Best Brazil Pantanal Jaguar, Birding & Wildlife Tour

Our Brazil Pantanal adventure begins. Arrive at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). Our transfer reps will meet you and take you to your hotel to relax after your journey.

We can arrange an early check-in (available from noon with an additional fee) for early arrivals. Normal check-in is at 2pm.

Enjoy a welcome dinner with your guides and fellow travellers in the evening. You’ll also have the chance to sample a classic caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail, made with cachaça (sugarcane liquor), sugar, and lime.

Accommodation at Hotel Hampton by Hilton.

Note: This trip’s arrival airport is Guarulhos International (GRU), and the departure airport is Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB) in Cuiaba.

We transfer you to the airport for an early flight to Campo Grande. On arrival, around 9am, we meet our local guides and head off to our accommodation at Aguapé Lodge.

The four-hour drive by van or mini-bus to Aguapé Lodge offers birdwatching and wildlife-spotting stops en route.

After lunch at the lodge, we embark on an afternoon of birding, seeking out species like the Hyacinth Macaw, Blue-fronted Parrot, and Toco Toucan. Others include:

• Chaco Chachalaca
• Nanday Parakeet
• Lineated and White Woodpeckers
• Narrow-Billed Woodcreeper
• Greater Thornbird
• Giant Cowbird
• Crested Oropendola
• Purplish and Plush-crested Jays
• Red-crested Cardinal

Dinner and a daily checklist review conclude the day.

Today, we explore Aguapé’s extensive birdwatching opportunities, with over 300 recorded bird species. Morning and evening safaris increase our chances of seeing the Giant Anteater and many nocturnal species. Optional fishing is available.

After an early breakfast, we embark on a safari drive, returning to the lodge for lunch and maybe even a siesta. In the afternoon, we head out again.

We usually return to the lodge at night, bringing chances to see mammals like the crab-eating fox, South American coati, capybara, marsh deer, southern tamandua, crab-eating raccoon, river otter, and night birds such as Common and Great Potoo, Spectacled and Striped Owl, Pauraque and Scissor-tailed Nightjar.

The area around Aguapé Lodge is particularly rich in giant anteaters. We make an effort to find them, so keep your fingers crossed.

Bird list

There are good chances to see the following bird species:

• Southern Screamer
• Blaze-winged Parakeet
• Gilded Hummingbird
• Toco Toucan
• Pale-crested and White-fronted Woodpecker
• Helmeted Manakin
• Scarlet-headed Blackbird
• Undulated Tinamou
• Capped Heron
• Jabiru
• Savanna Hawk
• Rufescent Tiger Heron
• Buff-necked and Plumbeous Ibises
• Roseate Spoonbill
• Hyacinth and Yellow-collared Macaw
• Red-billed Scythebill
• Orange backed Troupial and many others.

After an early breakfast, we start the day with a bird walk and then explore the Aquidauana River by boat, with chances to see giant river otters and Black-collared Hawks.

Other birds include Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Black-crowned Tityra, Blaze-winged Parakeet, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and Chestnut-eared Aracari, among many more.

After an early lunch, we return to Campo Grande and visit local nesting sites called ‘nesterars’ for macaws and herons, close to the city.

Stay at the Mohave Hotel.

We transfer you to the airport for an early morning flight to Cuiabá for the northern Brazil Pantanal.

After arrival, we drive south towards Poconé. En route, we have lunch in a typical churrascaria and enjoy Brazilian-style cuisine.

For the journey to Transpantaneira Road, we swap from a paved road to a dirt road, observing wading birds and wildlife wherever possible. Only Tanzania’s Serengeti road rivals this stretch for spotting wildlife. Capybaras and cayman are often seen along this stretch.

About the Transpantaneira Road

The Transpantaneira highway is unpaved and 90 miles / 145km long, with 120 bridges, and it passes through the North Pantanal, one of the region’s wildest regions. This highway grants access to highlights from Poconé, in Mato Grosso, to the region of Porto Jofre, on the banks of the Cuiabá River and on the border with the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. This is a true safari.

Pousada Piuval

Our lodge, Pousada Piuval, has just twenty rooms and is a family-run ranch with a pool. After our arrival, we’ll take a wildlife-spotting walk.

Start your day with a hearty early morning breakfast before embarking on a full day of wildlife exploration along the Transpantaneira.

This second day offers ample opportunities to discover the incredible diversity of the region, both near the lodge and along the pathways to and from our base.

Keep an eye out for fascinating wildlife, including red brocket deer, marsh deer, crab-eating fox, Greater Rhea, Chestnut-bellied Guan, Bare-faced Curassow, and an array of wading birds.

Bridge wildlife spotting

The bridges along the way are prime observation spots, teeming with activity from the abundant food sources. Species we may encounter include Green Kingfisher, Great Egret, Cocoi Heron, Bare-faced and Green Ibises, and White-lored Spinetail, among others.

Overnight at Pousada Piuval.

We’ll start the day observing the wildlife around the ranch. Next, explore the Transpantaneira further, observing deer, macaws, and a rich variety of wading birds and mammals.

