An untamed paradise situated in central-western Brazil, Northern Pantanal is an awe-inspiring wetland that encompasses about a third of the total Pantanal area, and the world's largest tropical wetland area. This incredible seasonal floodplain is a natural mosaic of various wetland that forms an extraordinary arrangement number of rivers, lagoons, marshes, lakes and ponds accentuated by forested hills. An unmissable attraction is the city of Pocone, the site of the famous Transpantaneira dirt road which leads travellers to Northern Pantanal's abundant wildlife. Visitors should look out for anteaters, rhea, hyacinth macaws, capybara, caiman and the world's largest concentration of jaguars. Further along the road is Pantanal Mato-Grossense National Park, a pristine wildlife hotspot teeming with over 600 species of birds, giant anteaters, giant otters, tapir, howler monkeys and jaguars.
As previously described
Resting on the banks of the Cuiabá River in southern Brazil, Porto Jofre is part of the Pantanal wetlands system - one of the most beautiful and biodiverse corners of the planet. The rainforests, rivers and estuaries surrounding the town are home to a incredible array of bird and animal life, including monkeys, tapirs, capybaras, macaws, giant otters, armadillos, anteaters and even the elusive jaguar. This one of the few places in the world where you may still be able to catch a glimpse of these majestic cats in the wild. It is also an excellent sports fishing destination, with rich stocks of feisty game fish such as golden dorado, tucunaré and pacu.
Situated in the heart of Brazilian cattle country, Cuiabá is a pleasant, modern city that serves as the capital of Brazil’s Mato Grosso State. While many visitors use the city as merely a jumping-off point for the wetlands of the Northern Pantanal and the magnificent Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, those who linger will find a collection of exciting sites and activities to keep them blissfully engaged. The city boasts three impressive shopping centres, some tempting cafes and restaurants, a vibrant party scene, as well as an attractive downtown area complete with excellent live music and colourful street stalls. Don’t miss the tree-lined central square, which features some remarkable colonial architecture and the stylishly modern Cathedral of Bom Jesus with its fantastic Art Deco features and intricate stained glass.
Situated in southeastern Brazil, within the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo and just northeast of the Sao Paulo city centre, Guarulhos boasts beautiful nature parks, excellent shopping opportunities and plenty of interesting attractions. The enthralling Cabucu center of Parque Estadual da Cantareira features alluring hiking trails among the tropical Atlantic forest, which is inhabited by Howler Monkeys. The most popular trail is the 5.2-kilometre Trilha da Cachoeira, which offers captivating views of the Cabucu Reservoir and leads to a magnificent waterfall. There are several other wonderful parks around the city. Spend a day browsing the boutiques, watching a movie and dining at one of the superb restaurants at the Parque Shopping Mall. The Padre Bento Theater (Teatro Padre Bento) is a fantastic place to watch plays and concerts.
This magnificent waterfall marks the confluence of the Iguazu River in Argentina and the Parana River in Brazil, and the meeting of the two countries is marked by stone pillars rising from the water. It is said that the former first lady of America, Eleanor Roosevelt, exclaimed her ‘pity’ for her country’s Niagara Falls when she first encountered the beauty of Iguazu Falls. Roughly half the combined volume of both rivers thunders into the Devil’s Throat, a U-shaped cataract that delivers a torrential deluge of water into the wide basin below. Visitors can look forward to ample opportunities for excellent jet boat safaris, kayaking, hiking, biking, and more. Make sure to visit the extraordinary Iguassu Bird Park to see toucans and other brightly coloured exotic birds in their natural habitat.
