Jaguars of North Pantanal

Jun. 20 to 28 & Jul. 01 to 09, 2019

On this small-group tour to North Pantanal in Brazil we are visiting the best place in the world to find and photograph Jaguars in their natural habitat, plus loads of other varied wildlife. I’ve been guiding tours to the Pantanal for 11 years and this is, in my experience, the most optimized itinerary for wildlife photography in a short trip that won’t cost a lot, ideal for those who don’t have much time available and want to go straight to what really matters – without spending too much.

First we stay at a small lodge with a big private property that is extremelly rich in wildlife, widely recognized as one of the best places in the entire Pantanal for varied wildlife. This will be an amazing start for our Pantanal adventure. Here we explore the roads and easy trails inside the property, in search of animals that we probably won’t find on the second part of the trip, like Giant Anteater, Marsh Deer and an astounding variety of birds.

All along this tour I will provide my experience in helping you to make great photos, beyond the usual wildlife record shot. We will try different and new techniques, and explore dramatic or creative light. Night photography will also be covered. Most of our time will be spent on “how to make a great photo now”.

For the second part of the trip we stay at the best lodge on the edges of the Cuiabá River, and use a very comfortable boat with plenty of space to put gear and shoot at all angles. Here we have 4 1/2 days devoted to Jaguars, and we can expect an average of 3 different cats per day, sometimes more! This region provides varied habitats, like secluded forest bordered channels, open sandy beaches, swampy areas and more and is also the best place in the Pantanal to get exciting behaviour, like hunting or even fighting.

Date: June 20 to 28 (FULL) or July 01 to 09, 2019.
Practically everything included from São Paulo, check side tabs for details
USD 3.600 per person
USD 370 for single room
Payment through wire-transfer or credit card through PayPal (7.4% tax for credit card)
USD 990 deposit or 1.090 for single room
Max of only 6 guests

Itinerary

June 20 or July 01: The tour host will meet you in São Paulo Int’l Airport for the morning flight to Cuiabá (for the June trip) or meet you at the airport in Cuiabá (for the July trip). Arrival around mid-day and car transfer to our lodge on the Transpantaneira. Lunch at a restaurant on the way. We will have our private van with us during the first part of the trip, so we have freedom to explore the amazing area in search of wildlife. Afternoon photographing the first animals and birds!

June 21 or July 02: Full day at Pouso Alegre property, exploring different habitats and photography opportunities. This is an excellent area for mammals like Giant Anteater, Tapir, Crab-eating Fox, Brocket Deers, Marsh Deer and some others. Hundreds of bird species abound as well, like Chestnut-eared Araçari, Toco Toucan, Great Horned Owl, Black-collared Hawk, Sunbittern,Helmeted Manakin, Pale-crested Woodpecker and many more. We will also do some nighttime photography, be it for wildlife or landscape/stars.

June 22 or July 03: Entire morning shooting in this area again (Hyacinth Macaws abound around our lodge in the morning). After lunch and the harsh midday light we drive to our second lodge at the very end of the Transpantaneira, on the edge of the large Cuiabá River. During the drive we will stop often for photos, as wildlife is literally all around the road. We will be looking mainly for birds like the amazing Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Snail Kites, Jabiru, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, etc. Jaguars are seen on the road sometimes too! We arrive at the lodge before dinner.

June 23 to 26 or July 04 to 07: Four full days of boat outings for Jaguar and much more. Expect a lot of different Jaguar sightings, plus Giant Otters, Capybaras and lots of birds. We start our days before dawn and always return for lunch and a midday siesta before going out again in the afternoon.

June 27 or July 08: Morning boat outing again for Jaguars. After lunch car drive along the Transpantaneira, stopping a lot for photography. Since we won’t catch a plane today we can have all the time we want here, no rush. There are loads of opportunities along the road. Night at a hotel in the city of Cuiabá and farewell dinner at the best churrascaria steakhouse in town, an all-you-can-eat extravaganza to finish the trip.

June 28 or July 09: Early morning flight back to São Paulo Int’l. Expect to arrive at the international airport around 10:00 AM.

What’s included

Domestic commercial flights from São Paulo
Fully hosted trip
Double occupancy accomodations (single rooms may be available, specially for early bookings)
All meals while at the lodges
Mineral water at the boat in Porto Jofre and in the van through the trip
Boat with unlimited fuel
Park entrance fees
Farewell dinner at a churrascaria in Cuiabá

Not included

International air tickets
Excess baggage fees
Drinks when not mentioned above
Drinks at dinner in a churrascaria
Lunch enroute on the first day
Tips for van and boat drivers

Accomodations

Accomodations included on the tour price are for double occupancy rooms. Single rooms are usually available, but to guarantee them we advise to book early. Rooms throughout the trip are equipped with private bathrooms, air conditioning and wi-fi. They range from rather simple at Pousada Pouso Alegre to very good at Porto Jofre and Cuiabá.

Lodges and hotels we stay during the trip are Pousada Pouso Alegre, Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte and Hotel Slaviero in Cuiabá. They all offer clean accomodations and a wide variety of self service meals (vegetarian/vegan friendly).

Room at Porto Jofre

Trip Map

Extension Tour

Atlantic Rainforest

Begin or finish your Brazil photo trip (depending on which date you choose for the Pantanal tour) with a fantastic short extension 2 hours by car from São Paulo to the lush Atlantic Rainforest. We stay at a simple but fully devoted lodge for photography and birding. The feeders here are loaded with colorful birds, like Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanets, Red-breasted Toucan, Magpie, Red-necked and Green-headed Tanagers, Black-throated Grosbeak, Yellow-fronted and Blond-crested Woodpeckers, etc. Many hummingbirds are around as well, like Brazilian Ruby and Festive Coquette. Special forest hides allow us the opportunity to photograph more elusive forest species, like tinamous and wood-quails. Our visit also happens during the peak fruiting season of the Palmito trees, attracting a lot of rare and endangered birds right to the lodge gardens, like the Black-fronted Piping-Guan and the Red-ruffed Fruitcrow.

Some mammals are seen sometimes too, like a tame Tayra that comes to the feeders and a few elusive Pacas at night.

Itinerary for pre-trip (for Pantanal tour in June)

June 17: Pickup in the airport in São Paulo in the morning or at a nearby hotel and car transfer to our lodge, around 2 hours away through good roads. Lunch at the lodge and afternoon photographing.

June 18: Full day photographing here.

June 19: Morning photographing and after lunch transfer back to a hotel near the airport. Arrival around 16:00 to 17:00.

Itinerary for post-trip (for Pantanal tour in July)

July 09: Flight from Cuiabá in the morning and immediate car transfer to our lodge, around 2 hours away through good roads. Lunch at the lodge and afternoon photographing.

July 10: Full day photographing here.

July 11: Morning photographing and after lunch transfer back to Sao Paulo Int’l Airport or nearby hotel. Arrival around 16:00 to 17:00.

USD 750 per person
USD 200 for single room
Minimum of 2 guests
Included – car transfer, double occupancy accomodation, all meals while at the lodge.
Not Included – drinks and hotel in Sao Paulo

Surucuá-de-barriga-amarela (Trogon rufus), macho.