CuriOdyssey Travel
Custom & Curated Travel Planning
In Search of Jaguars
Photo Safari in Brazil's Pantanal
DESCRIPTION:
The Pantanal is the world’s largest freshwater wetland, a seasonally flooded plain fed by the tributaries of the Paraguay River. As the waters recede in the dry season, the Pantanal attracts a great influx of birds and other animals—one of the hemisphere’s greatest natural phenomena. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, the Pantanal is a bio-geographic mixing bowl, containing elements of the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforests, the Brazilian Savannah, and the Paraguayan Chaco.
This vast area of wetlands is about half the size of France or almost ten times the size of the Everglades. The fantastic biodiversity includes: 698 birds species, 100 mammals, 177 reptiles, 40 amphibians and over 250 fish species. Caiman, hyacinth macaw, rhea, giant river otter, capybara, howler monkey, giant anteater, and jaguar all call this home.
Unlike the Amazon’s dense jungle, which can obscure animal viewing, the Pantanal’s open landscape provides excellent animal viewing and photography opportunities. The Amazon may have all the fame and glory, but the Brazilian Pantanal is a far superior place to see wildlife.
Learn tips on capturing the best shots while expert guides teach you about the flora and fauna of this unique region. The experience of nature photography sets the mood of quiet observation, which is crucial to better understand animal behavior. Through your lens, view details that may have gone unnoticed, and explore the role of photography in conservation.
CONSIDER:
Travel is by regular scheduled jet aircraft, motor coach, and boat. This is an active program. Some walks in the Pantanal area are approximately one to two miles long (sometimes over uneven terrain) at a leisurely pace suitable for wildlife observation. Typically, the weather in the Pantanal is warm to hot, with mid-day temperatures from the 70s to the 80s. Accommodations will vary from a rustic but comfortable lodges in the Pantanal, with private bathrooms and a swimming pool, to deluxe accommodations in Cuiaba.
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:
Please ask about options.
Ideal Length of Trip:
9+
days
Please contact CuriOdyssey Travel for more details.
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL:
It's possible to visit the Pantanal year-round, but it's best to go during the dry season (May to September). At this time the Pantanal attracts a great influx of birds and other animals — one of the hemisphere’s greatest natural phenomena. If you are on the trail of the elusive jaguar, then you will need to visit June to August, when it is access-all-areas and you can probe deeper into the wilderness. During this time at Iguazu Falls, the water levels are lower but there is a good chance of seeing the falls under blue skies. The shoulder months of May and September are ideal with tolerable crowds, tolerable weather and a good chance of sunshine.
