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Big Game Hunting in

Brazil is known for its diverse wildlife, including jaguars, peccaries, and monkeys. Hunting in Brazil is highly regulated, with specific hunting seasons and limited quotas in place to ensure sustainability. The country offers a variety of landscapes, from the Amazon Rainforest to the Pantanal Wetlands, providing a unique and diverse hunting experience.

Featured Outfitters

brazil hunting trip

First Class Trophy is probably the best taxidermy team in Europe…Their taxidermists have won the titles ‘BEST IN WORLD’ and ‘BEST IN EUROPE’ multiple times. Combine these skills with state-of-the-art logistic service and know-how and you have a safe full-service solution for your valuable hunting trophies when you hunt in Europe and Africa.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. what types of game are commonly hunted in brazil  .

Brazil offers a unique hunting experience with a variety of game, such as peccary, collared deer, and exotic birds like the blue-winged teal.

2. What is the best time to hunt in Brazil?  

The optimal hunting season in Brazil varies depending on the species and region. For waterfowl, the season generally starts in April and ends in September.

3. How does the hunting terrain in Brazil differ from other countries?  

Brazil boasts diverse ecosystems, from the Amazon Rainforest to the Pantanal wetlands, providing a range of hunting experiences.

4. Are there any specific regulations or permits required for hunting in Brazil?  

Yes, hunting in Brazil is subject to federal and local laws. Licenses and permits must be obtained in advance, and some regions have species-specific quotas.

5. How safe is it to hunt in Brazil?  

Brazil is generally a safe destination for hunters, but it's important to stay updated on any local advisories and always adhere to the advice of your outfitter.

6. What gear should I bring for hunting in Brazil?  

This depends on the type of game you're pursuing. A shotgun is commonly used for bird hunting, whereas a medium-caliber rifle may be better suited for larger game.

7. Can hunting trips in Brazil be combined with fishing or other activities?  

Certainly! Brazil is also renowned for its fishing, and many outfitters offer combination trips that include both hunting and fishing experiences.

8. How can Craig Boddington Endorsed Outfitters assist with my hunting trip to Brazil? 

We collaborate with reputable outfitters in Brazil who specialize in various types of hunts. We can recommend the ideal outfitter for your desired hunting experience.

9. Do you work with local Brazilian guides?  

Yes, our affiliated outfitters in Brazil often employ local guides who are experts in the region's unique ecosystems and species.

10. I'm considering a guided peccary hunt in Brazil. Can Craig Boddington Endorsed Outfitters recommend an outfitter experienced in this type of hunt?  

Absolutely! We can connect you with knowledgeable outfitters in Brazil who are experts in peccary hunting, ensuring a memorable and rewarding experience.

The CBEO Experience

At Craig Boddington Endorsed Outfitters, we value transparency, integrity, and the absolute best in hunting experiences. We believe that each hunt is more than just a price tag - it's a personalized journey for every hunter while we cannot list specific prices like the impersonal hunting directories out there you may have seen, we want to emphasize that we hand-pick outfitters known for their impeccable service, expert knowledge, and fair pricing. We understand that a hunt is an investment and we are committed to ensuring our clients get the best possible return - in experience, satisfaction, and the thrill of the hunt.

  • Endorsement by Craig Boddington, a hunting legend with over four decades of experience in outdoor journalism, is a testament to the quality and reliability of the hunting outfitter.
  • Our boots on the ground vetting means each endorsed outfitter is ensured to offer top-notch, expert knowledge, and a high standard of animal welfare and conservation.
  • Craig's endorsement are not influenced by sponsorships or partnerships. They are solely based on Craig's honest, personal experience and assessment.
  • Craig's endorsement outfitters understand that pricing is more than just a cost - it's the value you receive from a meticulously planned and executed hunt.
  • We connect you with the outfitter directly for pricing and details. This ensures a personalized service tailored to your specific needs and expectations.
  • We ensure that all pricing is fair, competitive, and representative of the top-tier service offered by our endorsed outfitters.
  • By dealing directly with the outfitter, you avoid any third-party fees or commissions.
  • We are not a booking agency and accept no commissions. This means there is NO MARKUP on your hunt.

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brazil hunting trip

"As a first time big game hunter I was referred by several people who had used Rob Kern to arrange their hunts and contacted Rob to set up a black bear hunt. After speaking to Rob about what I was looking for, he provided me with several options and spent time with me explaining the differences so that I could make the best choice possible. The Hunting Consortium took care of everything that was needed for my hunt, from my travel arrangements, to my rifle permit, and made everything seamlessly easy for me. I ended up taking a 7’4” black bear with a 19” skull after only 4 hours on the first hunting day! As a result of the services that Rob and the Hunting Consortium provided for me, I have decided to have Rob arrange my first hunt in Africa as well as all of my future hunts." -George Valis

brazil hunting trip

"When I have a question about a car, recipe, or the latest news, I use "Google." When I have a hunting; where, how, or what question, I call the Hunting Consortium. No Guff! I've booked over 30 international hunts through the Hunting Consortium and fully intend to use their professional services far into the future!" -Jim Shockey

brazil hunting trip

“These guys (Hunting Consortium) are the best in the business, bar none! I have hunted the world for more than 60 years, and the hunts I’ve done with the Hunting Consortium were always perfectly organized. No matter whether in Europe, Africa, or Asia - even in Russia, Tajikistan, and Iran, everything is ready to go and there are no surprises. I really appreciate their travel services - they do my visas, air tickets and everything else I need for an easy trip. One stop shopping!” -Dial Dunkin

brazil hunting trip

“The Hunting Consortium is the “go-to-team” for any hunt in the world - period! Their staff are the most experienced professionals in the hunting industry. They have made my many hunting trips easier and smoother, not to mention successful. I trust their candid, straight forward advice and appreciate their personalized service. Sue and I think of them as family!” -Ray Paolucci

brazil hunting trip

“Bob and Rob Kern and the staff at the Hunting Consortium are experienced professionals. Every trip is meticulously planned with true military precision. I have very much enjoyed my trips with Hunting Consortium and would not trust anyone else to outfit my international hunts!” -Craig Boddington

brazil hunting trip

“I can rely on the Hunting Consortium for up-to-the minute current information on the most remote places on the planet and expert advice on my hunting requirements. Friendly and courteous, the service I get from them is truly first class.” -Rex Baker

brazil hunting trip

“I’ve experienced some of the best hunts of my life with the Hunting Consortium. The trips have been as awesome as the staff who have taken great care of me throughout the years and many, many hunts! The arrangements and coordinations have always been perfect and they’ve always worked hard to ensure that I was satisfied and taken care of.” -Don Jacklin

brazil hunting trip

“During the past 5 years the Hunting Consortium has been the most invaluable resource a hunter could ask for.I have averaged over 150 hunting days in that time and many, if not most of those days were booked through The Hunting Consortium. Their knowledge and experience is unmatched in the hunting industry. I have always been pleased with the quality of the outfitters and the professional hunter’s and guides that Hunting Consortium have booked for me. I’ve hunted in Africa over a dozen times on hunts booked by the Hunting Consortium and every time I felt like I was hunting the premier area with one of the best outfitters and knowledgeable, helpful professional hunters. In Africa I have taken 158 different animals I couldn’t have accomplished that without the Hunting Consortium. I was on a hunting trip for over 6 weeks in the South Pacific which included a family vacation with my adult children and hunted with 5 different outfitters in 6 different areas in both New Zealand and Australia - a LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE that the Hunting Consortium handled without a hitch. I finished that trip by hunting all of the species available to hunt in these locations besides one. EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS on a single trip. The achievement I am most proud of though is my 21 day hunt in Spain where I took every animal that is currently available to hunt. Considering that the 7 Capra species were all free-range, this was very challenging but the Hunting Consortium put me in the best areas with best outfitters.” -Rick Warren

brazil hunting trip

“I and my family owe many thanks to Bob, Margarete, Rob and the expert staff at the Hunting Consortium for so many memorable hunts in so many countries. It is hard to believe, but every hunt and trip has been characterized by the same qualities - superior service, with a can-do attitude, excellent operators, all arrangements on time and fulfilling everything promised. This is a great organization! I am looking forward to my next hunt with the Hunting Consortium.” -Francisco Vizcaino Gutierrez

brazil hunting trip

“Wherever in the world my hunting dreams take me, I know that Corey and Bob will have everything well-organized. Their amazing knowledge and continuous research has put me in a position to take some truly extraordinary trophies, with the very best guides in the hunting world today. Nobody knows more about the game and the world of hunting than these guys and the travel team at the Hunting Consortium is unlike any I have ever used. They know from personal experience how to get someone into and out of the most remote places in the world and they keep up with the ever-changing regulations concerning hunting, firearms and travel options. This is the most “can-do” team I have ever worked with in hunting! They have risked their reputation and their very lives to blaze your trail. If you’re not booking with The Hunting Consortium, it’s most likely your loss and someone else’s gain. You sure can’t do any better - their word is good!” -Lary Knowlton

brazil hunting trip

“I don't have words to describe the gratitude and appreciation for all the staff at the Hunting Consortium and all that was done for us setting up our ultimate trip of a lifetime in South Africa. Everything went exactly as you had planned it, no surprises - no problems. The trackers and hunters absolutely amazed us. I can't think of one thing or issue to complain about. It was as good as it gets and I highly recommend the Hunting Consortium to anyone. Again, thanks for all you did for us.” -Mike Barrett

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The duck shooting was the best my wife Mona and I have experienced in Nicaragua. The food was very good and the hotel staff friendly and courteous. The bird boys were outstanding.

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Great people, great service, great time. I have traveled many places for many years, but Estancia Cortaderas was awesome. Your Staff was First Class. This was a bucket list for 20 years. I brought a friend along that had never hunted. He is hooked. That is what I enjoy about hunting in a group. If we can teach others to hunt and preserve our lands for opportunities for others. Thank you for a great experience.

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Thank you for setting up this trip for Lawton and myself. Beat fishing trip I have ever been. Very much like Patagonia as to terrain and weather. The Madison River was excellent to fish, as was our guide Stewart. Staff at the Lodge were great, food delicious and good choices. Accommodations were first class. Scenery was superb. Recommend anyone to go there, they will have a wonderful time. Want to set up again next year and take Julie, she will love it.

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Thank You!! Thank You!! Thank You!! For an unforgettable experience! The trip was amazing!! Your teams care and attention to detail is unparalleled!! I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone and everyone! Sundowners were one of our favorite parts of the trip!!

My Trip to Pampa Lodge in Argentina was great. Could not have been better. Great lodge, great hosts and great hunting. Thanks for making it happen!

Jim said you and he chatted on the phone on some of the details, but I wanted to chime in just really quickly that it was a great trip to Bolivia. The shooting was excellent, the accommodations were perfect, and the Molina family are top notch people who are great hosts.

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Wildlife tourism in brazil: do’s and don’ts.

World Animal Protection

  • January 21, 2022
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Wildlife tourism in Brazil: do’s and don’ts

  • Outstanding wildlife destination Brazil

Home to some of the most biodiverse places on Earth, South America has outstanding wildlife destinations to be visited and Brazil is one of them. You will find amazing experiences there, such as whale watching at the Atlantic Coast, observing jaguars in Pantanal, checking out the Amazon River dolphins and following the lazy movements of a sloth in the middle of the jungle.

With great potential to be sold as the ideal destination for nature lovers, tour operators that work in this region need to ensure their business partners practice responsible tourism and do not contribute to animal cruelty.

In this article, we share the most common wildlife experiences in Brazil, and we will explain why each attraction must be done in a responsible way. We will also provide you with tips on how to make good decisions while choosing a business partner and recommend companies that are doing outstanding work.

In this article

  • Popular wildlife attractions
  • 5 tips to provide responsible wildlife tours
  • Responsible travel companies

Popular wildlife attractions in Brazil and the cruelty wildlife faces

Amazon river dolphin watching.

Amazon is on most travellers’ bucket list, and it is where you can find the Amazon River dolphin (also known as pink river dolphin). An endangered species that catches everyone’s attention. Humans are their main threat, especially due to bycatch, an impact promoted by commercial fishing.

Tourism has also been making them suffer. Many tour operators in Brazil run Amazon River dolphin encounters in a way where visitors are allowed to get in the water, feed and even touch them. To ensure that this type of attraction continues, the animals have been conditioned to human contact.

They often use food to attract them, and this practice makes the dolphin conditioned and dependent on human activity. Obviously leading to a change in natural behavior. Additionally, dolphins compete aggressively for food, sometimes attacking each other, and sometimes even the tourists.

Spotting jaguars in Pantanal

One of the main characters of Brazilian wildlife can be observed during a trip to Pantanal. The world’s largest wetland area and considered an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its biological diversity. Jaguars are the third largest cats in the world. In Brazil, travellers can join photographic safaris during the day or at night to watch them swim, hear them roar or, with an extra bit of luck, even catching a prey. Unfortunately, some companies offer (illegal) hunting safaris to kill these felines, which are already endangered. Others operate in a way that scare and disturb these animals, besides interfering in their natural behaviour, like reproduction or hunting.

Spotting jaguars in Pantanal

Observing sloths in the rainforest

The slowest creature on Earth is also a popular wildlife attraction in South America. But because of irresponsible tourism, they are often removed from their natural habitat. Enabling people making money while travellers take selfies with them. The Social Listening Study pointed out in their ‘A close up on cruelty report’ has shown that 70% of sloth’s pictures on Instagram are of people hugging or interacting with them.

The cruelty in this type of activity happens in several ways. Passing by so many different hands in a single day, sloths get physical and psychological distress. This may develop diseases and increase the risk of zoonosis. At the end of the day, they are trapped in a cage, or tied to a rope, until another workday starts. Locals have observed that some sloths kept in these conditions live no longer than 6 months, while in the wild they can live more than 20 years.

Whale watching in the Atlantic Coast

Not so many people are aware that Brazil is a great whale watching destination. Between June and November, these giant mammals travel from Antarctica to Brazil. To mate or to simply get away from the coldest time in the southernmost point of the hemisphere. The most popular species that can be found there are the humpback whale and the right whale.

The bad side of whale watching tours is that some tour companies get their boats too close to the whales, surrounding and chasing them. This causes them to get disturbed and change their behaviour.

Tips to provide responsible wildlife tours in Brazil

To support you and your business partners to offer responsible wildlife tours in Brazil, we are sharing our tips. Please note that all our tips can be applied to many other different wildlife experiences around the world as well.

5 tips for responsible wildlife tours

  • Provide observational experiences only
  • Don’t feed wild animals
  • Keep a safe distance
  • Guarantee an educational session
  • Be clear to your clients

1. Provide observational experiences only

Don’t provide wildlife interaction with humans. It isn’t safe for people to touch wild animals as we will never know how they will react. And because we stress them by doing it – wild animals belong in the wild!

Besides that, it also increases the risks of zoonosis spread. Bear in mind that we are just coming out from a pandemic that was started by a zoonosis disease. It has affected the life, health, and business of people from all around the globe. Make sure you won’t be contributing to the next one.

2. Don’t feed wild animals

Once wild animals are fed by us, we change their natural behavior, and it causes major damage to the ecosystem. Another issue is that people often offer unhealthy food and an improper diet to the animals. Make sure your business partners do not feed them and explain to the travellers why they should not do it as well. Raising awareness is key here.

3. Keep a safe distance

This is applicable for all wildlife, although they need different approaches.

You need to practice responsible ecotourism and ensure a safe distance between the safari vehicle and the jaguar. Always avoid making any noise, and not using camera flashes. It is better if the animals are not chip tracked, since this might stress them in times when they don’t want to be disturbed.

You can offer hikes along the jungle trails where sloths can be seen. That way you will guarantee that people will not be able to interact directly. The sloths will be safe and living their lives normally.

Whale watching tourism using boats must follow technical protocols so that it can be carried out responsibly. Look for partners that will not chase the whales insistently, that keep a safe distance from them and maintain the engine neutral during the observation.

And if the idea is to carry out a practice of whale watching totally free of risks for the animals, the suggestion in this case is to observe the whales from the land. In Brazil you can do that in different regions of the country, such as in the cities of Laguna, Garopaba and Imbituba, located in Santa Catarina State, especially during the southern hemisphere winter, when right whales use this part of the Brazilian coast.

Whale watching Brazilian coast

Amazon River dolphin

To responsibly observe Amazon River dolphins, it is necessary to maintain a safe distance from the animals – the recommendation is at least 50 meters away – and turn off the engine during observation. It is not allowed to chase the animal and make sudden movements. The vessel must remain close to the animals for a maximum of thirty minutes.

4. Guarantee an educational session before the experience

Before the wildlife travel experience , ensure that there will be an educational session for the tourists. Also include educational material and information related to responsible travel initiatives on your website and social media channels. Provide travellers with the knowledge on how they can make a difference.

5. Be clear to your clients

Explain to your clients that you can’t promise wildlife will be seen during the travel experience. Wildlife is free to choose where to go depending on their own necessities. You can offer a complimentary ticket to use another day if no wildlife is seen at all.

Recommended initiatives

Other initiatives that are recommended by World Animal Protection:

  • Sign World Animal Protection’s pledge , make it public and share it with your business partners and clients.
  • Communicate to travellers that your company and business partners provide responsible experiences.
  • Be part of serious and specialized institutions, which in practice support responsible tourism with animals. In Brazil, we have Coletivo Muda, a tourism association that believes that traveling is an efficient strategy to promote the sustainability of Brazilian tourist destinations.
  • Give a step back and analyse the products that you have been offering. Are they aligned with all that we have mentioned here? In case you identify that one of your products does not guarantee animal welfare , make sure you stop offering it and look for a responsible partner/experience instead. If you don’t find it, there is a great opportunity for you to develop a whole new way to provide this experience.

