Brazil | Natural Wonders of the Pantanal

Depart the US on your overnight flight to Brazil.

Upon arrival in Campo Grande, you will be taken to your hotel. Meet your guide and fellow travelers for a program orientation, followed by a welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant. Check-in starts at 2 pm.

Start your day with a sunrise visit to an area of the city where you may encounter the vibrant Blue-and-yellow Macaw, a species that over decades has become established in this urban environment and was designated Campo Grande's official symbol in 2015. Also look for chattering Red-bellied Macaws, charming and playful coatimundis, and regal, strutting Bare-faced Curassows. Return to the hotel for breakfast, then embark on a four-hour drive to the lodge in Bonito. Along the way, keep an eye out for the largest flightless bird of the Americas, the ostrich-like Greater Rhea, as it's not uncommon to see as many as 15 to 30 of these hefty birds in the fields that border the asphalt road. Have lunch at a local restaurant before arriving at the hotel. This afternoon, set out on a short drive to search for giant anteaters. Later, return to the hotel for dinner.

This morning, set off on a mesmerizing snorkeling excursion. The crystal-clear waters of the Olho D'Agua, a small tributary of the Rio da Prata, are ideal for viewing aquatic plants and schools of piraputangas, dorados, curimbatás, piaus, matogrossinhos, and other Pantanal fish. A hot buffet lunch is included at the Rio da Prata snorkeling headquarters. Next, drive 10 minutes to Buraco das Araras, or Macaws' Sinkhole. Measuring approximately 328 feet deep and 1,640 feet in circumference, Buraco das Araras is one of the largest sinkholes in the world. This geological wonder has striking vermilion sandstone walls and is an important nesting site for Red-and-green Macaws. The viewing platforms overlooking the sinkhole provide spectacular views of the macaws as they soar from the cliffs where they nest. Other birds are found here too - nearly 150 species have been recorded in the reserve.

After breakfast, drive to Pousada Aguapé and check in. Over the next two days, you'll explore the fields, river, and forests surrounding the lodge during outings on foot, by boat, and in safari vehicles. This lodge is excellent not only for giant anteaters, but also for the smaller, prehensile-tailed collared anteater, or southern tamandua. Other targets include the pampas deer, giant otter, Yacaré caiman, Greater Rhea, Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, Nanday Parakeet, Plush-crested Jay, Cocoi Heron, and Jabiru.

Continue exploring your picturesque surroundings during morning and afternoon outings.

Return to Campo Grande, with possible wildlife sightings on the way. This afternoon, visit Prosa State Park in the eastern part of the city. This 400-acre urban reserve protects a remnant of cerrado vegetation and serves as an important natural sanctuary for coatis, anteaters, capybaras, crab-eating foxes, several species of monkeys, Bare-faced Curassow, White-necked Hawk, Yellow-headed Caracara, Collared and Blue-crowned Trogons, and others.

Depart at 3:30 am and head to Campo Grande Airport for your flight to Cuiabá, arriving in time to enjoy a hot breakfast buffet nearby. Then travel to SouthWild Pantanal. A portion of the journey takes you on the Transpantaneira. This highway, mostly dirt and gravel with more than 120 wooden bridges, is one of the only access roads into the Pantanal's interior. It passes through many habitats and is often described as the best road in the world to spot and photograph wildlife. Animals regularly seen include giant anteaters, armadillos, caimans, marsh deer, silvery marmosets, black howler monkeys, and many species of water birds. Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch, and then take part in one of the lodge's wildlife-viewing activities, which might include a low-speed boat outing on the Pixaim River, famous for its abundance of birds, caimans, capybaras, giant otters, and jaguars; hiking on the 2.5-mile network of scientific trails, which offer full access to the gallery forest; or ascending three easy walk-up towers, ranging from 19 to 52 feet in height, one near the Jabiru nest and the other two in the gallery forest, for birding from a spectacular vantage point. This evening, visit the lodge's ocelot blind for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe these wild cats at close range.

Have breakfast, then journey approximately two and a half hours further down the Transpantaneira Road with a boxed lunch in hand. Stop along the way for wildlife sightings and photo opportunities. At the end of the road, arrive at Porto Jofre on the north bank of the Cuiabá River, which forms the border between the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. After a short bathroom break, board your jaguar search boats and cruise about an hour upstream to the Jaguar Suites, searching for jaguars along the way. Once you arrive, take a two- to three-hour boat outing to continue looking for jaguars, giant otters, and other wildlife until near sunset. Settle into your room at Jaguar Suites in the heart of jaguar territory. After dinner, attend a lecture about the regional wildlife.

Over the next two days, enjoy morning and afternoon boat outings in search of jaguars, giant otters, and other wildlife. Also look for bird life such as Black-collared, Savanna, and Great Black Hawks, Wattled Jacana, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, a variety of herons, cormorants, and more. Outings typically last for about four hours. Wildlife lectures will be held in the evenings.

Continue with morning and afternoon boat outings and evening wildlife lectures.

Board a boat for the return trip to Porto Jofre, looking for jaguars along the way. From here, drive to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge in an open-sided, roofed safari truck. Arrive in time for lunch, then take a two-hour motorboat outing on the wildlife-rich Pixaim River, which is famous for easily photographed Black-collared Hawks, Ringed Kingfishers, and Amazon Kingfishers. Brazil's other three species of kingfishers can also be seen on these river outings, but two of them -the Green-and-rufous and the American Pygmy Kingfishers - require more patience and a slow, silent approach. This evening, make another visit to the ocelot viewing area.

Enjoy a final day exploring the lodge's surroundings and taking another boat outing on the river. Gather for a farewell dinner tonight, with one more visit to the ocelot viewing area this evening.

Rise very early for breakfast, then depart as a group for the Cuiabá Airport (approx. 5-6 am).

Welcome home!