Santo Antônio do Leverger: Church and River Culture

In the town center of Santo Antônio do Leverger stands the Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio. As a central religious landmark, it gives the town a tangible cultural anchor. In addition, celebrations at the municipal level show how religious activities and cultural performances come together at the destination.

Church in the town center, culture across the municipality

A four-day program of religious activities and cultural performances took place from June 10 to 13, 2026, marking the 126th anniversary of the municipality of Santo Antônio do Leverger's political and administrative autonomy. As part of these celebrations, the traditional Procissão Fluvial de Santo Antônio traveled from Praia do Poço to the Igreja Matriz. Together, the river route and the church were at the heart of a specific festival program, with dates tied to this occasion.

Agita Leverger is also considered a hallmark of celebrations in the municipality of Santo Antônio do Leverger. Another cultural tradition is Siriri and Cururu: a municipal plan from 2016 describes the songs and dances as being maintained at the time by 19 folkloric cultural groups. Bamboo handicrafts are also a tradition and a visitor attraction in the municipality. Those interested in local crafts and living forms of expression will find more here than just a single view of the town center.

River and landscape experiences

Morro de Santo Antonio is described in tourism materials as one of the best places in the municipality for mountain sports and hiking. According to the same source, the views of the river and the city of Cuiabá are also among the best. If these activities are central to your plans, check the current visiting conditions before adding Morro to your itinerary.

A municipal plan from 2016 describes Caminho das Águas as a cultural boat route between Santo Antônio and Barão de Melgaço. It says the route includes views of the Pantanal landscape and glimpses of Mato Grosso's history; it also passes former sugar and alcohol factories. If you are considering a trip, check in advance whether it is currently operating. The route's features thus bring together landscape and history, but the former factories should not be taken to mean that they are operating today.

Another named attraction is the new waterfront promenade in the community of Praia do Poço in the municipality of Santo Antônio do Leverger. It was inaugurated in 2024 and named after Benedito Santana de Moraes, known as “Benil.” Mimoso, now part of Santo Antônio do Leverger, is the birthplace of Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon: he was born there in 1865. Alcides Ribeiro is also associated with a cultural craft: a 2021 IPHAN revalidation report identifies him as a viola-de-cocho artisan from Santo Antônio do Leverger.

Cerrado protected areas and where to stay

Two Cerrado protected areas of different sizes, both in the full-protection category, are located within the municipality of Santo Antônio do Leverger. The Morro de Santo Antônio Natural Monument covers 258.09 hectares; Águas Quentes State Park covers 1,487.00 hectares. Águas Quentes State Park is therefore considerably larger. These area figures help distinguish the two named sites without presenting them as a single excursion destination.

When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to consider the different locations: the Igreja Matriz is in the town center, while the other cultural and landscape themes mentioned are located across the municipality. First consider whether you want your stay to focus on the town center or on the broader mix of river, nature, and culture. Santo Antônio do Leverger is connected to Cuiabá and Barão de Melgaço by the paved MT-040. The municipality also has Senador Jonas Pinheiro Airport for small aircraft; check current operating information if you plan to rely on it.

Discover more destinations: Garimpo Rio Claro, Ribeirão das Pedras, Comodoro, Acorizal, Tangará Da Serra, Aguaçu, Cuiabá Da Larga, Nova Mutum.

For the regional travel overview: Mato Grosso.