Responsible travel companies in Brazil

Meet some Brazilian tour operators and agencies that are committed to the responsible tourism with wild animals:

5 responsible travel operations

Braziliando, coletivo muda, pantanal biome.

One of Braziliando’s purposes is to promote tourism with a positive social impact. They do this through authentic and responsible experiences in the Amazon. They work with community-based tourism and volunteerism based on the three pillars of sustainability. Economic, social, and environmental. The travel experiences promoted by Braziliando are created with the local community. So that the traveller can participate in the local daily activities, hear their stories, taste the regional flavors, feel the presence of nature and the interrelation between man and nature. Thus, the traveler lives an authentic experience in a responsible way and learns from traditional peoples. While benefiting the local population with the generation of income and opportunities and the appreciation of their culture.

Animal observation activities do not involve direct interaction with animals. Tourism is done ethically without interfering with the natural behavior of the species.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, to continue supporting the Amazon communities, Braziliando built one online project. VOA! (Online Learning Experience). A knowledge exchange program in which volunteers facilitate the learning of English language for community members while learning about the Amazonian lifestyle and local culture with community members.

Local culture with community members

Coletivo MUDA! is the first tourism association in Brazil to commit to responsible wildlife tourism through its commitment to World Animal Protection. The collective is formed by a group of tourism agencies that believe that traveling is an efficient strategy to promote the sustainability of Brazilian tourist destinations. For the association, acting in the trade is only valid if positive impacts are left on destinations.

Many of the companies in MUDA! carry out their activities in natural areas, seeking in the environmental interpretation a greater connection between the place and the visitor. These activities involve interaction with local communities and contemplation of nature. The interaction with the fauna that they believe takes place through the look, through the camera lens, through binoculars or even just hearing the birds singing and the sound of a Brown Howler Monkey. Through the footprints of a jaguar or a tapir. They value animals that are free and healthy and understand that information is more powerful than capturing animals.

Focused on offering community-based tourism, UIKA promotes experiences and itineraries that rescue the Amazon history and culture. Since 2018, it has promoted biodiversity conservation by connecting travelers with the most authentic features of Amazonian cities and the largest rainforest in the world.

There is one travel experience that stands out for encouraging the observation of the Amazon fauna. Done through techniques, scientific research and popular knowledge. UIKA shows the possibilities to observe incredible species of birds, porpoises, and mammals in the Amazon. All without having to interfere in the habitat and natural behavior of the animals.

UIKA has a socio-environmental impact project that seeks to qualify the workforce to observe wild animals in traditional communities in the Amazon. Here direct contact with porpoises still takes place. The objective is to generate income for local communities, reduce threats against species in the biome. And that travelers from all over the world choose and be spokespeople for an Amazon that promotes tourism in a sustainable and responsible way.

The mission of Gondwana Brazil is to provide trips that create meaningful and responsible interactions between travelers, local communities, and the environment. Leading to social transformation that can promote a positive impact on the planet. To achieve this objective, they carefully design and operate trips that offer authentic local experiences to delight and inspire our travelers, while giving back to our community and preserving our natural wonders.

Gondwana works very closely with partners, seeking to know their sustainable practices and values as a company, prioritizing small networks and local entrepreneurs. The experiences are made for small groups of travelers, striving to comply with the minimum impact standards and to follow the particular guidelines of each destination. Paying attention to the interaction with nature. We recommend local experiences and products to our travelers, adding value to the trip while involving the communities and generating income and positive repercussions in the places visited.

Amazon river kayaking

In Brazil there are different destinations where observation tourism can provide incredible experiences and, at the same time, can be done in a responsible way. The national champion is Pantanal, a biome where large populations of the biggest animals live in the country. Jaguars, ocelots, giant anteaters, tapirs, alligators, and lots of bird species. The responsible tourism operations with animals are already consolidated and it is simple to find them on the internet. To check if you are dealing with a responsible tourism agency, you can use the steps presented here and here .

Pantanal biome

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Jaguar, the only Panthera species found in the Americas is also the largest in the Western Hemisphere and occurs in the Pantanal in their highest density. © Jonathan Rossouw

Hyacinth Macaws, the avian epitome of the Pantanal’s wilderness, are delightfully numerous in copses of palms. © Jonathan Rossouw

The Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is the largest in its family and is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. © Jonathan Rossouw

The rather shabby-looking Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira) is a social, non-parasitic cuckoo found widely in eastern and southern Brazil. © Jonathan Rossouw

The world’s largest rodent and a very selective feeder, the Capybara is a semi-aquatic mammal found in densely forested areas near bodies of water. © Jonathan Rossouw

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Arrive Cuiabá

You will be met on arrival for the transfer to your hotel in Cuiabá. Gather this evening for a welcome dinner and briefing at Gran Hotel Odara .

Cuiabá / Alta Floresta / Cristalino State Park

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Alta Floresta. Upon arrival, a drive and a boat ride will take you into the stunning 460,000-acre Cristalino State Park. Located in the highlands of the southern Amazon River Basin, Cristalino is strategically situated to preserve a huge swathe of rainforest, acting as an effective buffer between the timber extraction and cattle ranching to the south, and the virgin areas to the north. Your home base for the next two days is Cristalino Jungle Lodge , on a 30,000-acre private reserve connected to the park. It is known for being one of the richest places in the Amazon for observing birds, mammals, butterflies and orchids in a primary forest environment. Gather for sunset drinks with a view over the pristine Cristalino River flowing right in front of the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Cristalino Jungle Lodge .

Cristalino State Park

The lodge’s reserve contains a great variety of medium- to low-altitude eco-zones, allowing for great diversity (even by Amazonian standards) of wildlife. From predators like the Jaguar, Harpy Eagle and Giant Otter to herbivores like the Capybara and Agouti, all the organisms which took thousands of years to evolve and which make Amazonia unlike any other biome in the world are still alive and doing well here. Its location near the junction of two rivers—one a “White-water” and the other a “Black-water” river—gives the reserve a combination of two different soil types which furnish a staggering variety of trees, orchids and bromeliads. 600 bird species are known to live in the region, including many endemics. Among these are the Rufous-capped Nunlet, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Manu Antbird,Peruvian Recurvebill and Ornate Antwren, as well as many species of parrots, puffbirds, and manakins. Mammals seen most frequently are the diminutive Pantanal Marmoset, White-whiskered Spider and White-nosed Saki Monkeys, Brazilian Tapir, and the Greater Fishing Bat. Cristalino is also one of the best areas in Brazil to observe Green Anaconda, largest of all constricting snakes.

Take in all the area has to offer by hiking on the reserve’s many trails, boating down the Cristalino River, and climbing the 50-meter observation tower for a stellar vantage point over the whole area. Dinners and overnights at Cristalino Jungle Lodge .

Cristalino State Park / Alta Floresta / Cuiabá / Porto Jofre

Today is an adventure in boats, cars and airplanes. Return by boat and car to Alta Floresta for your flight back to Cuiabá. Continue by car along the Transpantaneira, a raised-dirt highway, into the northern Pantanal with frequent wildlife stops along the way to marvel at Marsh Deer, Capybaras, Crab-eating Foxes and eye-catching birds. The concentration of wildlife builds throughout the drive as you head into the heart of the Pantanal, culminating in a spectacle of birds, Capybaras and caiman by the time you reach your accommodations this evening at Hotel Pantanal Norte .

Porto Jofre

The area around Porto Jofre is undoubtedly the best area to see Jaguar, the largest cat in the Americas. Jaguars remain elusive and hard to spot so perseverance and a healthy measure of luck are required. The hotel is ideally located to allow for two full days of immersion into this wildlife-rich wetland paradise. While Jaguar sightings remain the grand prize, you’ll see howler monkeys swinging across the canopy, bands of South American Coati hunting for food, and large groups of Capybara, always entertaining to watch. You’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of bright, colorful birds such as the Hyacinth Macaw, Black-hooded Parakeet and Plush-crested Jay. Enjoy lunch back at the hotel with afternoon boating excursions along the Cuiabá River. Watch for Jaguars coming to the river banks in search of food and water. Birding highlights include Jabiru, Pied Lapwing, Black Skimmer and Yellow-billed Terns. Dinners and overnights at Hotel Pantanal Norte .

Porto Jofre / Caiman Ecological Refuge

After breakfast, set off on your charter flight into the southern Pantanal, the world’s largest floodplain. The 130,000-acre Caiman Ecological Refuge was once part of a large beef cattle ranch in the Pantanal, and has since been transformed into an enterprising land management model combining the traditional “Pantaneiro” cattle ranching system, conservation programs, and ecotourism. It includes a 14,000-acre protected reserve covering a great variety of habitats that harbor many of the diverse species of the Pantanal, which is home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the Americas. Overnight at Caiman Lodge  within the reserve.

Caiman Ecological Refuge

Once a year, the mighty Paraguay River floods its banks, inundating an area ten times that of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. As the floodwaters recede in the dry season, this ever-changing mosaic of lagoons, shallow wetlands and higher islands of deciduous forest sets the stage for one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles.

Herds of Capybaras, largest of all the world’s rodents, graze along shores lined with Yacare Caimans, amidst throngs of storks, herons and ibises. At dawn, the surrounding woodland rings to a deafening cacophany of woodcreepers, Guira Cuckoos, antbirds and flycatchers, with Toco Toucan yelping from the treetops and noisy flocks of Turquoise-fronted Amazons winging overhead. Huge Hyacinth Macaws, the avian epitome of the Pantanal’s wilderness, are delightfully numerous in copses of palms, while areas of higher ground are home to the spectacular Giant Anteater, Greater Rhea and the peculiar Red-legged Seriema.

Of all the denizens of this watery wilderness, none is more sought-after than the Jaguar. Using detailed local knowledge of the resident population, you’ll track the cats by vehicle and on foot, in the hopes of seeing and photographing this largest of American felids. Ranging from northern Mexico to central Argentina, Jaguars are rarely encountered anywhere else, but occur in the Pantanal in their highest density on Earth. The combination of the refuge’s open, savanna-like terrain and years of formal protection from hunting brings experiencing the Americas’ most charismatic predator into the realm of possibility.

Caiman Ecological Refuge / Campo Grande / Depart

Depart Caiman early for the drive to Campo Grande and depart on late-afternoon flights homeward.

  • Leaders Diogo Lucatelli
  • $16,570 Per Person Rate
  • $18,780 Solo Rate
  • 12 days Trip Length
  • Cuiabá Start
  • Campo Grande End
  • Download Full Brochure

The Fine Print

Call us to reserve your spot on this exciting expedition!

Have a question? Call us at 206.669.9272 / 800.861.6425 . Prefer online?

Diogo lucatelli, the spectacle of brazil’s pantanal.

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Amazon Survival Trip 6D / 5N - Brazil

This Amazon survival tour is recommended for people interested in exploring the Amazon rain forest and have contact with nature and learning as much possible about the forest. This trip is located in the south of Manaus in the Juma area, 100 kilometres away from the city. On this tour all nights are spending camping in the forest. Activities include: A boat ride to the meeting of the waters (the point where the Negro river meets the Solimões river) see the water lilies, piranha fishing, Cayman spotting at night, spearfishing, dolphin watching, bird watching, jungle trekking, canoeing in the flooded forest (from April to August when the water level is high), visiting the local people and camping in the forest. This tour can be done with a minimum of 1 people and maximum of 6.

Amazon Survival Trip 6D / 5N - Brazil

Meet your guide, Joshuas

For over 15 years, Valberto Joshua Lacruz has earned a stellar reputation as one of the leading guides and outfitters in the Amazon jungle. As a native of the rainforest, Joshua has brought his extensive knowledge of the region to numerous traditional adventure travel companies in the area. In 2016, he decided there was a need to break away from the standard rainforest travel experience and offer more. Much more. Something new and exciting. An Amazon Rainforest adventure unlike any other. That was the motivation. And today, Joshua’s Amazon Expeditions is the reality. After spending years working with both local and international clients, Joshua realized that each individual was different, and each wanted to experience the Amazon in different and unique ways. And while other Amazon travel companies simply offered a one-size-fits-all experience, Joshua realized that he could tap into his knowledge of the rainforest to offer exclusive customized experiences for his clients. And that’s exactly what Joshua’s Amazon Expeditions does. By utilizing his knowledge of the Amazon and his great relationship with local indigenous peoples, Joshua and his team of dedicated and experienced guides offer suggestions, activities and areas of the rainforest perfectly suited for each traveler’s interests. From planning, logistics and execution, Joshua works directly with his clients one-on-one with a level of service and dedication you simply won’t find anywhere else. This is where your adventure of a lifetime begins. Contact Joshua Lacruz of Joshua’s Amazon Expeditions today!

Surviving and Hunting lessons for food in the wild

Surviving and Hunting lessons for food in the wild

Dangerous river fishing for the most courageous

Dangerous river fishing for the most courageous

Unforgettable adventures in hard to reach places

Unforgettable adventures in hard to reach places

Amazing diversity&uniqueness of the flora&fauna

Amazing diversity&uniqueness of the flora&fauna

Despite formidable look almost harmless to people

Despite formidable look almost harmless to people

Poison dart frog in the Amazon

Poison dart frog in the Amazon

Similar experiences

Your amazon jungle tour from manaus begin, flora and fauna of amazon jungle, exploring the jungle and amazon channels, acquirement of survival techniques in the forest, survival camping in the forest, returns to manaus.

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Forest tent camping

A real campground in a forest and natural food cooked on a bonfire

Tented camp

What's Included

Travel insurance.

Pick up at the airport and hotel in town.

All meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner).

Mineral water.

All tours according to the tour program.

Portuguese, English or Spanish speaking tour guides.

Hammocks and mosquito nets.

Not Included

Soft drinks.

Tips for the guide and staff.

Alcoholic drinks.

Hotel in Manaus.

Extra transportations.

Weather conditions & Packing list

brazil hunting trip

"Nature & Photography Tours in South America"

[email protected]

+55 65 9 99754406 | +55 65 996097994

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Roseate Sponnbill - Birdwatching in Pantanal

PANTANAL JAGUAR SAFARIS is a Brazilian based company, specialized in Jaguar Safaris, Wildlife Tours, Birdwatching, Photography and Natural History Tours to the finest wildlife destinations of Brazil. Owned and operated by professional wildlife biologists, Leen Gillis & André Moratelli, Pantanal Jaguar Safaris takes you in comfort to the wilderness.​​​​​​

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON TOURISM E-VISA TO VISIT BRAZIL : [Official] Brazil Evisa | Tourist eVisa (vfsevisa.com)

THE PANTANAL ​​​​​​ is an ever changing celebrating of life! We bring you in COMFORT to this PRISTINE WILDERNESS and offer front row seats the the finest wildlife show on earth! Join us on one of our Private or small group Tours.

Jaguar  tours.

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The best place to photograph jaguars in South America

 cuiabá river | state park.

05 TO 07 NIGHTS

Highlights: Jaguar, Giant Otter, Tapir, Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, Anaconda

June to November

Porto jofre jaguar safari.

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The seldom visited Taiamã Reserve

Paraguay river | taiamã​.

Highlights: Jaguar, Giant Otter, Tapir, Armadillo, Toco Toucan, Osprey, Anaconda

TAIAMÃ JAGUAR SAFARI

Pantanal wilderness, the two best locations to photograph jaguars in one tour, transpantaneira | p. jofre | taiamã.

Highlights: Jaguar, Giant Otter, Tapir, Giant Anteater, Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, Anaconda

brazil hunting trip

PANTANAL WILDERNESS 

Group  tours, small group tours & fixed departures.

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Check out the scheduled Tour dates & Book now your wildlife holiday of 2023

 porto jofre | taiamã | wetlands & savanna s, june to october, puma´s of patagonia.

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Check out the scheduled Tour dates for 6N Puma Tour in Patagonia, Chile PUNTA ARENAS | PUERTO NATALES | TORRES DEL PAIN June to Oc tober

Wildlife tours, jaguar safari included, birdwatching and photography in central brazil, pantanal &  savanna, all year round.

brazil hunting trip

BIRDING TOUR

brazil hunting trip

Photographing Jaguars, wildlife and a  fine selection of  neotropical birds

Transpantaneira & porto jofre, pantanal classic tour, overland safaris, boat trips, forest walks, scenery, wildlife photography, pantanal, chapada & nobres.

brazil hunting trip

PANTANAL & SAVANNA

Videos of pantanal jaguar safaris, pantanal & family tours.

Pantanal is the aquatic heart of South America, it is an ever changing celebrating of life! Join us on one of our Private or small group Tours. Our Tours take you in comfort to one of the last trully wilderness in the world.

PJS offers you offer you front row seats to the finest wildlife show on earth.

PANTANAL, the aquatic heart of South America

We hope you love it as much as we do!  💚

Two males fight for supremacy

In July 2018, our guide André alongside his guests managed to capture this dispute between Juru and Scarface at close range from our speedboat. Scarface shows submission to the newcomer as he puts his tail between his legs. The newcomer Juru is quickly climbing his way to supremacy. The Meeting of the Waters State Park (Porto Jofre), located at the Northern Pantanal, in Mato Grosso, Brazil, is one of the hot spots of jaguar safaris in South America.

