Northern Pantanal Iconic Wildlife - September 2026 - NEW DATES - 1 ROOM REMAINING

Day notes

Arrive from Sao Paulo in Cuiaba.  Once you have collected your luggage, the guide and I will be waiting for you as you exit the airport.

We will head out of the city to the town of Pocone, the start of the Transpantaneira Highway where we will spend a night at Pousada Piuval.

Once we have settled into our rooms at Pousada Puival, we will head out by car to explore the area in the afternoon and at dusk.  

We will be looking out for various types of animals.  Among those most frequently seen here are Capuchin Monkeys, Howler Monkeys, Hyacinth Macaws, Greater Rhea, Capybaras, Little Anteaters, Coati, Agoutis and Caiman.  And if we are very lucky Tapir,  Giant Anteater, Southern Tamandua and Ocelot.

Day notes

Morning safari before breakfast to search for Giant Anteaters.

After breakfast, we set off on our drive down to Porto Jofre.  This is a 3-hour drive but with plenty of opportunities to stop along the way as and when we spot wildlife.  We'll have lunch at a lodge en route.

On arrival at Porto Jofre, we will board a speedboat to take us to our base in the heart of the world's prime jaguar territory.  The journey to our floating hotel takes about 20 minutes.

The Flotel is simple and comfortable, with 24-hour electricity and air-conditioning. En-suite bathrooms are small but with plenty of hot and cold water for showers.

Our time here will give us the best chance of wild jaguar sightings.  We will take morning and afternoon boat safaris each day, exploring different rivers and side channels.  Jaguar sightings can be anything from a brief encounter to several hours, as the jaguars here are accustomed to people.  If we are lucky, we will get the chance to spend a prolonged period viewing.  From the moment we leave on our speedboat to the moment we return to the houseboat, keep your eyes peeled on the banks and the edges of the river.

The Cuiaba River is also great for Giant River Otter sightings.  Watching a family group in the water, swimming or fishing, or on the banks would undoubtedly be a trip highlight.

As well as Jaguars, there is the possibility of seeing other mammals.  Tapir, Tayra (uncommon but possible), Brocket and Marsh Deer.  Of course, there will be no shortage of the two main prey species of the Jaguars - Yacare Caiman (estimates are that up to 20 million live here!) and Capybara.  Our excellent birding opportunities will continue.

Day notes

Today we leave our floating hotel and head back to the Transpantaneira Highway.

We will stop overnight at Rio Claro Lodge, a rustic lodge located beside the Rio Claro, which provides some good birding in the grounds.

An afternoon boat cruise looking for Great Black Hawk, Black Coloured Hawk and there is the possibility we might catch a glimpse of Brazilian Tapir on the riverbanks. After dinner, we will then set out on a night safari, looking for mammals such as the Crab-eating fox, Grey Brocket Deer, Red Brocket Deer, and Crab-eating Raccoon, among others.

Day notes

A morning boat activity at Rio Claro before we head back out onto the Transpantaneira.

Driving to Hotel Baiazinha will take around 6 hours.  

Once we leave the tarmac, we will drive for around 2 hours on unpaved roads., stopping along the way to photograph the wildlife with stunning bird species such as Hyacinth Macaws, Red-and-Green Macaws, Parakeets, Burrowing Owls, Red-Legged Seriema, Greater Rhea.... With luck we may spot the Six-banded Armadillo.  Keep an eye on the trees for Capuchin Monkeys and Marmoset.

Settle into Hotel Baiazinha, which will be our home for the next 3 nights in the Pantanal.  On the banks of the Paraguay River and close to the Taiama Ecological Reserve, its location makes this a fantastic base for us to explore the peaceful waterways for jaguar and other wildlife.  

After an early morning breakfast, we will set out on a speedboat safari in the Paraguay River, exploring a large area situated around the lodge, searching for Caiman, Capybara, Giant River and Neotropical Otter amongst other wildlife.  Jaguars are present here, but with so few people in this area, they tend to be shy and can be harder to spot compared with the Meeting of the Waters State Park.  Birding is fantastic here and we will see a great variety from the boat, including the Jabiru Stork, the tallest flying bird of the Americas.

Breaking for lunch at the lodge, we will go back out on the boat in the afternoon until sunset.

The next day, we will be back out on the boat to explore the Taiama Reserve.  This will be a full day safari, so we'll take a packed lunch with us and find a place to stop, eat and view the surroundings. The Taiama Reserve is a large river island of 11,000 hectares and has a variety of aquatic environments from grass fields, riparian forests (woodland adjacent to water), streams and lagoons; all influenced by the seasonality of the Paraguay River.  This is an "off the beaten track" location, and we can enjoy the wonderful landscape in tranquillity.

A night drive is included.  We may see Owls, Greater Potoo, Common Pauraque (nightjar) and, with luck, Tapir.  With even more luck, Ocelot.

Day notes

After breakfast, we'll return to Cuiaba in time to connect with flights back to Sao Paulo.