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  The Lodges of
  Southern Pantanal

In the heart of the Southern Pantanal, Pousada Xaraés shows off the spectacular wildlife of the world's largest freshwater wetland.

The Pantanal is roughly half the size of California, or the size of the entire United Kingdom. For those who would like to see what the wildlife of the Everglades of Florida used to be like before human impact, a visit to the Pantanal is just the ticket.  But bear in mind that the Pantanal today includes many more species of large mammals and birds than WERE ever found in the Everglades.

In terms of wildlife, the Patanal is full of superlatives.  It harbors the worlds’ largest Jaguars (weighing in at over 300 pounds, or 140 kilos), the world’s largest parrot (the majestic, cobalt-blue Hyacinth Macaw), the world largest toucan (the Toco Toucan), the world’s largest otter (the Giant Otter), the world’s largest anteater (the Giant Anteater), the world’s largest rodent (the guinea-pig-like, 120-pound Capybara), South America’s heaviest land mammal (the Brazilian Tapir), and the world’s heaviest snake (the Anaconda). And the New World Tropics' maximum density of wild vertebrates is on display at the end of the dry season in every caiman and capybara filled pond.

Pousadra Xaraes Lodge
The Lodge is part of a 10,400 acre cattle ranch and consists of 17 bedrooms, a dining room, sitting room with games area and bar, with a barbecue pit and swimming pool outside.

Activities
The Pantanal has one long dry season and one long wet season each year. The dry season usually is from April through September, while the wet season is from October through March. Travel professionals and researchers from the Tropical Nature system have spent a collective total of more than two years in the Pantanal, and we find June to be perhaps the most pleasant month in the Pantanal, while the shrinking ponds and rivers of the late dry season and early wet season (September through November) produce the worlds' most incredible concentrations of large water birds, caimans, and Capybaras as well as the best opportunities to spot all kinds of large mammals. Year round our trained bilingual naturalist guides lead daily wildlife viewing excursions. Activities may vary depending on the season, but typically each day 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, whilst 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.

Horseback riding offers one of the best ways to explore the Pantanal, as you can reach spots not accessible by car.

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.

Accommodations

Seventeen rooms each include:

• Fully screened windows
• Private bathrooms with hot water
• Air conditioning
• Minibar
• Electricity with 110v outlets

The varied menu includes local and international dishes.

How to get there

Campo Grande is the gateway to the Southern Pantanal and is served by Brazil's main airlines. Air-conditioned vans then drive you for 5 hours to the Lodge

Booking

Prices are per person and based on double accommodation and fixed departures. Rates include:

• Roundtrip ground transfers Campo Grande - Pousada Xaraés
• Daily excursions
• Bilingual and local naturalist guide
• All meals and snacks
• Double room with private bath

Bottled water and alcoholic beverages are available for an additional charge.

The Southern Pantanal Explorer
Trip length	5 days/4 nights
Departs	Daily
Number of Travelers	2               3               4-5
Per person cost January-May 2008	$936.00       $783.00    $812.00
Per person cost June-December 2008	$1014.00     $846.00   $886.00
Single supplement	On request
Prices based on two people sharing. Maximum 16 people per guide. Pricing and itinerary are subject to change until booking is confirmed. Prices are not valid for Christmas, New Year, Carnaval. Domestic flights within Brazil or international flights are not 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.