Cuiaba, the capital city for the state of Mato Grosso, was founded around the 18^th century by adventurers who sailed up the Cuiba River in search of its abundant gold reserves.  This unique city sits at the intersection of three distinct ecosystems; The Amazonian, Pantanal and the Cerrado. Understandably it is regarded the southern gateway to the Amazon and is the starting point for tourist excursions to the popular northern Pantanal and the crags and canyons of the Chapada do Guimarães.
Cuiabá, under Portuguese, African and indigenous influences through time has accumulated a rich legacy of history and culture, shared through its numerous museums and churches. Your Cuiba tour guide will give you a sample of the most prominent like the Basilica do Senjor Bom Jesus de Cuiabá, the Palácio de Instruçåo, and the Museu do Rio Cuiabá. A throwback to the traditions of the past is the Festa da Sao Benedito held in July every year; also a fun way for visitors to get familiar with the customs, food and ways of the local population. While the city is a shopping dream, with tons of malls hosting high-end stores, authentic Brazilian purchases can be made at the native shops in el Centro, or better still, there is the Feira de Artesanato, an artisan craft market open only on the weekends.