oct
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Nov
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Dec
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Sep (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jul (17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) low), wettest Jan (17 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Cuiabá: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1 rd
Aug
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
Sep
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
Oct
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Nov
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13 rd
Dec
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Centro is walkable: Praça da República to the Avenida Getúlio Vargas hotel strip is 10–15 min on foot. Taxis are the practical option for the airport, bus station and Goiabeiras; short in-town rides run about R$7–21. Rideshare apps work in the city. For the Pantanal, lodges and tour operators normally arrange pickup from your hotel.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Chapada dos Guimarães
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h each way
Drive or join a tour, about 65 km (40 mi) northeast of CuiabáDrive or join a tour, about 40 mi (65 km) northeast of Cuiabá
Red-rock cliffs, waterfalls and swimming holes; doable as a long day, better as an overnight.
Transpantaneira Highway and Porto Jofre
overnightDoor to door: 2 h to Poconé, then a slow dirt-road drive
Drive south from Poconé; the road starts about 98 km (61 mi) from CuiabáDrive south from Poconé; the road starts about 61 mi (98 km) from Cuiabá
Wildlife is the point: caiman, capybara, jabiru storks, giant river otters. Sleep at a lodge, don't day-trip.
Várzea Grande
skipDoor to door: 20–30 min
Cross the river by road or taxi
Airport side of the metro area; nothing to see unless your flight leaves at dawn.
Cáceres, Mato Grosso
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h
BR-070 west by car or bus
Colonial river town and another Pantanal access point; too far for a return day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centro (around Praça da República and Avenida Getúlio Vargas)
Walkable to the basilica, museums and restaurants; the main hotel cluster is on Avenida Getúlio Vargas, about 8 blocks from the square.
Goiabeiras
Upscale restaurants and bars along Avenida Isaac Póvoas; a short taxi ride from Centro.
Bandeirantes
Cheaper hotels on the ridge east of the centre; 10–15 min walk to Praça da República.
Várzea Grande (airport side)
Only if you have a very early flight; otherwise stay in Cuiabá Centro.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- R$180–300 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
- Mid
- R$300–550 (≈ US$60–110) excl. bed
- High
- R$550 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × R$320 | R$320 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × R$350 | R$700 |
| Airport taxi, CGB to Centro, one way1 × R$80 · check | R$80 |
| Chapada dos Guimarães day tour2 × R$250 · check | R$500 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60 | R$120 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | R$172 |
| Trip total≈ R$946 per person per day, bed included | R$1,892≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in reais; flights and Pantanal tour packages excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or fresh coconut water | R$5–15 (≈ US$1–3) |
| Regional fish plate (pacu, pintado, piranha) | R$40–90 (≈ US$8–17) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shop | R$8–15 (≈ US$2–3) / R$4–8 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Taxi across townRideshare often cheaper. | R$7–21 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Museum entry (Palácio de Instrução) | R$1–10 (≈ US$1–2) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | R$40–80 (≈ US$8–15) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Avoid the riverside area after dark; the centre and hotel district are the safe parts.
- The Transpantaneira is dirt after the first 3 km (1.9 mi), with over 100 mostly wooden bridges; the 60 km/h (37 mph) limit is unrealistic in the wet season.The Transpantaneira is dirt after the first 1.9 mi (3 km), with over 100 mostly wooden bridges; the 37 mph (60 km/h) limit is unrealistic in the wet season.
- Rain between December and March can flood the road and cut wildlife drives.
- Book Pantanal lodges and Chapada tours ahead in the June–September dry season.
- English is limited outside hotels and tour operators; a translation app helps.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 190
- Ambulance
- 192
- Fire
- 193
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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CuiabáCuiabá
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police190
- Ambulance192
- Fire193
Embassy
No US consulate in Cuiabá; the nearest is in São Paulo, with the embassy in Brasília. Other countries: embassies in Brasília.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi CGB airport → Cuiabá Centro: about R$70–100 (≈ US$13–19), 20–30 min (check)
- Taxi across central Cuiabá: R$7–21 (≈ US$2–4)
- Cuiabá → Poconé (Transpantaneira start): about 100 km (62 mi), 2 h by road (check)about 62 mi (100 km), 2 h by road (check)
Say or show
- Bom dia — Good morning (bom JEE-ah)
- Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah)
- Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
- A conta, por favor — The bill, please (ah KON-tah por fah-VOR)
- Onde é o banheiro? — Where is the bathroom? (ON-jee eh o bah-NYAY-roo)
- Não falo português — I don't speak Portuguese (now FAH-loo por-too-GAYS)
10% service charge is usually already on the bill; tipping extra is optional.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cuiabá. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep (dry season, cooler and better for wildlife) · avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain, flooded Transpantaneira, 33–35 °C heat) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CGB: taxi and rideshare bands, late-arrival options in Centro, early-flight fallback in Várzea Grande.
- Walking cluster for Centro: Praça da República, basilica, Palácio de Instrução museums, riverside port museums, Avenida Getúlio Vargas hotel strip.
- Pantanal transfer fixtures: Poconé and Transpantaneira drive times, lodge pickup rules, wet-season road closures.
- Chapada dos Guimarães day-trip and overnight pages with verified trail and waterfall access.