Jaguar takes down large caiman

This video was shot by our guest John Medlock & wildlife guide Leen Gillis in Porto Jofre in October 2016. We found ourselves marveled at this male jaguar power.

No other big cat is as active as Jaguars at day time. Our Safaris often produce amazing encounters with jaguars in action, which provides photographers great photo opportunities. Since 2013, all of our guests watched and photographed Jaguars on our Safaris (minimum of 03 nights at Porto Jofre or Taiamã Reserve).

Jaguar killing caiman in Pantanal

In the recent years, the Pantanal has emerged as one of the best places in the world, if not the best place in the world, to watch and photograph Jaguars in the wild. Pantanal Jaguar Safaris takes his travelers to the realm of the Jaguars, into the depths of Pantanal, in search of this elusive cat along the rivers.

This video was taken in September 2013 during one of our Jaguar Safaris in the Meeting of the Waters State Park, Northern Pantanal.

Jaguars mating in the wild

Since 2013 all of our guests watched and photographed Jaguars at close range for extended periods (Minimum three nights at Porto Jofre or Taiamã Reserve). We can observe their daily activities from comfortable motorboats making the most of the Pantanal's photographic potential. 

This video footage was taken by André Moratelli in 2013. Our guests watched and photographed these Jaguars mating on the riverbanks of the Piquiri river for two and half hours.

TESTIMONIALS

brazil hunting trip

Steve Brandon, Chattanooga, USA - Pantanal North & South July 2019

"Unbelievable experience!" written on TripAdvisor

We booked our trip through Pantanal Jaguar Safaris. Leen was extremely helpful in designing our tirp and booking all of the details (including sending shampoo and conditioner with the bush plane pilot!) Andre was our guide. He has his own boat at Hotel Pantanal Norte - the only boat with a canopy -- up when needed against the sun and down when you need to be photographing jaguars and birds. Andre is very patient with nature staying with the jaguar to get some amazing shots. If you've been to Africa you know about "sundowners", we were not disappointed sitting on the boat in the middle of the river, sipping cocktails, watching the sun go down. Definitely recommend booking with Pantanal Jaguar Safaris.

brazil hunting trip

Family Ley , Germany –  Pantanal Photography tour, September 2019

"incredible trip of returning guests" written on tripadvisor.

We have been returning guests to the Pantanal with Pantanal Jaguar Safaris for the second year in a row. It was again an overall fantastic trip to say the least. There are many reasons for why; however I would like to highlight a few: 1. Andre, who is one of the managers was our guide and boatman in the Pantanal. He is very experienced, knowledgeable and was able to position us in the perfect spot always. He is a keen photographer himself, which is a huge plus, as he understands light, composition and scenery. This allows for outstanding photographic opportunities. We are into birding as well and were amazed by Andre’s expertise.  

John & Janet Rochester, Great Britain - Wetlands and Savannas 2019. 

"Brilliant Personalised Safari" written on TripAdvisor.

This was an amazing trip. Second time visiting the pantanal, previous holiday with a different company's group tour of 12 which was OK but had significant frustrations. For this trip with Pantanal Jaguar Safaris we wanted to be able to see and do what we wanted but with the benefit of someone who knew how to do this. Our first 10 days in the Pantanal Andre took the time to find out exactly what we wanted, he was friendly, knowledgeable and clearly as passionate about the wildlife and ecosystem as we were. We saw a huge amount of wild life - animals and birds, with the opportunity to stop for photography at any time requested. The second part of our trip was in Chapada with, at our request, more emphasis on birds. Leen was equally as friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

brazil hunting trip

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Patrick Bruha

Patrick Bruha

Staff Writer The Brazil Business

26 August 2014

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Hunting In Brazil

In Brazil where wild and exotic animals can be found in numerous places, one area of particular interest is hunting. According to hunting clubs and other entities specializing in hunting, the number of people carrying a hunting license is around 4 million. In this article, we will learn more about hunting in Brazil.

Legality of hunting

Hunting has been an illegal activity in Brazil since 1967. Animals of all species at any stage of its development and living outside of captivity are considered State property. Therefore, all kinds of using, pursuing, destructing, hunting or harvesting of Brazilian fauna without prior consent by the government is prohibited.

Hunting of wild animals , although considered illegal at federal level, may be permitted at a state level but only for sporting purposes - therefore excluding professional hunting - provided that the state conducts preliminary studies relating to:

  • The feasibility of the activity
  • If the population of the species is endangered
  • Analysis of the environmental impact as well as monitoring and enforcement of activities.

Commercialization of products and objects involving the hunt, pursuit, destruction or harvest of wild animals are also prohibited.

Need of a License

To be allowed to hunt, an individual is required to obtain an annual license, which is specific to a limited geographic region. If the individual intends to hunt using firearms, they must obtain ownership rights for the firearm from the Federal Police . Moreover, the individual needs to be a member of a Hunt Club.

A special hunting license, with the purpose of collecting material for scientific purposes, can be granted to scientists at any point during the year. This license is issued by the Supervisory Board of Artistic and Scientific Expeditions in Brazil together with IBAMA , the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources.

The license for hunting is issued by the IBAMA and by each state’s Secretariat of Environment.

Occasions when valid

The state of Rio Grande do Sul is the only state to recently allow hunting for sporting purposes in 1996 and 2005 but only when the hunting was limited to certain types of ducks and geese. In 2008 these activities were totally forbidden, however in 2013 hunting for the European wild boar was permitted by the IBAMA for purposes of population control as it is an invasive species that is very aggressive, carries disease and has no natural predators.

Scientists collecting material for scientific purposes may also apply for a special hunting license.

Hunting for subsistence is permitted, although it is done only in order to preserve the lifestyle of indigenous tribes in Brazil.

The penalties for hunting in Brazil are not very severe. The hunter will be escorted to the nearest precinct and will be required to sign an agreement pledging to attend a hearing. Typically an agreement is made with the prosecutor where the hunter instead of being imprisoned, agrees to donate food or perform community services.

In recurring cases where the same hunter is caught twice over a five year period the penalties are: payment of an administrative fine to the state’s Secretariat of the Environment and imprisonment between six months and one year. This sentence can be increased by up to 50% of the time of imprisonment and the value of the fine if the species that was hunted was endangered.

Controversies

Although the law explicitly decrees that hunting is prohibited in Brazil, according to a law in 1967 that is still valid today, the government is supposed to stimulate the establishment and operation of amateurish clubs and societies for hunting and shooting in order to reach the associative spirit arising from these activities. Also, the government will stimulate the construction of breeding sites for the rearing of wild animals for economic and industrial purposes.

Despite the ban on amateur or sport hunting in Brazil, there are numerous stores that specialize in selling hunting articles and firearms for this sport.

Toco Toucan, Birding Brazil, Bird watching Brazil, Brazil, South American Birds, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Jaguar, Pantanal

Brazil’s Pantanal: Jaguars! And More…

August 10 - 20, 2024, w/Atlantic Forest extension

  • Full Itinerary
  • Photo Gallery

Travel Details

  • Trip Reports
  • Know Before You Go
  • Other Trips You May Like

Brazil’s Pantanal: A place of superlatives. Home to the world’s largest fresh-water wetlands, the Pantanal is ten-times the size of the Everglades, draining into a single channel: the Paraguay River. We venture deep into this world-class wildlife hotspot on a long road that bisects the Transpantaneira wilderness, in search of an adventure that can’t be missed. In this famed region, we discover wildlife thriving in a mix of savanna, forest, and wetland habitats. Even a relaxed day can yield more than 100 species of birds and dozens of mammals — Capybara are everywhere! Brazilian Tapir, Capybara, Giant Anteater, Giant Otter, and yes, Jaguar (we saw seven on our 2017 trip!), are five of many incredible mammals we seek, while Greater Rhea, Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, and Helmeted Manakin top the list of impressive bird sightings. Rare Green Anaconda, the world’s largest snake, may be a lucky find, while the small crocodilian Yacaré can be seen by the thousands. For many, it is the sheer number and variety of species that leaves the most lasting impression. Charming (and working) cattle ranches serve as our accommodations, each with its own impressive and distinctive wildlife community. Lazy afternoons invite photographers to wander between shade circles of the ranch trees for rare time with Hyacinth Macaw and other species. Don’t miss the pre-tour extension to Itatiaia National Park, one of South America’s most beautiful birding sites and Brazil’s oldest national park.

Jabiru, Birding Brazil, Bird watching Brazil, Brazil, South American Birds, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Jaguar, Pantanal

  • “AWESOME, FANTASTIC. A trip of a lifetime! (Guides) Wes and Marco were as good as it gets.” — Charles Henderson, 2023 Traveler
  • “I’ve already told family and friends that it may have been the very best trip I’ve ever taken. Oh, the jaguars! Watching three different ones for extended periods of time surpassed my expectations. And I got such wonderful photos and videos.” — Laura Jelemensky, 2023 Traveler
  • “Excellent opportunity to view Brazil's southern (Panatal) wildlife. Remarkable birding…for me the most new species ever on a trip. Four different jaguars in three different locations; loved the Giant Anteaters…We were fortunate to see 20 within a two-day period; and Giant River Otters!” — Joyce Kelly, 2023 Traveler
  • “Great opportunity to see lots of iconic wildlife up close…Capybaras were the reason I went to the Pantanal. Great to see other mammals like Giant Anteater too.” — Andrew Kimmel, 2023 Traveler
  • “Amazing! Like a safari in the Land Before Time.” — Heather Warm, 2023 Traveler
  • “If you want to see the birds and wildlife of the Atlantic forest and the interior of Brazil take this trip! It is a bit rugged and you are constantly on the move to see more species but it is well worth the effort. We saw over 300 species of birds, from flightless Greater Rhea, many colorful Macaws including the largest, Blue Hyacinth, my favorite Southern Lapwing, and little Eared Pygmy Tyrant, Piculets, and Pygmy Kingfisher. The greatest excitements were given the Giant Anteaters, the river bank Jaguars, and our one night roaming Cougar.” — James Cheevers 2023 Traveler
  • “Amazing, exhausting, and exotic. As an amateur photographer the Pantanal was a wonderful location to see birds and wildlife out in the open, not too afraid of humans. Field trips were great as were the guides. I loved all the boat trips. Wes Larson was the American guide and was very patient and kind. He was organized and made sure everything ran as smoothly as possible. Benedetto was the Brazilian guide and was knowledgeable about birds and his English was excellent.” — Deborah Ellinger, 2023 Traveler
  • “We saw many beautiful birds, great views of jaguars hunting along shorelines, a diversity of other mammals such as anteaters, armadillos, capybaras, deer, giant otters, peccaries, and monkeys, and, of course, plenty of caimans. The trip was well-guided, the accommodations were comfortable, the staff at the posadas and other places were friendly, and the drivers and boatmen were friendly.” — Gayle Garman, 2023 Traveler

Tour Highlights

  • Watch for South America’s “Big Five” of mammals: Jaguar, Giant Anteater, Giant Otter, Brazilian Tapir, and Capybara
  • Scout for the “Big Five” of birds: Harpy Eagle, Greater Rhea, Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, and Helmeted Manakin. Add Southern Screamer, Sunbittern, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, and so many more!
  • Experience the Transpantaneira wilderness road on safari-like excursions
  • Look for five species of kingfisher
  • Enjoy delicious local cuisine and exceptional hospitality at fazendas (working cattle ranches) at several stages along the road
  • Cruise the Cuiabá River for our best chance at a Jaguar sighting
  • See water birds in mass congregation — like those of the Everglades, but magnified!
  • Watch for at least four species of monkeys and several hundred species of birds
  • Discover night birds under intense southern sky constellations
  • Come early for the pre-tour extension to birder's paradise Itatiaia National Park, which climbs in elevation from less than 1000 to 9,200 feet, creating an incredible diversity of habitats that is reflected in its many endemic birds, monkeys and other wildlife!

Yellow-billed Cardinal, Birding Brazil, Bird watching Brazil, Brazil, South American Birds, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Jaguar, Pantanal

Trip Itinerary

Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.

Sat., Aug. 10 : Arrival to São Paulo, Brazil

Arrive today in São Paulo, Brazil, at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). Since many flights arrive in the early hours of the morning, we have rooms booked for you to access immediately on arrival. Mid-day we have a casual bird outing to a local park followed by a welcome dinner. Those on our highly-recommended pre-trip to the Atlantic Forest are returning to join you this evening. We invite you to sample Brazil's national cocktail, the caipirinha, made with cachaça (sugarcane liquor), sugar, and lime. We predict this may be the first of many.

Sun., Aug. 11 : Early Flight to Campo Grande Airport | Explore the South Side of the Pantanal

We should arrive to Campo Grande about 9:00 AM and are met by our local guides. We drive by van or mini-bus to our lodge (around four hours drivetime) with stops for mammals and birding on the way there. We are motivated to get there, since this is where we have lunch! After checking into our rooms, we spend time birding around the lodge until the end of the day, looking for birds like the Chaco Chachalaca, Hyacinth Macaw, Blue-fronted Parrot, Nanday Parakeet, Toco Toucan, Lineated and White Woodpeckers, Narrow-Billed Woodcreeper, Greater Thornbird, Giant Cowbird, Crested Oropendola, Purplish and Plush-crested Jays, Red-crested Cardinal, and many others. We then gather with friends for dinner and for those that wish, the daily checklist. Accommodations at Aguapé Lodge or similar (B,L,D)

Mon., Aug. 12 & Tues., Aug. 13 : Pantanal Safari

Our lodge is an excellent environment for birdwatching, a place where over 300 bird species have been recorded. The lodge is located 195 kilometers from Campo Grande city, which has an international airport, and 60 kilometers from Aquidauana city, which is known as the gateway to the Pantanal. We have two full days to explore from the lodge, plus our pathway coming and going. Optional fishing with local guides and boats can be arranged while you are at this lodge. Interesting bird species are Southern Screamer, Blaze winged Parakeet, Gilded Hummingbird, Toco Toucan, Pale crested and White fronted Woodpecker, Red billed Scythebill, Helmeted Manakin, and the Scarlet headed Blackbird. After an early breakfast, we embark on a safari drive with good chances to see the Undulated Tinamou, Capped Heron, Jabiru, Savanna Hawk, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Buff-necked and Plumbeous Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Hyacinth and Yellow-collared Macaw, Red-billed Scythebill, Orange-backed Troupial, and many others. After lunch we are back at the lodge and make time to enjoy a siesta in the hot part of the day, and then we make another safari drive until the end of the day, returning in the dark with chances to see mammals like the Crab-eating Fox, South American Coati, Capybara, Marsh Deer, Southern Tamandua, Crab-eating Raccoon, River Otter, and night birds such as Common and Great Potoo, Spectacled and Striped Owl, Pauraque and Scissor-tailed Nightjar. We find this area to be the best place to spot Giant Anteater in the whole region and we make the effort to find them, so keep your fingers crossed! We have dinner upon return, and for those that wish again, the checklist. Accommodations at Aguapé Lodge or similar (B,L,D)

Wed., Aug. 14 : Birding from Aguapé to Campo Grande

After an early breakfast we take a bird walk for excellent chances to see Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Blaze-winged Parakeet, Black-crowned Tityra, Chestnut-eared Aracari, and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and many more. This morning we also enjoy a motorboat excursion at Aquidauana River. This river is full of life with good chances to see a family of Giant River Otter and special birds like Black-collared Hawk, five species of kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Blue-throated Piping Guan, and many others. After an early lunch at the lodge we drive back to Campo Grande, check in to the hotel, and then enjoy a short visit to the “nesterar,” a place where a nice concentration of macaws and herons nest near the city. Accommodations at Hotel Mohave or similar (B,L,D)

Thurs., Aug. 15 : Early Flight: Campo Grande to Cuiaba | Northern Transpantaneira Adventure Begins

After an early domestic flight to Cuiabá we begin the second (northern) half of our Pantanal adventure! Driving south, we reach the famed Pantanal via a paved road to Poconé. En route we have lunch in a typical churrasqueria, and enjoy simple Brazilian-style cuisine. From here, we travel the dirt Transpantaneira Road, perhaps only rivaled by Tanzania’s Serengeti road for spotting wildlife. Along the way to our lodge, we might see Ringed Kingfisher, Red-crested Cardinal, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Toco Toucan, Jabiru, Limpkin, our Capybaras (of course!), Yacaré Caiman, and more. Our lodge is located just 10km from Poconé. After check in, we can stretch our legs on a short walk. There is a lovely pool if anyone wants to cool off with a swim. Accommodations at Pousada Piuval or similar (B,L,D)

Fri., Aug. 16 : Birding & Wildlife Spotting on the Transpantaneira | Drive to Porto Jofre | Jaguar Boat Excursion

