The Pantanal is the world’s largest freshwater wetland, a seasonally flooded plain fed by the tributaries of the Paraguay River. At 68,000 square miles, it is almost 10 times the size of the Everglades. The Pantanal is also one of the world’s most productive habitats. Annual floods, fed by tropical rains, create a giant nursery for life. As the waters recede in the dry season, the Pantanal attracts a great influx of birds and other animals. The seasonally-flooded savannahs and tropical forests offer some of the finest wildlife viewing in Latin America.  This area harbors a world-record 82 species of large birds, 3,000-5,000 of which can be seen during a 1 hour car ride on the raised Transpantaneira Road, the only all-year route that penetrates the heart of this enormous wild land.  This uniquely fauna-rich route starts only 75 min by car from Cuiabá.

Jaguar Research Center in Pantanal from Ronan Fournier-Christol on Vimeo.

Day 1 - Sao Paulo/ Cuiaba/Pantanal
You will arrive in Cuiaba where your guide will meet you at the airport. You will depart to the Pantanal, driving for about 2.5 hours to reach the famous Transpantaneira Road. This is one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the world. As you drive along the famous Transpantaneira, a dirt road that traverses the Pantanal, you will have your first introduction to this incredibly rich area with wildlife in abundance. You can admire the flora and fauna along the Transpantaneira and make several stops on the way to film or take photographs.

Arrive at Pantanal Wildlife Center late in the afternoon, check-in and lunch will be served. Pantanal Wildlife Center (once named Fazenda Santa Tereza) is a large traditional cattle ranch of 3.800 acres of flooded lands situated at the end of Rio Pixaim River.  Afternoon activities might include hiking on the property trails while searching for rare Pantanal birds as well for troops of Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Black and Gold Howler Monkeys, and Silvery Marmosets (energetic, squirrel-sized monkeys). Overnight at Pantanal Wildlife Center. (Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 2- View Giant Otters at the Pantanal Wildlife Center
We will start the day around 6:00 am with a 2-hour boat ride on the river Pixaim where two colonies of giant otters live.  These groups are, in fact, extended families and they hunt for fish as a pack, hence their nickname “river wolves”.  You'll be amazed at the size of these otters, which are 6-7 feet long and 70 pounds. They truly are giants!  You'll hear them interact through high-pitched hums and squeals.  Often they will come close to the boat, craning their necks and snorting loudly. After viewing the giant otters, we'll return to the fazenda in time for a shower and late breakfast.  Later, we will go on a late afternoon wildlife safari. Pantanal Wildlife Center offers special catamarans with customized blinds located on a stable platform. These floating blinds are designed to allow you to sneak up silently on caimans, capybaras, and birds along the banks of the river.  At night you can go out again to look for owls, nightjars, anteaters, jaguar, margay, ocelot, Brazilian Tapir, Little Brocket Deer and a number of crepuscular and nocturnal animals.

Day 3-Transfer to Jaguar Research Center
There is an optional early am birding trip around the lodge. Walk along the scientifically-designed trail system through the Pantanal’s riverine forest, a bird-rich habitat. The bird list or the lodge includes 340 species.

After breakfast you will be driving south along the Transpantaneira to the Jaguar Research Center. The Tranpantaneira Highway provides some of the best opportunities to see a great variety of birds and wildlife.  It is a photo safari in and of itself. We will continue to the very end of this famous road, at km 140, to Porto Jofre.  Here we find the 250-m-wide (820-foot-wide) Cuiabá River, which is the border between the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.   
 
We will complete the journey to Jaguar Research Center by boating 1-1.5 hours upstream on the Cuiaba River and then to Three Brothers River.  The 270,000-acre Meeting of the Waters State Park begins about a third of the way up the river to the Jaguar Research Center. The Jaguar Research Center is in the very heart of this remote, wild park, and is composed of five 12-by-14-foot, walk-in tents made of thick canvas.

The roof of the tent reaches more than 8 feet high, allowing even the tallest guests to walk around most of the tent.  Each tent also features electric light, an electrical socket for charging cameras and other equipment (both 110 volt and 220 volts available), and a bathroom. Lunch will be at the Jaguar Research Center.

A small, well-equipped house boat is anchored at the Jaguar Research Center and acts as kitchen, dining room, lounge, and electric generator to power the tents, which lie 100 yards away from the riverbank, in open forest on the edge of a large, African-like savannah.   The boat has air conditioning in two private cabins. There is also a 10-by-10-foot research lab for analyzing recent jaguar photos and jaguar tracks and for relaxing. 

The top deck of the boat has a large sunroof with chairs.  The boat anticipates cruising slowly up and down the rivers of the park searching for jaguars.  During these short cruises, this top deck offers the ideal, elevated platform for spotting wildlife along the riverbanks. Overnight at Jaguar Research Center. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.  

Day 4-Exploring the Trails in Meeting of the Water’s State Park
The Jaguar Research Center is a tented camp, as no buildings can be erected in the pristine core of the park.  It is located on a key piece of riverbank terrain in the center of the park, and that is where we anchor the house boat. In addition to the jaguars, there are two groups of Giant Otters. One group is near the mouth of the Piquiri River and the other near the 330-acre island that lies seven minutes by boat upstream on the Three Brothers River. Overnight at Jaguar Research Center. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 5 - Full Day Search for Jaguars by Boat
After an early breakfast, we leave the Jaguar Research Center for a full day boat trip to observe the diversity of the animals in the region.  We will watch for jaguars, tapirs, anteaters, giant otters, birds and other animals common to this region.  We’ll use small boats to explore narrow and wild rivers in the core of this huge park.  Recent guest have seen several of these huge predators, during the day, many of them at very close range for extended periods. Return to the Center at the end of the afternoon in time for dinner. Overnight at Jaguar Research Center. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 6 – Transfer from Jaguar Research Center to Pantanal Wildlife Center
Today you will take the boat back to Pt. Jofre and then drive back to Pantanal Wildlife Center, which means another chance to spot wildlife along the edges of the Transpantaneira Road.  While at the Pantanal Wildlife Center, you’ll have the opportunity to go night spotlighting for mammals and night birds, as well as another chance to enjoy the Brazilian Tapirs. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.  

Day 7 - Transfer to Cuiaba for flight to Sao Paulo 
After breakfast we will leave the Jaguar Research Center and drive to Cuiaba. Check in at Cuiaba Airport for your flight to Guarulhos International Airport. Breakfast included.

Staying on in Brazil? Whether your interest is wildlife or culture, in a short extension tour you can experience more of the rich living heritage of this vibrant country. And for the adventurous wildlife enthusiast, why not visit Hyacinth Camps? We can even arrange hotels and transportation.