Discover the untamed beauty of these extraordinary destinations, searching for jaguars in the Pantanal and journeying into the Amazon rainforest to experience a myriad of wild and plant life.
This itinerary represents an incredible opportunity to thrust yourself into the domain of the largest and most powerful cat in the Americas. Although for many they are undoubtedly the star attraction, Brazil is not just about jaguars, the biodiversity on offer is astounding and pairing the Pantanal with the Amazon Rainforest provides access to two of the country’s richest biomes. Cruise down rivers, venture into the Amazon, experience these regions on foot and by 4x4 and head out with spotlights on night walks and drives in search of all of Brazil's finest flora and fauna. Immerse yourself within these pristine ecosystems as you wander on foot and explore these regions by boat, accompanied by expert naturalists.
The trip is fully customisable, with an abundance of additional/alternate options when it comes to both lodges and destinations. If your nature fix is not satisfied, why not include the Southern Pantanal or Cerrado where there are great opportunities to find species such as giant anteater and maned wolf or see red-and-green macaws in flight at Buraco das Araras? The Atlantic Rainforest has a plethora of endemics including 15% of the 930 species of bird found there. If you're looking for a more relaxed finish to your holiday, the beaches of Rio de Janeiro could be calling and any trip to Brazil would not be complete without witnessing the might of Iguazu Falls. With so much more to offer, Brazil is a land of limitless options.
Alternatively, there is the option to explore more of the South American continent, search for pumas in Chile's Torres del Paine, venture to Colombia in search of endemic birds or seek out the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. Contact us to learn about all the options available to you.
Suggested Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Depart the UK on an overnight flight to São Paulo, Brazil.
Day2: Arrive São Paulo & fly to North Pantanal
On arrival in São Paulo, you have some time at the airport before your connecting domestic flight to Cuiabà, this is the perfect time to have some breakfast and stretch your legs. On arrival in Cuiabà, you are met at the airport and transferred by road to Araras Eco Lodge, a journey of approximately two and a half to three hours. The final 30 kilometres of the journey takes place on the Transpantaneira Highway and this road can often be a wildlife spectacle in itself, with a cacophony of birdlife and plentiful volumes of yacare caiman. You arrive in the late afternoon, allowing some time to settle into your accommodation and relax after your journey.
Accommodation: Araras Eco Lodge, 3-nights
Days3-4: Wildlife activities from the lodge
Over the next two days you partake in various morning and afternoon wildlife activities in the Northern Pantanal. During walks, be sure to check the trees for black howler monkeys, tufted capuchins, southern tamandua and possibly black-tailed marmosets. Canoe excursions can be fruitful for many aquatic birds such as ringed kingfisher and occasionally giant river otters. Night drives are also an option, increasing the chances of observing ocelot, tapir and other nocturnal wildlife.
Day5: Transfer to Porto Jofre
A morning excursion, breakfast and lunch are provided at Araras before you are transferred south, roughly three hours (120 kilometres) on the unasphalted Transpantaneira to your next destination, Porto Jofre. After settling into your new accommodation, you head out for your first afternoon boat trip in search of jaguar on the Cuiabà River and its tributaries, the Piquiri, São Lorenço and the Três Irmãos Rivers.
Days6-7: Boat trips in search of jaguar on the Cuiabà River
The next two days are spent embarking on early morning boat trips along the Cuiabà River and its tributaries to search for jaguars with a local naturalist guide. These rivers are teeming with life and there will also be opportunities to see yacare caiman, capybara, black howler monkeys, giant river otters and many aquatic birds. There have been sightings of tapir, giant anteater, ocelot, white-lipped peccaries, yellow anaconda and even maned wolf on occasion during these boat trips. You return to the lodge for lunch and the middle part of the day is free for you to relax and/or enjoy the area's remarkable birdlife, including the area's iconic hyacinth macaw and toco toucan before an afternoon back on the river.
Day8: Morning boat trip and transfer to Cuiabà
Today features a final early morning boat excursion on the Cuiabà River in search of jaguar and other wildlife, followed by lunch and then a transfer back to the city of Cuiabà along the Transpantaneira. The journey takes roughly four to five hours, depending on the condition of the road and the wildlife you see along the way. Upon arrivial in Cuiabà, you're delivered to your overnight hotel and this evening is free for dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Deville Prime Cuiabà, 1-night
Day9: Fly to Alta Floresta, transfer by road & motorboat to Cristalino Private Reserve
This morning you are transferred to Cuiabà airport in time to check in for a short domestic flight to Alta Floresta.
On arrival at Alta Floresta airport, you're met and transferred to Cristalino Lodge. After a drive of around an hour by road, you board a boat for the final portion of this transfer. Once onboard keep your eyes peeled for the numerous bird and monkey species that inhabit this area, this takes about 30 minutes depending on what you see on the way. Once you have settled into your new surroundings, an afternoon excursion takes place within the Cristalino Private Reserve either on foot or by boat.