After some morning wildlife viewing at the ranch, we depart down the Transpantaneira, keeping an eye out for Red Brocket Deer, Marsh Deer, Crab-eating Fox, Greater Rhea, Chestnut-bellied Guan, Bare-faced Curassow, and a mix of wading birds. Bridges are hotspots from which we can view the presence of a huge food supply; Green Kingfisher, Great Egret, Cocoi Heron, both Bare-faced and Green Ibises, and White-lored Spinetail are just a few species we may see. We pass through scattered palm woodlands, cerrado scrub, and seasonally-flooded grasslands reminiscent of the Everglades. Roadside ponds and canals are filled with waders: Roseate Spoonbill, Plumbeous Ibis, Limpkin, cormorants, herons, kingfishers, and their predator, Yacaré Caiman. August water conditions concentrate the fish for foraging waders like Jabiru and Maguari Stork. At Porto Joffe, the “end of the road,” palms attract several resident pairs of Hyacinth Macaw. From this little town on the Cuiabá River, we board a small boat to reach our lodgings—two days on a lovely houseboat. Rooms are air-conditioned, with private bath. This “floating hotel” allows us to stay close to where the wildlife has been spotted; we explore from the houseboat each day on smaller boats. We check into our boat cabins, have dinner, then have a briefing on safety and wildlife we hope to see. If skies are clear, star viewing is impressive—you can see the Southern Cross! Optional fishing is available while you are on the houseboat portion of the tour. Accommodations in private cabins on a floating houseboat hotel! (B,L,D)

Sat., Aug. 17: Full Day Looking for Jaguar, Jabiru & More | Jaguar Boat Excursion

Awake on the river to a host of sounds and the sight of macaws and more flying overhead. We use smaller speedboats to spend the day searching for the iconic Jaguar, known for their affinity to water. They are good swimmers, and often lay down along the shore after a swim. Chances are good that we see at least one individual, male or female—perhaps even together! We lunch on board, take a short siesta (yes, love that AC … ) and try for Jaguar again in the afternoon. Wildlife is plentiful in this remote part of the Pantanal, so once we accomplish the main task (a Jaguar, of course) we have time to admire other species like Giant Otter, Black Skimmer, Pied Plover, Southern Screamer, and Yacaré Caiman. We also visit little streams for skulkers like Pygmy Kingfisher and Sungrebe. By late afternoon we return to the boat. We celebrate our sightings with caipirinhas before dinner! Accommodations in private cabins on a floating houseboat hotel! (B,L,D)

Sun., Aug. 18 : Wildlife & Birding on the Lower Transpantaneira

After two days immersed in the wildest part of the Pantanal, we return north, retracing our route. We are not in a hurry though, and work some of the areas we previously traveled in more detail. Perhaps we find a troop of Black-and-Gold Howler Monkey, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Snail Kite, Rusty-backed Antwren, Common Tody Flycatcher, White-browed Blackbird, and others species as we drive to our next lodge. We watch for Cream-colored Woodpecker, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Short-crested Flycatcher, Mato Grosso Antbird, Great Antshrike, and Purple-throated Euphonia. Near water we find Whistling and Capped Herons, Pygmy and Ringed Kingfishers, Sunbittern, Black-collared and Great Black Hawks, and Rusty-backed Spinetail. Once we arrive at the hotel on the Rio Pixium, we settle in and check the feeders for brilliant-colored troupials, Palm, Silver, and Sayaca Tanagers, and Red-crested Cardinal. At this point in our journey we have seen numerous mammals and birds, and we can base our efforts on finding anything missing from our list. Accommodations at Mato Grosso or similar (B,L,D)

Mon., Aug. 19 : Pixaim River Area Wildlife & Birding

It’s another morning for gazing at the sunrise while sipping good Brazilian coffee. This morning, pending what we still need to see, we can do a safari drive, or we can take a small boat ride on the Pixaim River to spot secretive species like Agami and Zig-Zag Herons. This is a good spot for Giant Otter and, with luck, a Tapir. Driving back to Cuiabá, the landscapes are iconic and make for great pictures. We look for Black-capped Donacobious, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Little Blue Heron, and other species like some very impressive iguanas. We can break up our drive with a walk in Gallery Forest habitat looking for special birds like Helmeted Manakin, Mato Grosso Antbird, Band-tailed Antbird, Black-hooded Tanager, Blue-crowned Trogon, and more. Dinner finds us sampling authentic Grosso cuisine, including legendary piranha and local beef. Accommodations at the Mato Grosso or similar (B,L,D)

Tues., Aug. 20 : Wildlife Viewing | Return Drive to Cuiabá | Departures

Today, we make our way back to Cuiabá; the paved road is perhaps a welcome sight as we bid adieu to the marvelous but often dusty Pantanal. Our plan is to arrive in Cuiabá in time for connections to São Paolo for evening flights out. Plan on flights after 4:00 PM. For those not finding a good flight match up, you can return to GRU and overnight, or simply overnight in Cuiabá at the Odara Hotel, close to the city’s botanic gardens, and start fresh the following day. If you plan to overnight in Cuiabá and would like to add an outing at the botanic gardens, we are happy to offer that (added charge). (B,L)

Atlantic Forest Pre-Tour Extension

Birding itatiaia national park.

Don’t miss this extension to Itatiaia National Park, one of South America’s most beautiful birding sites and Brazil’s oldest national park. The park climbs dramatically from humid Atlantic Forest at 984 feet to nearly 9200 feet at the “campos de altitude”, creating a wide variety of habitats. An incredible variety of birds live here, including many exciting regional endemics, monkeys, and other wildlife. We bird our way from stream-laced grasslands to cloud forest studded with salvias bromeliads and orchids, to unique Araucaria conifer forest, to tundra-like shrublands at the top of the park.

Tues., Aug. 6 : Arrival in São Paulo

One of the most beautiful birding sites in the Atlantic Forest is Itatiaia National Park, located just 250 kilometers from São Paulo and home to one of the largest altitudinal differences of any birding site in Brazil, ranging from humid Atlantic Forest at 300 meters, up to the “campos de altitude” at 2,800 meters.  Itatiaia was Brazil’s first National Park and shelters an incredible variety of birds, including Black Hawk-Eagle, Dusky-legged Guan, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Giant Snipe, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Frilled Coquette, Black-breasted Plover-Crest, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-fronted and Robust Woodpeckers, Wing-banded Hornero, White-browed Foliage-gleaner, Itatiaia Thistletail, Speckle-breasted Antpitta, Giant and Large-tailed Antshrikes, White-bibbed and Rufous-tailed Antbirds, Fork-tailed Pygmy-tyrant, Southern Antpipit, Velvety Black-tyrant, Pin-tailed Manakin, Eastern Slaty Thrush, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Black-and-Gold Cotinga, Brassy-breasted and Gilt-edged Tanagers, and Sharpbill.  This extension is a feast for the eyes for birders, an extraordinary array of species, many endemic to the region.  __________ Arrive today in São Paulo for our Atlantic Forest pre-tour extension. Since many flights arrive in the early hours of the morning, we have rooms booked for you to access immediately on arrival. Mid-day we have a casual bird outing to a local park followed by a welcome dinner. Accommodations in at a convenient airport hotel (D)

Wed., Aug. 7 : Itatiaia National Park—Atlantic Forest

We want an early departure after breakfast so we can arrive at Itatiaia National Park (170 miles) before noon. Along the highway we look for Southern Crested Caracara and both White-tailed and Crane Hawks. Our stop at the park’s entrance station provides us with our first opportunity to bird the Atlantic Forest. White-eyed Parakeet put on a show as they jet overhead, while we look for Curl-crested Jay, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Campo Flicker, Savannah Hawk, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Grey Monjita, and Crested Black-Tyrant. We have lunch, check into our rooms and then enjoy the stunning vista with an array of feeders and birds in the foreground. For birders and photographers alike, this is just such a treat to see so many of the colorful birds of this park, and so close: Red-breasted Toucan, Dusky-legged Guan, Green Honeycreeper, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Green-headed and other tanagers, Crested Oropendola, and Red-rumped Cacique. This is a fine introduction to some of the species of the Atlantic Forest. Accommodations at Hotel do Ype or similar (B,L,D)

Thurs., Aug. 8 & Fri., Aug. 9 : Midlevel & High-Altitude Exploration of Itatiaia National Park

These two days are dedicated to exploring the trails and roads of the central part of the park. We stop for flocks as we climb the road to the higher elevations of the park where we should find Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Planalto Hermit, Surucua Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Tufted Antshrike, White-bearded Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Plain Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Ferruginous Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Rufous Gnateater, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Blue-backed Manakin, Gray-capped Tyrannulet, Bay-chested Warbling-Finch, Buff-throated Warbling-Finch, Diademed Tanager, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, and Scaled Woodcreeper. We drive through the area, making “specialty stops” to areas that have Violet-capped Woodnymph, Black Hawk-Eagle, and Collared Forest-Falcon. Higher elevation stops allow us to look for Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Itatiaia Spinetail, and Rufous-capped Antshrike. A number of different species occur along the transition zones of the various elevation-dependent habitats as we climb the road to the top. These include a long list: White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, White-browed Foliage-gleaner, Yellow Tyrannulet, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Cliff Flycatcher, Black-tailed Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Velvety Black-Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, White-browed Warbler, Golden-crowned Warbler, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, Golden-winged Cacique, Black-goggled Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, and Ruby-crowned Tanager. We should also find monkeys: Black Capuchin along with Black-striped Capuchin. One of the fascinating aspects of climbing this road is the different plant communities and species. We bird in Araucaria forest, a unique, high-elevation conifer of the park; the tundra-like plants found in the shrubby lands at the top of the park; and lower elevation cloud forest, complete with salvias, bromeliads, and orchids. Lower elevations have intermittent forests embedded with grasslands and streams. All of these habitats provide ample opportunity to experience this well-known and diversity-rich part of Brazil. Accommodations at Hotel do Ype or similar (B,L,D)

Sat., Aug. 10 : Morning in Itatiaia National Park | Return to São Paulo

This morning we enjoy an early breakfast, and then drive to the Agulhas Negras road into the highlands on the far side of the park. This road gives us access to higher elevation habitat where some specialty birds are found. Notable among these are White-rumped Hawk, Rufous-thighed Hawk, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Itatiaia Thistletail, Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Black-capped Piprites, Brown-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, Shear-tailed Gray Tyrant, Diademed Tanager, Gray-throated Warbling-Finch, and Bay-chested Warbling-Finch. After we finish birding here, we drive back to São Paulo where we meet up with our companions, overnight before the start of our main trip (and in-country flight) to the Pantanal! Accommodations at an airport hotel (B,L,D)

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Jaguar by Wes Larson

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Lettered Aracari by Wes Larson

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Birding by Boat by Jessie Hallstrom

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Yellow-billed Cardinal by Wes Larson

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Yellow-rumped Cacique

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Red-shouldered Macaw by Wes Larson

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Howler Monkey by Wes Larson

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Greater Rhea by Wes Larson

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Jaguar Print by Wes Larson

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Tropical Screech Owl by Wes Larson

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Afternoon Drive by Wes Larson

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Macaw Soaring Through Waterfall by Wes Larson

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Capybara & Friend by Wes Larson

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Morning Drive by Wes Larson

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Caiman by Wes Larson

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Houseboat by Wes Larson

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Chapada Scenic by Wes Larson

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Blue-and-yellow Macaw by Wes Larson

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Naturalist Journeys' & Local Guides by Wes Larson

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Scoping Jaguars by Wes Larson

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Little Blue Heron by Wes Larson

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Chapada Extension Group by Wes Larson

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Local Stay Grounds by Jessie Hallstrom

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Ocelot by Wes Larson

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Capybara Family by Wes Larson

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Helmeted Manakin by Wes Larson

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Giant Anteater with Young by Wes Larson

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Crested Caracara by Wes Larson

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Giant River Otter by Wes Larson

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Crab-eating Fox by Wes Larson

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Lesser Anteater by Wes Larson

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Burrowing Owl by Wes Larson

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Tapir by Wes Larson

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Welcome to Pantanal Sign by Jessie Hallstrom

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Roadside Hawk by Wes Larson

Cost of the Journey

The cost of the 11-day main tour is $6690 DBL / $7370 SGL. Tour price includes 10 nights’ accommodations, all meals as noted in the itinerary, airport transfers, land and boat transportation during the journey, professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses. It includes two flight segments within country. The tour cost does not include airfare to São Paulo and from Cuiaba, personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar, and gratuities. Cost of the pre-tour Atlantic Forest extension is $1690 DBL / $1970 SGL. Extension costs are based on a group of four persons minimum and includes all lodgings, meals, transportation, guiding and park and reserve entrance fees.

Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.

Arrival airport is Guarulhos International (GRU). For the main tour, plan to arrive at leisure on August 10. Note: Most flights arrive in the morning, and your room may not be available until noon – 2:00 PM.

Plan departures on August 20 from Cuiaba’s Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB), with a flight 4:00 PM or after, timed to connect with your own international flight out of São Paulo; most flights leave São Paulo around midnight. If yours is a day flight, you will need to overnight in Cuiabá or São Paolo to go out the next day. We end in Cuiabá as some may continue to other parts of Brazil and can fly direct to those locations. If you participate in the pre-tour Atlantic forest extension, plan to arrive at leisure on August 6.

Important Visa Note US travelers to Brazil must obtain an E-visa. The online application can be found here.

Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.

  • Species List
  • Trip Report

brazil hunting trip

Mason is a New Mexico native who started birding at age 11 when his family moved within walking distance of the Richardson Bay Audubon Sanctuary in Tiburon, California. Here, he became an Audubon Junior Naturalist. His love of birding and travel grew through as he moved with his family to Alaska, Ohio, and Vermont, college on the east coast, and a few years trying to eke out a living as a birder/ski bum in Montana and back in New Mexico. In desperate need of gainful employment, Mason settled in Seattle where he spent most of his career at Microsoft. Mason was able to feed his habit by adding on a day or two of birding to business trips across the US, Europe, and Asia and travel with his family. His wife Suzy, who loves travel but isn’t a birder, is a good sport and jokes that being married to a birder has given her the opportunity to visit sewage treatment ponds around the world. Mason retired a bit early in 2015 to help fledge his two sons, squeezing in travel and birding between soccer games and band performances. He was thrilled to finally combine his passions and profession when he joined Naturalist Journeys as a consultant in early 2020. Mason has led field trips in Guyana, Peru, Iceland, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Southeastern Arizona, Minnesota, and South Africa.

Other trips with Mason Flint

Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Panama, Panama Birding Tour, Panama Nature Tour, Naturalist Journeys

Essential Information +

This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!

Ahead of Your Tour

  • Make sure your passport is valid for six months AFTER your return date.  Your passport should have at least one blank page per entry stamp. If you are from another country, please contact the Brazilian embassy website for guidelines.
  • US travelers to Brazil must obtain an E-visa.  Apply online!
  • Please check current CDC recommendations for travel to Brazil and consult with your doctor about general travel vaccinations you should have as precaution for travel. See the “Health and Inoculations” section below.
  • Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is strongly recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance .
  • Plan your flight reservations arriving into Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) with return from Cuiaba (CGB) to best match up to your international departure or extension.
  • Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans. Pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.

Arrival to São Paulo, Brazil (GRU)

Please note: If you are delayed in travel, please refer to your emergency contact list, and contact your ground operator AND our office. You may also phone or text your guide. Quite a few of your guides will also set up a WhatsApp connection you may use to reach them.

Your arrival airport is  at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo, Brazil. For the main tour, plan to arrive at a time convenient for you the first day of the tour. 

Please check the Travel Details section of this tour for additional information and updates.

Pre-Tour Atlantic Forest Extension: If you participate in the pre-tour Atlantic forest extension, plan to arrive at a time convenient for you the first day of the extension.

Departure from Cuiabá Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB) to Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)

Please plan departures on the last day of your tour from Cuiaba’s Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB), with a flight 4:00 PM or after, timed to connect with your own international flight out of São Paulo.

Passports, Visas & Documents

Your passport must be valid for six months AFTER your return to the USA and you need to have a blank passport page available for entry. Please check that expiration date! If you are from another country, please contact the Brazil embassy website for guidelines. Information for U.S. citizens can be found at: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Brazil.html

US travelers to Brazil must obtain an E-visa. Apply online! You will need proof of a return ticket. We advise that you bring your eContact list of hotels for use at immigration as well.

It is always smart to check for possible changes to visa requirements 60-90 days prior to your tour departure.

As a precaution for lost or misplaced documents you carry on your person during travel, we highly recommend you keep electronic backup copies on your phone (either photo or PDF scan), as well as a copy left with your emergency contact at home. The recommended important documents to copy include, but are not limited to; your passport ID page, travel visa, the front and back of your credit card(s), the airline barcode on your luggage. This will greatly expedite getting new ones if necessary – we hope everyone will always keep travel documents close so that losing them will not be an issue.

General Health & Inoculations Information – Be Prepared!

We will share your health information with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important as we want to be best prepared in case of medical emergency. Do bring any prescription medications with you and its best if you have a copy of the prescription in case of loss. 

At the time of writing, there are no required vaccinations to enter Brazil but it is always smart to double-check 4-6 weeks ahead of travel. The CDC recommends that “most travelers” to Brazil, and most South American countries in general, get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Please speak with your general physician before any trip abroad. He or she may recommend other preventative immunizations like DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis), which is recommended every 10 years.

It is highly recommended that you do get a Yellow Fever vaccine, as these are good for ten years (more and more they are saying they are good for life). Many international travelers will either have one or get one for this trip and it will be good for other destinations in the future. Vaccine recommendation map of Brazil . Travel Tip: If you do receive the Yellow Fever vaccine, we suggest that you bring your Yellow Fever Card with you on your trip. If Brazil makes a last-minute change to their entry policy before you leave, having this document might make all the difference. If you cannot get a vaccine due to your age as cautioned by your physician, then bring a physician's letter saying you are in good health, but they do not recommend that you get the vaccine due to your age.