The bridges on the road are hotspots for species like Green Kingfisher, Great Egret, Cocoi Heron, both Bare-faced and Green Ibises, and White-lored Spinetail.

The landscape is scattered palm woodlands, cerrado scrub, and seasonally flooded grasslands reminiscent of the Everglades. Wading birds fill the roadside ponds and canals. Yacaré cayman live here, feeding on Roseate Spoonbills, Plumbeous Ibis, Limpkin, cormorants, and herons.

Note: In July, Jabiru and Maguari Stork visit this area.

Porto Joffe

Our destination is Porto Joffe, a small town on the Cuiabá River. Here, a small boat takes us to our accommodations—a lovely floating houseboat hotel where we’ll stay close to the wildlife.

Clear skies here offer wonderful stargazing opportunities, with optional fishing available, too.

You may awaken to the sound of macaws flying overhead on what could be a special day. We dedicate our time to looking for the iconic jaguar, known for its affinity for water and strong swimming.

The hope is to spot one lazing by the shore after such a swim. We’ll use small speedboats for agility and to avoid disturbing them. Other wildlife is plentiful and delightful here, with giant otters living in the area.

We stay out all day, with lunch aboard the boat, and try to find jaguars in the afternoon. We may see a Black Skimmer, Pied Plover, Southern Screamer, and Yacaré Caiman. Little streams may offer skulkers like Pygmy Kingfisher and Sungrebe.

We return to our floating houseboat for dinner and, hopefully, a celebratory caipirinha!

We slowly retrace our route as we head to our next lodge, taking our time to avoid missing possible sightings of black-and-gold howler monkeys, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Snail Kite, Rusty-backed Antwren, Common Tody-Flycatcher, White-browed Blackbird, and other species.

Our destination is Rio Pixum and the Mato Grosso hotel. Birds we may see en route include the following.

Bird list

• Cream-coloured Woodpecker
• Ashy-headed Greenlet
• Short-crested Flycatcher
• Mato Grosso Antbird
• Great Antshrike
• Purple-throated Euphonia.
• Whistling and Capped Herons
• Pygmy and Ringed Kingfishers
• Sunbittern
• Black-collared and Great Black Hawks
• Rusty-backed Spinetails

Brilliant-coloured Troupials, Palm, Silver, Sayaca tanagers, and Red-crested Cardinals often visit the hotel’s feeders. Anything missing from our wildlife list forms the basis of our search priorities for the following days.

Gaze at the sunrise with good Brazilian coffee while we decide if to head out in boats for wildlife spotting or a safari drive. Tapirs, giant otters, herons and other birds may line our route.

We then drive back to Cuiabá. Have your camera ready because the landscapes are iconic. There’s still time to collect sightings, from iguanas to Black-capped Donacobious, green-and-rufous Kingfishers, Little Blue Herons, and other species.

There is a Gallery Forest habitat along the way to break up the drive.

Special birds here include:

• Helmeted Manakin
• Mato Grosso Antbird
• Band-tailed Antbird
• Black-hooded Tanager
• Blue-crowned Trogon

Tonight, we dine on traditional Grosso dishes, which could include legendary piranha and local beef (vegetarian and vegan options available).

It’s a fond farewell to the Brazil Pantanal today, driving to Cuiabá, where the trip ends.

At Cuiabá, you can choose to overnight and fly onwards the next day to Iguazu, Belo Horizontes, or Rio Cristalino (hotel and flights not included).

You could also fly to São Paulo on a flight after 4pm (not included).

Andean Trails has 25 years of experience of putting together the best South America holidays.

We pay a fee to the CAA for every licensable passenger we book since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking.

We also offer ATOL (Civil Aviation Authority) protected holidays to give our customers peace of mind when booking and travelling.

When you buy an ATOL protected air holiday package from Andean Trails Ltd you will receive a Confirmation Invoice from us confirming your arrangements and your protection under our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence number 6275.

You can read more about ATOL, who is covered and what protections you have if not ATOL-covered, on our ATOL page.

What is ATOL?

The CAA’s ATOL scheme offers protection to your money and your holiday if you book with us. Not everybody is covered (see ‘Who is covered?’ for more), as you must purchase an ‘air package holiday’ with Andean Trails to be protected.

And  ‘air package holiday’ is defined as including a flight and some ground services (hotel, transfer, trek etc). This is also known as an ‘ATOL-protected holiday’.

Who is covered?

To be covered by ATOL, you must book a flight and some ground services with us and be from the UK. If you are from the UK and only book ground services and no flights, you are not covered by ATOL (see below for more on how non-ATOL clients are covered).

If you are outside the UK and buy flights with us, you will be ATOL protected IF any of the flights booked with Andean Trails touches/stops in the UK at any point during your holiday package booked with us.

If you buy your flights elsewhere, please check with that agent if you are ATOL protected. Be careful with online flight purchases and make sure you know what protection you have, if any, before paying for flights.

Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.

For land only holidays not involving any air travel, in accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992”, all UK passengers booking with Andean Trails Ltd. are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all money paid to us, arising from cancellation or curtailment of travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Andean Trails.

