DESCRIPTION:

The Amazon may have all the fame and glory, but the Brazilian Pantanal is a far superior place to see wildlife. This vast area of wetlands is about half the size of France or almost ten times the size of the Everglades. A highlight of South America, Iguacu National Park is renowned for its bird life and tremendous waterfalls, comparable to world-famous Victoria Falls.

 

There is much to rave about Brazil, and yet so many of its splendors remain secrets to all but the most in-the-know travelers. The Pantanal is home to the New World's largest concentration of large animals with a variety comparable to that seen in Africa. The word Pantanal comes from Pantano, meaning swamp or marsh. The biodiversity of the region is extremely rich. Over 650 species of birds live here, including ibis, stork, jaburus, and spoonbill. Spectacled Cayman, Hyacinth Macaw, Rhea, Giant River Otter, Tapir, Maned wolf, giant anteater, tapir, emus, capybara, howler monkey, and jaguar all call this home. In addition, reptiles such as caimans, anacondas, and iguanas are found here. In the dry season, when the land has dried out leaving only isolated lakes and waterholes, a fantastic array of wildlife gathers.

 

Begin the trip with four nights in a refuge in the Pantanal, for face-to-face encounters with a magnificent array of fauna. Spread across 131,000 acres of the Pantanal wetlands, the refuge is equal parts a sustainable cattle ranch and conservation projects, including the Hyacinth Macaw Project, the Jaguar Conservation Project, and the Blue-fronted Parrot Project.

 

From the Pantanal fly to Iguacu National Park. Roaring out of the jungle and hurdling over cliffs between Brazil and Argentina, the Iguacu Falls are one of the natural wonders of the world. In sheer number of falls, 275 separate cataracts, they are greater than Niagara or Victoria Falls. Three nights provides enough to see the falls up close by Zodiac and to explore the surrounding rainforest with its bromeliads, ferns, leafcutter ants, parrots, and brilliant butterflies. Stay at a charming, colonial-style hotel, located in the center of the Iguacu National Park, and surrounded by tropical nature alongside the famous falls. 

 

CONSIDER:

Travel is by regular scheduled jet aircraft, motor coach, and boat. This is an active program. Some walks in the Pantanal area are approximately one to two miles long (sometimes over uneven terrain) at a leisurely pace suitable for wildlife observation.

 

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Please ask about options.