You are traveling in the dry season which is a lower risk time of year. However, protecting yourself from mosquito bites is the best prevention of infection from mosquito-carried diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever and Zika. In the dry season we do not expect to encounter many mosquitos but be prepared with insect repellent that contains DEET. You may wish to bring two strengths, using the most potent if and when mosquitos are encountered. It will be your decision on whether you wish to take anti-malarials, the Pantanal is not a high-risk area. If you are going to take them, be aware that some travelers experience dizziness and stomach upset from some of the medications, so please ask your doctor what the best recommendation for you is.

We recommend that you bring a travel-sized first aid kit and medications for common ailments, such as antibiotic medication, pain medication, and motion sickness medication, as well as an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses.  You should bring an adequate supply of any prescription drugs you use, plus a list of generic names of your medicine as “back-up” in case it is necessary to purchase drugs while there. It is a good idea to pack any drugs you take regularly in your carry-on luggage and keep them in their original, labeled containers. It is also a good idea to carry with you an up-to-date record of known allergies or chronic medical problems so that emergency treatment, if necessary, can be carried out without endangering your health. If you have severe allergies, talk to your doctor about carrying an EPIPEN and notify your guides.

Check the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website for other helpful information or reach them by phone at (800) CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).

Daily Itinerary

We generally follow the published itinerary but do network with other guides and may make changes if we hear of great bird sightings or a new opportunity. The joy of our travel is tremendous flexibility, and we make every effort to do the things you particularly want to do. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of the trip is moderate, with some early morning departures, extensive field time and now some options for hikes. It is also easy to take it at a vacation pace! You can pace yourself within our typically active schedule.

Weather & Climate

For travelers in July and August, those are generally the driest months, but some light rain might occur. Temperatures average in the mid-60s to low 90s, with moderate humidity of about 60%. September and October travelers, you can expect at least some light rain. Temperatures average in the mid-70s F to low 90s, with moderate humidity averaging about 60%.

You may want to bring a gel bandana for helping you to keep cool. Dust is an issue and it's the reason we travel by a bus that has closing windows.  A microfiber cloth (query microfiber towel and choose size) that can be quickly draped over optics, and a smaller one for your nose, is super helpful!

Pre-Tour Atlantic Forest Extension : If you are joining the Atlantic Forest Extension, temperatures will be comfortable during the day, but even the locals would say that their nights are chilly. Temperatures average with highs in the mid-to-high 70s and lows in the mid-50s/low 60s. You’ll want that extra layer of warmer clothing.

Annoyances & Hazards

Mosquitoes can occur in the forests; therefore, a supply of insect repellent containing DEET is essential. At grassland or farm locations you may encounter chiggers. If so, it really helps to spray your shoes with repellent, and tuck your pants into your socks. Upon return, be sure to shower and air out your clothing. Chiggers are a part of lowland and mid-elevation habitats throughout Central and South America. Your guide should have a good read on whether it has been wet enough that they are active. There can also be poisonous snakes and insects, though encountering them is rare. Do listen carefully to any advice given by your local guide. And remember, the sun is strong so be prepared with proper protection.

Food & Drinks

You will need to drink bottled water, and while we supply that for our tour outings, please be prepared to refill your water from the purified jug when at your lodges at night. The logistics of hauling water across the remote Pantanal Road will be improved if we depend on lodges for some of our supply. We recommend buying a Steri Pen so you can treat water in a few seconds or consider one of the new water bottles that include filters, like LifeStraw. Whenever possible, we want to AVOID the use of excessive plastics!

Meals are generally enjoyable and well-prepared at your lodges and restaurants.  Menus are varied, sustainably based on the wonderful local ingredients available, and delightfully prepared in a sanitary environment. However, as in any case when traveling, we urge you to consider what your body is used to before you eat something. Trust your common sense when consuming food and beverages. This is the best way to avoid any unwanted problems. Ask for referrals from your hotel or check a guidebook such as Frommers. Meals reflect the culinary contributions from American, European, Spanish, and local cuisines.  Beer and wine are readily available for purchase at hotels, and we can stop to purchase liquor or snacks if needed, mainly at Cuiabá. Once out on the Transpantaniera there are no real facilities other than lodges.

Packing, Clothing & Laundry

Please, pack light. And please, please pack all essential medications and your binoculars in your CARRY-ON. Dress is very informal. You may wish to change for dinners, but casual dress is suitable at all locations. We strongly recommend neutral or dark-colored clothing for every area that we will visit on the tour. We advise that clothing colors should be unobtrusive, i.e. no bright yellows, reds or white, as this can make us very conspicuous and disturb wildlife.

Laundry services are generally available, but easiest if we have several days in one location. The boat we use for our Jaguar spotting is moored, it is not moving, so it is a stable environment and very comfortable, requiring no special gear.

Find a way to keep cool. Many bring a gel bandana that can be made wet and is very cooling. A spray mister is helpful as well as dressing in layers that are loose fitting.

Spending Money

The Real is the official currency in Brazil. For the current exchange rate, please refer to online converter tool like www.xe.com , or your bank. We advise you carry a mix of different types of payments, such as the cash, an ATM card, and a credit card.

There are shops that accept the U.S. dollar in Brazil. It’s always a good idea to ask before you make a purchase. You can always carry U.S. dollars and exchange while in Brazil. Some hotels, large post offices, and money exchange offices can exchange cash. You’ll need your passport and your money must be new (2004 or newer) and in good condition. Each exchange method will involve a fee, so it’s a good idea to ask beforehand.

The easiest way to withdraw Reals is from a local ATM. ATMs will give you a better rate on changing money. Brazil ATMs are quite common in larger cities, but many are not as available in smaller towns. The ATM will give you local money and your bank will convert that into US Dollars. Many banks charge a fee of $1 - $5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. Check with your bank before departure. You must become familiar with how to use your ATM card and PIN number ahead of the journey.

Credit cards are accepted, but not as widely as in the USA. Your lodges should take them, but in rural areas where you may buy handicrafts, you will need cash. We suggest you have more than one card available. You may want to bring more than one brand of card (one Visa, and one MasterCard), if possible. Not every shop will accept every card. Some machines are set up for both, while some will only service one or the other. Also, we recommend that you advise your bank or credit card company that you will be traveling to Brazil to avoid questions, card freezes, or charges. If you have a choice of cards, bring one with no foreign exchange fees.

Traveler’s checks are not widely accepted. They can be difficult to exchange. We do not advise you use them.

Many people ask how much money to plan to bring for spending money. Part of that depends on how much you want to shop. Typical items people purchase include: local souvenirs and T-shirts, carvings, beads, textiles, artworks, drinks before or with dinner, maps and natural history books. Cash is also handy for your drinks from the bar.

Tipping is optional and completely at your discretion. If you would like to show our appreciation to your guides, lodge and hotel staff or anyone associated with this tour, it is entirely appropriate. Know that they appreciate anything you care to give and of course you can do more if you wish! Lodges normally have a box for tips that the staff share, and hotels you would just tip the maids as you do at home. We hope that you will be pleased with all professional services.

People wish to know how best to plan tips, the total is about $250-$300 per person, and our estimate of how they are split up will be (based on 10 days of service excluding departure day):

  • Main guide ($100)
  • Brazilian guide with you for the trip ($50+)
  • Bus driver ($30+)
  • Boat driver on Jaguar safaris, 3 days ($15-$20)
  • Four Lodges (shared tip pool) listed on your eContact. Consider the boat, a lodge. Total of ($5-$10 per day depending on amount and quality for service)
  • In São Paulo or Cuiabá, a simple maid gratuity will do.
  • Porterage - $1 USD equivalent per bag as you use this service at city hotels, at nature lodges will be in your shared tip pool.

All tips are at your discrepancy, you may choose to do more or less according to service.

Local guides from lodges will be tipped by your Naturalist Journeys host. Questions, ask your tour host. Tipping is extensive in this culture, please note there is no expectation of an added tip for your Naturalist Journeys host.

You may tip your guides in USD, but for lodge staff and drivers, it is best to have local currency.

Cell Phones & Internet Service

Wi-Fi is available at our hotels and several of our lodges. Xavier, your guide, is well connected and can help if any urgent communication need arises. Some available Wi-Fi services there may have fees, and these are determined by how much data you use, so be aware of that if people are sending you photos, etc. There are free apps available on smart phones (WhatsApp, Viber, Skype) that offer free international calls and texts, and you may want to research this ahead of time.

Cell phone service is widely available in Brazil. Be sure to check your cell phone company’s coverage, roaming charges, how to turn on International service, or perhaps purchase a temporary international data/calling plan if you intend to use your phone abroad. Prepaid phone cards and SIM cards are also available. Possibly, it might be cheaper to rent an international phone or by a SIM card onsite. If you bring the phone for Internet and an alarm, but do not want charges, make sure you know how to turn OFF your cellular data function on your cell phone. You could incur huge charges if you are not on Wi-Fi.

Electricity

Outlets in Brazil generally accept 1 type of plug, Type N. Make sure you do not confuse this with a similar looking European plug and adapter –  it is not the same! Most USA electronic devices work in Brazil, where voltage is normally 110V to 127V. Occasionally you will find 220V. Check your devices, most now have a converter that can handle both voltages. Many modern electronics have a converter in the cord – that is the little box you see. A universal converter/adapter can be found online or at most electronics stores or online. Please make sure you have the Type N adapter as part of the unit you buy. More information can be found at www.power-plugs-sockets.com .

Brazil covers four time zones, and we will cross several during this trip. São Paolo is on Brazil Time, and Cuiabá is an hour earlier, on Amazon Time. In summer months, when the US observes Daylight Savings Time and Brazil is on Standard Time, São Paulo will be in the same time zone as Eastern Daylight Savings time during your trip, while Cuiabá will be an hour earlier. A great website if you want to tell someone to check ahead of calling you is www.timeanddate.com .

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at [email protected] or telephone us toll free at (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey!

Pace & Protocols +

Pace of the tour & what to expect.

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain.  It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role

Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Travel Insurance

You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as  Allianz , for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue ,  World Nomads , Medjet , Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at [email protected] or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

Packing List +

Please pack light.

Soft luggage is much easier for us to pack than a more rigid hard sided piece, so if you have the choice, please use your soft luggage.   Be sure to have your name and address on the inside of the bag, as well as on the luggage tag on the handle.   It is our hope that you can pack in one checked suitcase that does not exceed 45 pounds.   Be sure to pack your personal medication, airline tickets, passport, binoculars, camera, and other essential items in your carry-on bag. You will want a day pack for field trips, so this is an ideal carry-on. Please reconfirm your airline’s baggage weight and size restrictions about a week or so before departure.

Dress is comfortable and informal throughout the trip. Dressing in layers is the best way to be comfortable. Lightweight long sleeve shirts and long pants make ideal field clothing as they are more protective from sun and vegetation.   But if you like to wear them, by all means bring some shorts.   Also, choose clothing you don’t mind getting dirty or muddy and things that are comfortable and easy.

The climate is tropical, with hot, rainy summers and dry, sunny winters that are characterized by warm days and cool nights. July and August will range primarily in the 60-80s (cooler if you are joining the Atlantic Forest Extension), and wind blowing in from the south, especially in August, can bring a chill.  September and October will be warmer with temperatures in the 70s to 90s. October is a transitional month and is more likely to have some rain.

Note on clothing colors and insect repellent: We recommend muted colors of tan, brown, khaki, grey or green, as they are spotted less easily than white or bright colors. Camouflage clothing is not recommended and in some countries, it is not legal to wear.  It is possible to purchase field clothing permeated with insect repellent such as the Craghoppers "NOSILIFE" collection . Another approach is to purchase Permethrin spray (online or from REI) to treat your field clothing and socks before your departure.

Clothing & Gear

  • Lightweight long pants, 2-3 pair
  • Shorts (optional)
  • Lightweight long sleeve shirts, 2-3 (loose fitting keeps you cool and are great to layer over T-shirts or sleeveless shirts for staying cool)
  • T-shirts, short-sleeved shirts or equivalent (1 per day – remember you may buy some as souvenirs along the way)
  • Comfortable evening clothes (clean field clothes are appropriate, but feel free to go dressier if you wish)
  • Personal underclothing and pajamas
  • Socks – lightweight and easy to hand wash and dry
  • Comfortable walking shoes (tennis shoes, etc.)
  • Lightweight hiking boots – preferably waterproof
  • Sandals or light shoes for evenings, travel days (optional)
  • Shower thongs
  • Lightweight jacket (fleece is ideal, but a sweater or sweatshirt will do)
  • Raincoat or poncho (great if this doubles as a windbreaker)
  • Bathing suit (optional)
  • Hat with broad brim
  • Bandana (optional, ones with gel inserts are great for cooling off when you are hot and sweaty)
  • Warm hat and gloves – for cool mornings and evenings
  • Field vest (optional) a great source is Big Pockets

Equipment & Miscellaneous

  • PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
  • Airline Tickets or e-ticket verification
  • Passport, and a photocopy of your passport ID pages to be kept in a separate location
  • Money pouch, or someplace to carry your money and passport with you at all times
  • Small daypack to carry your field gear while hiking
  • Small flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries
  • Alarm clock (if you use your phone, be sure to turn off data roaming)
  • Walking stick (optional, but recommended if you have one)
  • Umbrella – compact and not brightly colored
  • Sunscreen/lip balm
  • Sunglasses with neck strap
  • Insect repellent (something containing DEET)
  • Toiletry articles
  • Kleenex or tissues
  • Waterproof bags are great to protect gear, preferably reusable
  • Spotting scope and tripod (optional)
  • Camera and extra batteries/battery chargers, film or digital memory cards, lens cleaning supplies and your instruction manual (optional)
  • Tablet or laptop for personal use and/or transferring photos and charger (optional)
  • USB cord for transferring photos from camera to tablet/laptop (optional)
  • Portable external hard drive if you intend to take many photos (optional)
  • Cell phone and charger
  • Water bottle (or plan to refill one of ours to save on use of plastic)
  • Notebook or journal and pen (optional)
  • Field guides (optional)
  • Laundry soap if you plan to do hand washing
  • Earplugs (optional – if hotel noise or roommates snoring may bother you)
  • Rechargeable power bank (optional)
  • Steri-Pen or other UV water treatment device to treat local water where not filtered to help cut down on the use of plastic bottles (optional but a great thing for world travelers to have!)

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRAVELING WITH PRECIOUS OR VALUABLE JEWELRY – don’t tempt anyone and don’t bring things you’d regret losing, and your mind will be at ease!

Medical & First Aid Items

  • Personal medication (with copy of vital prescriptions, including glasses) and any medical alerts
  • Motion sickness preventatives if likely to be needed on bus, van drives, etc.
  • Personal first aid kit and medications for general ailments and stomach ailments (Imodium or Lomotil, antihistamine cream or tablets, eye drops, etc.)
  • Foot powder, lotions, general “comfort” items
  • Hydrocortisone cream to ease itching from insect bites
  • Band-Aids, moleskin to protect against blisters
  • Antibacterial hand soap/hand sanitizer in small bottle, and cleansing wipes
  • Health insurance information
  • Vaccination Records
  • Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts

Suggested Reading List +

There are many titles of interest for Brazil and the Pantanal; the following are a few that we have enjoyed that can get you started.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil

Merlin App – Brazil Pack. A phone-based birding app from Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Before departing the U.S., download the app for free , then from within the app, download the “pack” for Brazil: All.

Field Guides

Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil: The Pantanal and Cerrado of Central Brazil

Pantanal Wildlife: A Visitor’s Guide to Brazil’s Great Wetland

Brazil Amazon and Pantanal

History & Culture

Lonely Planet Brazil

Brazil - Culture Smart!

Pantanal: South America’s Wetland Jewel

An Indomitable Beast: The Remarkable Journey of the Jaguar

Pantanal: Understanding and Preserving the World’s Largest Wetland

Pantanal Tales of a Tour Guide

Bodoquena: An Odyssey of the Brazilian Pantanal

Brazilian Portuguese Phrasebook & Dictionary  

Your guide will also have a selection of reference books and materials for participants to share. As an Amazon Associate, Naturalist Journeys earns from qualifying purchases, and may get commissions for purchases made through links on this page at no added cost to you.

