Pantanal Jaguar Adventure

Pantanal Jaguar Adventure 11 days

Prices From £8,518pp
June to October | 10 nights

Pantanal Jaguar Adventure 11 days

Journey into the wild heart of Brazil on an unforgettable adventure combining the dramatic landscapes of Chapada dos Guimarães with the wildlife-rich wetlands of the Pantanal. Explore sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and cerrado vegetation on foot before travelling deep into one of the world’s greatest wildlife destinations, where rivers, forests, grasslands and seasonal wetlands support an extraordinary diversity of species.

Discover the Pantanal by horseback, canoe, boat and on guided walks, searching for giant river otters, capybaras, caimans, monkeys and spectacular birdlife including colourful hyacinth macaws. The adventure culminates around Porto Jofre and the Meeting of the Waters State Park, where several days of dedicated river safaris offer exceptional opportunities to encounter the Pantanal’s most iconic predator, the elusive jaguar, in its natural habitat.

Highlights

  • Enjoy exceptional opportunities to encounter wild jaguars around Porto Jofre and the Meeting of the Waters State Park
  • Journey deep into the Pantanal, one of the world's greatest wildlife destinations
  • Explore the wetlands on horseback, by canoe, on foot and on guided safari excursions
  • Spend three days exploring the Cuiabá, Piquiri and Três Irmãos rivers by boat
  • Look for hyacinth macaws, capybaras, caimans, monkeys and an extraordinary variety of birds
  • Search for giant river otters along the Pantanal’s rivers and waterways
  • Explore the spectacular cliffs, canyons and waterfalls of Chapada dos Guimarães
  • Hike through wildlife-rich cerrado and enjoy superb birdwatching opportunities

What's Included

  • Domestic flights from Sao Paulo to Cuiaba & return
  • Air-conditioned transfers throughout
  • Accommodation and meals as described in itinerary
  • Activities and excursions as described in itinerary
  • Services of expert naturalist guides

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Sao Paulo to Chapada dos Guimaraes
1Day

Sao Paulo to Chapada dos Guimaraes

Your Brazilian wildlife adventure begins with a flight from Sao Paulo to Cuiabá, where you’ll be met and transferred approximately 60 km to the spectacular landscapes of Chapada dos Guimarães National Park. Settle into your ecolodge before heading out to explore the dramatic sandstone cliffs and sweeping tablelands that characterise this remarkable region.

Visit the Geodesic Centre of South America and keep watch for red-and-green macaws, which nest among the towering cliff faces and can often be heard calling overhead. On the return journey, stop in the historic town of Chapada dos Guimarães to admire its colourful colonial architecture and one of Mato Grosso’s oldest churches, before returning to the lodge for dinner and your first night in remote Brazil.

Accommodation: 3 nights at Park Ecolodge with meals included (Breakfast, lunch and dinner, apart from day 1 which is dinner only)

Chapada dos Guimaraes
2 - 3Days

Chapada dos Guimaraes

Over the next two days, delve deeper into the spectacular landscapes and wildlife of Chapada dos Guimarães. Follow trails through the National Park, where wind and rain have sculpted towering sandstone formations and deep canyons surrounded by the rich vegetation of the cerrado. Colourful birdlife accompanies your walks, while clear streams and waterfalls provide refreshing contrasts to the rugged scenery. A highlight is the impressive 86-metre Véu de Noiva waterfall, plunging into the valley below, followed by a traditional lunch overlooking the vast canyon.

There will also be time to explore the trails surrounding your lodge and visit its observation tower, offering another perspective across the reserve and opportunities to search for local wildlife and birdlife. As evening approaches, enjoy a gentle walk as the setting sun illuminates the landscape around São Jerônimo Peak, rising dramatically beyond the lodge.

Transfer to Araras Eco Lodge
4Day

Transfer to Araras Eco Lodge

This morning you will leave Chapada dos Guimarães behind and journey towards Araras Eco Lodge, travelling through the changing landscapes of Mato Grosso towards the northern Pantanal. Keep watch along the way for your first glimpses of the region’s prolific wildlife, with colourful birdlife, capybaras, caimans and other animals all possible as you approach the wetlands.

Later this afternoon, head out on foot to explore the lodge’s private reserve, climbing a 12-metre observation tower for panoramic views as the sun sets across the Pantanal. After dinner, venture out again for a guided night walk, experiencing the sounds of the wetlands after dark and searching for nocturnal wildlife beneath the spectacular southern night sky.

Accommodation: 3 nights at Araras Eco Lodge with breakfasts, lunches and dinners included

Araras Eco Lodge
5Day

Araras Eco Lodge

Today is dedicated to discovering the remarkable wildlife and varied habitats surrounding Araras Eco Lodge. After breakfast, set out on horseback for a two to three-hour ride through open grasslands, woodland and seasonal wetlands. Travelling quietly through the reserve provides excellent opportunities to look for Pantanal wildlife, including capybaras, caimans, monkeys and an impressive variety of birds, with hyacinth macaws among the region’s most sought-after sightings.

Return to the lodge for lunch before heading out again on foot with your guide, this time exploring a different part of the private reserve. Learn more about the Pantanal’s unique ecosystem while keeping watch for wildlife along the trails, before returning to the lodge for dinner and another peaceful night in the wetlands.

Araras Eco Lodge
6Day

Araras Eco Lodge

This morning you’ll travel along private dirt roads to Sentinela Camp on the banks of the Rio Clarinho. From here, take to the water by canoe, gliding quietly along the river in search of aquatic wildlife and colourful birdlife. Keep watch for giant river otters, capybaras, caimans and monkeys along the banks, while kingfishers, herons and other wetland birds can often be spotted overhead. There may also be an opportunity to try traditional piranha fishing.