I’m not ATOL covered, what protection do I have?

If you are not ATOL covered, any payments you make to us go to a Trust account.

We can only access this money once your tour has been completed, meaning that if anything happens to Andean Trails Limited while you are on holiday, then your money is secure and you can either complete the trip or be able to make it home.

If you pay for your holiday with a credit card, some offer payment protection – please check with your cardholder.

You also should have cancellation protection written into your insurance (which we recommend you have at the time of booking) in case you need to cancel.

Brazil is the largest country in South America with a huge offer for the adventurous traveller: Rainforest and wildlife, culture and gastronomy, beach and sport, mountains and rivers.

Rio de Janeiro, to many, is the gateway to Brazil. It is a vibrant city, located in a spectacular geographical setting. This is the ultimate place to finish off a holiday, chilling on its world famous beaches, taking in the sights, sounds and sunshine.

Choose to extend your stay in the area combining Rio with Paraty, a quaint, well preserved colonial coastal village; or Buzios a charming, buzzing and fun coastal town; or Ilha Grande, an island with no roads where you can really enjoy the wonders of nature.

Further afield, the state of Bahia in the north east of the country is another strong draw. The colonial  capital, Salvador, with its colourful architecture, history and fiery culture is a great place to explore. Inland, Chapada Diamantina is ideal for trekkers, who head to with its plains, table-topped mountains, rivers, waterfalls and natural pools. Remote, with palm lined beaches lapped by turquoise waters, Praia do Forte is an idyllic place in which to to put up your feet and relax. 

The mighty Iguazu Falls on the shared border with Argentina are another massive draw.

The Pantanal – wetlands in the West of the country are an animal lover’s paradise. The World’s largest wetlands is teeming with wildlife including giant anacondas, capybaras, caimans and jaguars. 

The mighty Amazon River is another attraction and can be explored by boat or from a comfortable eco friendly lodge. 

Not only does Brazil offer stunning sights but it also has a cultural vibrancy unmatched anywhere else. Music and dance are part of the Brazilian DNA. A varied gastronomy and a warm welcome will make any visitor immediately at ease.

Brazil shares a border with every country in South America except for Ecuador and Chile – ten in total and has great transportation links so can easily be combined with one or more other countries.

As the cabins on the flotel are not very large, we kindly request that you restrict your total luggage of all kinds to no more than 37 kilos (80 pounds) per person.

This weight allotment includes all checked luggage, hand luggage, camera equipment, and tripods. For guests using charter planes, please use soft duffles for all check-in pieces, as they fit better in the luggage compartments of small planes.

Packing list

• 2-3 pairs of light-coloured field trousers
• 2-3 long-sleeved field shirts for sun protection and mosquito protection in early morning, late afternoon, and after dark.
• 1-2 cotton shirts or polo shirts per day.
• 4 pairs of white cotton socks long enough to tuck pants into—most useful during forest walks.
• 1 pair of trainers/walking shoes.
• Waterproof sandals, flip flops or crocs for boat rides and if it rains—bag your other shoes!
• 3 large plastic bags (folded in day pack) to bag shoes & cameras if it rains on river trips.
• Treat trainers with permethrin to kill insects called chigger.
• 2 pairs of long white socks
• 1 pair of field trousers.
• Windbreaker for cool wind during boat rides in early morning and evening.
• (May to September) Bring a heavy down coat, mittens, and winter hat for rare cold fronts.
• Water bottle to refill…Nalgene or metal—either 1 or 1.5 litres.
• Day pack (small backpack) for cameras, water bottle, etc.
• Camera, batteries and/or charger, & memory cards. Consider bringing a pen drive (USB stick) to store photos to free up memory cards. Bring owner’s manuals if necessary.
• Good binoculars *
• Rain poncho/loose-fitting rain suit. Serious rain can happen even in the “dry season”.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat with a stiff brim. Hat must not fly off in the wind.
• Underwear and light pyjamas.
• Bathing suit and perhaps sun shirt for swimming in pools or in clean rivers.
• Insect repellent containing DEET, and personal toiletries and medications.
• Small flashlight — a headtorch is very useful.
• 700-2,500 Reais (Reals) per person in Brazilian money to pay tips and bar bills.
• Passport (check if you need a visa)
• You may have one chance to see wild jaguars. Please bring a good pair of binoculars. Often, animals are in deep shade at 30-50 metres. Models 8 x 42 are good for seeing into shady spots.

The trip has year-round departures.

The Pantanal has a tropical wet and dry climate with an average yearly temperature of 21.5 °C (70.7 °F). Daily highs typically range from 30 °C to 32 °C (86 °F to 90 °F), keeping the days consistently warm.

While temperatures drop slightly during the dry season from May to September, the weather remains hot overall.

In the rainy season, from October to April, temperatures stay high, and the climate can feel especially humid, particularly in North Pantanal.

From May to September, please remember to bring cold-weather clothes. Cold fronts can strike during those months, bringing the daytime high temperature down to 9° C (50° F).