Day 1: The tour host will meet you in São Paulo Int’l Airport for the flight to Campo Grande, departing in the morning. Arrival before mid-day and car transfer on spacious van to Cabanas Hotel (5 hrs). Lunch at a restaurant on the way. Free afternoon for exploring the easy forest trails of our lodge, looking for birds like Blue-crowned Trogon and Amazonian Motmot, some mammals are around too like Capuchin Monkey and Azara’s Agouti. Evening presentation of the trip. [Incl.: lunch, dinner]

Days 2 – 3: These two days will be devoted to getting the best possible shots of macaws in flight at a huge natural sinkhole where dozens of Red-and-green Macaws (plus the odd Blue-and-yellow Macaws) nest and roost. At this private nature reserve there are two conveniently placed wooden terraces installed at the edge of the sinkhole, ideal spots for our photography as the macaws fly below us and at eye level. Expect dozens of great opportunities a day for flight shots. The habitat surrounding the sinkhole is good for birds such as Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Plush-crested Jays, among others. We stop for a great lunch and a siesta at a neighbour fazenda. This region is also very good for Giant Anteaters and we will look for them as well in the late afternoons. [Incl.: brkfst., lunch, dinner]

Day 4: After breakfast and some quick photos around the lodge we drive to the town of Aquidauana (4 hrs) to catch the chartered flight to Fazenda Barranco Alto, about 30 minutes away into the heart of South Pantanal. This is a wonderful exclusive little lodge with an immense area inland for our explorations with 4×4 vehicles or by boat on the river, which is pretty much a private river, as its mouth is blocked to other boats by an intricate maze of wetlands and small canals. Jaguar sightings here are increasingly more common, and there also many opportunities for birds and varied wildlife. Afternoon photographing here. [Incl.: brkfst., lunch, dinner]

Days 5 – 6: Two full days at Barranco Alto. Daily activities include safari drives, short walks and boat rides, always focused on producing the best photos. The landscape here is among the most beautiful of the Pantanal, with hundreds of lagoons, forests and native grasslands. Wildlife often encountered here include Giant Anteater, Tapir, varied deer species, lots of parrots and macaws, Giant and Neotropical Otters, Caimans, Crab-eating Fox and even Jaguar and probably the best chances for Puma in Brazil. The habitats here are surprisingly different than at North Pantanal, with some notable differences in avifauna too. At this time of the year the water levels will be dry, exposing sandbars where different birds breed and forming small channels with big concentrations of Caimans hunting small fish. Many drying lakes inland will also have a big concentration of migrating aquatic birds. [Incl.: brkfst., lunch, dinner]

Day 7: Morning photography and before lunch flight to Porto Jofre region (1:20 hr), crossing the Pantanal to its northern part. We will fly to an air strip close to our houseboat (Millenium), which will be our home and base for the next days. The houseboat is very spacious, with large rooms. The same is true for our smaller boat used for the river cruises, also very spacious and comfortable, equipped with modern 4-stroke engine and radio. Afternoon looking for Jaguars and other wildlife along the myriad of rivers and canals of this region. [Incl.: brkfst., lunch, dinner]

Days 8 – 11: Four full days of boat outings for Jaguar and much more. Expect a lot of different Jaguar sightings (average 3 per day or more), plus Giant Otters, Capybaras, Tapir and lots of birds. Because our river boat is conveniently located right in and around the main area where Jaguars are sighted consistently, we always return for lunch and a little rest before going out again in the afternoon. [Incl.: brkfst., lunch, dinner]

Day 12: After breakfast car transfer to Pousada Piuval, at the beggining of the Transpantaneira (4 hrs), stopping along the way for photos. Here we have the chance to unwind a bit and make the last photos. There is an area nearby with a big concentration of water birds that at this time of the year always produce interesting photos. The huge property of the lodge is also a good place for Giant Anteater and Jaguars. [Incl.: brkfst., lunch, dinner]

Day 13: We will leave the lodge after breakfast for Cuiabá (2 hrs), and fly back to São Paulo Int’l. Check our optional Atlantic Rainforest extension as well for incredible bird photography in a completely different environment. [Incl.: brkfst.]

HOTEL CABANAS

Located near the town of Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul State, this lodge, like all others in the region, receives mostly brazilian tourists who come to Bonito for its world class freshwater snorkeling and other water activities. We come here for the incredible opportunities to photograph the Red-and-green Macaws though. This lodge is located about 30 minutes by car from the private reserve where there is the sinkhole where they nest.

The property of the lodge is quite big and includes a few well-kept forest trails and two clear water rivers crossing it. Birds and animals can be seen around the lodge area.

Rooms are on stilts, cabin-like, comfortable and private. Dinner is ordered a la carte, simple but good traditional brazilian meals.

BARRANCO ALTO LODGE

This is a very exclusive little lodge located in a remote area of South Pantanal, accessible during most of the year only by airplane. The property, a very traditional fazenda, is immense and allows us the opportunity to explore its vast interior with a 4×4 open vehicle. The fazenda has hundreds of natural lagoons, a unique geological formation of this area of the Pantanal, known by the strange name of Nhecolandia. These lagoons, interspersed with forests and pockets of native grasslands, are a magnet for wildlife, including mammals coming to drink or migrating birds feeding at the shores of the lagoons.

Rooms are mostly located at the original fazenda main house, converted into very comfortable guest rooms.

The boats used here are more simple than at Porto Jofre, because the river here dictates that. The river is much smaller and shallower, so we must use a smaller boat to access different areas. While you can’t shoot standing up here, it’s stable enough to comfortably shoot while seating down and get close to wildlife. Here we use two boats, dividing in groups of three guests each.

Food is delicious with a touch of fine cuisine here and there. It is served at a buffet with a variety that should suit your tastes. Natural juices with fruits of the season are served with every meal.

AGUAPÉ HOUSE BOAT

This is a very spacious house boat, with comfortable air conditioned rooms, very good food and friendly staff. The main advantages of a house boat is staying close to the action, near the best areas for Jaguars, saving us time to and from these areas each day and thus optmizing photo opportunities.

PIUVAL LODGE

This lodge is located at the beggining of the Transpantaneira Road. Like Barranco Alto, it also has a large property inland for our explorations by vehicle, with a mix of habitats. Lately Jaguars are becoming increasingly more common in the area, to the point of being seen right around the lodge buildings!

Rooms are spacious and clean, with a private veranda. Food is good and varied, served on a buffet.

TRILHA DOS TUCANOS LODGE (OPTIONAL ATLANTIC RAINFOREST EXTENSION)

A simple small family-run lodge fully devoted to bird photography and birdwatching. This is the most simple accommodation during our tour. The rooms are basic but clean. Food is home-made and excellent. The hospitality of the owners make the place special as well.

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This trip requires a 20% confirmation deposit, payment is made through wire transfer or credit card (7% fee for credit card). Instructions will be sent after registration.