Brazil's Pantanal is probably South America's best place for wildlife tours –jaguars, ocelots, wolves, anacondas, caimans, and much more – in addition to 700 species of birds that are found here. This 7-day wildlife tour will take you to the best wildlife viewing areas in the northern Pantanal, including the famous Transpantaneira Highway, as well as some exciting, less-visited spots, such as the Paraguay River and the Taiamã Ecological Reserve, where you have perhaps the best chance of spotting a jaguar in all the Pantanal. This package includes stays at two locations, each in a different regional ecosystem. The Hotel Fazenda Pouso Alegre and our own exclusive Jaguar Campsite have been selected for the diversity of wildlife they offer and the rich insight into the region that they provide vistors.
DAY 1: CUIABÁ - PANTANAL LODGE ( FAZENDA POUSO ALEGRE)
In Cuiabá a guide will pick you up at the airport and transport you to the Pantanal. First travel 100km along a paved road, pass through the town of Poconé, and then enter the Transpantaneira Highway, one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the entire world. Drive another 40 km on a dirt road in the direction of Fazenda Pouso Alegre. The Transpantaneira offers excellent opportunities to spot a variety of birds, including egrets, herons, storks, ibises, lapwings, hawks, toucans, and kingfishers, as well as other wildlife. You can admire the flora and fauna, stopping on the way to film or take photographs. Arrive at Pouso Alegre in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon go for a nature hike in search of birds and other wildlife. Pouso Alegre, located 7 km off the main road, is a traditional cattle ranch converted into a rustic eco-lodge on 8,500 hectares of open lands, marshy areas, and forested islands that are great for birding and wildlife viewing. After dinner take a night safari with spotlights along one of the lodge’s private roads. Watch for pumas, tapirs, anteaters, foxes, raccoons, owls, spiders, snakes, nocturnal birds and other animals common to this region. Overnight at Fazenda Pouso Alegre. L, D.
DAY 2: PANTANAL EXPLORATIONS AT FAZENDA POUSO ALEGRE
Full day dedicated to observing the Pantanal's flora and fauna found on Pouso Alegre’s private reserve. Early morning walk for bird and wildlife viewing. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast your guide will lead you on a horseback ride to continue exploring the forest and grasslands to spot animals and birds, including rheas, marsh deer, armadillos, storks, coatis, capybaras, hyacinth macaws, howler monkeys, and dozens of other animals and birds. After lunch, drive by open truck farther down the Transpantaneira, passing through several different ecosystems. Keep your eyes peeled for endangered marsh deer, South American coati, anaconda, giant anteater, toco toucans, tapirs, armadillos, hyacinth macaws, and a host of other animals and birds. Return to the Fazenda Pouso Alegre late in the evening; use your spotlights in search of pumas, tapirs, anteaters and other night creatures. Arrive back at the lodge in time for dinner. Overnight at Fazenda Pouso Alegre. B, L, D.
DAY 3: TRANSPANTANEIRA – PARAGUAY RIVER (JAGUAR CAMP)
After an early breakfast go for a boat trip on a small river; look for giant river otters, capybaras, tapirs, many birds and spend time fishing for piranhas. Return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch pack up and head to our next location. Travel by car 220 km to the town of Cáceres, and then continue by boat down the Paraguay River for another 90 km. Total travel time to the Jaguar Camp is about 6 hours. Arrive at the camp in late afternoon. The remote campsite is situated along the banks of the Paraguay River in the vicinity of the Taiamã Ecological Reserve, an excellent area for jaguar viewing. After dinner go for a night safari by boat in search of nocturnal wildlife, looking for foxes, crab-eating raccoons, owls, jaguars, ocelots, and other night wildlife. Overnight at Jaguar Camp. B, L, D.
DAY 4: PANTANAL WILDLIFE VIEWING TOURS / OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Early morning nature walk along one of the camp’s three trails to look for animals and birds, including rheas, marsh deer, armadillos, storks, coatis, capybaras, hyacinth macaws, howler monkeys, and dozens of other animals and birds. Return to the camp for lunch. After lunch there is time to rest or just enjoy the scenery; many birds come around the camp. In the afternoon go for a canoe trip to look for giant river otters and fish for piranha, with more opportunities for nature observation and bird watching. After dinner go out for a night excursion with spotlights in open vehicles to look for nocturnal creatures. Overnight at Jaguar Camp. B, L, D.
DAY 5: JAGUAR PHOTO SAFARI BY BOAT / TAIAMÂ ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
Take a full-day boat tour (8 hours) to explore the Taiamã Ecological Reserve, which is located along the Paraguay River 30 km from the Jaguar Camp. This area has the highest density of jaguar population in the entire Brazilian Pantanal, You will have an excellent chance to spot jaguars, especially from mid-June to mid-November when water levels are lower. Get an early start, have breakfast, then travel downriver in a small motorboat to the Taimã Reserve. Along the way look for other wildlife, including giant river otters, caimans, capybaras, and many bird species. Explore small channels and lakes, where quite often jaguars can be found on the river banks; recent guests have seen several of these huge predators, many of them at very close range for extended periods. Enjoy a traditional pantaneiro picnic lunch on the river, with plenty of opportunities to take a safe bathroom break on the beaches as necessary. Return to the lodge late in the afternoon for dinner and overnight. B, L, D.
DAY 6: JAGUAR TRACKING / PARAGUAY RIVER
Early wake up (around 5 am), pack up, depart and travel down the Paraguay River once more. Today you will go further downriver and spend most of the day (10 hours) in this even more remote region – one of the richest regions for jaguar and other cats, as well as tapirs. Recent guests have seen several of these huge predators, many of them at very close range for extended periods. Enjoy a traditional pantaneiro picnic lunch on the river, with plenty of opportunities to take a safe bathroom break on the beaches as necessary. Return to the lodge late in the afternoon for dinner and overnight. B, L, D
DAY 7: PANTANAL TO CUIABA
After an early breakfast go for one more nature walk – a last exploration of this incredible area teeming with wildlife. Look for anteaters, armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, coati, lizards, snakes, monkeys, toucans, falcons, storks, macaws, parrots and other wild animals. After lunch travel back to Cuiaba in time for your flight. End of our services. B, L.
FAZENDA POUSO ALEGRE : This simple lodge focuses on the nature around it with hyacinth macaws and toucans as well as many mammals regularly visiting its grounds. Here the wildlife of the Pantanal comes right up to your window allowing you to appreciate its riches at first hand. The lodge is a traditional cattle ranch of 10.000 hectares located 140 km from Cuiaba, and 7 km off the transpantaneira road. The Rooms are spacious and have private toilet, ceiling fan and Air-conditioning.
JAGUAR CAMP: This simple and rustic camp is located on the banks of the Paraguay River, with great views of the water as it passes in front of the camp. The main house has a small dining area, 2 guest rooms, and a kitchen. The entire house is screened-in, thereby providing fresh air and protection from mosquitoes. Behind the main house, for more privacy, are several small screened-in cabins for sleeping, each with a private bath and shower as well as a ceiling fan. There are two common bathrooms in a separate building next to the main house. The dining and bar area is under the shady canopy of majestic trees and most meals are served in the open air. There is electricity only at night, and there is a radio for communication with the office and for any emergency.