Useful Links +

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantanal

São Paulo

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo

Campo Grande

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_Grande

Cuiabá

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuiab%C3%A1

Porto Jofre

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Jofre

A Colorful, Free and Indepth Travel Guide for Pantanal – Pantanal Escapes.com

  • https://pantanalescapes.com/about/about.html

5 Interesting Facts About The Pantanal

  • https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/5-interesting-facts-about-the-pantanal-the-world-s-largest-tropical-wetland

Spot Luck ? A witty and colorfully written article about the Pantanal

  • https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/spot-luck-great-wildlife-encounters-in-brazil-1904370.html

Nature, Wildlife & Biology

Species of Pantanal – iNaturalist.org

  • https://www.inaturalist.org/places/pantanal

Pantanal Wildlife Center - Jaguar Research Center (YouTube video)

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzDUsGW5OHI

Encyclopedic Bird List with Links to Pictures

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Birds_of_the_Pantanal

Hyacinth Macaw

  • https://www.pantanalescapes.com/wildlife/birds/hyacinthmacaw.html

Ema or American (Greater) Rhea

  • https://www.pantanalescapes.com/wildlife/birds/ema.html

Amazonian Tapir

  • https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/species/amazonian-tapir

Giant Otter

  • https://www.houstonzoo.org/blog/giant-otters/

Giant Anteater

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_anteater
  • https://a-z-animals.com/animals/maned-wolf/
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn9Hj23ggjA

Conservation, Parks & Reserves

The Nature Conservancy

  • https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/pantanal/

Pantanal Conservation Area (UNESCO)

  • https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/999/

World Wildlife Fund

  • https://www.worldwildlife.org/projects/the-pantanal-saving-the-world-s-largest-tropical-wetland

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Brazil

  • https://brasil.wcs.org/en-us/Wild-Places/Pantanal.aspx

Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

  • https://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation-ecology-center/conserving-worlds-largest-working-wetland

Natural World Heritage Site

  • https://www.naturalworldheritagesites.org/sites/pantanal-conservation-area/

Geology & Geography

A Good Overview

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantanal#Geography_and_geology

Understanding Sedimentary Processes in Pantanal’s Modern Wetlands

  • https://speakingofgeoscience.org/2021/06/02/sediment-provenance-understanding-sedimentary-processes-from-modern-river-sediment-in-the-tropical-lowlands-pantanal-brazil/
  • https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/central-and-south-america/brazil/history-and-culture

History, plus links to Pantanal wildlife and ecology

  • https://pantanalescapes.com/history/

Brazilian Culture

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Brazil

Brazilian Cuisine

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_cuisine
  • https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/travel/global/top-10-foods-try-brazil

Basic Portuguese Travel Phrases (9-minute video)

  • youtu.be/-B6QqKXQELE

Atlantic Forest Tour Extension

Itatiaia National Park

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itatiaia_National_Park

Atlantic Forest Conservation – WWF Article

  • https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-is-the-atlantic-forest-and-why-do-we-need-to-save-it

Conserving the Atlantic Forest in Brazil – Regua.org

  • https://regua.org/biodiversity/birds/

Atlantic Forest Species

  • https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/atlantic-forest/species

Helpful Travel Websites

Arrival: Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), São Paulo

  • https://www.aeroportoguarulhos.net/en/

Departure: Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB), Cuiabá

  • https://centroeste-airports.com.br/

National Passport Information Center

  • https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

U.S. Department of State International Travel Information - Brazil

  • travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Brazil.html

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • https://www.cbp.gov/travel

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

  • https://www.tsa.gov

Center for Disease Control (CDC) - Brazil

  • wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/brazil

Canada Travel Advice and Advisories - Brazil

  • https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/brazil

Travel Health Pro (UK) - Brazil

  • https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/34/brazil

Foreign Exchange Rates

  • https://www.xe.com/

Electricity and Plugs - Brazil

  • https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/brazil/

ATM Locator

  • https://wise.com/gb/blog/atms-in-brazil
  • https://www.visa.com/atmlocator/
  • https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/find-nearest-atm.html

Date, Time, and Holidays - Brazil

  • https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/brazil
  • https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/brazil/

Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Ecuador birding & nature tour

Photo credits: Banners: Toco Toucan (NJ Stock), Jaguar (Wes Larson), Hummingbird (Wes Larson), Macaws in Flight (Wes Larson), Hyacinth Macaws (Wes Larson), Jabiru & Hyacinth Macaws Flying (Wes Larson) Thumbnails: Jabiru Stork (Wes Larson), Howler Monkey (Wes Larson), Giant River Otter (Wes Larson), Hyacinth Macaw (Wes Larson), Yellow-billed Cardinal (Wes Larson), Jaguar (Wes Larson), Toco Toucan (Peg Abbott), Tiger Heron (Wes Larson)

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15 things to do in Brazil that will amaze you

Catherine Balston

Sep 28, 2023 • 12 min read

February 9, 2018: Women dance in elaborate gold costumes at the Parade of the Samba Schools of the Special Group during the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro.

Experiencing Rio’s Carnaval should be on everyone's list of the top things to do in Brazil © A.PAES / Shutterstock

Whether you prefer wilderness or dense cities, the call of frogs in the rainforest or the beat of samba drums,  Brazil  has an experience lined up for you.

The country’s status as a natural paradise is impossible to deny. While superlatives simply don’t do it justice, this continent-sized nation is home to the largest rainforest, the most sprawling wetlands, and more known species of plants, freshwater fish and mammals than any other country in the world.

Brazil is also home to a myriad of indigenous and immigrant cultures, each with their own unique languages, foods and music. Get a taste for Afro-Brazilian heritage by eating acarajé in Salvador, dance samba in Rio de Janeiro, or move to the sounds of frevo  in Olinda during Carnaval. The Amazon, too, hosts some of the biggest parties in Brazil.

If you think you’ll be ready for another vacation at the end of all that, look no further than Brazil’s tropical islands for some downtime. To help you write up your shortlist of must-dos, here are the top things to do when you visit Brazil.

An aerial shot of Rio de Janeiro showing Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay

1. Admire the view in Rio de Janeiro

Beaches, architecture, museums, waterfalls, nightlife...there are dozens of good reasons to visit Rio de Janeiro . But if this city has one essential thing to do, it’s getting up high to admire the view. From above, Rio’s dramatic topography is revealed in all its splendor – forest-covered mountains plunging down to the ocean with urban sprawl jammed in between. 

Visitors jostle for selfie space at two of the city’s most popular tourist spots, the 710m-high (2329ft-high)  Christ the Redeemer statue and Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain), which both offer spectacular 360-degree views.

To avoid the crowds, a splurge on a helicopter tour is worth every real. A stunning vista is the reward at the end of hikes in the Tijuca National Park – one of Brazil's best national parks . The views from the Pico da Tijuca and Pedra da Gávea peaks are particularly breathtaking. 

2. Spot whales in Praia do Rosa

Once a sleepy fishing hamlet, Praia do Rosa is now a top surf destination, with charming guest houses and hotels tucked into the hillside above a bay. In the winter months (June to November), surfers are joined by another type of visitor playing in the waves: southern right whale calves. 

Whales were hunted in these waters as far back as the 1700s and were widely thought to be extinct by the 1970s. Despite making a comeback, they’re still highly endangered. The whales migrate here from Patagonia every year to breed, and a marine reserve stretching 130km (80 miles) along the coast was established to help protect them.

Only masochists will want to swim in the sea this far south in the winter, but the beach is a beautiful destination for windy walks and whale spotting year-round. Boat tours can also be booked for a closer look.

A wattled jacana bird stretches its wings in the wetlands near Cariacica, Espirito Santo, Brazil

3. Watch birds in the Atlantic Forest

Bird-watching enthusiasts will want to trek to some of the most spectacular off-the-beaten-path spots in the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest). One of Brazil’s six biomes, the Atlantic Forest is a hot spot for birding – it's home to nearly 900 bird species, a quarter of which don’t live anywhere else, including three-toed jacamars and kaleidoscopic green-headed tanagers.

You can explore Atlantic Forest habitats in dozens of national and state parks as well as hundreds of private nature reserves. Itatiaia , established in 1937 as Brazil’s first national park, is a birding paradise. Further south, among the mangroves and salt marshes of Superagui National Park and the Sebui private nature reserve, other Atlantic Forest species such as scarlet ibis and the red-tailed Amazon parrot fill the skies at sunset as they come in to roost for the night. 

11 incredible places to visit in Brazil

4. Soak up the energy at a soccer game

It’s impossible not to know when there’s a big soccer game playing in Brazil, as every screen in every bar will have it on, with shouts ringing out across neighborhoods when goals are scored. Join in the action by booking tickets to see a game, where the passionate supporters can be as much of a spectacle as the game itself. 

The Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro is legendary, and it hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics. SR Flamengo is the biggest club in Rio and you can expect excited crowds when the team goes head-to-head with any of its local rivals.

In São Paulo, SE Palmeiras and Corinthians both have gleaming modern stadiums, and the latter in particular is famous for its passionate supporters. The city’s Pacaembu Stadium is an art deco jewel, although it hosts fewer games these days. The soccer museum underneath the stadium is a monument to Brazil’s greatest passion.

A speedboat with tourists travels under one of the many cataracts at Iguaçu Falls

5. Get soaked on a speed boat under Iguaçu Falls

The thunder and roar of 396,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of water pouring over the edge of Iguaçu Falls every second is a thrilling, visceral experience. Dozens of activities in and around the falls will keep visitors occupied for days, from hiking and cycling in the surrounding national park to feeding the birds at the Parque das Aves bird and wildlife sanctuary. 

There’s a good chance you’ll get wet at some stage during your visit, so why not submit to the deluge in the most adrenaline-fueled way possible, with a speedboat ride right under the falls? Turbo-dinghies with 500 horsepower outboard motors pass right beside the falls, where it’s so loud no one will hear your shrieks. The nearby Itaipú Dam – the world’s second-largest – is well worth a visit, too, and accessible via Brazil or Paraguay . 

The best times to book a trip to Brazil

6. Dance during Carnaval 

For one hot, sweaty but utterly thrilling day of your life, you can feel like a star as you don an enormous costume and join a samba school to parade down the Sambódromo during Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. Broadcast live on national television, with many thousands of spectators cheering from the grandstands, this parade is a fierce competition that’s taken extremely seriously by the samba schools that prepare for it year-round.

But Carnaval is not all about Rio. Each corner of the country celebrates in its own way, and one of the most traditional can be found in the coastal city of Olinda. Instead of samba, the rhythms of frevo , maracatu and afoxé ring out across the hilly streets of this charming town. Local bands playing percussion and brass draw huge crowds of excitable revelers trying to keep pace.

A kitesurfer catches a gust off the coast of Brazil

7. Kitesurf on Brazil’s northeast coast

Some of the world's most respected kitesurfing champions are from Brazil – no surprise given the country’s thousands of miles of windswept Atlantic coastline. Ceará in northeastern Brazil has some of the best kitesurfing hotspots, including Cumbuco (a playground for some of the top athletes) and the coastal hubs of Icapuí and Preá.

A little farther north in Piauí state, Barra Grande is an up-and-coming spot for the sport. In Maranhão , lagoons in Atins offer up wind without the waves and the bonus of being on the doorstep of the desert-like Lençois Maranhenses National Park . 

How to get around Brazil

8. Contemplate the origins of life at Serra da Capivara 

The culmination of a lifetime’s work for Brazilian archeologist, Niède Guidon, the Museu da Natureza (Museum of Nature) opened in late 2018. A spiral-shaped building at the edge of the Serra da Capivara National Park , the museum explores the history of humans and other species from their earliest known existence.

Highlights include saber-toothed cat teeth and a 6m (20ft) life-size model of the giant sloth Eremotherium , fossils of which were found in the park. Serra da Capivara has an astounding 300 archeological sites where fossils, ceramics, bones and tens of thousands of examples of cave art – the largest collection in the world – have been found over the decades.

These discoveries suggest that humans settled here as far back as 50,000 years ago, challenging the mainstream theory about human settlement in the Americas. An airport was built near the Serra da Capivara in 2015, but the only commercial flights run from Petrolina and Recife; most visitors drive or catch a bus from Petrolina or Teresina.

Aerial view of the Barra lighthouse in Salvador, Brazil

9. Understand Afro-Brazilian culture in Salvador

Chili, coconut, coriander, dried shrimp, dendé palm oil...the ingredients of Bahian cuisine make for some of the tastiest dishes in Brazil, showing the strong African influences in the city of Salvador .

A popular street food is acarajé , a deep-fried ball of black-eyed pea paste stuffed with a dried shrimp stew and condiments. The dish is traditionally made by baianas , descendants of African women; it was even given protected cultural heritage status in 2005. Acarajé is just one of the  baiana -made foods connected to the worship of orixás , deities of Yoruban origin. 

Salvador is the best place in Brazil to immerse yourself in Afro-Brazilian culture and religion. The Caminho dos Orixás do Oxum is a tour of the city’s sights run by an agency specializing in Afro-Brazilian culture. Viare Travel also organizes tours tailored around Afro-Brazilian heritage. 

10. Float down the river in Bonito

An ecotourism boom town near the Pantanal wetlands, Bonito is a giant aquarium and a playground for lovers of nature. The clear waters here spring up through a limestone base that acts as a water purifier, allowing for astounding underwater visibility. Visitors will come face to face with all sorts of fascinating fish while floating down the Rio da Prata. Alternatively, rafting down the Rio Formoso provides a chance to look out for fish and birds while you navigate the rapids.

Costumed performers at Boi Bumba, Brazil's largest folklore festival

11. Party on at festivals in the Amazon

Trees, not people, are what dominate the Amazon in the popular imagination. But the world’s largest rainforest is home to more than 30 million people and they throw some pretty spectacular parties (they’re Brazilian too, after all). Boi Bumbá is a folk festival held in June in Parantins that recounts the death and resurrection of an ox, with music, fireworks, dancing and glittering costumes. 

The biggest Amazonian festival is Círio de Nazaré, a Catholic celebration that attracts more than a million devotees each October. Devout locals file through the streets of Belém , at the mouth of the Amazon River, in a cathartic throng. Some 966km (600 miles) upriver, the town of Maués throws a festival every December to celebrate the harvest of its energy-boosting guaraná fruit. Locals dance on the beaches of the Maués-Acú River until the early hours. 

12. Visit a cachaça distillery 

Also known as pinga  (among dozens of other nicknames), cachaça is an exclusively Brazilian distilled sugarcane spirit that can range from cheap rocket fuel to an expensive, aged artisanal delicacy. It’s also the main ingredient in the unofficial Brazilian national drink, the caipirinha . Bars can provide an easy education in the delights of cachaça – but better still is a distillery tour. 

The Mapa da Cachaça website is a great resource, mapping out distilleries across the country. Minas Gerais is the main cachaça-producing region in Brazil and home to the oldest functioning distillery, Engenho Boa Vista, which has been in business for more than 260 years.

Overlooking the sea, the Maria Izabel distillery is a must for any visitors to Paraty . Rio Encantos runs a cachaça tour in Rio, taking in the historic center of the city and finishing up a cachaça tasting. 

A jaguar in the Panatal, Brazil

13. Track jaguars in the Pantanal

The largest cat in the Americas, the jaguar is a rare and elusive creature. These famed big cats roam far and wide across Brazil, and despite game hunting being illegal since 1967, jaguars are still poached. Add in habitat loss – exacerbated by recent fires and the expansion of cattle ranching – and the result has been a decline in their population, placing these magnificent animals at risk of extinction.

One of the best habitats for spotting jaguars is the Pantanal , the world’s largest wetland, especially during the dry season (April to September). Conservation NGO Onçafari was set up in 2011 to help protect the jaguars through research and ecotourism. The group runs jaguar safaris from its base at the Caiman Lodge , a private nature reserve. A number of local tour operators also run jaguar safaris, and the deeper you get into the wetlands, the better chance you have of spotting one.

Brazil's best hikes from beaches to rainforests

14. Relax on a tropical island

Brazil has thousands of beaches along its coastline, but you can side-step the difficult task of choosing one by escaping to a tropical island instead. Ilha Grande , south of Rio de Janeiro on the Costa Verde, has warm seas and white sandy beaches fringed by the forests of the Mata Atlântica. Ilhabela combines good restaurants for the São Paulo weekenders with hiking trails and guest houses hidden away in dense, jungle-covered hills. 

Smaller Ilha do Mel in the south of Brazil near  Paranaguá feels more remote, with just a handful of accommodation options, plus a lighthouse , fort and caves to explore. The Bahian coast is a safe bet for sunshine, and Boipeba has more than 20km (12 miles) of palm-lined beaches and a castaway vibe. 

15. See street art in São Paulo 

A maze of underpasses and overpasses, sidewalks cracked by tree roots, and steep hills make walking in São Paulo something of an adventure sport. But the reward is a wealth of murals and graffiti daubed across the city’s urban sprawl, all the more striking against the city’s ubiquitous gray concrete.

The colorful Beco do Batman (Batman’s Alley) is a top spot for street art and a tourist honeypot. In Centro, artist Felipe Yung’s 10,000 sq m (107,639 sq ft)  Aquarium covers the facades of 15 buildings. The 3.5km (2.2-mile) Minhoção – officially Via Elevada Presidente João Goulart – is closed to traffic at night and at weekends, making it the perfect place to stroll while taking in artwork by such artists as Speto, Zezão and Mag Magrela.

Cambuci, in the southeast of the city, was the stomping ground for the world-famous duo OsGemeos in their youth, and it’s the best place to see their art outside of museums. In northern São Paulo, the Museu Aberto de Arte Urbana (Open Museum of Urban Art) brings together street art by dozens of creators on the huge columns underneath a metro line.

This article was first published January 2022 and updated September 2023

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The Amazonian Expedition That Nearly Killed Theodore Roosevelt

By: Evan Andrews

Updated: October 10, 2023 | Original: January 26, 2017

Theodore Roosevelt during the expedition.

Theodore Roosevelt was never a fan of idle vacations. Whether ranching in the Dakotas, cougar hunting in Arizona, or going on a yearlong safari in Africa, his travels had always involved hardship and risk—two of the key components of what he once famously termed the “strenuous life.” Still, none of Roosevelt’s previous adventures could compare to the one he attempted in 1913. Despite having little experience in the jungle, the burly 55-year-old journeyed to Brazil and set out on a trip down an uncharted tributary of the Amazon: the mysterious Rio da Dúvida, or River of Doubt.

