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12 Day itinerary in Brazil, South America

The Wildlife of Pantanal Wetlands

Home to tropical forests and deep, winding rivers; Brazil is alive with an eye-widening portfolio of natural habitats, which in turn shelter countless wildlife species, and a great number of these can be found in the Pantanal wetlands. Nature lovers will be awestruck by the incredible flora and fa... Read More

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CamilleRenata

By Camille and Renata

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Light
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Recommended Age

Minimum 6

Operated in

English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide

starting point

Cuiabá

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Snorkeling/Diving

Skiing/Snowboarding

Outdoors & Nature

Adventure

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Spot a jaguar and admire its majestic nature

2

Stroll at dawn to contemplate some wildlife of Pantanal

3

Discover the secrets of Gruta do Lago Azul

4

Snorkel at Rio da Prata and be surrounded by the beautiful fish of the area

Itinerary

Mid-Range Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Cuiabá- North Pantanal (Transpantaneira)

Airport arrival to Cuiabá and transfer to the Pantanal region along the Transpantaneira Highway. This stimulating safari through the Pantanal Wetlands will have us getting up close to some truly spectacular species, here in the world’s largest flooded lowlands. This extraordinary reserve is heaving with all manner of creatures, from endless birdlife to fish and mammals such as Caimans, Capybaras, and even Jaguars, so we’ll seek to spy on as many as possible during this exciting expedition. We will stay in a fazenda, typical farms, where we’ll spend three days in direct contact with nature. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Pousada Rio Claro
Day 2

place North Pantanal (Transpantaneira - Porto Jofre)

After breakfast, we’ll make an early tour to watch the dawn. Then we will enjoy a boat excursion by Claro River in search of birds and other animals. After lunch and checking out we transfer to a fazenda located in the middle of the region of Porto Jofre where we’ll have dinner. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte
Day 3

place North Pantanal (Porto Jofre)

We will spend the full day in search of the jaguar. Boat trips provide an excellent opportunity to view giant river otters up-close. This is often a highlight of visitors’ trips to Brazil. In the dry season, we occasionally see jaguars on the exposed beaches of the rivers – a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Other wildlife commonly seen on the river are capybara and caiman. Birds frequently encountered include kingfishers, egrets, storks, herons and terns. We will spend morning and late afternoon outings by motorboat to explore the rivers and streams. The Cuiabá River and the Piquirí River are the main two routes that we search intensively for Jaguars, Giant Otters, Brazilian Tapirs, Black-and-Gold Howler Monkeys, Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Yellow Anacondas, Black Skimmers, Hyacinth Macaws, Red- and-Green Macaws, Capybaras, Paraguayan Caimans, and other wildlife species. Additionally we search smaller side channels as water levels permit. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte
Day 4

place North Pantanal (Porto Jofre - Transpantaneira)

After breakfast, we’ll leave again to start another stage of the Jaguar tour. After lunch and checkout, we will transfer to another fazenda located in a different region of Transpantaneira. Check-in at the fazenda and dinner. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Pousada Piuval
Day 5

place North Pantanal (Transpantaneira)

Today we will join activities to discover the best wildlife and landscapes representations of the area. We will make the most of this day starting from sunrise until nighttime, participating in different activities, such as contemplative walks, a stroll at dawn, a jeep safari through the Transpantaneira, bird watching, and horseback riding, watch the spectacular sunset of the Pantanal and more. And at night we can go out to observe the animals with a long-range lens, taking advantage of the fact that this is the best time to see them, since they go out in search of their food.​ Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Pousada Piuval
Day 6

place North Pantanal- Cuiabá- Campo Grande- South Pantanal

In the morning, check out and transfer to the airport of Cuiabá for departure to Campo Grande. Airport arrival in Campo Grande, where we transfer to the Pantanal of Miranda, where flooded areas facilitate de animal observation. Our pousada is located in a privileged area with a large variety of fauna and flora. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Pousada Aguape
Day 7

place South Pantanal

During these days we will carry out different activities around our pousada. Today we will discover the landscape that surrounds us and its natural phenomena by doing boat trips on the Aquidauana river and nearby streams and exploring around taking part of hiking trails. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Pousada Aguape
Day 8

