Gruta Catedral

Gruta São Mateus - Gruta São Mateo

Useful Information

Location:	Rod Turismo Km 02 Rural, Bonito - MS, CEP: 79290-000. 4 km from the city of Bonito-MS. (-21.134327, -56.454231)
Open:	All year daily 7-11:30, 13-16:30. [2025]
Fee:	Alta Temporada (High Season): Adults BRL 110, Children (5-11) BRL 10. Baixa Temporada (Low Season): Adults BRL 95, Children (5-11) BRL 10. High Season is on Holiday Weekends and school holidays. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	T=23-26 °C, A=150 m asl.
Guided tours:	D=90 min, St=60, L=900 m, MinAge=5.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Gruta Catedral, Rod Turismo Km 02 Rural, Bonito - MS, CEP: 79290-000, Tel: +55-67-3255-1302, WhatsApp: +55-67-3255-1302. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2019	35º Congresso Brasileiro de Espeleologia (35º CBE) held in Bonito.
2022	name changed to Gruta Catedral.

Description

Gruta Catedral or Gruta da Catedral (Cathedral Cave) was formerly known as Gruta de São Mateus or Gruta São Mateus (St. Matthew’s Cave). It is located only 4 km east of Bonito. Visitors are equipped with grey helmets and then leave the building on a wooden suspended walkway which ends at the hillside behind the building. From here its 280 m walk to the cave. In front of the cave entrance is a nice outlook. The development of the cave is a bit rough, steps are uneven, have different sizes or are slanted. The trails are clay or gravel, so good walking shoes are essential. The cave is often narrow or low, so the helmets are actually a good idea. But the cave has nice formations and some interesting geologic features. And as the formations are actually along the trail, and the visitors sometimes touch them accidentally, they are equipped with plastic gloves. Sweat, salt and other substances on the skin are quite dangerous for speleothems, they stop growing and get shiny spots. The gloves solve these problems in a simple way, people are allowed to touch the stalactites.

The cave is quite rustic, which starts at the ticket office with museum, which is located inside a renovated barn. There is an exhibition of old cars and machinery named Museu Kadiwéu (Kadiwéu Museum), and the actual tour starts from the third floor. Rather strange are stuffed animals, which died on the ground and were stuffed to show the visitors what animals live in the area. Some find it weird, but actually stuffed animals, which were dead anyway, is much better than a zoo.

Quite astonishing is the similarity to nearby Grutas de São Miguel. It seems this cave was developed by the work of the owner and his family and is a result of their personal ideas, work, and creativity over decades. The other cave was discovered only 20 years ago, and we get the impression the owner tried to copy this cave but make it all bigger. More modern ticket office, bigger museum, longer bridge, bigger cave. However, what he forgot: this is the original, and he has the copy. As he even copied the name, São Miguel is quite similar to São Mateus, this cave was lately renamed Gruta Catedral.