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Brazil

 The Pantanal

 Amazonia

 Southern Brazil Fernando de Noronhia Bahia

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The Pantanal

Deriving its name from the Portuguese for swamp, the immense 230,000 square kilometre Pantanal is subject to seasonal flooding on a grand scale. The rains, which fall from December to March, transform the dry, dusty savannah into a vast lake, dotted with wooded “islands”, which slowly drains into the wide Rio Paraguay via its many tributaries. Providing South America’s best wildlife viewing by far, the Pantanal is a must for all natural history enthusiasts who wish to understand why the continent is such a special destination. Species regularly seen include capybara, giant anaconda, crab-eating fox, burrowing owl, giant otter, horned screamer, marsh deer, jabiru stork, giant anteater, black and gold howler monkey, puma, tapir, armadillo, caiman, pink river dolphin, hoatzin, hyacinth macaw, toco toucan, ocelot and margay: it is also the best location in South America to view the elusive jaguar, third largest of the world’s cats. The cattle ranchers of the interior co-exist happily with the wildlife and guard their lands’ integrity jealously: a rare and heartening example of man’s beneficial influence on the planet’s fauna and flora.

 

SOUTHERN PANTANAL

Accessed from Corumba and Campo Grande in Mato Grosso do Sul state, the southern Pantanal has an extensive river system including the Miranda, Aquidauana and Negro Rivers (tributaries of the Rio Paraguay) and a vast interior of cattle ranches extending over hundreds of thousands of acres each. Compared to the north, the south remains wetter for longer, and the animals migrate out of the area during the wet season. Visiting this area should reveal the full panoply of Pantanal wildlife, including the chance of seeing giant otter and jaguar.

Paso do Lontra
Primarily a fishing lodge for locals, with pleasant but simple accommodation and wonderful setting right by the Miranda River. Good wildlife viewing is possible from the lodge and on guided boat rides in the vast river system, where jaguar are often seen.

Pousada Xaraes
The renovated and very comfortable lodge has a swimming pool and enjoys a lovely river setting and its own 4200 hectares pristine reserve. Three conservation projects are based here, for hyacinth macaw, jaguar and tapir. Activities include riding, canoeing, walking and jeep safaris.

Caiman Lodge
Certainly the most luxurious of the Pantanal’s lodges, Caiman has many of the typical species generally to be found in the wetlands. There are four separate lodge buildings dotted around the large compound, each with pool and living room. The air-conditioned rooms are very comfortable, the experienced guides bilingual and the food well prepared.

Bonito & Jardim

Found to the south of the Pantanal, the busy Bonito area is famous for its lively town, clear springs, limestone caves and snorkelling in limpid rivers full of fish. A little further south, Jardim, a sleepier town, is a bit closer to the sites of interest for the serious naturalist. Those attractions include plentiful giant anteater, white lipped peccary, toco toucan and tapir, and two major spectacles: the Hole of the Macaws and the Silver River. The former consists of 100 or so red-and-green macaws in a 120m-deep limestone sinkhole, and the latter involves snorkelling above thousands of fish in a crystal-clear river. Truly unique wildlife experiences.

 

NORTHERN PANTANAL

From Cuiaba, the Trans-Pantaneira highway penetrates the top third of the Pantanal down to the river border with Mato Grosso do Sul. Apart from containing all the species for which the wetlands are famed, this is the area with the highest chance of seeing jaguar in the whole of South America. It also contains the only official nature reserve in the region, the Mato Grosso Pantanal National Park, accessed from the Rio Paraguay and requiring special permission to visit.

Pantanal Wildlife Centre
Based on an old cattle ranch, the lodge is an excellent base from which to view the Pantanal’s multifarious fauna. Particular specialities include mobile platforms placed near fruiting trees for primates and birds, tapir hides, habituated giant otters and horse riding excursions.

Jaguar Research Centre
Unique among Pantanal lodges, the JRC consists of a houseboat and a safari-style tented camp. Located in a remote and extremely jaguar-rich area, the lodge uses recorded sightings and scout  boats to maximise jaguar encounters: indeed, the eponymous cat is the entire operation’s main quarry. There is an extremely high chance of a panthera onca sighting during a stay of three nights – one or more jaguars are virtually assured, and that is not a claim we make lightly.

 

 

Best of Brazil's Attractions in High Comfort

Designed to showcase our pick of Brazil’s most attractive locations, the tour also contains very comfortable accommodation, including a luxury lodge and two lovely boutique hotels. One can expect superb service and a wonderful variety of sights and experiences, including the world’s most impressive waterfalls, the iconic city of Rio, the Bahia coast and the vast Pantanal wetlands. Go on, spoil yourself on this Best of Brazil holiday.  Find out more...

Kingdom of the Jaguar: The Wildlife of Brazil's Pantanal and Southern Amazonia

With the benefit of minimal internal travel and providing good lengths of time in each location, this exceptional Brazil jaguar tour affords the best chance in all South America of spotting the elusive, powerful and majestic big cat. The Pantanal and Amazonia contain an astonishing amount of other fauna, much of which is easily spotted. This is an intense itinerary for the serious wildlife enthusiast who deeply desires full immersion in the two most prolific wildernesses of the New World.  Find out more...

On The Trail of the White Uakari, Maned Wolf and Muriqui

This extra-special programme offers you the chance to see some of the most remarkable yet least known mammals in South America: the white uakari, maned wolf and muriqui. Most time is spent in the state of Minas Gerais, but first comes deepest Amazonia and a unique floating lodge where the endemic scarlet-faced white uakari monkey is found. There follows the monastery with its maned wolves, then South America’s largest primate, the muriqui,  along with a cast of thousands of other mammal and bird species. A dream tour for the discerning naturalist who may be visiting Brazil for the second time.  Find out more...

A Gentle Natural History Journey Around Brazil

This is a well-paced, easy-going yet extensive itinerary which combines some exceptional locations to produce a first class foray into all that is best in Brazil’s natural history. A great variety and abundance of terrestrial wildlife will be followed by the underwater world of the Atlantic: diving or snorkelling off Fernando de Noronha is the best in Brazil. Throughout, you will stay at good lodges and hotels and be extremely well taken care of, returning home having had the Brazil natural history holiday of a lifetime.   Find out more...

Exploring Brazil's Southern Pantanal - In Depth

For serious naturalists who desire a profound Pantanal experience, this private Pantanal tour is hard to better. In the company of your private natural history  guide, cruise the river systems of the south in a private boat looking for giant otter and jaguar (two were seen by us on these waterways), and enjoy the ambience of ranches steeped in local history.  Find out more...

Brazil's Fabulous Coastline and Colonial Heritage

For those wishing to enjoy dolphin- and whale-watching, spend lots of time by the sea, experience wild coasts and visit Brazil’s most famous city and best colonial site, this Brazil whale-watching itinerary will suit wonderfully. It is best done from July to November to catch the whales before they depart on their long migration. Find out more...