Caiman Ecological Refuge was founded in 1910 by British investors who wished to create a large cattle farm in the Pantanal. Around 1950, this area was purchased by Brazilian investors who kept the original farm until 1985 when the ranch was divided amongst its owners. Caiman Ecological Refuge was one of the new farms created, with approximately 130,965 acres. Caiman Ecological Refuge is made up of two lodges.  Both lodges offer the same local fauna, flora and culture. There is also a swimming pool, air conditioning in the rooms, private bathrooms with hot shower, a bar and restaurant as well a living room with TV and DVD, bar and restaurant.

Baiazinha Lodge is built on stilts and is structured like a bird with opened wings. Located on the banks of a clear-water lake, it provides six guestrooms in a magical and cozy ambiance. Cordilheira Lodge, with eight guestrooms, is built with bricks and mounted on stilts. It is located at the edge of a Cordilheira forest and is perfectly integrated with the surrounding natural scene. 

All tours are led by two guides which is a unique feature of Caiman Lodge. These resident naturalist guides live in the Pantanal all year, usually for 1 or 2 years. This allows them to have incomparable knowledge of the Pantanal´s natural history and it seasonal dynamics. These guides are young, bilingual, graduate students, usually in the areas of biology, ecology and tourism, who accompany the guests in all activities, explaining the Pantanal, its flora, fauna and culture.

Activities:
To enjoy all Caiman’s scheduled activities it is recommended to stay a minimum of three nights: check-in in the first day before nocturnal activity, and check-out in the fourth day after breakfast.  This amount of time will provide you with a greater knowledge about Pantanal, its nature and its culture. Activities at the Caiman Lodge start early in the morning in order to observe wildlife. After the morning activity, guests will return to the lodges, have lunch and rest. When the afternoon passes by and temperature cools off, it is time to go out for an afternoon excursion, another good time to see Pantanal and behold the wonderful local sunset.

Bike Riding:
The Pantanal is very flat and makes for great bicycle rides. On the roads or trails, the silence of a bike helps you see more wildlife. The bicycle paths and distances vary so you can select rides according to your interest and endurance. 

Birdwatching:
At Caiman Ecological Refuge you can birdwatch with specialized and well equipped naturalist guides, who will lead you where the most impressive birds can be found. 359 species have been observed, including flagship species, such as the Hyacinth Macaw, Marsh Seedeater, King Vulture and the Yellow-faced Parrot. To start familiarizing guests with some of the most common birds in the area, an introductory walk is taken and during which it is possible to observe some key species, including the area's most symbolic bird such as the Jabiru Stork, Buff-necked Ibis, Plumbeous Ibis, Greater Rhea, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Southern Lapwing, Chaco Chachalaca, Snail Kite, Road-side Hawk, the amazing Hyacinth Macaw (quite common here), Nanday and Monk Parakeets, Toco Toucan and many more.

It is also possible to see Boat-billed Heron, Capped Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Azure Gallinule, Sungrebe, Undulated and Small-billed Tinamous, King Vulture, Fawn-breasted Wren, Laughing Falcon and Gray-headed Kite. Some special birds are the Mato-Grosso Antbird, Great-rufous Woodcreeper, Blaze-winged Parakeet, Pale-crested Woodpecker and the very special White-fronted Woodpecker can be added to the list.

Other highlight species include: Gilded Saphire, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Spectacled Owl, Great Potoo, Blue-crowned Trogon, Green-and-rufous kingfisher, along with the other four species of kingfisher found in South America, Chestnut-eared Acarari, Golden-winged Cacique, etc. A typical five days and four nights stay generally allows the chance of observing between 180 and 200 different species of birds.

Horseback Riding:
Horses are the most traditional way to get to know Pantanal. On this type of excursion it is common to see the balance between cattle and wildlife. With horses it is possible to explore regions, such as the marshes, where we can not go by foot or vehicles. Note: All meals, airport transfers to/from the lodge and guide services are included in the price.

Caiman Ecological Refuge Lodges
Trip length	4 days/3 nights
Departs	Thursday-Sunday
	2 people	3 people	4-5 people
2008 Per person cost January 3-May 31	$831.00	$763.00	$742.00
2008 Per person cost June 1-January 4, 2009	$920.00	$859.00	$836.00
1 Person Single Room January 3-May 31	$1262.00
1 Person Single Room June 1-January 4, 2009	$1470.00
Prices based on two people sharing. Private departures available on request. Pricing and itinerary are subject to change until booking is confirmed. Price does NOT include other domestic flights within Brazil or international flights.