Tour 1.4: Transpantaneira - Pousada Rio Claro - Curicaca-Lodge

5 days/4 nights from/to Cuiabá (offered all year)

On this journey, you will get to know diverse ecosystems. Also, you will change accommodation twice. The two accommodation sites – Fazenda Curicaca and Pousada Rio Claro – have left the nature around them (gallery forests, cerrado) untouched and in their original state. This tour is ideal for people looking for peace and quiet, seclusion and a familial atmosphere, but who are also prepared to do without luxury.

Thus you will enjoy the different landscapes (throughout the year) and return from Pantanal with a maximum of new impressions and experiences – and, of course, with many pictures of “crocodiles” (which experts call “alligators” or “caimans”).

1st day Cuiabá - Pousada Rio CLaro

Our travel guide will pick you up at Cuiabá airport. Then a drive of about 100 km on asphalt roads to Poconé. Here you will have lunch with a typically Brazilian family and savour the indigenous cuisine of the Mato Grosso region (depending on arrival time). After that, drive to your first accommodation, the former Estancia Vitoria.

This lodge is situated by the Transpantaneira (mileage point 35) and was converted to a pousada in 2008 to open up a new lodge for tourism in Pantanal. Even while on the Transpantaneira, you will be able to see the first plant and animal species. Depending on schedule, several stops will be made for exploring and photo opportunities. On arrival at the lodge welcoming drinks, allocation of rooms and plenty of time for a long shower. Afterwards you can go on the first tours, depending on your stamina. In the evening, there will be a nighttime safari in the vicinity of the lodge to track and watch nocturnal animals.

2nd day: Pousada Rio Claro

In the next morning sunrise tour before breakfast to witness the awakening of the animals of Pantanal, a unique experience nobody should miss. After breakfast trip to the surroundings of the pousada to watch the flora and fauna in Pantanal; on request a horseback tour is possible as well. After lunch, you will go on a boat trip on Rio Claro. Here you can see a lot of birds and other species of animals. After dinner night tour with torches to watch nocturnal animals such as caimans, owls etc.

3rd day: Curicaca-Lodge

After breakfast you say goodbye to the Pousada Rio Claro and take the 15 km along the Transpantaneira to the Curicaca-Lodge including several stops for opportunities to explore the flora and fauna along the Transpantaneira. Arrival at the lodge, check in, freshen up, after you make a little walk in the region of the Lodge. Lunch at the Lodge.

In the late afternoon, you will go on a hike in the vicinity of the lodge, mainly to track down various bird species and howler monkeys. Night safari with torches and headlights to watch nocturnal animals after dinner.

4th day: Curicaca-Lodge

On request sunrise tour towards 5 am. Watch the rising sun and the awakening of the Pantanal fauna, a unique experience that no one should pass up. There is also a watchtower in the area, from which you get a beautiful view over Pantanal. You can go on a number of different tours from this lodge; by boat, canoe or on foot in the neighbouring forest. Tours along the Transpantaneira are also an option, if you should feel like exploring the flora and fauna in this area of Pantanal.

After lunch you will go on a canoe tour on Rio Novo or a mountain bike tour along the Transpantaneira. After dinner night trip with torches to watch nocturnal animals (caimans, owls etc.).

5th day: Curicaca-Lodge - Cuiabá

After breakfast, there will be either another horseback ride, a hike in the environment of the lodge or you will be taken to the airport in Cuiabá, depending on flight schedules.

Prices per Person:

5 days/4 nights	double-room	3-bed-room	4-bed-room
	645,00 €	575,00 €	525,00 €
1 h sightseeing flight	150,00 €	150,00 €	150,00 €

AAll prices apiece valid until 23/12/2010. More persons our big groups on inquire.

Services (included in prices mentioned above)

2 nights at the Fazenda Curicacá (full board).
2 nights at the Pousada Rio Claro (full board).
All rooms have air conditioning or van, a bathroom/shower.
All transfers, all tours by car, boat, on horseback or on foot (Curicaca-Lodge dont have horses).
24-h supervision by educated, competent english-speaking travel guides.
All transfers and car rides in an air conditioned van or car, depending on the number of travellers.

Not included:

Beverages, tips, personal expenses, sightseeing flight.

Equipment:

Appropriate footwear (light hiking shoes), long jeans or trekking pants, long-sleeved shirt or blouse, t-shirts and shirts for sleeping, hat, cap or head cloth, sunscreen and mosquito protection. No black clothes, since black attracts mosquitoes. Sweatshirt, sweater or fleece jacket from June to September, since the nights can get extremely cold. Jaundice inoculation strongly recommended.

Note:

Programme changes reserved, due to weather and particularly flight schedules (arrival/departure and order of accommodations). Price changes expressly reserved, due to fluctuating exchange rates and reasons of organisation and security. Timely booking required, since the smaller accommodations are usually fully booked for months in advance.

Request regarding journey