This trip is designed to let you explore the diverse habitats and wildlife of the Pantanal. The Pantanal is full of things to see and do. You'll hike, snorkel in a crystal clear lake, and take a safari through this incredible landscape. The Pantanal attracts dense populations of animals that feed and breed along its waterways, including Giant river otters, Jaguars, Marsh deer and Tapirs. The wetland also provides habitat for more than 650 bird species, including cormorants, egrets, herons, hyacinth macaws, ibis, jabiru storks and roseate spoonbills.  This trip is for those who want to experience the wild side of Brazil with the comfort of traditional Brazilian Fazendas (ranches).

Day 1- Fly from Sao Paolo to Campo Grande to Jardim 
You will either arrive in Sao Paulo on an overnight flight and connect onto a 9:00 am flight to Campo Grande, or depart from your hotel to the airport for the 9:00 am flight to Campo Grande. Upon arrival at 9:40am our experienced English speaking guide will welcome you and assist you to the air-conditioned vehicle for the trip to Jardim. On arrival and after check-in at the Vitoria Hotel, you will have time for some rest.  Overnight at Hotel Vitoria.  Lunch and dinner included.

Day 2:  Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata and Wildlife Safari
This morning, after breakfast, your guide will meet you in the lobby of the hotel and take you to visit the Recanto Ecologico Rio da Prata.  On arrival at the park, you will take a 1.6-mile walk along the interpretative trail in the Da Prata river forest. You may see wild animals such as the Bare-faced Curassow, the Blue-crowned Motmot, the Nail-monkey, the Agouti and the White-lipped Peccary. When we reach the lake at the end of the trail, we will snorkel in the crystal clear lake, which is formed by the many fresh water springs of the Prata River.

While snorkeling, you will discover a fascinating sub-aquatic world in one of the most transparent fresh-water rivers in the world. There is a wonderful sensation of flying as you move through the immense crystal clear waters surrounded by fish and vegetation.   After all that activity a hearty South Mato Grosso style lunch will be served at the ranch. 

After lunch you will visit the Buraco dos Araras —the Hole of the Parrots. The Buraco das Araras is a 124-meter (135 yards) deep “doline” (a cave whose roof caved in) with a circumference of 500 meters (545 yards). The interior is a special ecosystem made up by a forest and a lake complete with micro algae and fish. In this environment one might see fruit-eating bats, insect-eating bats, some species of reptiles and birds.  Among the array of birds is the bright and wonderful Greenwing macaw (Ara chloroptera). You will have the opportunity to watch and photograph these huge macaws, and watch the bats as they take flight over the cave or sink hole. After this excursion, you will return to the Hotel Vitoria for the evening. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.


Day 3: Wildlife Safari on drive to San Francisco
After breakfast, you will start the day with a chance to see the Giant Anteater and perhaps some wild peccaries and several other birds of this area. After the wildlife safari, you will depart for the city of Miranda and the Fazenda San Francisco. Lunch will be served on arrival at Fazenda San Francisco.

Miranda is considered the Gateway to the Southern Pantanal, since its large flooded lowlands almost start in the city. From the moment you enter the Gateway you will find typical Pantanal flora on both sides of the highway, as well as many species of fauna, especially birds. The city of Miranda belongs to the Paraguay Basin. The city’s main waterways are the Miranda, Salobra, and Agachi Rivers. The meeting of Salobra River’s crystal clear waters and Miranda River’s cloudy waters is an attraction no one can miss. The Indigenous Community in this area is the Terena Indians. They are mainly concentrated in the Miranda and Aquidauana area. They are one of the most literate groups in Brazil, especially famous for the works of author Roberto Cardoso de Oliveira.

