Tour 15: First-class Pantanal tour19 days/18 nights from/to Cuiabá (offered from March to December) The Pantanal scenery is singular in the world but not to be mistaken for swampland. In fact, it is an incredible mixture of various ecosystems, combining the most diverse landscapes such as savannahs, flooded plains, forests with an Amazon character, jungles and steppe areas. This tour offers the visitor the unique opportunity to get to know three different ecosystems in one tour, plus the Lagoa Azul (near Nobres, more beautiful and untouched than the caves of Bonito in the southern Pantanal). Moreover, the tour’s particular routing makes possible more animal encounters and experiences than any other like it. Itinerary1st day: Cuiabá – Hotel OdaraArrival at the airport in Cuiabá. Here you are picked up by our travel guide. Transfer to the Hotel Odara (4 stars) in the centre of Cuiabá. Here you occupy the presidential suite or the executive suite (depending on availability). The rest of the day is free to relax by the hotel swimming pool and get some rest after your long flight. About 50 m from the hotel you can find the best barbecue restaurant in Cuiabá, the “Churrascaria Gauchó“, our recommendation for your dinner. Downtown Poconé 2nd day: Cuiabá – Amazon rainforestAfter breakfast our guide picks you up and our drive into the Amazon region (ca. 300 km) to São José do Rio Claro begins. On the way you have lunch at a local restaurant. Check-in at the Jardim d’Amazônia lodge. Welcoming drink by the pool. After dinner short walk around the nearby lake, so you can listen to the melody of the rainforest by night.
3rd day: Amazon rainforestAfter breakfast you go on a hike on the “Angelim trail“ to watch the wild animals. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon we invite you to go swimming and snorkelling in natural spring water with its diverse regional types of fish. Afterwards you can enjoy the sunset in the “Arara lagoon“.4th day: Amazon rainforestAfter breakfast we take you deep into the jungle. Here you will get to know the flora and fauna of the rainforest, and your chances of seeing a tapir and many different kinds of birds are very good. The tour continues with a boat ride on Rio Claro, you explore the “Anaconda lake“ and swim to the beach of Palmeira. After lunch canoe ride on Rio Claro to listen to the strange noises of the jungle and to discover its diverse fauna. Dinner and overnight stay at the Jardim d’Amazônia lodge.
5th day: Amazon rainforest – Nobres (Lagoa Azul) – Bom JardimAfter breakfast you go to Lagoa Azul near Nobres (about 3 hours' drive). After lunch at the pousada “Recanto Ecologico da Lagoa Azul“ you first take a look at Lagoa Azul, gleaming up at you from its crater cave. Then you pay a visit to a dripstone cave; after that you are equipped with snorkelling gear (life jacket, diving goggles, snorkel and flippers, which are of course cleaned and disinfected after every use). In a crystal clear enclosed basin you can marvel at the fantastic underwater world. Fish such as pintado, dourado and many others live in these parts. Afterwards you snorkel in a river with crystal water.In the evening you continue to Bom Jardim (about 30 km from the Pousada Recanto Ecologico) where you spend the night (very simple but clean accomodation). Dinner at a local restaurant (also very plain). Unfortunately there are no better accommodations in Bom Jardim.
6th to 8th day: Bom Jardim – Chapada dos GuimarãesAfter a simple breakfast at the Pousada Bom Jardim you go to Chapada dos Guimarães, a completely different biosphere. Here you will spend two nights at the Pousada Penhasco. You experience the singular beauty of these mesas. In the afternoon (depending on arrival time) visit to the national park. During the hike through the highlands you get the opportunity to take a bath under one of the many waterfalls. Visit to the cave of Casa de Pedra (with an underground river), view from Morro de São Jerônimo (860 m).After breakfast on the next day we take you to the Centro Geodésico (the central point of South America). From this spot you can see as far as 100 km when the view is clear. You go the village of Chapada dos Guimarães where lunch waits for us at a local restaurant. Many people from Cuiabá have their weekend cottages in this village, which makes it very busy on weekends. After lunch you take a trip to the best-known waterfall in the area, called “Veu da Noiva“. Here the water plunges down into a 96-m gorge. Afterwards hike to the smaller Andorinhas waterfall. There will be plenty of time for taking baths and maybe you even dare jump down the waterfall, which is a test of courage in these parts. After this refreshment we return to the Pousada Penhasco. After a shower and a little relaxation, dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay at the Pousada Penhasco.