Roosevelt described the Amazon adventure as his “last chance to be a boy,” but it was also something of a consolation prize. He had hoped to begin serving a third term as president in 1913, but despite a strong showing in the 1912 election, he and his upstart Progressive Party had lost out to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. After moping around his New York home for a few months, Roosevelt received a letter from Argentina inviting him to conduct a series of lectures in South America. Not only did he accept, he decided to supplement the speaking tour with an extended river cruise down two tributaries of the Amazon. Before setting sail for the continent that October, he contacted the American Museum of Natural History, recruited a pair of naturalists and made plans to collect animal specimens during the expedition.

Roosevelt had envisioned a journey that was part holiday and part scientific endeavor, but upon arriving in South America, he decided to tackle something more stimulating. After consulting with his guide, the veteran Brazilian explorer Colonel Candido Rondon, he dropped his original itinerary and set his sights on traversing the River of Doubt, a wild and winding waterway that had yet to be charted by Europeans. The head of the American Museum of Natural History tried to warn him of the risks, but Roosevelt brushed off his concerns. “If it is necessary for me to leave my bones in South America,” he wrote, “I am quite ready to do so.”

In late-1913, after Roosevelt had completed his lecture tour, the “Roosevelt-Rondon” expedition got underway. Along with a small army of porters, explorers and scientists, the team also included Roosevelt’s 23-year-old son, Kermit, who had been living in Brazil. The adventurers began by traveling via steamboat to the remote town of Tapirapoan. From there, they embarked on a two-month overland trek toward the River of Doubt.

Theodore Roosevelt in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, shortly before the Roosevelt-Rondon expedition began. (

Though still carrying a bullet in his chest from a failed assassination attempt that occurred during his 1912 campaign, Roosevelt immediately impressed his companions with his seemingly boundless stamina. On the whole, however, the expedition did not get off to a promising start. Several men were struck down by tropical illness while crossing the rugged Brazilian highlands, and over half the group’s pack animals died from exhaustion. By the time they finally reached the River of Doubt in February 1914, a lack of supplies had forced Roosevelt and Rondon to downsize their team. In the end, the 22-man party that set off on the river included just three Americans—Roosevelt, Kermit and the naturalist George Cherrie.

If the journey to the River of Doubt had been trying, conditions only grew more extreme once explorers were on the water. As they floated down the river in dugout canoes, the men were at risk of attack by everything from alligators and piranhas to hostile indigenous people. Whenever they stopped to camp on its banks, they were overwhelmed by what Roosevelt called the “torment and menace” of mosquitos and stinging flies. Just a few days into the expedition, the former president had another run-in with the local wildlife when he was nearly bitten by a venomous coral snake. The creature snapped at his leg, but only managed to sink its teeth into his thick leather boot.

With each bend in the river, the expedition entered new and unmapped territory. “It was interesting work, for no civilized man, no white man, had ever gone down or up this river or seen the country through which we were passing,” Roosevelt later wrote. “The lofty and matted forest rose like a green wall on either hand.” The journey began on calm waters, but by early March the explorers had encountered the first of what would eventually be dozens of miles of tortuous rapids. At each cataract, the men were forced to either shoot the whitewater in their canoes or carry the boats on their backs through the wilderness. Their progress slowed to a plodding seven miles per day, and they had to repeatedly stop and build new canoes after several were destroyed during the crossings. On March 15, Kermit’s canoe was sucked into a whirlpool and sent tumbling over a waterfall. He and a companion managed to swim to shore, but a third man, a Brazilian named Simplicio, drowned in the rushing rapids.

Theodore Roosevelt pointing towards the area explored during the Roosevelt-Rondon expedition.

The expedition’s troubles only mounted over the next several weeks. The explorers knew that a band of Indians was stalking them—Rondon had found his dog shot through with arrows—and they were constantly on edge about an ambush. The natives ultimately let the men pass unharmed, but the team was still plagued by malaria, dysentery and a lack of supplies. Even the indomitable Roosevelt began to suffer after he fell ill with fever and then sliced his leg open on a rock. Morale reached its lowest point in early April, when a porter named Julio shot and killed another Brazilian who had caught him stealing food. After failing to capture the murderer, the exhausted expedition simply abandoned him in the jungle.

The 19 remaining explorers continued downriver, but their scientific expedition had turned into a fight for survival. Their clothes were reduced to rags, and they headed off starvation only by catching fish and scrounging for hearts of palm. Roosevelt, once among the team’s strongest members, became delirious from fever and infection. He repeatedly demanded to be left alone in the jungle to die, but Kermit refused to leave him behind. “There were a good many days, a good many mornings when I looked at Colonel Roosevelt and said to myself, he won’t be with us tonight,” naturalist George Cherrie later remembered. “And I would say the same in the evening, he can’t possibly live until morning.”

Roosevelt eventually lost a quarter of his body weight, but he stubbornly held on and even endured emergency leg surgery on the riverbank. As the former president languished in his canoe, Rondon led the explorers into waters closer to civilization. With the aid of local “seringueiros”—Brazilian pioneers who lived in the jungle and harvested rubber—the men acquired new canoes and traversed the last few sections of rapids.

Finally, on April 26, the team sighted a relief party that Rondon had previously ordered to meet them at the confluence of the River of Doubt and the Aripuanã River. After two months and hundreds of miles, they had reached the finish line. Though still sick, Roosevelt beamed with pride. In typically stoic fashion, he dashed off a telegram to the Brazilian government in which called the nightmarish expedition “a hard and somewhat dangerous, but very successful trip.”

Roosevelt received medical attention once the group reached civilization, and by the time he returned to New York in May 1914, he had grown strong enough to walk down his ship’s gangplank and greet a crowd of admirers. A few critics tried to dispute his claim that the expedition had “put upon the map a river nearly 1,500 kilometers in length,” but he later won over most of the skeptics during an extended lecture tour. In 1926, meanwhile, another group of explorers repeated the river journey and confirmed nearly all the Roosevelt-Rondon expedition’s geographical findings. By then, the Brazilians had given the River of Doubt a new name: the Roosevelt River.

While Roosevelt would remember his time in the Amazon as one of his greatest adventures, it was also his last. His stint in the jungle had taken its toll, and for the rest of his days he was plagued by a collection of ailments he called his “old Brazilian trouble.” The venerable “Bull Moose” stayed active and even attempted to volunteer for World War I, but he finally died in his sleep in 1919 at the age of 60. “Death had to take him sleeping,” Vice President Thomas Marshall said at the time, “for if Roosevelt had been awake, there would have been a fight.”

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HISTORY Vault: Theodore Roosevelt

Independent and audacious, Theodore Roosevelt embodies the best of the American experience. He spoke his mind, acted with his heart, and to hell with anyone who didn't like it. A born fighter, he wasn't satisfied unless he was going to battle for something he believed in, whether it was to reform the New York City police or give a "square deal" to every American. His life ...

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Brazil Amazon + Pantanal Photo Tour: Featuring Jaguars and Other Wildlife

Brazil Jaguar Photo Tour with Max Waugh

July 21 – August 1, 2024 : $15,995 + $1180 Single Supplement (1 Spot Left!)

Join me in western Brazil as we explore the best place on earth to photograph wild jaguars! After leading highly successful 2018 and 2022 tours, I’ll be leading a 2024 trip that will offer you great opportunities to explore the wonders of the Amazon rainforest and to see jaguars and loads of other wildlife. This trip combines two of the most diverse and popular wildlife hot spots in Brazil: the Amazon and the Pantanal.

The Pantanal has become popular in recent years for good reason: It’s the best place on earth to find wild jaguars.  Though I can never guarantee jaguar sightings, I can say with near certainty that we’ll have a good chance of seeing not just one, but multiple cats during this trip!  The cats get all the attention, but there’s a lot of other colorful and fascinating wildlife to see here. We’re likely to find unique species such as the giant river otter while looking for jaguars.  On land, we will seek out other large species such as the Brazilian tapir and giant anteater. And let’s not forget the bountiful birdlife, from colorful macaws and other parrots, to raptors and a variety of wetland species.

Unlike most other Pantanal trips, we’re adding an extra element to this journey: a trip to the Brazilian Amazon. We’ll stay at a luxury lodge in the southern Amazon, located in lush rainforest surroundings that host a bounty of wildlife (much of it quite different from what we’ll see in the Pantanal). This region is home to several monkey species—including some endangered species found nowhere else—and hundreds of exotic birds and other wildlife. During the 2018 tour we even saw the ultra rare giant armadillo!

Target species on this trip include:

  • Giant and neotropical river otter
  • Giant anteater
  • Southern tamandua (collared anteater)
  • South America (Brazilian) tapir
  • South American coati
  • Three armadillo species
  • Eleven different monkey species
  • Three different deer species
  • Crab-eating fox
  • Spectacled and Yacare caiman, yellow anaconda and other reptiles
  • Greater rhea
  • Seven different macaw species and other parrots
  • Numerous toucan species
  • Birds of prey, such as kites, hawks and owls
  • A variety of herons
  • Five different kingfisher species
  • Loads of other birds

See photos from past Brazil trips:

2022 Brazil Wildlife & Scenery 2022 Brazil Birds 2018 Brazil Wildlife & Scenery 2018 Brazil Birds 2017 Brazil Wildlife & Scenery 2017 Brazil Birds

brazil hunting trip

What to Expect

As you know, I offer a variety of tour experiences. While I like to immerse my groups in a great wildlife experience no matter where we go, tours vary in terms of the type of exploration involved and the required fitness level for participants.

White-Nosed Saki

An endangered endemic, the white-nosed saki monkey can be found in the southern Amazon.

The good news about the Brazil trip is that it’s one of the more relaxed adventures I offer! We spend a lot of time being transported by expert guides and drivers and do a lot of photography directly from a boat or game drive vehicle. In certain situations, we’ll get out for walks, either to get closer to wildlife in the Pantanal savanna or as we walk forest trails in the Amazon in search of birds and monkeys. We’ll even have a chance to photograph wildlife from three different canopy towers in both the Amazon and Pantanal.

All of our jaguar exploration and some of the wetland and rainforest wildlife photo opportunities will come exclusively from a boat. It’s a nice, easy way to get up close and personal with jaguars, otters and birds without infringing upon them.

We will stay in some of the best lodges in the region, in terms of both comfort and wildlife exploration. In all cases, there’s a chance to photograph wildlife directly on the lodge grounds! For our main jaguar exploration, we’ll be staying at a nicer land-based lodge in Porto Jofre that is situated directly on the river that serves as our launching point for our cat-centric adventures.  This gives us a much more comfortable home base than other tours staying in cramped “flotels” on the river. Our Amazon home base is a true luxury jungle lodge, with excellent food and comfortable rooms and amenities.

To find jaguars, we’ll take advantage of high speed motor boats that offer plenty of room for photographers. With powerful four stroke engines, we can get to the latest reported sighting quickly, and as part of the largest guide network on the river, we’ll increase our chances of getting cat reports from other boats whenever they discover a jaguar.

Trip Itinerary

We recommend participants arrive in Sao Paulo on the day before our flights to Cuiaba/Alta Floresta.

July 21, 2024:  Participants arrive in Sao Paulo.

We will be booked at a Sao Paulo Airport hotel TBD, 1 Night

July 22, 2024: Fly to Alta Floresta via Cuiaba, on the edge of the southern Amazon Rainforest. We will drive to meet our boats, which will carry us along the river to our luxury jungle lodge. This is our first opportunity to look for and photography wildlife, including otters, tapirs and birds.

Cristalino Lodge, 4 Nights

July 23 – 25: During our stay at Cristalino, we will split our time between boat exploration on the river, walking the forest trails, and photographing from the lodge’s two canopy towers. These are two of the tallest viewing towers you’ll find in the rainforest, measuring 50-60m high! From the top, we will soak in the magnificent views of the surrounding jungle while waiting for all manner of exotic bird life to fly or perch nearby. Possibilities include several species of toucans, macaws and raptors, as well as smaller more colorful birds.

Hyacinth macaw

Hyacinth macaw photographed from the birding tower at Araras Lodge.

On the trails, we will look for monkeys, including the rare white-cheeked spider monkey and white-nosed saki, the nocturnal feline night monkey and other species. At night we may track down owls or the mysterious potoo.

During our river exploration, we’ll look for neotropical and giant river otters, the shy Brazilian tapir and all manner of bird species. Jaguars—including the rare black panther—are sometimes seen in this area.

July 26:  We depart the lodge and fly to Cuiabá for our transfer to Araras Lodge. We’ll enjoy our first afternoon game drive, looking for anteaters, armadillos, capybaras, caiman and more.

Araras Lodge, 2 Nights

July 27: Full day at Araras Lodge, including a morning shoot in the 25m birding tower that may provide flyby opportunities with the Hyacinth Macaw.

July 28: We will depart for Porto Jofre. By the afternoon, we will be on the Cuiabá River searching for jaguars!

Hotel Pantanal Norte, 4 Nights

July 29 – 31: Mornings and afternoons will be filled with boat excursions searching for jaguars, giant river otters and other wildlife.

August 1: We will depart Porto Jofre for Cuiabá, where we will catch flights back to Sao Paulo.

Why Choose This Tour?

There are many Pantanal photo tours available.  Why go on this one?

The Best of Both Worlds: Pantanal + Amazon!

Rather than offer the Amazon as an optional extension, I am including it in the main itinerary to present one grand wildlife tour. We’ll get to explore two different environments (dense tropical rainforest and sprawling wetlands), offering opportunities to photography a wider variety of species. We’ve averaged close to 200 bird species and 30+ mammals!

Our local naturalist guide on this trip is Frederico Tavares, one of Brazil’s leading naturalist wildlife and birding guides.

Brazilian guide Fred Tavares

Our expert guide in the Pantanal, Fred Tavares.

Fred has completed extensive study in biology, the primates of  southeastern Brazil and the ecology of the Pantanal region, and holds a degree from Izabela Hendrix University in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He has been a hiking and naturalist guide since 1999, with particular emphasis on Southeastern Brazil, along with Pantanal and Northeast areas. Fred is known as a leading instructor on natural history guiding and interpretation techniques, and has taught many courses on those subjects. He possesses an enormous enthusiasm for his work to go with his vast knowledge. 

Better Lodging

I’ve chosen some of the best spots for both comfort and accessibility to wildlife. The Araras Lodge gives us a great chance to see a variety of species, from birds (including a session at the 25m birding tower) to armadillos and anteaters.  Hotel Matto Grosso puts us right on the river, for quick access to the wetland species we’ll photograph on two boat tours.  The Porto Jofre Hotel is right on the Cuiaba River, giving us a great launching point for jaguar exploration, but it also offers more comfort than those boat “flotels,” and has wildlife right on the grounds. In the Amazon, we stay at one of the most comfortable jungle lodges in all of South America, which boasts excellent facilities and canopy towers.

Smaller Groups

As always, I try to limit my tours to smaller-than-standard groups, for more one-on-one attention and more comfortable shooting for my clients.  This tour is limited to six guests, making for a more intimate experience.  If the group fills, we’ll add vehicles (based on availability) in order to give photographers more room and comfort for shooting.

Better Time of Year

In the Amazon it’s the dry season, so our activities are less likely to be impeded by torrential downpours. In the Pantanal, this trip takes place relatively early in the “jaguar season,” and that offers us a couple of advantages over September/October trips. This stems from lower average temperatures, which make things more comfortable for our group… but also for the jaguars! We’re more likely to witness interesting activity from these cats beyond just seeing them laying in the shade to escape the heat of the day. During past trips, we watched jaguars stalking, hunting, swimming, climbing trees (a rarity), mothers with cubs, adult jaguars coming together and even otter/jaguar faceoffs. Who knows what sort of activity we’ll photograph on this trip!

"Max provided a great opportunity to see and enjoy Brazil’s wildlife and I truly appreciate it. His laid-back style of leadership is fantastic.  I really liked the fact that he showed great concern for his clients and put his photography 'on hold' until he was sure the clients 'got the shot.'  I needed a lot of help spotting and finding the sights and you went out of your way to help me (as did everyone in the group).  I enjoyed this trip so much that I would consider doing it again in a couple of years!"  — Fred F.

"I’ve been very fortunate to join Max on a number of tours and felt fairly confident that nothing new would top places like South Africa or Patagonia. And then I went to Brazil. Wow! It’s difficult to find the words to describe this vibrant, wildlife enriched part of the world and do it justice. I saw a greater variety of plant, animal and insect species than anywhere else I’ve ever been. Like all of Max’s tours this one is first class all the way with front row access to all of the action. We saw exotic species in their natural environment doing what they do to survive. We saw jaguars climbing, swimming, feeding and hunting. There were giant otters fighting, birds, mammals and caiman fishing, mammals nursing and rarely spotted creatures like giant armadillos lumbering through the jungle. The list goes on. This is a tour that absolutely cannot be missed if you like all things wild. Thanks to Max, Fred (local guide extraordinaire) and a phenomenal group of fellow adventurers with whom I was blessed to share the experience."  — Steve. S

"Well once again Max comes through with an epic adventure to the Amazon and the Pantanal in Brazil. After seeing his write-up on his scouting trip to that area the year before I knew I wanted to go. The trip was everything I was hoping for and more. Highlighted by seeing a Giant Armadillo. Also a hunt by a female jaguar that grabbed everyone’s attention as she charged the capybara. Several types of macaws including Hyancith, Scarlet, Chestnut-fronted and the Blue-and-yellow from birding towers in both the Amazon and the Pantanal. The thrill of “flying” down the river in the boats to a jaguar sighting always got everyone excited. Max’s experience and willingness to help others with camera issues is a blessing for all so not to mess up your shots. Can't wait for the next trip. Thanks Max!"  — Pat N.

