About 200 kilometers from Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso, ethno-tourism has been gaining ground and attracting the interest of visitors from around the world. Since January 2024, the Umutina Indigenous Territory in Barra do Bugres has been welcoming tourists—mostly Americans and Europeans—for immersive experiences in the villages of the Balatiponé people.

The project was presented by Chief Felisberto Cupudunepá during the 37th Festuris – Gramado International Tourism Fair. The participation marked the debut of indigenous community-based tourism in Mato Grosso at one of the largest events in the sector in the Americas, bringing cultures closer together and showing the public an authentic and sustainable way of doing tourism.

The initiative, fully legalized by the National Indigenous Peoples Foundation (Funai) and the State Government of Mato Grosso, was created with the purpose of strengthening local culture and generating income in a sustainable way. Each of the 14 villages in the territory, which covers an area of 28,000 hectares, is home to between 50 and 80 residents. Of these, six villages are structured to receive visitors and offer genuine experiences of coexistence and learning through tourism.

Tourism as a tool for community strengthening

Chief Felisberto Cupudunepá explains that tourism emerged as a strategy to promote culture and create opportunities within the territory. "When we decided to work with tourism, we had a clear goal: to generate income by promoting our culture. Thus, the money that comes from tourists helps bring back our people who left the communities due to a lack of income options. Tourism is a tool for generating prosperity within the villages," he says.

The leader points out that the project also strengthens cooperation between villages. “When a tourist visits a community, they end up involving residents from other villages. The benefit is direct or indirect for everyone,” he adds.

According to the chief, the Balatiponé people are organized into families with different skills, such as agriculture, fishing, and extractivism, which makes tourism an integrated activity. “It's like they are clans. Each group has its own skill, and tourism is born from the union of all,” he explains.

Real experiences and cultures

Each village offers its own experiences, ranging from cultural presentations and traditional dances to rituals performed at specific times of the year. Visitors also participate in trails with medicinal plants, graphic design workshops, and activities such as fishing, flour preparation, and typical drinks.

“Everything there is authentic, the culture is alive, nothing is staged just for tourism,” explains Arthur Varanis, the entrepreneur responsible for developing the project. “It took 12 months to set up, with the consulting team working closely with the indigenous people. But the project is 100% managed by them,” he points out.

Since the beginning, more than 30 foreign tourists have participated in the experiences. A Canadian couple, enchanted by the experience, even planned to return to the village to hold their wedding there. "It is very gratifying to share a little of our culture, especially because our people were considered extinct in the last century. Today we show that we are alive, with our rituals and traditions preserved," celebrates Chief Felisberto.

HOW TO VISIT - Reservations and payments are made online through the project's website: balatipone.com.br, ensuring transparency and autonomy for the communities involved.