Cuiabá
Cuiabá is the capital city and the largest city of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso.
It is located near the geographical centre of South America and also forms the metropolitan area of Mato Grosso, along with the neighbouring town of Várzea Grande. The city's name is an indigenous Bororo word meaning 'arrow-fishing', The city was founded in 1719, during the gold rush, and it has been the state capital since 1818. The city is a trading centre for an extensive cattle-raising and agricultural area. The capital is among the fastest-growing cities in Brazil, followed by the growth of agribusiness in Mato Grosso, despite the recession that is affecting Brazilian industries. Cuiabá was one of the host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Getting to Cuiabá
Cuiabá is served by Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB IATA). Despite its name, virtually all flights are domestic. If you're coming from abroad you'll probably fly in from São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. You can get in by car; there are highways coming in from all directions.
Worth seeing
Sights in Cuiabá - The excellent Secretaria de Turismo gives out a very detailed map showing all the various sights in Cuiabá, complete with pictures. It's a nice try, but pleasant though the city is, there's really little to see here. Basilica do Senhor Bom Jesus de Cuiabá, Praça da República. Tu-F 08:00-11:00 and 14:00-18:00. A stylish modern cathedral with some nifty Art Deco features and great stained glass.
Things to do
Three days is the minimum reasonable itinerary for the Pantanal. Four or five days allows you to take things easier; with wildlife viewing, the longer you spend in an area, the better your chances of seeing animals. Spend the minimum possible time in Cuiabá then a take a slow wildlife-spotting drive out along the Transpantaneira to a lodge.
Where to eat
Adriano, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 985 (Centro I),. Italian. Al Manzul, (Parque) Cachoeira das Garças (Acesso pela Av. Arquimedes Pereira Lima (old highway of the mill)). Classified by the magazine
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.