Depart the U.S. on your overnight flight to Brazil. Please note: Due to the schedule of the internal flight included in this program, the order of the itinerary may be subject to change depending on the departure date. Best dates for travel are during the dry season, May through October. The dry season provides better opportunity to see wildlife.

Upon arrival to São Paulo, check in for your internal flight to Campo Grande. Once in Campo Grande, meet our guide and drive approximately four and a half hours to Bonito, with lunch at a local restaurant en route. Check in at the hotel and have time to relax before a program orientation.

After an early morning breakfast, attend a lecture about Bonito and biodiversity in South Pantanal. Then, depart for Buraco das Araras, or Macaws' Sinkhole. Measuring approximately 328 feet deep and 1,640 feet in circumference, Buraco das Araras is one of the largest sinkholes in the world. This geological wonder with striking vermilion sandstone walls is also an important nesting site for Red-and-green Macaws. The viewing platforms overlooking the sinkhole provide spectacular views of the macaws as they soar and wheel from the cliffs where they nest. Other birds are found here too - nearly 150 species have been recorded in the reserve. Later this morning, travel to the Rio da Prata for a walk and snorkeling excursion. Begin with a pleasant walk on the interpretive trail through the riparian forests along the Olho d'Água and Prata rivers. The forests here are full of century-old trees festooned with orchids and bromeliads. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as coati, capuchin monkey, agouti, anteater, and numerous bird species. At the headwaters of the Olho D'Água River, there is a large natural pool where the water is crystal clear. Here, with equipment and instruction provided by our guide, snorkel the river, letting the gentle current pull us along past aquatic plants and schools of piraputangas, dorados, curimbatás, piaus, matogrossinhos, and other Pantanal fish. After the 1.25-mile float, regroup in a farmhouse for a buffet-style lunch typical of Mato Grosso. Return to Bonito for some time at leisure and enjoy dinner on your own.

After breakfast, depart for the South Pantanal, arriving at Pousada Aguape in time for lunch. Our guide will give a presentation on South Pantanal geography, flora, and fauna. This afternoon, embark on a 4x4 safari that takes us through different landscapes like cerrado (patches of stunted vegetation), open grasslands, "vazantes" (low-lying areas that are often seasonally flooded), "brejos" (swamps), and bays, which are permanently flooded areas.

This morning after breakfast, board small speed boats for a boat ride down the Aquidauana River for the chance to see giant river otters, as well as the other mammals, birds, and reptiles that lie out on the river banks. Have lunch back at the hotel. In the afternoon, we will learn about a project for giant anteater conservation in the area of Miranda (South Pantanal). After that, we will go for a hike through the scrub, open fields, and gallery forests near the farm. Exploring on foot affords us opportunities to see some flora and fauna more closely, as we learn about their function and importance in the Pantanal ecosystem. Later, we will embark on a safari in 4x4 vehicles or by boat to observe nocturnal animals such as crab-eating fox, marsh deer, southern tamandua, capybara, caiman, Great Potoo, Common Pauraque, and Scissor-tailed Nightjar. We may also hear the sounds of frogs and insects as we take in the beautiful Pantanal night sky.

This morning after an early breakfast, we have a lecture on Pantanal farming and culture, followed by a horseback ride where we accompany the cowboys in their work routine. This is a good opportunity to learn a little bit more about the culture and daily life of the people from Pantanal. Have lunch back at the hotel, then check out and start the drive to the airport in Campo Grande for the flight to Cuiabá, the gateway to the North Pantanal. Ecologically, Cuiabá sits at the transition zone between three very important ecosystems in Brazil: the Amazon, the Cerrado, and the Pantanal. The ride takes around four hours, and we will have chances to stop along the way. Upon arrival in Cuiabá, check in at the hotel and have dinner.

After breakfast, take the Transpantaneira, a road that crosses the Pantanal, for three hours to Porto Jofre, which sits at the border between the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. This highway, mostly dirt with more than 120 wooden bridges, is one of the only access roads into the interior of the Pantanal. The 91-mile drive 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 anteater, armadillo, caiman, marsh deer, silvery marmoset, black howler monkey, and many species of water birds. Stop for lunch on the way. Once in Porto Jofre, we board our comfortable riverboat, our base for exploration over the next several days. This afternoon, board a small motorboat for a closer look along the narrow canals in search of jaguars, giant otters, and other wildlife. Before dinner this evening, attend a lecture on the jaguars of the Pantanal.

Today and tomorrow will be dedicated to searching for jaguars during morning and afternoon boat rides. In the Pantanal, the exposed river banks and open spaces make it easier to spot and observe these normally shy and mysterious animals, especially when the water levels are low. A wide diversity of other animals may also be seen, both in the water and along the shore. Look for caimans, capybaras, giant otters, iguanas, Jabirus, and more. Before this afternoon's excursion, enjoy a lecture about the Pantanal ecosystem delivered by our local guide.

Spend another full day searching for jaguars and other wildlife by boat. Jaguars, the largest feline in South America, thrive here due to the region's tranquility and its abundance of prey. Jaguars are also a major draw for ecotourists - providing economic incentives for local communities to further protect these apex predators and the habitats on which they rely.

Embark on a morning boat ride then return for breakfast and check out. Depart for Pousada Piuval, a sprawling 17,300-acre cattle ranch amid some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Pantanal. Upon arrival at the hotel, have lunch, and then enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

This morning, enjoy a nature walk to the observation tower for bird watching. Return to the ranch for lunch. In the afternoon, take a 4x4 nature safari searching the pousada area for Brazilian tapirs, giant anteaters, anacondas, armadillos, and Hyacinth Macaws; with luck, we may come face-to-face with a jaguar. This evening, we share a farewell dinner at the ranch and prepare for our journey home.

On our last morning in Pantanal, we will search for Pantanal´s monkeys though a short walk nearby our location. This trail takes around two hours to walk, with an easy level of difficulty. Return to your room, check out and transfer to the airport for the flight to São Paulo, where you will connect with your international flight home.

Arrive home following your overnight flight.