Last month allowed for a quick weekend escape to Bonito in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. I flew with a group of friends to Campo Grande, where we hired two cars and set off towards Jardim to find the Rio da Prata for an afternoon of the most amazing snorkelling in a crystal clear river where big and beautiful fish watched us impassionately, going about their own business.

Originally we had intended to go straight from there to the Buraco das Araras, a sinkhole that is five minutes away, where red-and-green macaws nest and fly around in an outrageous display of colour. But we had lost time on the way to Jardim, so we postponed it to the next morning. Due to the time of day I didn’t expect too many aerial displays, but the birds obliged and allowed for some lovely photography, but not before we were treated to the sight of an armadillo.

Even the normally shy toco toucan was collaborating that morning at the pousada were we stayed in Bonito. This one is apparently a regular visitor and I got some nice photos of it.