Parque das Cachoeiras, Bonito MS: several waterfalls on a short trail

Parque das Cachoeiras gathers several falls of the Rio Mimoso along a short, flat route, with pools to swim in at almost all of them. It is the lightest waterfall outing around Bonito and the best one with small children.

What Parque das Cachoeiras is

Parque das Cachoeiras is a rural property near Bonito where the Rio Mimoso forms a sequence of falls close to one another. The trail linking them is short, mostly flat and shaded — the opposite of the continuous descent at Boca da Onça.

The advantage of that geography is time: because you walk very little between one fall and the next, more of the day is spent in the water. With children, that is the difference between an outing enjoyed and a walk complained about.

How to make the most of a sequence of falls

The commonest mistake on an outing with several waterfalls is trying to swim at all of them. Because the route is short there is time — but the result is a string of five-minute swims and no good memory. The opposite works better: choose two or three falls and stay there.

The practical tip is to walk the whole route first without getting in, and then decide where to come back to. The falls differ in depth, force and shade, and the best one for your group is rarely the first.

With children

This is the most suitable waterfall outing for small children around Bonito, and the reason is the short distance between falls: there are no long stretches of walking with nothing happening, which is what exhausts children patience.

Even so, the rules of moving water apply: a pool with a fall has current near the wall, wet rock is slippery and depth changes quickly. An adult in the water solves what no sign can.

Why the water is so clear here

The Rio Mimoso rises in the limestone system of the Serra da Bodoquena, and the water reaches the bed already filtered by the rock, with little sediment in suspension. The preserved riparian forest on the property does the rest: with no bare soil on the bank, rain does not wash earth into the river.

When to go

In the heat, between October and March, the outing is worth more: cool water is the high point and the falls run fuller. In the dry season the volume drops, the trail is firm and the water tends to be clearer. After very heavy rain, swimming may be restricted at some pools — a guide decision, for safety.

Frequently asked questions

How does it differ from Estância Mimosa?

Mimosa has a longer route at farm pace, with more walking. Parque das Cachoeiras is more concentrated and lighter.

Can it be done in half a day?

Yes, and it leaves time for a second attraction on the same day.

Written by: Adriano Habermann Last updated: September 13, 2026