DESTINATION : Pantanal – 3 nights

This vast wetland, measuring 230,000 sq km (143,000 sq miles), in the central west of Brazil, is one of the worlds greatest wildlife preserves and includes spectacular canyons and waterfalls in its stunning scenery. The Pantanal is home to 700 species of bird, around 240 varieties of fish, giant anteaters, armadillos, marmosets, monkeys, wolves, pumas, anacondas, capivaras, and the impressive cayman, to name but a few species. With this package you will also stay in Bonito, which has breathtaking mountain and forest scenery and whose main attractions are wildlife, rivers and caves with crystal waters and amazing stalagmite and stalactite formations. This package includes comfortable lodging in pousadas and nature tours with a private English-speaking guide.

Hotel Option 1 : Caiman Lodge – Ecological Refuge
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Hotel Details:

Experience the nature and culture of the Pantanal on a 53 thousand hectare ranch in the heart of South America. The Caiman Lodge is located on a 53 thousand hectare ranch adjoining the small town of Miranda, in the Pantanal wetland, situated in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. The lodge has three major activities in this magnificent setting. Established in 1985, Caiman Lodge was the first ecotourism establishment in the Southern Pantanal (Mato Grosso do Sul). Since then, it has strived to create and offer visitors a means of getting close to the Pantanal’s nature and culture, while pursuing excellence in hospitality services and gastronomy. It consists of two lodges – Cordilheira and Baiazinha – which have fully independent operations and are 22 km from each other.

Meals:

All meals included

Hotel Option 2 : Aguapé Lodge
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Hotel Details:

The farm has been run by the same family for some 150 years. Since 1989 it has diversified its activities, continuing with cattle but starting to work with ecological tourism and fishing, it is also taking part in other projects such as Hyacinth Macaw project and Organic Veal. The lodge is located in a rich area formed by typical wetland vegetation and open pastures with patches of stunted vegetation (cerrado), lakes, lowlands, pond outlets and the Aquidauana river with its exuberant forest.

Meals:

All meals included

Transfers:

Private transfers by car or 4×4

Caiman Lodge Tours:

Guides

All excursions are led by Caimaners, bilingual (English and Portuguese), natural science graduate guides, and local guides, who have a deep knowledge of local nature and regional culture.

Caiman Lodge Tours

• Photographic Safari
• Trail Walk
• Canoe Tour
• Night Safari

Optional Caiman Lodge Tours

• Birdwatching
• Bike tour

Special Caiman Lodge Tours (June to mid september)

• Astronomy Workshop
• Pantanal´s Culture Workshop
• Jaguar Program (Onçafari Program)
• Boat ride in the Abobral river

é Lodge Tours: All tours included

Boat ride in the Abobral river

Boat trip down the river. Taken in the morning or afternoon, this tour is a wonderful opportunity to explore one the furthermost areas of the Refuge. Travel down the river and even take a nice walk in the bushes where various types of birds and mammals can be seen.

Night spotting

Night Expedition in search of wildlife – See Pantanal’s great diversity of animals with nocturnal feeding habits. Animals like crab-eating foxes, ocelots, tapirs, caimans, capybaras, deers, owls, nighthawks, and the beautiful jaguar. During the night, the strong light used to spot the animals reflect in their eyes. We present the visitors with the possibility of encountering some of these animals during this night trip. The tour lasts about 2 hours and a half. Our cars, called Jaguaretê (Jaguar) and Jaguatirica (Ocelot), were specially built for this trip. They are Toyota Pick-ups equipped with seats in three different levels to facilitate the visualization of animals by everyone in the car. The tour guides are very well trained to search for animals at night.

Ecological trekking

Ecological trail hikes – The hikes are done on trails in dense bush areas near the lodges, and allow for first hand observation of the vegetation and forest as well as wildlife such as raccoons and monkeys. This tours allows for ultimate contact with the environment. The trails are made through typical Pantanal vegetation, as in mountains and hills, and in transit areas, as scrub land, allowing for an even better view of the animals and plants of the region.

Photo Safari

In order to cover more territory, these trips are made in special vehicles, which cross fields and stretches of bush. The trip is perfect to see and photograph wildlife. At night, the guests go out to do “spot lightening tour ” – observing, with flashlights, the night animals, as alligators, capybaras, anteaters, and small wolves.

Horse riding

After breakfast departure on horseback riding – ideal for hard to reach places – or in motorized vehicles, this trip aims to explore the Pantanal in the most traditional of its areas. You will witness the harmonious coexistence between cattle and wildlife. You will enjoy 2 horse riding experiences with professionals into 2 destinations. Riding through open fields, swamps, thickets, ridges, streams and bays, we encounter a rich variety of lush vegetation and wildlife, typical of a well preserved region. The horses are quiet, which means that even those who have never ridden a horse can do this ride. There are several tracks with shorter or longer routes, which can be travelled both in wet and dry season, always accompanied by experienced local guides.