Capital of the state of Mato Grosso, on the Southern edge of the Amazon Basin, separated from these by the highlands of the Chapada dos Guimarães. Cuiaba is a rapidly expanding city (population: 485.000), surrounded by vast and empty teritories, recently gained on the Amazon vegetation, with endless cultivations of soja and corn. It is also a major entrance to the Pantanal, with crocodiles and anacondas foraging at less then 90 km from the city.

There is no real reason to visit Cuiabá, however, depending on flight scedules or bus arrivals one could be obliged to spend a night before or after a visit to the Pantanal. With all the infrastructure one would expect from a big city it is a pleasant place to relax a day or night before continuing your trip through Brazil.