Coxipó Do Ouro

Coxipó do Ouro brings together a distinctive religious history, protected natural areas, and hiking experiences. This raises a specific question when choosing your destination: should the trip focus primarily on the history of Mato Grosso, or are landscapes and outdoor activities more important? The place was originally called Arraial da Forquilha; its history dates back to an important event in the early colonial period.

Religious history and traditions

The first Mass in Mato Grosso was celebrated in Coxipó do Ouro on February 21, 1721. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, also known as the former Penha de França, is considered the region’s most important religious landmark. Masses are held at the church on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The name, date, and location give the religious heritage a specific point of reference if you want to plan your trip around the region’s history.

The Senhor Divino festival is also associated with Coxipó do Ouro. It began as the city expanded and continues to attract more than 10,000 participants each year. Another, explicitly dated commemoration concerns the first Mass: in 2025, the February 21 commemoration was added to Cuiabá’s official calendar. A religious tradition with an annual attendance figure and a calendar entry from 2025 thus stand side by side as distinct aspects of cultural life.

Natural areas and trails

The Rio Coxipó do Ouro is considered one of the region’s most significant natural heritage sites. Coxipó do Ouro also has protected natural areas where visitors can see waterfalls, forests, trails, and hills. These landscape features offer a different focus from the town’s religious and historical themes. So, if you are choosing a destination with your family, you can first consider whether spending time together in nature or exploring history should shape your trip more.

Hikes also combine nature and history, although not every route includes the same destinations. A hike through Coxipó do Ouro passes the ruins of a gunpowder factory built by the imperial government in the 19th century. One documented hike leads to the grave of Antonio Paes de Barros, known as Totó Paes, a former president of Mato Grosso. These stops give hikes a historical dimension: alongside landscapes, you encounter places that recall the region’s political and architectural past.

A specific route description comes from the Caminhada Ecológica 2016: at the time, the Trilha dos Tropeiros was described as a 10 km hike taking approximately three hours. The route documented for this event included a crossing of the Rio Coxipó. The figures and river crossing relate to this route at the Caminhada Ecológica 2016. They help you understand this hiking experience in terms of its length, approximate duration, and route features, rather than conflating it with the historical destinations of other hikes.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

The route from Coxipó do Ouro to Cuiabá is 28 km along the Rodovia Emanuel Pinheiro (MT-251) toward Chapada dos Guimarães. The road is paved for the first 18 km; the remaining 10 km are unpaved. If you are weighing a holiday rental in Coxipó do Ouro against a stay in Cuiabá, take both the distance and the change in road surface into account. This information describes the route, not the travel time.

This offers a clear thematic comparison for planning your trip: Coxipó do Ouro offers religious history, a festival associated with the place, and natural areas with waterfalls, forests, trails, and hills. For a more active focus, the Trilha dos Tropeiros has a specific route description documented for the Caminhada Ecológica 2016; hikes to historical destinations offer a different emphasis. Choose where to stay based on which of these interests matters most for your trip.

Discover more places

Find more destinations here: Barra Do Garças, Garimpo Rio Claro, Sucuri, Picada, Tangará Da Serra, Cuiabá, Cáceres, Poconé.

For the broader travel overview: Mato Grosso.