8th to 10th day: Pantanal – Fazenda CarandáAfter breakfast we drive from Chapada dos Guimarães to Poconé in an air-conditioned minivan or car (depending on the number of travellers) on ca. 170 km of asphalt road. In Poconé you have lunch with a typically Brazilian family and enjoy the local Mato Grosso cuisine. Later transfer by airplane to the Fazenda Carandá (ca. 15 minutes' flight; comes at an extra charge).The landscape surrounding this accommodation is almost untouched and very diverse. Watching animals is easy around here. The best way to get a sense of the diversity of the flora and fauna is on a horseback ride. Particularly numerous are hyacinth macaws, but common potoos (nyctibius grandis) can be spotted, too. There are also other rare bird species, like the nanday conure (nandayus nenday). The diversity of animals and especially birds in this region is almost inexhaustible and without comparison in the Pantanal. Here you experience the Pantanal in its original state, far from civilisation and mainstream tourism along the Transpantaneira. In the months from December to May you can reach this lodge from Poconé via plane only (which we organise accordingly). After arrival you move into your room, opportunity to rest and take a shower.
Even on the drive to the Fazenda Carandá you can see countless parakeets, flocks of hyacinth macaws, several blue-fronted amazons, toucans and many other kinds of birds. The Fazenda Carandá is a real bird paradise. Near the farmhouse there are currently three hyacinth macaw nests, and you can watch their plumed inhabitants as long as you like. In the high trees around the fazenda you can find blue-fronted amazons, yellow-collared macaws, white-eyed and peach-fronted conures, yellow-chevroned parakeets, monk parakeets, blue-fronted parakeets, aracaris, cardinals, caracaras and many other bird species. The Fazenda Carandá is one of the nicest accommodations, not only because of the birds but also because of its warm and personal atmosphere. The first smaller hikes and horseback rides are offered from the the day you arrive. In the evening nighttime safari to track nocturnal animals. In the morning you rise early for a sunrise tour before breakfast to watch the awakening of the birds. During your stay at the Fazenda Carandá you will go on extensive tours on horseback, on foot and by boat to experience the unique beauty of the Pantanal, far from civilisation. Enjoy the hospitality of the fazenda owners, who will make your stay unforgettable. The tours and excursions are suited to fit your personal wishes. Our travel guide will be at your disposal for 24 hours a day. In the surroundings of the Fazenda Carandá you can watch a large number of bird species, here just a few examples: hornbills, toucans, aracaris (aulacorhychus), white-headed marsh tyrants (arundinicola leurocephala), blue-fronted amazons (amazona aestiva), blue-fronted parakeets (aratinga haemorrhous), yellow-collared macaws (ara auricollis), peach-fronted conures (aratinga aurea), nanday conures (nandayus nenday), American rheas (rhea americana), white-eyed conures (aratinga leucophthalmus), vermilion flycatchers (pyrocephalus rubinus), woodpeckers and lots of hyacinth macaws, a true El Dorado for bird lovers.  10th to 12th day: Pantanal - Pousada Piuval - flight over the PantanalAfter breakfast you go via airplane from the Fazenda Carandá to Poconé and start your sightseeing flight over the Pantanal. Experience this wonderful landscape from a bird’s eye view!After this special adventure it is time for a 17-km drive to the next pousada. Arrival at the Pousada Piuval, by the Piuval lake. In the late afternoon you go on a boat tour, and with a bit of luck you can spot several bird species and howler monkeys in their natural habitat. After dinner nighttime safari with torches and flashlights to watch nocturnal animals.