Back on dry land, enjoy a Brazilian churrasco-style picnic lunch beside the river before returning to Araras Eco Lodge. Later, climb the lodge’s 25-metre observation tower for sweeping views across the Pantanal, watching as the setting sun transforms the wetlands and another wildlife-filled day draws to a close.

Transfer to Hotel Pantanal Norte
7Day

Transfer to Hotel Pantanal Norte

Rise early this morning for a guided walk as dawn breaks over the Pantanal, a wonderful time to experience the wetlands as birds and wildlife become active. Return to the lodge for breakfast by the pool, followed by a leisurely morning and lunch before continuing your journey south.

This afternoon, travel deeper into the Pantanal towards Hotel Pantanal Norte, located at Porto Jofre on the banks of the Cuiabá River. The drive itself offers further wildlife-watching opportunities, with stops along the way to search for animals and birds. Arrive by late afternoon and settle in for the next stage of your adventure, where the focus turns to exploring one of the world’s most celebrated areas for spotting jaguars in the wild.

Accommodation: 4 nights at Hotel Pantanal Norte with breakfasts, lunches and dinners included

Hotel Pantanal Norte
8 - 10Days

Hotel Pantanal Norte

Over the next three days, explore the waterways of the northern Pantanal by boat, venturing along the Cuiabá, Piquiri and Três Irmãos rivers within the Meeting of the Waters State Park. Morning and afternoon excursions maximise your opportunities for wildlife encounters, with this region renowned as one of the best places in the world to observe wild jaguars. During the dry season in particular, these magnificent cats are often spotted resting or hunting along exposed riverbanks and beaches.

Jaguar sightings may take centre stage, but there is plenty more to discover. Look out for playful giant river otters, capybaras and yacaré caimans in and around the water, while kingfishers, egrets, herons, storks and terns add to the prolific birdlife. Each excursion offers something different, with plenty of time spent quietly exploring the rivers and tributaries before returning to the hotel at the end of the day.

Depart for Cuiaba. Flight to Sao Paulo
11Day

Depart for Cuiaba. Flight to Sao Paulo

Your wildlife adventure comes to an end this morning as you bid farewell to the Pantanal and begin the journey back to Cuiabá. The approximately five-hour drive provides a final opportunity to enjoy the vast wetland landscapes and perhaps spot a few last birds and animals along the way.

On arrival in Cuiabá, transfer to the airport in time for your domestic flight to São Paulo, where your arrangements come to an end.

A view from Above

Accommodation Options

Araras Eco Lodge, Pantanal

Araras Pantanal Eco Lodge is a warm and rustic wildlife lodge set within more than 3,000 hectares of private land in Brazil’s remarkable Pantanal, one of the richest wetlands on Earth. Reached by a scenic safari transfer along the Transpantaneira Park Road, it offers an immersive base for exploring this vast natural sanctuary, home to extraordinary birdlife, mammals, reptiles and aquatic species.

The lodge has 19 comfortable suites with air conditioning, ceiling fans, screened windows, private bathrooms and verandas with hammocks, blending simple modern comforts with regional character. Facilities include a swimming pool, reading room, bar, restaurant, souvenir shop and observation towers for wildlife watching. Days are filled with guided activities such as trekking, canoeing, horseback riding, photo safaris, night drives, birdwatching and even piranha fishing, all led by expert naturalist guides. With its family atmosphere, excellent hospitality and superb access to Pantanal wildlife, Araras is a memorable retreat for nature lovers and photographers alike.

Hotel Pantanal Norte

Hotel Pantanal Norte, formerly Hotel Porto Jofre, sits at the very end of the Transpantaneira Highway on the banks of the Cuiabá River, in one of the Pantanal’s finest wildlife-viewing regions. Its remote position gives direct access to the river, quiet creeks and nearby Three Brothers State Park, making it one of the best bases in Brazil for boat safaris in search of wild jaguars.

The hotel offers 32 comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms, TV, minibar and safe, with views towards the river or surrounding wetlands. Facilities include a restaurant serving regional dishes and fresh fish, a bar, swimming pool, games room, TV room, meeting space and WiFi. Wildlife is the real highlight here. Boat excursions can bring superb sightings of jaguar along the riverbanks, as well as giant otters, capybara, caiman, jabiru storks, macaws, egrets, spoonbills, deer and a wealth of other Pantanal birdlife. Functional, well equipped and superbly located, Hotel Pantanal Norte is a prime base for serious wildlife watchers and photographers.

Pousada do Parque, Chapada dos Guimaraes

Pousada do Parque, also known as Park Eco Lodge, is a rustic nature retreat set within a private preservation area in Chapada dos Guimarães. Surrounded by trails, waterfalls, caves and dramatic viewpoints, it is an ideal base for trekkers, nature lovers and anyone wanting to stay close to the landscapes that make this region so special.

The lodge features just eight simple apartments, each with private bathroom and air conditioning, though the naturally pleasant climate often means little more is needed than fresh air and a quiet place to relax. After days spent walking, riding, exploring the Stone Portal or visiting seasonal waterfalls, guests can unwind by the swimming pool, rest in a hammock on the veranda, or gather around the fireplace. Meals are served at Teta da Loba Restaurant, where homemade dishes are cooked on a traditional wood-fired stove and enjoyed with beautiful views over the surrounding countryside.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Brazil adventure for you.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

Simon’s deep passion for and first-hand knowledge of a vast range of destinations all over the world gives him the ideal skills to help you create a truly unforgettable wildlife inspired adventure to the most exciting places on the planet.

Sally Nevitt Sales Team Leader

Sally pairs a real love of adventure travel with a natural gift for looking after people. She knows exactly what makes a trip unforgettable, and with her warmth and endless patience she'll guide you from your first enquiry right through to the moment you're safely home again.

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

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Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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