Mato Grosso

A large state in the central-western part of Brazil, it is mostly covered by Amazon rainforest, wetlands and savannah plains. The capital, Cuiabá, is a travel hub dating back to the 18th-century gold rush. Nearby, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park has hiking trails with sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and caves. The extensive wetlands of the Pantanal are home to a variety of wildlife species, including macaws, caimans and jaguars.