The Pantanal is an ecological paradise in the heart of Brazil. It is the planet’s largest flooded lowland, and the world’s third biggest environmental reserve. Its ecological importance is enormous because it is home to one of the richest ecosystems ever found, with periodically flooded seasonal woods. The area is home to several endangered species of mammals, reptiles and fish. It also serves as habitat for an enormous variety of native birds, as well as migratory birds from other areas in the Americas. The Pantanal is truly one of the best places in Brazil for flora and fauna observation

Because of the contrast between the wet and dry seasons, the Pantanal is full of things to see and do all year round. October through March/April, the Pantanal is completely flooded, making for the lush landscape. Mammals are seen most frequently during the dry season (May to September/October), because this is when they return from higher ground in search of food. June through August are the coolest months in the Pantanal, with temperatures in the 50s at night and 70s in the day. If traveling in the dry season, please be prepared for cool evenings.

We will arrive at lunch time at Fazenda San Francisco, a real working farm operation: farming and production running together based on environmental conservation. Here you will have a good chance of seeing the Giant Anteater, and possibly a Jaguar, while on a late afternoon walking tour.  As today’s tour comes to a close you will have the opportunity to enjoy the sunset on the “Morro do Coxixo.” After dinner, there is an optional nocturnal safari for spotting night animals. Overnight at Fazenda San Francisco.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4:  Miranda River and Fazenda San Francisco
Today you will spend a full day on safari. You will have the opportunity to photograph wildlife as you explore the farm, pass by rice fields and trek on elevated trails, bordering the Miranda River.  After lunch you will have time on your own. This is often a good time for a siesta.  In the afternoon, you will take a boat tour on Corixo Sao Domingos.  This will be for wildlife viewing but if you want, you can try your hand at Piranha fishing. Your piranha can be served for dinner! After dinner, enjoy a campfire on the Corixo Hill.  Overnight at Fazenda San Francisco.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 5: Fazenda San Francisco/Xares
Today we will check-out of the Fazenda San Francisco and continue to another Pantanal Lodge, Pousada Xaraes.  We will take BR262 highway until we reach Buraco das Piranhas (Piranha Hole).  Here, we will turn right on the Estrada Park dirt road, also known as the Transpantaneira Highway. This road is widely known as one of the best places in Brazil to see wildlife. After 29 km of sometimes bumpy dirt-road we will arrival at Pousada Xaraés. After check-in, lunch will be served in the restaurant. After a short time spent relaxing you can start the first of many activities. These may vary depending on the season, but typically includes two daytime activities and one nighttime activity. Activities include the following:

Hikes - We offer a number of different hikes to observe the fauna and flora of the Pantanal. Each of these hikes can be done during the day. Two hikes are also available at night.

Canoe tours - Paddling on the nearby Abobral River is an excellent way to experience the sights and sounds of the Pantanal, with frequent views of Giant Otters fishing in the river, Capybaras on the shoreline and monkeys in river edge trees. Birds commonly seen on our outings include the tallest flying bird in the New World (the Jabiru Stork) as well as a large number of other species of water birds, hawks, and kingfishers.

4 x 4 safaris - Open-backed 4 x 4 vehicles enable exploration of the further reaches of the ranch to search for large mammals and birds. Night spotting excursions reveal the phenomenal nocturnal animals of the Pantanal. Outings often include one or more of the following: thousands of caimans with their eyes glowing orange in the beams of our flashlights, Capybaras and Giant Anteaters.

Horseback riding offers one of the best ways to explore the Pantanal, as you can each spots not accessible by car. Overnight at Pousada Xaraes.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 6 and 7: Xaraes
All the trips mentioned above are available again today. The trips are carefully selected, depending the climate and time of the year. Also, all the trips will be lead by local guides who know what makes this place unique. To avoid the intense heat of the day, tours usually take place early in the morning and mid-afternoon. Also, at this time of the day, the possibilities of seeing animals are much greater. Overnight at Pousada Xaraes.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 8: Xaraes
After breakfast, we will check-out and return to the Airport in Campo Grande for your flight out to Sao Paulo or your next Brazilian destination!   Breakfast included.