Coxim is located in the central-western region of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Originally inhabited by Caiapó Indians, Coxim was known by the Indians as “Portal Monçoeiro do Pantanal”, “Capital do Peixe” and “Terra do Pé-de-cedro”.
The city of Coxim is located on the northern edge of the Upper Paraguay Basin.
Coxim is one of the country’s most important fishing areas, attracting thousands of tourists and amateur fishermen to the pristine waters of the Taquari, Coxim, Jauru and Piqueri rivers.
The city is a regional economic and tourist centre and is known nationally for being home to a number of scenic icons, such as the Salto and Palmeiras waterfalls and the Taquari and Coxim rivers.
Coxim is the largest municipality in the northern region of Mato Grosso do Sul, and also the most populous.
About 250 kilometres north of Campo Grande, Coxim has reappeared on the tourist scene in Mato Grosso do Sul. The destination is still famous for its unforgettable fishing trips, but the focus is now on nature and art appreciation.
Access is via the BR-163 motorway, a long stretch of dual carriageway with three tollbooths and good service stations. There are options for excursions, accommodation and delicious food (especially fish) to suit all tastes and budgets.
The municipality of Coxim is strategically located between the Cerrado biome to the east and the Pantanal biome to the west. The city was founded at the confluence of the Coxim River and the Taquari River, one of the main sources of the Pantanal.
It was founded in 1729 as a trading post for the Monções, river expeditions that travelled more than 3,000 km from the captaincy of São Paulo to the city of Cuiabá, where the discovery of gold in 1719 triggered an intense migratory movement for more than a century, contributing to the consolidation of Brazil’s western frontier.
Coxim has a large number of hotels, ranches and inns. The town is one of the most important fishing areas in Brazil.
Top Tourist Attractions in Coxim MS
- Zacarias Mourão Square
- Christ the Saviour of the Pantanal
- Pantanal Theme Park
- Noêmia Serrou Camy Square (Praça do Flutuante)
- Coxim Archaeological and Historical Museum
- Henrique de Melo Spengler Memorial
- Balneário 13 de Maio
- Canuto Spa
- Palmeiras Waterfall
- Monções Sign
- Canoe Trips
- Fishing trips
The Taquari River is the largest tributary of the Brazilian Pantanal, which means that Coxim is the right place to discover all the beauties of this incredible biome.
When you experience tourism and nature in Coxim, you’ll find boat and chalana rides, fauna and flora observation, waterfall bathing, visits to archaeological sites, museums and the natural attractions of a riverside town that loves to welcome visitors.
1. Zacarias Mourão Square
A public square symbolising Coxim, where the famous cedar tree planted by the singer and composer Zacarias Mourão stands. He was a famous exponent of Coxinense art, who projected the municipality on a national level with the song Pé de Cedro.
Revitalised between 2021/21, today the square is immaculately decorated and suitable for public use, leisure and cultural activities in Coxim.
2. Christ the Saviour of the Pantanal
Located at the beginning of the Pantanal Road, near the UFMS, the 20 metre high statue stretches its arms towards the city. There are more than 400 steps to reach the top and a magnificent view of Coxim, washed by the Taquari River and lush nature.
A place of religious devotion and contemplation, with a 20-metre-high replica of the monument in Rio de Janeiro, built on the initiative of two businessmen friends from the city who are devotees of Christianity.
It is located on a hill at the beginning of Pantaneira Street. A staircase of more than 430 steps leads to the point where Christ welcomes visitors with open arms and blesses the city of Coxim.
Access is free and the owners only ask that visitors keep the area clean and respect nature. There are also trails on the hill that lead to viewpoints of the Taquari River at sunset. Those who choose these routes should be accompanied by local guides.
3. Pantanal Theme Park
The Pantanal Theme Park, designed by the artist José Alves Branco Correa, is an open-air clay book that tells part of the history of Coxim, the Centre West and colonial Brazil.