Accommodation: Cristalino Lodge, 4-nights
Days10-12: Morning & afternoon excursions within the Amazon Rainforest
The next three days are spent marvelling at this biodiversity hotspot as you traverse along walking trails and take to the waterways by boat in search of wildlife each morning and afternoon. While cruising the tranquil river there are opportunities to spot both neotropical and giant river otter, Cuvier’s dwarf caiman, Amazonian yellow-spotted river turtles and occasionally green anaconda, which, pound for pound is the largest snake in the world.
Birdwatching is astounding in this reserve and is even further enhanced by the observation towers allowing an eye-level view of the avians in the canopy. Whilst patrolling the forest floor you may encounter dancing manakins or birds foraging the leaf litter such as curassows. No less than five species of macaw are found here along with colourful parakeets, parrots, tanagers and cotingas to name but a few of the birds you can hope to see here.
Not to forget the mammals that are found in this section of the Amazon basin, including southern tamandua and numerous monkey species such as the locally endemic white-nosed saki monkey and white-whiskered spider monkey which manouvers through the trees with help from its prehensile tail. Brown capuchin and troops of red-handed howler monkey are often spotted swinging beneath the treetops and there is also a chance of spotting more reclusive species such as tapir, paca and kinkajou, particularly on night excursions.
Night walks are a great time to observe stunning treefrogs and unique invertebrates found only in the Amazon. Whilst during the day you can enjoy a plethora of butterfly species with over 1,000 species recorded in Cristalino alone including the beautiful blue morpho.
Day13: Return to Cuiabà
After a final morning venture into the rainforest followed by breakfast, you retrace your steps back to Alta Floresta by boat and road, in time to check in for the short afternoon domestic flight to Cuiabà. On arrival, you're met and transferred to Hotel Deville Prime for your final night's stay in Brazil.
Accommodation: Hotel Deville Prime Cuiabà, 1-night
Day14: Depart Cuiabà to UK via São Paulo
The morning is free to relax in Cuiabà until it's time to transfer to the airport for your afternoon domestic flight to São Paulo. If you're in need of a final wildlife fix, spend some time today visiting the Mae Bonifacia Park in Cuiabá to look for its population of black-tailed marmosets. On arrival in São Paulo in the evening, you have a couple of hours before your connecting overnight international flight to London.
Day15: Arrive UK
Key info
Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 15 daysfrom £8,195 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 13 daysfrom £6,995 pp
Single supplement:
On request – please contact us.
Accessed via the town of Cuiaba, the northern Pantanal is home to some of Brazil’s rarest wildlife, such as jaguar and giant river otter. Many of the lodges here are still functioning cattle ranches, offering day and night trips by boat, vehicle, on foot and on horseback, accompanied by local naturalist guides.
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Where: Mato Grosso
Ideal for viewing: capybara, giant anteater, giant river otter, jaguar, yacare caiman
Excellent for: Wildlife cruises, Wildlife photography, River safaris, Jaguar watching
This private rainforest reserve on the Cristalino River occupies a region very important in terms of Amazon biodiversity. The high number of species and endemics makes it a great place to see birds, mammals, butterflies and orchids. It is easily reached from the northern Pantanal, avoiding a long flight to Manaus.
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Where: Mato Grosso
Ideal for viewing: agouti, harpy eagle, giant river otter, red-handed howler monkey, white-whiskered spider monkey
This ecological paradise is the world’s largest wetland, with 124 mammals (including the world’s largest jaguars), 177 reptiles, 1,100 species of butterfly, and a myriad of birds, brightly coloured flowers, and shoals of fish. There are significant differences between the north and south; we recommend visiting both.
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Where: Mato Grosso & Mato Grosso do Sul states
Ideal for viewing: capybara, giant anteater, giant river otter, jaguar, yacare caiman
Excellent for: Wildlife photography, Self-drive, River safaris, Jaguar watching, Birdwatching
Suggested accommodation options are shown below.
Please
contact us
for further recommendations.
Voted one of the best hotels in Brazil by National Geographic Traveller, Cristalino Lodge is an environmental award-winning lodge, located in a private reserve beside Cristalino State Park, accessible only by boat. It is a good option for birdwatchers due to its 50-metre high observation tower.
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With direct access to the Cuiaba River, Hotel Pantanal Norte is one of the best places in Brazil to see the elusive jaguar, as you journey down quiet creeks and tributaries. In between excursions, the hotel has a swimming pool and lots of outside space in which to relax and observe birds or wildlife.
Find Out More about Hotel Pantanal Norte
Pousada Araras Eco Lodge is a rustic yet sophisticated lodge, surrounded by more than 3,000 hectares of private land. You can see various birds, including the highly attractive, endangered hyacinth macaw, from the lodge’s forest boardwalk, and tapir, marmoset and howler monkey are seen regularly in the area.
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