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The "Pantanal", a vast wetlands area in Western Brazil, which cuts across
the states of "Mato Grosso" and "Mato Grosso do Sul" (as well as western
Brazil, north-eastern Paraguay and Bolivia) is one of the world's great wildlife
reserves. Because of the veldt-like open land, it is also the best place
to see wildlife in Brazil. 650 species of birds, among which are storks
(including the stately "Tuiuiu" or "Jabiru" stork), egrets, herons, coots,
ducks, hyacinth macaw and ibises, can be observed in the region. Animal life is represented
by, among others, sunbathing alligators, deer, giant otters, rheas (south american
ostrich), anacondas, boas and monkeys. All these can be seen by visitors with only a few hours to
spare in the "Pantanal". "Cuiaba", founded in 1719 by a group of slave-hunters,
now the capital of Mato Grosso, is the major gateway to the "Pantanal".
The Pantanal is divided in several major areas of interests. Some of them such as the
Pantanal National Park are restricted areas out of reach of tourists.
The most interesting part for visitors lies on either side of the Transpantaneira Highway;
this is a 150 km dirt road above the
flooded plains, starting right after the village of "Pocone" (100 km south of Cuiaba),
penetrating deep into the "Pantanal" and ending at "Porto Jofre" on the Matto Grosso do Sul border.
On each side of the road, wildlife flourish...
A less known but interesting and beautiful area is south of Barra da Melgao Village, 135 South East of Cuiaba
and nearby Mutum River, an affluent of the Cuiaba River.
This itinerary explores both areas and instead of the fastidious drive via Cuiaba between the two main pantanal Regions, we cross
the Pantanal along the Mutum River and drive across the plains. This is the most complete Pantanal journey you
can dream of.
Accommodation
Accommodation is in pousadas (country inns) or fazenda (Brazilian cattle ranch). In both cases,
those places provide lodging in rooms with private bathrooms, A/C or fans and all meals
(usually buffet meals). Most of them have a swimming pool. The ones located nearby a river usually
have kayaks or canoes available for free.
Pousadas and fazendas also provide the logistic and guiding for excursions (horses, vehicles, canoes...),
shared with the other guests. Their staff is mainly Portuguese speaking only.
We work with the best pousadas or fazendas. They are human sized with a local charm, clean with
nice settings and the quality of service guarantees you to benefit from a wide range of daily and diversified
excursions.
Organisation of your Pantanal Journey
During our Pantanal journeys, all parties are escorted from Cuiaba by a bilingual guide with
good knowledge of the Pantanal (guides are mainly native of the Matto Grosso or have spent
many years there guiding).
The guide accompanies the participants during the whole journey and organises the excursions in
coordination with the local staff as well as the transportation between places.
Depending on local conditions and the participants interests, excursions are either shared with
the other guests or private. Benefiting from the services of our private guide in addition to the
local staff, unsure you a great flexibility in the organisation of excursions (providing
requests are reasonable and within the scope of the journey) and accurate
information about wildlife and the Pantanal way of life.
About Wildlife.
The Pantanal is not a zoo and even if wildlife is plentiful we have to search for the animals and
observation of some species depend on luck. Some participants are extremely lucky whereas others
are not. Note that benefiting from an expert guidance unsure you much better opportunities than if you
just rely on yourself and the pousadas' and fazendas' staff.
On a normal journey across the Pantanal you have reasonable chances to observe lots of
alligators, capybaras, rheas, jabiru storks, monkeys (howler, capuchin monkeys are more common),
foxes, march deer, tens of coloured birds species including several species of toucans and macaws.
Animals such as giant otters, giant ante eater, giant armadillos, anacondas, tapirs,
jaguars, puma, hyacinth macaws etc are less common and avoid human contact. With a bit of luck you should observe a
couple of them but do not hassle the guide if you do not.
Itinerary
The itinerary below is just a sample itinerary. The exact itinerary depends on the mentionned lodges availability
DAY 1:
Pick-up at the airport or at your hotel and transfer to Pousada Baguari, situated in the Barra da Melgao
Area on the bank of the Mutum
River in a beautiful region of the Pantanal between the bays of Sia Mariana and Chacorore. Accommodation,
dinner and overnight. The lodge has free kayaks and canoes to explore the surroundings in search of alligators and even
giant otters (at sunset or at sunrise)(D)
DAY 2:
After breakfast, guided ecological trek in the surroundings of the lodge, aimed at observing
the local flora and fauna. Lunch followed by a short siesta and, in the afternoon, a reconnaissance
tour by canoe along the nearby waterways. After dinner, a tour to spot alligators and experience
the nocturnal environment of the Pantanal (BLD)
DAY 3:
After breakfast, departure by motorized canoe to the second lodge, Pousada Sape, which takes about
3 hours navigating the Mutum river, across the Sia Mariana Bay and down the Cuiaba river. Arrival,
lunch and a walking tour along a trail through the surroundings of the lodge. Tour to observe
nocturnal birdlife.(BLD)
DAY 4:
After breakfast, a motorized canoe takes visitors down the Cuiaba River as far as Porto Cercado.
From there we continue by car to our third lodge, following a dirt track to the ancient
gold-mining town of Pocone. We then drive along the Transpantaneira Road. Several photo and film
stops en route. Arrival at Pousada Piuval and accommodation. Nature hike in the afternoon.
(BLD)
DAY 5:
For the one who do not mind getting up early, a trek at sunrise is organised to observe the birds
flying out at dawn.
We are back at our pousada for breakfast, and subsequently, we leave for
a discovery ride on horseback. The nearby woods of pousada Piuval shelter several
Hyacinth Macaws couples. Lunch followed by a short siesta and a trip by motorized canoe to enjoy the
Pantanal from the water, a chance to try and catch some piranhas, and watch a beautiful sunset. (BLD)
DAY 6:
Drive back to Cuiaba (3 hours) and drop-off at airport or your hotel.(B)
General Information
Read our customers' feedback about this journey.
There are two distinct seasons:
The rainy season from December to June, when most of the area is flooded, with some isolated
dry islands. Rain stops around March but the water stays till mid June. The main mean of
transportation out of the transpantaneira are canoes, horses or trucks (depending on the water level)
The dry season from July to November is also the nesting and breeding season for most species.
Animals gather around rivers and the remaining lagoons scattered around the Pantanal. It is
then easier to observe them than during the rainy season. In some places, hundreds of alligators
lie around small and shallow lagoons feeding on the unfortunate fishes trapped there. Capybaras and
many bird species, cows, water bufaloes etc cohabite together.
Both seasons are worth a visit but wildlife lover should better go during the dry season.
The climate is tropical humid with temperatures between 7 degrees C (evening and nights
during the rainy season) to 40 degrees C (day time). The average temperature is 24 degrees C.
Rated: Easy.
For a luxury Pantanal Journey in a first class ranch,
visit the Pantanal Ecological Refuge
We also operate more economical Panatanal tours. Check our Pantanal Adventure
programs.
| Tour Tariff - Private Departures | |||||
| N° of Participants | 2-3 | 4-5 | 6+ | ||
| USD | $ 1193 | $ 831 | - | ||
| EUR | € 990 | € 690 | - | ||
| GBP | £ 668 | £ 465 | - | ||
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