Pantanal Matogrossense National Park is a protected natural area of swamplands and seasonally flooded grasslands in the western Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. It is popular with nature lovers who come for the pristine wetlands with its rich biodiversity. The park is part of the much larger UNESCO-designated Pantanal Biosphere Reserve and is a Ramsar wetland of international importance.

The Pantanal region covers about 195,000 square kilometers and even the most dedicated naturalist would be challenged to explore more than a small fraction of it, so the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park can be used as an accessible way to experience the vast and unique ecosystem.

Flora and fauna

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The park is very biodiverse, providing habitat to a large number of species including several endemic and endangered species. More than 2,000 plant species have been cataloged in the park along with more than 450 bird species, more than 200 mammal species, and over 140 reptile species.

When the annual rains come and the grasslands flood, a bloom of aquatic vegetation takes place. Aquatic grasses grow just below the surface while ponds become covered with a blanket of lily pads.

Animals include several cat species including the jaguar and ocelot. Other mammals that depend on the park includes the marsh deer, giant anteater, giant armadillo, and giant otter.

Reptiles are well represented in the park with snakes (including several venomous species) lurking in the swampy grasslands (the yellow anaconda lives in these waters too), and a huge population of caimans and crocodiles can be seen sunning themselves on the occasional riverbank or floating along the waterways, lurking just below the surface.

The waters are home to a number of fish species and freshwater mollusks including the Lamproscapha ensiformis.

Birdwatchers will find more than 460 permanent resident species in the park, including some colorful parrots, aquatic birds like the cocoi heron, egrets and spoonbills, as well as unusual birds like the chestnut-bellied Guama', and black-and-tawny seedeater.

The nearest airport with scheduled commercial flights is Corumbá Airport (CMG ^IATA). See the article for Corumbá for details.

In Corumba, you can hire a tour guide to take you into the park. Particularly during the dry season, local guides will take you into the Pantanal in a comfortable, air-conditioned van following the Estrada Parque (Park Road), which passes through several parts of the park. Some guides also provide horseback tours of the swamplands, or offer boat trips up the Paraguai River and through inlets and nearly hidden waterways into the park's swamplands.

Entry to the park is free, though most visitors will go with a tour which will have fees set by the individual operator.

Hike, horseback, or boat are the most popular ways to get around the park. A park road is passable only during the dry season.

• a huge natural swampland teeming with wildlife

• Hiking - a network of trails criss-crosses the park. Hiking is most practical during the dry season
• Horseback riding - some tour guides lead trail rides through the park during the dry season

There are no shops or restaurants within the protected natural areas, but nearby towns can supply whatever you need. If entering the park on your own, bring whatever food and drink you will need for the duration and practice Leave No Trace principals, packing out any trash that bring you in.

Protect yourself against exposure to the sun and heat stroke dangers, bring a hat and plenty of drinking water. Protect yourself against insect-borne diseases by getting any recommended vaccinations before venturing into the swamps and bring mosquito repellants containing DEET to protect yourself against bites. There are a number of Dangerous animals living in the park, including snakes, crocodiles and jaguars.

• Chapada dos Guimarães
• Cáceres