What’s Included in the Price of Your Tour

  • All guiding and transportation from pick-up.
  • Optional photo instruction by Max.
  • All lodging during the tour (except for last night at the end of the trip, for those who choose not to catch an evening flight home).
  • Domestic flights from Sao Paulo to Cuiabá, Cuiabá to Alta Floresta and back.
  • All food except lunch and dinner on the final day.
  • Park entrance fees.

What is NOT Included in the Price of Your Tour

  • Flights to/from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Extra baggage fees (most airlines limit passengers to 1 free checked bag)
  • Brazil visa fees (Note: US citizens are no longer required to get a visa prior to the trip).
  • Any COVID or other virus testing that may be required at the time of travel.
  • Alcohol/bar tabs at our hotels/lodges during the week.
  • Tips for guides/drivers/hotel staff.
  • Single supplement lodging fee listed below.

$15,995 per person, based on double occupancy $1180 single supplement

This tour is limited to six guests.  Due to a cancellation, we now have ONE spot open on this tour!

Claim your spot on the Amazon + Pantanal Photo Tour!

If you would like to grab the last spot on the 2024 trip, join a future Brazil wildlife trip, or arrange a customized private tour, please contact me .

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Our Expeditions

Amazon cruises.

  • A trip to the Rubber Museum with lots of nature
  • Amazing Free Walking Tours Manaus
  • Amazing Tours company  has the transport you need.
  • Amazon Clipper Boat
  • BLESSED ENERGY
  • From Manaus to Belém: Trip by local boat (5 days and 4 nights)
  • Iberostar Grand Amazon Cruise
  • Indigenous experience
  • Indigenous Tribe Experience with Forest Bathing and Ayahuasca Ritual
  • New Year on Board
  • OBSERVATION OF BIRDS 5 DAYS AND 4 NIGHTS
  • PARINTINS FESTIVAL
  • Tour  Ruins of the Village of Paricatuba
  • Transfer Service in Sant Andrés Colombia
  • TRANSFER TABATINGA TO LETICIA
  • Travelling to Isla
  • Tribe experience program of the Dessanas
  • Tucandeiras Ritual: An unknown experience
  • Untamed Amazon Boat Trip
  • Amazon Eco Park
  • Amazon Tariri Lodge
  • Amazon Turtle Lodge
  • Amazônia Jungle Hotel
  • Anaconda Amazon Island Lodge
  • Arowana Amazon Lodge
  • Juma Amazon Lodge
  • Manati Amazon Lodge
  • Mirante do Gavião Lodge
  • Tauari Inn Amazon Lodge
  • Uakari Amazon Lodge

Miscellaneous

  • ATTENTION! WARNING! DANGER!
  • Bus Travel to and from the Amazon
  • Events in Manaus!
  • Helicopter Overflight
  • LGBT+ Tourism in Manaus
  • Manaus Transfers
  • Skydive Amazonas
  • TARUMÃ LAKE
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Transfer to Anavilhanas Lodges

Other destinations in Brazil

  • Belem do Para
  • Chapada Diamantina
  • Iguazu Falls
  • Parintins Folklore Festival 2020
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Transfer Pacaraima to Boa Vista –> Manaus
  • Amazon Adventures!

Amazon Fishing Trips

  • Amazon Opera House Guided Tours
  • Amazon Regular Boat Tickets
  • Amazon Safari
  • Amazon Waterfalls – 2 days and 1 night
  • Amazon Waterfalls (Presidente Figueiredo)
  • Anavilhanas Archipelago
  • Ayahuasca Experience
  • Boat Tours in the Amazon
  • CIGS Zoo Tour
  • Dolphins Interacting Novo Airão
  • Expedition Jatapu River
  • INPA- Biodiversity Institute
  • Jewish Tour in Manaus
  • Jungle Safari
  • Jungle Survival
  • Kayaking Expedition
  • Mamori Lake
  • Manaus City Tours
  • MUSA – Amazonian Museum Including Observation Tower and Guided Tour
  • New Years Eve by Boat 2019/2020
  • Panoramic Flight over the Amazon
  • Parintins Festival
  • Piranha Fishing and Alligator (Cayman) Watching
  • Stand Up Paddling Experience
  • Swimming with Amazon Dolphins and Jungle Trekking
  • The Mermaid Hotel – Amazon – Naturism in Manaus – Brazil
  • The Rubber Museum Experience
  • Thematic Dinner in Manaus
  • Tree Climbing Tour
  • Tucandeira Ants Ritual
  • ZO’E Indigenous Tribe

Arrival, reception and transfer straight to the lodge. We go to the Ceasa port, crossing by a fast boat, the Meeting of the Waters (Rio Negro / Solimões). After, by van during 40 km on a good road, until Araçá community, where we take a private speed boat to the lodge (50 minutes). A relaxing trip with a wonderful view. Arrival, lodging, acknowlgement of the Mamori Amazon Lodge area and preparative of the fishing equipments for the next days.

2nd. to 5th.DAY (Monday to Thursday)

4 full days free to fish at the unlimited lakes with its various fishing structures, and different borders, and diverse vegetation.

6th.DAY (Friday) Lodge / Manaus:  Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

6 DAYS AND 5 NIGHTS  at the Mamori Amazon Lodge, breakfast, lunch and dinner, mineral water, beer and soft drinks.

4 full fishing days  including gas, outboard engine boat, special boat seats, electric motor, natural baits and local fishing guide.

Transfer in / out  airport / Ceasa port / crossing the Rio Negro/Solimões on a speed boat / by van during 40km / by a private speed boat to the lodge.

OPTIONAL SERVICES

In / out air ticket to Manaus  (we have promotional rates).  Accommodation, tours and entertainment at Manaus.

Talk to a comparison now!

INSTITUTIONAL

  • EXPEDITIONS
  • AMAZON CRUISES
  • OUTROS DESTINOS

PAYMENT METHODS

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Ouro Preto Travel

Mineral & Gemstone Tour

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Mineral & Gemstone Tours in Brazil

Rockhounding Mineral & Gemstone Tours in Brazil through the world’s largest mining province which is Minas Gerais State. Cut or rough imperial topaz , aquamarine , emerald, tourmaline , quartz, garnet, kyanite, euclase or any other mineral are the highlights of our service.

Wholesale, retail, collections , mine visits guided by expert staff is part of this unforgettable tour. Brazil is said to produce the majority of the world’s colored gemstones.

Furthermore, the low cost of labor in the country means that stones and finished jewels purchased in the state of Minas Gerais are cheaper than comparable products elsewhere.

Mineral & Gemstone Tours in Brazil is an  unforgettable and remarkable trip for those who have a passion for minerals.

Package of 11 nights and 12 days

Mineral Tour Package Itinerary  – Ouro Preto / Nova Era / Governador Valadares / Teofilo Otoni / Itaobim / Arassuai / Diamantina / Curvelo / Belo Horizonte

Day 1 – Belo Horizonte Airport / Ouro Preto

Meet & Greet at airport in Belo Horizonte and transfer to Hotel in Ouro Preto, Imperial Topaz Capital  and largest Portuguese colonial style settlement in the world. Declared world’s monument by UNESCO. Overnight in Ouro Preto

} Overnight at hotel

Day 2 Ouro Preto

Morning and Afternoom visit an imperial topaz mine in Ouro Preto surroundings and wholesale rough and cut dealers of imperial topaz and visit Mineralogy museum. Overnight in Ouro Preto.

Day 3 Ouro Preto / Nova Era / Governador Valadares

Morning departure to Governador Valadares. On the way visit an emerald mine in Nova Era. Overnight in Governador Valadares

Day 4 Governador Valadares

Full day visiting a tourmaline mine and wholesale and retail mineral dealers in town which is one of the most famous gem-trading centres in Brazil, that includes minerals like amethyst, chrysoberyl, brazilianite, topaz and quartz.

Day 5 Governador Valadares / Teofilo Otoni

Morning visiting wholesale and retail mineral dealers in town

Afternoon transfer to Teofilo Otoni. Overnight in Teofilo Otoni

Day 6 Teofilo Otoni

Morning and afternoon visiting mineral wholesale dealers in Teofilo Otoni, nationally and internationally rivals Valadares as the gem capital of Brazil. Extensive mining and gem trading for aquamarines, topaz, brazilianite and various forms of quartz take place in this town. Overnight in Teofilo Otoni

Day 7 Teofilo Otoni / Itaobim / Taquaral / Arassuai

After breakfast departure to Arassuai. On the way visit a mineral wholesale dealers in Itaobim and miners at Taquaral. Overnight in in Arassuai

Day 8 Arassuai

Full Day visiting mineral wholesale dealers in Arassuai. Overnight in Arassuai

Day 9 Arassuai / Diamantina

Morning transfer to Diamantina town that holds the titles of Historical National heritage and world’s heritage by UNESCO. It’s one of the richest cultural and tourist itineraries of Brazil. Overnight in Diamantina

Day 10 Diamantina

Morning visit a quartz mine in Diamantina surroundings and afternoon visiting mineral wholesale dealers in town.

Overnight in Diamantina

Day 11 Diamantina / Curvelo / Belo Horizonte

Transfer Diamantina to Belo Horizonte. On the way visit a quartz dealer in Curvelo.

Overnight in Belo Horizonte

Day 12 Belo Horizonte / Airport

Morning procedures for the export of minerals, if necessary, and transfer to the airport.

} 11 nights accommodation in hotel

} 11 breakfasts

} Services of a Brazilian bilingual tour guide

} Entrance fees to all mentioned sites

} All ground transportation in private vehicle

OPTIONALS :

Tours in colonial towns of Ouro Preto, Congonhas and Mariana. Gold mine, old fashioned train ride, organ concert

TOUR PICTURES

rock-hunting

Check out REVIEWS . . .

IMAGES

  1. Xingu indians hunting in the Amazone, Brazil Stock Photo

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  2. Hunting with the Munduruku warriors

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  3. Fascinating Humanity: Brazil: Yanomami Man Hunting Birds For Feathers

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  4. Xingu indians hunting in the Amazone, Brazil Stock Photo

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  5. Brazil

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  6. Caçada Codorna Hunting Brazil

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VIDEO

  1. Brazil 02 #hunting bus #buscommunity #

  2. Relaxing and barbecuing by the lake

  3. High Grass Hunt March 2023 Our last night on the water hole

  4. Relaxing in Nature

  5. Water Rat Boar Hunt

  6. Top Travel best attractions of Rio de Janeiro of Brazil

COMMENTS

  1. Hunting in Brazil with Craig Boddington

    A shotgun is commonly used for bird hunting, whereas a medium-caliber rifle may be better suited for larger game. ‍ 7. Can hunting trips in Brazil be combined with fishing or other activities? Certainly! Brazil is also renowned for its fishing, and many outfitters offer combination trips that include both hunting and fishing experiences ...

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  3. Brazil

    "The Hunting Consortium is the "go-to-team" for any hunt in the world - period! Their staff are the most experienced professionals in the hunting industry. They have made my many hunting trips easier and smoother, not to mention successful. I trust their candid, straight forward advice and appreciate their personalized service.

  4. Home

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  5. Wildlife tourism in Brazil: do's and don'ts

    Outstanding wildlife destination Brazil. Home to some of the most biodiverse places on Earth, South America has outstanding wildlife destinations to be visited and Brazil is one of them. You will find amazing experiences there, such as whale watching at the Atlantic Coast, observing jaguars in Pantanal, checking out the Amazon River dolphins ...

  6. Brazil Itinerary: watching wildlife in Brazil without breaking the budget

    Brazil Itinerary: watching wildlife in Brazil without breaking the budget. 28 February 2021 by Margarita. Taking up half of South America's landmass, Brazil is THE most biodiverse country in the world. It is home to the world's largest rainforest - the Amazon and the world's largest wetland - the Pantanal. Together with the Atlantic ...

  7. Fishing and Hunting in Brazil

    Hunting (or in any way molesting) whales and dolphins is outlawed in Brazilian waters. Punishment can be a two to five year prison sentence, fine and seizure of vessel. Organized fishing tours are popular options in Brazil, often for security reasons. In some areas there is a real risk of injury or death from venomous snakes, spiders, poisonous ...

  8. Brazil Amazon

    Brazil boasts the highest natural diversity of any country on Earth and yet few have even scratched the surface of its immense natural attractions. Apex Expeditions has crafted an in-depth itinerary including Amazon rainforest and Pantanal tours to discover South America's two foremost wildlife wildernesses. Explore Cristalino State Park, the ...

  9. 6 Days Brazil Surviving and Hunting lessons

    This tour can be done with a minimum of 1 people and maximum of 6. 6 days total - 2/5 activity levelHosted in English, Português, Designed for Any adult person, $900. Amazon Survival Trip 6D / 5N - Brazil. Home South America Brazil.

  10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Hunting Trips & Guided Hunts

    Browse the top Rio de Janeiro, Brazil outfitters with the best hunting trips and guides. Find guided hunts and vacations, choose a hunting lodge and plan your next outdoor adventure

  11. Pantanal Jaguar Safaris

    Pantanal Jaguar Safaris is a Brazilian based tour operator, specialized in jaguar safaris, birdwatching, photographic and natural history tours to the finest wildlife destinations of Brazil.

  12. Watching wild jaguars in the Pantanal, Brazil

    Over the last decades, the jaguar lost more than 40 per cent of its range across South and Central America. It is now listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The Amazon and the Pantanal are the last strongholds of the jaguar in Brazil and in the world. Jaguars live for 12-15 years in the wild.

  13. Hunting In Brazil

    Legality of hunting. Hunting has been an illegal activity in Brazil since 1967. Animals of all species at any stage of its development and living outside of captivity are considered State property. Therefore, all kinds of using, pursuing, destructing, hunting or harvesting of Brazilian fauna without prior consent by the government is prohibited.

  14. Deer Hunting In Brazil

    The cost of a full-day hunting trip, which includes licenses, equipment, and food, ranges between $160 and $500, depending on the time of year. The country is home to a variety of big game animals, including deer, water buffalo, axis deer, blackbuck, fallow deer, wild boar, mouflon, wild goat, and multihorn rams.

  15. Brazil's Pantanal: Jaguars! And More…

    August 10 - 20, 2024, w/Atlantic Forest extension. Brazil's Pantanal: A place of superlatives. Home to the world's largest fresh-water wetlands, the Pantanal is ten-times the size of the Everglades, draining into a single channel: the Paraguay River. We venture deep into this world-class wildlife hotspot on a long road that bisects the ...

  16. Top things to do in Brazil

    The best times to book a trip to Brazil. 6. Dance during Carnaval ... These famed big cats roam far and wide across Brazil, and despite game hunting being illegal since 1967, jaguars are still poached. Add in habitat loss - exacerbated by recent fires and the expansion of cattle ranching - and the result has been a decline in their ...

  17. The Amazonian Expedition That Nearly Killed Theodore Roosevelt

    Despite having little experience in the jungle, the burly 55-year-old journeyed to Brazil and set out on a trip down an uncharted tributary of the Amazon: the mysterious Rio da Dúvida, or River ...

  18. Brazil Amazon + Pantanal Photo Tour: Featuring Jaguars and Other

    July 21 - August 1, 2024 : FULL. Join me in western Brazil as we explore the best place on earth to photograph wild jaguars! After leading highly successful 2018 and 2022 tours, I'll be leading a 2024 trip that will offer you great opportunities to explore the wonders of the Amazon rainforest and to see jaguars and loads of other wildlife.

  19. Hunting in Brazil: What are the options?

    According to the Wildlife Protection Law (Law No. 5197/67), wildlife hunting and trade in Brazil is criminalized. However, the current law and its subsequent revisions (Law No. 7653/88) distinguish between predatory and non-predatory hunting. The first refers to commercial hunting and poaching and is fully criminalized.

  20. Top Brazil Tours

    Flights from the U.S. typically range between 500 and 900 USD, depending on the season, with European flights approximately 50% more. Apart from flights, Brazil is a backpacker's paradise and also a destination for luxury. So, again, your overall cost really depends on what you can budget.

  21. Four Amazing Brazilian Fishing Destinations Everyone Should Know

    The most desired is the Golden Dorado, referred to here in Brazil as the "King of the River." It is a strong, beautiful, large scale predator that inhabits the rapids. The average size is from 8 to 12 pounds, but it is not uncommon to catch 16 to 18 pound specimens. Additionally, the area offers large catfish such as jaú (40 to 80 pounds ...

  22. Amazon Fishing Trips

    Amazing Tours is dedicated to providing the best fishing trip values in the Amazon. We are focused on famous local fishing trips in search of the Peacock Bass, Payara and Giant Catfish trips in Brazil. Select from luxurious yacht trips, comfortable lodge or exciting safari camping accommodations. Catch the fierce fishes of South America in ...

  23. Mineral & Gemstone Tours in Brazil

    Mineral & Gemstone Tours in Brazil is an unforgettable and remarkable trip for those who have a passion for minerals. Package of 11 nights and 12 days. Mineral Tour Package Itinerary - Ouro Preto / Nova Era / Governador Valadares / Teofilo Otoni / Itaobim / Arassuai / Diamantina / Curvelo / Belo Horizonte. Day 1 - Belo Horizonte Airport ...