JAGUARS OF NORTH PANTANAL
September 03 to 11, 2020
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.
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, Pousada Pouso Alegre. 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 astouding variety of birds, to name a few. Bird feeders here also provide excellent opportunities to photograph stunners such as Toco Toucans, Chestnut-eared Araçaris and the endangered Chestnut-bellied Guan.
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.
For the second part of the trip we stay at the best lodge on the edges of the Cuiabá River, Hotel Porto Jofre, and use a very comfortable boat with plenty of space for gear and to shoot at all angles. Here our days are devoted to Jaguars, and we can expect an average of 3 different cats per day, sometimes more! This region provides varied habitats and situations, like secluded forest bordered channels, open sandy beaches, swampy areas and more.
To finish the trip we go to a great lodge along the Transpantaneira, the Pousada Rio Claro, along the edges of the river with the same name. Here boat rides will provide us great opportunities for bird photography, specially kingfishers and varied waterbirds and hawks.
- Date: September 03 to 11, 2020.
- Practically everything included from São Paulo, check side tabs for details
- USD 4.000 per person
- USD 800 for single room
- Payment through wire-transfer or credit card through PayPal (7.4% tax for credit card)
- USD 800 deposit
- Max of only 6 guests
September 03: Your flight to Cuiabá departs São Paulo Int’l at around 10:00. I will meet the group at the Cuiabá Airport at 11:00. Transfer to our first lodge, with a stop for lunch on the way. We will have our private van with us during the trip, so we have freedom to explore the amazing area in search of wildlife. Afternoon photographing.
September 04: 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.
September 05: Morning shooting in this area again (the bird feeder is great). After lunch 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! The lodge gardens is also excellent for Hyacinth Macaw.
September 06 to 09: 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.
September 10: Half a day photographing Jaguars again and after lunch drive to Rio Claro Lodge. Afternoon photographing around the lodge area and dirt roads nearby, very good for varied birds and mammals.
September 11: Morning boat outing on the scenic Rio Claro, where we should find different opportunities for bird photography and, with luck, even a one last Jaguar! After lunch we drive back to Cuiabá for flight to São Paulo at 18:40, arriving at 22:00 local time.
- Domestic commercial flights
- Fully hosted trip from Cuiabá
- Double occupancy accomodations (single rooms may be available, specially for early bookings)
- All meals while at the lodges
- Mineral water through the trip
- Boat with unlimited fuel
- Park entrance fees
Not included
- International air tickets
- Excess baggage fees
- Drinks when not mentioned above
- Lunch enroute on the first day
- Tips for van and boat drivers
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.
Lodges and hotels we stay during the trip are Pousada Pouso Alegre, Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte and Pousada Rio Claro. They all offer clean accomodations and a wide variety of self service meals (vegetarian/vegan friendly).
Atlantic Rainforest
Finish your Brazil photo trip with a fantastic short extension 2 or 3 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 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.
Some mammals are seen sometimes too, like a Tayra that comes to the feeders and a few elusive Pacas at night.
Itinerary
September 11: Arrival from Cuiabá at 22:00 and night at Hotel Panamby, near the airport.
September 12: After breakfast, drive to Pousada Trilha dos Tucanos. Day there photographing the amazing birds of the area.
September 13: Another day at Trilha dos Tucanos. Here there are so many birds around the lodge that we usually don’t even bother to leave the area, but we may also explore a short trail to see the beautiful rainforest here and maybe find other elusive species, like the incredible Atlantic Royal Flycatcher that nests here on most years and other forest denizens, such as trogons and motmots.
September 14: Early morning photography and then drive back to São Paulo Int’l or hotel nearby. Estimated arrival at 12:00.
- USD 950 per person
- USD 100 for single room
- Minimum of 2 guests
- Included – car transfer, double occupancy accomodation, all meals while at the lodge.
- Not Included – drinks, dinner in hotel in Sao Paulo, meals while enroute.
After reading our Terms & Conditions, please fill out the form below to book your spot on this trip.
Terms & Conditions for Jaguars of North Pantanal Tour
Terms & Conditions for optional Atlantic Rainforest Extension Tour
