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.
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 PantanalWildlifeCenter
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 JaguarResearchCenter
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)
Day5 - 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 fromJaguarResearchCenter
to PantanalWildlifeCenter
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.
Pantanal Extravaganza
Trip Length
7 days/6 nights
Departs
Daily Group Departures. Private Departures of any length are available; inquire for price.
Number of travelers
Groups of 9 participants or less.
2010 Cost per person
$3118 per person sharing a double room.
Single supplement
$459.00
High season June 1-November 30
Low season December 01-May 31
Prices per person include: Reception in hotel or airport in Cuiaba (CGB), road transfer to Pantanal Wildlife Center at scheduled time, 1,2, or 3 nights at Pantanal Wildlife Center according to the chosen program with activities. Land transfer to Porto Jofre in/out and boat transfer in/out to Jaguar Research Center, English bilingual guide, 3 nights at Jaguar Research Center Camp with all meals and outings included. Outings include intensive Jaguar search involving up to 10 boat-hours per group with customized support from special scout boats, forest walks, and photo-safaris for capybaras, caimans, and water birds, and search for Giant Otters. In Group (SIB) program, all services are shared. The maximum number of guests per group is 9.
Price does not include extras such as beverages, insurance, laundry, tips, internet or other personal expenses. Unlimited drinking water is free of charge at both PWC and JRC from large water coolers. Juice is included at breakfast, and coffee and tea is included at all meals. All other beverages, including sealed, plastic bottles of drinking water, are extra.
Children under the age of 12 are not recommended at Jaguar Research Center.
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.