Corumbá was founded in 1778, and is one of the oldest towns in Mato Grosso do Sul. This is reflected in its beautiful old architecture, although this almost all dates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most older structures were razed during the Paraguayan occupation in the Paraguayan War (1864-70). Rapid post-war reconstruction was fuelled by the town's strategically important riverport which brought new settlers, commerce, and the establishment of new military bases to strengthen the frontier. However, further progress was stalled by the later advent of railways and road transport which caused the region's development focus to shift onto other towns such as Campo Grande, Aquidauana, and Dourados. The end result was a living time capsule which visitors can see today. Recently the town has recognised its heritage, with many old buildings now being restored to their former glory.

The local economy is based on cattle ranching, fishing, tourism, cement production, and maintenance of the Brasil-Bolivia gas pipeline. Several small iron and manganese mines also operated in the nearby hills until recently. Corumbá is the main town, but the region is actually a conurbation with other towns in very close proximity, including:

• Ladário: This is the site of a Brazilian naval base established in 1872 after the Paraguayan War, and the site of the original township;
• Puerto Suárez: On the Bolivian side of the frontier, it has a large shopping mall, banks, hotels, and tours in the Bolivian Pantanal. There's a small airport but currently without any regularly scheduled flights; and
• Puerto Quijarro: Also on the Bolivian side. Not much to see, but its the location of the train station offering transport to Santa Cruz.

Travel to/from Bolivia is simple - but you may need to get your passport stamped (not always necessary for a simple shopping trip), and change between Brazil/Bolivian taxis on the frontier. Brazilian taxis can be a rip off, so be aware that there's also a regularly scheduled bus travelling between the Brazilian side of the border and the town centre.