Among statues, sculptures, busts and works in clay and concrete, surrounded by gardens and trees typical of the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes, there are rooms richly decorated with ceramics, bronzes, porcelains and antiques, among others. Av. Márcio Lima Nantes, 1020 – Vila Santa Marta.
4. Noêmia Serrou Camy Square (Praça do Flutuante)
Praça Noêmia Serrou Camy (a notable citizen of Coxin) is also called Praça do Flutuante (Floating Square). It is located on the central waterfront of the city, on the banks of the Taquari River. It’s about 350 metres long, with a playground, benches, lush landscaping and plenty of shade to relax in.
It will be completely redesigned and lit between 2020 and 2021, with a building built over the river. It currently houses a haute cuisine restaurant called Ahau, which serves dishes ranging from Pantanal fish to seafood.
For birdwatchers, arriving at the square at dawn means encountering an orchestra of thousands of singing birds, an unforgettable walk for nature lovers.
5. Archaeological and Historical Museum of Coxim – MAHC
Located next to the Pé de Cedro square in the centre of Coxim, the MAHC plays an important role in preserving a collection that tells the story of the city, the region and the people of Coxim.
Among the rarities in the collection are pieces from prehistoric times to the end of the 20th century, such as fossils thousands of years old, lithic artefacts, funerary urns, objects from the old diamond mining, among others, that preserve part of the identity of the people of Coxinense. It is free to visit.
6. Henrique de Melo Spengler Memorial – MHMS
The architectural and historical heritage of Coxim was the last residence of the historian and artist Henrique de Melo Spengler, who dedicated his life to the appreciation of the culture and identity of the people of Southern Mato Grosso.
The collection includes works representing the Indian culture, especially that of the Kadiwéu people, remnants of the Mbayá-Guaicuru ethnic group, the Monsoon culture responsible for the colonisation of the central-western region of Brazil, as well as works by the artist himself.
7. Balneário 13 de Maio
Located about 10 km from the city centre, the Balneário is bathed by the Fortaleza Stream, with its crystal-clear waters, a pleasant way to enjoy nature while bathing in a waterfall.
It has a camping area, toilets, a restaurant and accommodation.
8. Balneário Canuto
Located 10 km from Coxim, Balneário Canuto has a guesthouse, restaurant, camping and camper van area, swimming pool with running water, ecological trails to observe fauna and flora, and a buoy cross.
9. Palmeiras Waterfall
One of Coxim’s most revered postcards, where the Taquari River spreads out over a wide stretch in steps, forming a beautiful landscape where the phenomenon of fish migration in their breeding season – the piracema – can be admired with the leaps of beautiful specimens of piaus, piraputangas and even dorado.
Over the decades, generations of fishermen from all over Brazil have passed through the area, which was featured in the pages of Veja magazine in 1979, showing the abundance of fishing resources at the time.
The site offers accommodation, a camping area, a fishing guide service, a bar and a restaurant. It is about 30 kilometres from the town of Coxim, on the BR-163, heading north.
10. Monções Sign
A natural slab on the left bank of the Coxim River with inscriptions left by 19th century Monções navigators, who wrote the date and names of their expeditions from the Empire period.
The historic site is protected by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) and is located about two hours by boat up the Coxim River, at the Quatro Pé waterfall.
11. Canoeing in Coxim MS
Canoeing is booming in Coxim, on the Taquari-Mirim (Riozinho) and Taquari rivers, in single and double kayaks.
Trips vary in length and are suitable for all the family. For the more adventurous, there are two-day and overnight expeditions along the Jauru and Coxim Rivers, with camping in places with stunning scenery.
Guides accompany tourists and provide safety advice and support throughout the trips, including support boats.
12. Fishing
There are still plenty of fish in the region’s rivers, but you’ll need a good pilot guide, as fishing and navigating these rocky and sandbanked rivers is a local skill, and depends on the right time of year, good weather, the right bait and a few tricks of the trade. Don’t forget that life jackets are compulsory on motorised boats.
