Exploring Brazil`s Pantanal | A Holbrook Travel 50th Anniversary Trip

About this trip

The Pantanal in central-western Brazil is the world’s largest freshwater wetland and one of the most biodiverse habitats on the South American continent. As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, this 9-day expedition takes travelers to a vast and wild place that in many ways embodies Holbrook’s spirit of adventure and eye toward conservation. The region’s star residents are the jaguars that roam, hunt, and lounge on the forested riverbanks, and the opportunity to observe these majestic big cats at close range is an unforgettable highlight. Other spectacular wildlife includes capybaras, caimans, monkeys, tapirs, giant otters, and giant anteaters, plus hundreds of bird species like the Jabiru, Hyacinth Macaw, and Toco Toucan. Together with a Holbrook representative and local guide, you’ll explore the region’s varied terrains on foot and during small-boat excursions, with several nights aboard comfortable floating accommodations that put you in the heart of the action.

Highlights

Search for jaguars and other wildlife while exploring the Brazilian Pantanal by boat and on foot.
Drive along the Transpantaneira, a mostly dirt highway that passes through different habitats and is often described as the best road in the world to spot and photograph wildlife.
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe ocelots at close range from a strategically located blind.
Navigate the narrow tributaries of Meeting of the Waters State Park and look for two families of giant otters.
Ascend SouthWild’s observation tower for eye-level views of a Jabiru stork nest.

Cuiaba

Jun 20, 2024

Arrive into Cuiabá, known as the gateway to the Northern Pantanal, where you will be met and taken to the hotel. As today is a travel day, meals are not included. Check-in starts at 2 pm.

Overnight at Hotel Deville Prime

Pantanal

Jun 21, 2024

After breakfast and a program orientation at the hotel, we begin the journey to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge at the Fazenda Santa Tereza. A portion of the trip is along the Transpantaneira, with stops planned for wildlife photography. This highway, mostly dirt and gravel with more than 120 wooden bridges, is one of the only access roads into the Pantanal's interior. It passes through many habitats and is often described as the best road in the world to spot and photograph wildlife. Animals regularly seen include giant anteaters, armadillos, caimans, marsh deer, silvery marmosets, black howler monkeys, and many species of water birds. We'll arrive at the lodge in time for lunch, and then take part in one of the lodge's wildlife-viewing activities, which might include a low-speed boat outing on the Pixaim River, famous for its abundance of birds, caimans, capybaras, giant otters, and jaguars; hiking on the 2.5-mile network of scientific trails, which offer full access to the gallery forest; or ascending two easy walk-up towers, one near the Jabiru nest and the other in the gallery forest on the riverbank, for birding from a spectacular vantage point. This evening, visit the lodge's ocelot blind for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe these wild cats at close range.