State of Mato Grosso

Mato Grosso, a large state in west-central Brazil, is mostly covered with Amazon rainforest, wetlands and savanna plains. The capital, Cuiabá, is a travel hub that dates back to the 18th-century gold rush. Nearby Chapada dos Guimarães National Park has hiking areas with sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and caverns. The sprawling Pantanal wetlands are home to diverse wildlife, including macaws, caimans and jaguars.