place South Pantanal

Today we can also go horseback riding through the fields and forests, canoe riding, and car trips along the roads and paths of the region. It will be an adventure full of possibilities to discover the beauty that surrounds us. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Pousada Aguape
Day 9

place South Pantanal- Bonito

In the morning we will enjoy the activities of the pousada. After lunch, we will transfer to Bonito, a small town worldwide famous for ecotourism. Its main attractions are the magnificent natural landscapes, especially water sceneries, with pristine rivers and a great variety of life, where you can float down or go diving. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Pousada Águas De Bonito
Day 10

place Full-Day Gruta do Lago Azul & Buraco das Araras Regular Tour

In the morning, we leave the hotel towards the Gruta do Lago Azul, Bonito’s postcard and located 16km from the center. It is a contemplative and historical tour. For its beauty and fragility, the cave was declared a Natural Monument ensuring its preservation. We will start the tour with the delivery of helmets and instructions and then we go on 250 meters walk on a flat trail to the beginning of the nearly 300 steps staircase. The descent is made in parts with stops to contemplate the interior of the cave and listen to explanations about its formation and history. After about 40 minutes we get to the bottom of the cave and see a lake that delights our view with the waters’ intensely bluish tones and beautiful speleothems formed millions of years ago. We'll be right next to the lake to admire it. This is the ideal ride for those who love the pleasure of discovery. The return is made by the same path. The use of closed shoes is mandatory. In the afternoon we'll visit the Buraco das Araras. Amid the Cerrado, we find a dolina (depression formed by landslides), a huge sandstone crater with 120m depth, a diameter of 500m, and its beauty and exuberance, which many birds, especially the Red Macaws, adopted as a natural habitat. From May to December is the breeding period of birds, so they remain mostly in the PRNP area, with very particular fauna and flora, its own ecosystem, and a large pond inhabited by alligators. This is a unique experience where will get to be surprised by exotic and amazing natural phenomena and beauty. Overnight at your accommodation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Pousada Águas De Bonito
Day 11

place Snorkeling at Rio da Prata

In the morning we leave the hotel bound for a fascinating tour that takes place amid various schools of fish in the Recanto Ecológico do Rio da Prata. When we get there we will receive guidance and equipment (mask, snorkel, life jacket, neoprene clothing and rubber sneaker - included). We will be surrounded by piraputangas, dourados, curimbatás, piaus, matogrossinhos and other fish in the area. On the way we will stop at Vulcão Olho d’Água, a place where we can snorkel to feel the water that flows from the bottom of the river until we meet with the Rio da Prata and follow the last stretch floating in water or on a support boat. After the tour we will have the rest of the afternoon free to relax and enjoy our final moments in destination. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Pousada Águas De Bonito
Day 12

place Bonito - Campo Grande

Transfer from Bonito to Campo Grande airport.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte
  • Hotel Pousada Águas De Bonito
  • Pousada Aguape
  • Pousada Piuval
  • Pousada Rio Claro

Meals expand_less

  • Lunch (9)
  • Dinner (9)
  • Breakfast (11)

Transport expand_less

  • Regular activities with a private bilingual guide in the South Pantanal
  • Private arrival transfer with a private bilingual guide in Bonito
  • Regular arrival and departure transfers with a private bilingual guide in the North Pantanal
  • Private arrival and departure transfers with a private bilingual guide in the South Pantanal
  • Regular activities with a private bilingual guide in the North Pantanal
  • Private departure transfer only driver (portuguese speaking) in Bonito
  • Regular activities with a private bilingual guide in Bonito

Activities expand_less

  • Activities with guide as listed on the itinerary (activities shared with other travellers)

Extras expand_less

  • Entrance fees on Day 10, 11
  • 24h Emergency contact line in English and Spanish

Not Included expand_less

  • Optional excursions
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Meals not specified in the "Included" section
  • International & domestic airfare and airport taxes

About Camille

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

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Expertise: 

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Snorkeling/Diving

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Yoga

Wellness retreat

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

I'm born and raised in Brazil and I have over a decade's experience planning customized travel itineraries to this amazing country, always thinking of providing our travelers with a pure, authentic, responsible, and unforgettable experience!

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$5,271.00 USD