Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Travel for your moment in life · Nature · Ecotourism

Ecotourism

Snorkeling float

With mask, snorkel and life jacket, the visitor drifts down a clear river carried by the current.

In a float the visitor wears a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, lies face down on the surface of a clear-water river and lets the current carry them. Below pass schools of fish, aquatic plants and logs, seen like an aquarium.

It’s not diving or swimming. You don’t use a tank, you don’t go to the bottom, and you hardly exert yourself. That’s why it’s one of the nature activities with the lowest physical demand, suitable for children and older people.

How the tour works

The tour starts at the attraction’s base, where equipment is handed out: wetsuit and neoprene boots, mask, snorkel and, when needed, a life jacket. A guide explains the rules and leads a short practice session in a shallow section so the group gets used to breathing through the tube.

In many places there is a walk through the forest to the spring, where the float begins. From there the group moves downstream in single file, with the guide at the front, along a route that can range from a few hundred meters to more than a kilometer. A support boat usually accompanies part of the route.

The golden rule is not to put your feet on the bottom. Stirring up sediment clouds the water and hides what the group came to see. Do not touch plants or chase fish either.

Who can do it

You don’t need to know how to swim. The wetsuit keeps your body at the surface, and the life jacket adds buoyancy for those who want more support. Non-swimmers should tell the guide at the start and stay close to them during the descent.

Children take part from a minimum age set by each attraction. In Bonito, many tours accept children from about five years old; some have a higher limit because of the route length or depth.

People who wear glasses can ask about prescription-mask options, available at some attractions. If you have mobility difficulties, check in advance about the access trail, which in some places is long.

Why the water is so clear

Float rivers spring from limestone terrain. Dissolved limestone binds with suspended particles and carries them to the bottom, which acts as a natural filter. The result is visibility of tens of meters on good days.

This is also why attractions limit the number of people. Each tour has a daily visitor limit set by its environmental license, and groups enter at scheduled times. Sunscreen and insect repellent are usually prohibited before floating to avoid contaminating the water: the wetsuit protects you from the sun.

When to go

Snorkeling floats run year-round. Spring water keeps a similar temperature in all seasons, and the wetsuit deals with the cold.

Visibility is generally better during the dry months, from May to September. In the rainy period, October to April, days are warmer and the forest is greener, but heavy rain can cloud the river for a few hours or several days. When that happens, attractions suspend the tour and reschedule.

July, January and long holiday weekends sell out weeks in advance. Outside those periods, groups are smaller.

Where to do snorkeling floats in Brazil

The Bonito and Serra da Bodoquena region in Mato Grosso do Sul is the country’s benchmark. There are floats in springs and rivers such as the Sucuri and the da Prata, each with different lengths, depths and landscapes.

The Rio da Prata is in the neighboring municipality of Jardim, where the tour combines a forest trail and a float. The same town has the Buraco das Araras, a large sinkhole visited for birdwatching, so you can combine both activities in one day.

Bonito serves as the base for the whole region. Attractions are on farms, tens of kilometers from town, on paved and dirt roads.

How to book and choose

In Bonito, tours are sold by local travel agencies, with prices set per attraction, and accompanied by a licensed guide. The agency issues a voucher with date and time and organizes transport, which is contracted separately. Check the agency’s registration in Cadastur, of the Ministry of Tourism.

To choose between floats, compare route length, total duration, minimum age, distance from town and whether there is a trail beforehand. A short, shallow spring is better for small children; a long river gives more time in the water.

Price varies by attraction, season and type of transport, shared or private. Photos taken by the site team and lunch at the base, when offered, are paid separately.

Frequently asked questions

What is a snorkeling float?

It’s a tour in which the visitor, wearing a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, floats on the surface of a clear-water river and drifts with the current, observing fish and plants without touching the bottom.

Can someone who doesn’t know how to swim do a float?

Yes. The wetsuit and life jacket keep your body at the surface, and the guide accompanies the group. Tell them before entering the water.

What is the minimum age for floating?

Each attraction sets its own rule. In Bonito, many accept children from about five years old, and some require older ages. Confirm when booking.

Can I use sunscreen during the float?

Generally, no. Sunscreen and repellent are usually forbidden before entering the river to protect the water. The wetsuit covers the body.

Is the water cold?

It’s cool year-round because it comes from springs. The wetsuit, included in the tour, keeps your body warm during the descent.

When is it best to do a float in Bonito?

The dry months, May to September, usually have the clearest water. The tour runs year-round but can be suspended after heavy rain.

What is the difference between a float and a scuba dive?

In a float you stay at the surface breathing through a snorkel. In scuba diving you go down to the bottom with tanks and an instructor. Floating does not require a course or prior experience.

How much does a float cost?

Price varies by attraction and season, and transport is charged separately. Check the current rate with a local agency.