12th to 14th day: Fazenda Santa TerezaBefore breakfast sunrise tour. Afterwards drive to the Fazenda Santa Tereza, located by Rio Pixaim (Transpantaneira, milestone 67). In the vicinity of this lodge you can watch monkeys, caimans, capibaras, macaws and many other bird species, snakes and giant otters, with a bit of luck even a giant anteater. In the afternoon there will be a boat tour on the Rio Pixaim, which will give you the best chance to track free-living giant otters.On a nighttime safari you may even catch a glimpse of a group of lowland tapirs. Other species living here: fish buzzards, giant toucans and Brazilian colubrids (hydrodenastes gigas). In the next morning at around 6.00 am you start out on a hike to watch the sunrise. After breakfast horseback ride in the vicinity of the lodge. Return to the lodge and lunch. After lunch opportunity to relax and rest a little by the pool or on the shore of Rio Pixaim. In the afternoon you go on a boat tour to track giant otters and watch many birds and other animal species from the boat. Return to the lodge and dinner. After dinner there will be another nighttime safari to track nocturnal animals (if desired).
14th to 17th day: Jaguar-Safari from/to Porto JofreAt around 6.00 am you start out on a hike to watch the sunrise. After breakfast another horseback ride in the vicinity of the lodge. After lunch drive to the Jaguar-Eco lodge. This is the starting point of your jaguar safari. In the afternoon you take a walk through the environment of the lodge and into a nearby gallery forest. If you are lucky you can watch a population of hyacinth macaws, which have been living here for years. Return to the lodge and dinner.On the 15th and 16th day you rise early. You go on a day trip to Porto Jofre (the last town along the Transpantaneira). At 5 am you leave the lodge. After your arrival in Porto Jofre you have a breakfast picnic. Afterwards you undertake a 5-hour boat tour into the untouched nature of the Pantanal to track jaguars, tapirs, giant otters and other animal species. At noon return to Porto Jofre, where you have a picnic for lunch. After lunch return to the lodge where you have dinner. In the evening, another safari to track nocturnal animals is possible.
17th to 19th day: Hotel SESCAfter breakfast you go back on the Transpantaneira to Poconé, where you are once again invited to have lunch with the Brazilian family. Then 45-km drive to Porto Cercado and check-in at Hotel SESC.Your stay at Hotel SESC is first and foremost for relaxing and resting in the last few days of your journey. The hotel has very nice swimming pools, internet access, bars, restaurants, playing rooms, a tennis court etc. and offers whatever convenience you may desire. From here you can also go on smaller excursions into the environment (with guides employed by the hotel; our guides will not be available during this stay). If, however, you do not wish to stay at Hotel SESC you can also spend the last two nights at the Fazenda Curicacá, accompanied by our travel guide. Please tell us whether you want to make use of this option when booking. This option does not affect the total price.
19th day: Hotel SESC – CuiabáDepending on departure time the morning is free, then transfer to the airport.Prices:Due to the constantly changing dollar exchange rate and fuel prices, prices for this tour are available upon request only. We ask for your understanding in this regard. As soon as we receive your e-mail, we will submit you our price offer.Performances included in the prices:1 overnight stay at the Hotel Odara (presidential suite) with breakfast3 overnight stays at the Pousada Jardim d' Amazonia with full board 1 overnight stay at the Pousada Bom Jardim near Lagoa Azul with full board Full-day tour of Lagoa Azul. 2 overnight stays at the Pousada Penhasco in Chapada dos Guimarães with breakfast (lunch and dinner at a local restaurant in Chapada incl.) 2 x lunch with a family in Poconé. 3 overnight stays at the Fazenda Carandá with full board 2 overnight stays at the Pousada Piuval with full board 2 overnight stays at the Fazenda Santa Tereza with full board 2 overnight stays at the Jaguar-Eco lodge with full board and full-day tour (jaguar safari) 2 overnight stays at the Hotel SESC or at the Curicaca lodge with full board 1-hour sightseeing flight over the Pantanal All accommodations with air conditioning, bathroom/shower, swimming pool All transfers and excursions by car, on horseback, on foot or by boat 24-hour support by English-speaking travel guide Not included:Beverages, tips, personal expenses.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 organisation and security reasons. Timely booking required, since the smaller accommodations are usually fully booked for months in advance. The best time to see a wild jaguar is from June until December.© by Günter Stysch © by Ingo Schulz |
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