getty Cuiaba

With the FIFA World Cup 2014 in full swing in Brazil, we decided to take you on a vibrant journey through the tournament’s host cities. There are 12 cities taking part including Sao Paulo, Fortaleza, Manaus, Brasilia, Recife, Salvador da Bahia, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Rio De Janeiro, Natal and Cuiaba where we continue our journey…

Cuiaba

The smallest of the host cities, Cuiaba is actually two sister cities separated by the Rio Cuiabá. It’s a lively place and a great starting point for exploring the Pantanal.

USP: Cuiaba was abandoned for almost two centuries.

Shop: Not renowned for its shopping scene it’s still a great place to pick up indigenous handicrafts. Try the Casa do Artisao and Artindia.

Eat and drink: Three blocks from the football stadium you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants serving espeto (delicious skewers of barbecued meat). Head down to the riverside Restaurante Porto Conceição for fresh fish.

Sleep: Being a small city the accommodation is quite limited but you should be able to bag yourself a bargain. If you’re interested in Brazil’s flora and fauna The Hostel Pousada Ecoverde does excellent tours of the Pantanal.

helder da rocha

Images: Getty and flickr.com/HelderDaRocha