The Pantaneiro - Mato Grosso - Pantanal



The Pantaneiro is a sort of Brazilian cowboy, with a fair amount of Indian blood flowing through his veins. Perhaps that is why he loves country life so much; he feels like a king of the savannahs and the jungle, like a lord of nature. His prowess shows in the way he tames half-wild horses and how he handles his lasso. No movement on the plain eludes his lynx-like eyes – he can spot whatever game tries to hide, as well as a sick animal that has lost its herd.


The Pantaneiros are people born and bred in the Pantanal region. They are descendants of the Bandeirantes (Portuguese people who kept pushing west, penetrating deep into the heartland), who mingled with the Indians and the Paraguaios. Cattle-breeding has a 200-year tradition here and is the region's major source of income. That is why working with cattle has a big influence on these people's culture.


A typical day in the life of a Pantaneiro starts very early, when he has his “quebra-torto”, a high-calorie breakfast which consists of “arroz carreteiro” (rice with dried meat) and coffee. Working with cattle is often unpredictably strenuous, and the Pantaneiro mostly leaves his house without knowing when he will be back. Before bridling his horse for the day he drinks some ”tereré”, an iced tea of sorts made from the green leaves of the yerba-mate, a characteristic tree that grows in the west of Brazil, on the border to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.


The Pantaneiros are plain people who cherish and respect their nature and environment. They are very hard-working. A rich rodizio (grilled beef) makes a Pantaneiro happy. Add to that a little guitar music and some singing or dancing to go with it, and you can be sure the Pantaneiro will be in his element.


As a pastime there is the occasional lassoing competition, since working with cattle makes the men very handy with this tool. The people of the Pantanal go about their daily business in harmony and with dedication and respect for nature. A prominent part of a Pantanal menu is the ”churrasco“ barbecue. It is made up of big chunks of meat from various parts of the cow, served on long wooden spits by the vaceiros (riders). Another excellent dish is a fresh-water fish (pacu, piranha or pintado), which is particularly common among the population living by the rivers or big lakes. But there are many other typical dishes like the “arroz carreteiro”, accompanied by “farofa” (roasted manioc flour) and bananas. Another excellent dish is the famous “galinhada“, a chicken stew cooked in an iron pot.


You are also welcome to pay a visit to the family of Maximiliano and Dona Clarisse where you can savour the typical Pantanal cooking (rice with meat, farofa, beans). Watch Dona Clarisse spinning cotton or enjoy a characteristic churrasco accompanied by guitar music in the evening (6-person minimum). Write us – we will organise the visit for you (15,00 euros apiece).


Maximiliano's family lives on a small property in the Pantanal, which measures about 24 hectares. The small piece of land has been in his family's possession for over 70 years. Maximiliano was born here, he is 62 years old. His wife and three children live with him and farm the land (manioc, bananas, cotton, corn, sugar cane). The small farm is situated by the Transpantaneira, not far from the Pousada Piuval.