Nature & Wildlife Explorations
Over the course of thirteen days, you will immerse into two of Brazil's most biodiverse and famous ecosystems: the Amazon and Pantanal. Both landscapes offer visitors incredible wildlife, stunning scenery, and a plethora of activities. You'll hike through lush rainforest, canoe down rivers, and jump on horseback, all while looking for unique animals such as jaguar, macaws, monkeys, otters, and sloths. You'll return with not only incredible memories but a deep love and appreciation for Brazil.
At Travel Beyond, we believe your trip should be designed just for you, not for the masses. Our travel consultants create a custom itinerary for each client, offering recommendations for places and experiences that best fit your style. The itinerary below was planned for a past client, but we’re sharing it for travel inspiration and as an example of what a trip to the Brazilian Amazon & Pantanal might look like. Let us know when we can design a trip just for you!
Welcome to Brazil! Upon arrival in Sao Paulo, you will be met for your private transfer to the Hotel Emiliano. Accommodations will be reserved for one night, including breakfast. Relax and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure!
Hotel Emiliano Meals: N/A
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the Sao Paulo Airport for your flight to Alta Floresta via Cuiba Rondon International Airport.
Upon arrival into Alta Floresta, you will be transferred to a port along the Amazon River, a drive that takes approximately an hour and a half. Here, you will board a boat for a thirty minute ride to reach Cristalino Jungle lodge, your home for the next three nights.
Located within the Brazilian Amazon, Cristalino Jungle Lodge is the perfect base to explore the world’s most biodiverse ecosystem. In fact, the property owns and manages a private reserve of more than 44 square miles, ready and waiting for adventure. Whether you set off on a trail or relax with a yoga class, there is not a moment where aren’t surrounded by nature. And the lodge’s focus on sustainability ensure your stay not only educates you on the topic of conservation but also has a minimal impact on the environment.
This evening, you will meet with your guide to discuss activities for the following day.
Cristalino Jungle Lodge Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Enjoy three days of Amazon explorations and lodge activities. All meals will be served on property or while out adventuring.
Canoeing: Since canoeing is a quiet, peaceful activity, it frequently provides excellent opportunities to observe birds and monkeys along the river banks. Heading down river, in the direction the current is flowing, you will pass through different types of scenery. The tranquil waters of the River Cristalino are perfect for this activity and comfortable equipment is provided by the lodge.
Trail: Nature tours along the 19-mile trail system offer an in-depth understanding of the tropical ecosystem. The trails within Cristalino Reserve are of easy-to-moderate difficulty and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are not long, usually between 1-3 miles. The idea is to enjoy nature and learn about the forest, as the guides point out the birds, plants, monkeys and other features.
Canopy Towers: For a truly unique experience in the Amazon rainforest, a visit to the Canopy Towers cannot be missed. Soaring to 164 feet, with waystations at various heights, climbers can enjoy panoramic views of the reserve, with the vast forest canopy a blanket of green at your feet.
Flora & Fauna Observation: Several flagship species of Brazilian fauna and flora can be found in this region, including: harpy eagle, Brazilian tapir, giant otter, white-whiskered spider monkey, otter, white collared peccary, white-nosed-saki monkey, red-handed howler monkey, dusky-titi monkey, cryptic falcon, crimson-bellied parakeet, black-girdled barbet, paradise tanager, crested owl, spangled cotinga, pavonine quetzal, purple honeycreeper, curl-crested aracari, great potoo, attalea maripa, brazil-nut tree and mahogany. This area has been highlighted by the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment as vital for conservation.
Boat Trips: Many of the trails are only accessible by boat, and on the journey you will have the opportunity to observe wildlife along the rivers. One of the trips includes a sunset visit to the River Teles Pires. Here, the meeting of Teles Pires River with the waters of the River Cristalino creates a fascinating intermingling of respective light and dark shades.
Cristalino Jungle Lodge Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
This morning, you will board a boat and return to the port, where you will be met for your private transfer to the Alta Florestra Airport. Upon arrival, you will check in for your commercial flight to Cuiaba Rondon International Airport.
Upon landing, you will be met for your transfer to Araras Lodge, a drive that takes approximately two and a half hours and brings you into the northern part of Brazil’s Pantanal. Considered the largest floodplain on earth, this ecosystem is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including 698 bird species, 80 mammals, 26 fish, and 50 species of reptile.
Araras Lodge has been built with the wildlife and the natural surroundings in mind. Using sustainable practices, including solar power and suspended walkways, the property immerses you into the rich environment and allows you to explore the area responsibly. Accommodations will be reserved for two nights.
Araras Eco Lodge Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Enjoy the activities on offer at the lodge. Not all are offered every day, so lodge guides will provide a list of options each evening for the following day.
Here is a sample of available activities:
Hiking: Several paths bring visitors into close contact with the Pantanal’s exuberant and varied flora and wildlife.
Horseback Riding: This is an excellent way to discover the open-grass land and forest, regardless of season.
Photographic Jeep Safari: These excursions are perfect for covering longer distances, as well as for day and night wildlife spotting.
Canoeing: Paddling or “piranha” fishing from the canoe is both an exciting yet relaxing way to explore the rivers.
The Introduction Walking Tour: During this excursion, the history, concepts, and surroundings of the lodge are presented.
Night Walk: An adventure that highlights the ways in which wildlife have adapted to the environment and allows for the observation of nocturnal animals.
Sunrise Walk: Enjoy daybreak in the Pantanal amid the symphony of night and daytime birds celebrating the arrival of a new day.
Howler Monkey Tower: Hike the Howler Monkey trail to the Howler Monkey Tower (82 ft. high) for a magnificent view of the sunset.
Note: The difficulty level of the activities is light to moderate. However, guests with physical conditions may find some activities challenging. Please consult us for more information.
Araras Eco Lodge Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Hotel Pantanal Norte (approx. transfer time: 3hr).
The Hotel Pantanal Norte, also known as Porto Jofre Lodge, offers visitors their best chance of seeing the mighty jaguar, the largest cat in the Americas. Built in 1984, the property sits at the end of the famous Transpantaneira Park Road and directly on the Cuiaba River. The lodge affords a comfortable night of rest after daily departures searching for wildlife in the river.
Hotel Pantanal Norte Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Enjoy two days of private river safaris on Cuiaba river in search of jaguars. The region has the highest density of jaguar population in the entire Pantanal; while wildlife cannot be guaranteed, you have high chances to spot the big cat, especially from mid-June through October. According to weather conditions, lunch will be done at the lodge or during the safari.
Hotel Pantanal Norte Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
This morning, you will board a charter flight to Caiman Refuge (flight duration approx. 1.5hr). En route, you will be treated to spectacular aerial views of the floodplains below.
Situated in the heart of the Brazilian Pantanal, on a 130,000 acre sustainable cattle ranch, your accommodations at Caiman Ecological Refuge will be reserved for three nights. The property was the first ecotourism operation in the region and has conservation at its core.
After dinner, you will head out on an evening drive. You will be looking for any of the region’s nocturnal animals and listening to the unique sounds of the rainforest at night.
Caiman Ecological Refuge Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Enjoy your days at leisure to explore the local area and participate in activities on offer, all of which are led by guides who are experts on the biome’s flora, fauna, and culture.
You will receive the schedule at the check-in. Activities will be according to the lodge availability.
Walking trails in the woods: Explore the many trails that run through the surrounding area. A walk in the forests allows the guests to observe the smaller animals of the Pantanal, along with the local vegetation. This is the activity that provides the greatest and most direct contact with the environment. To minimize our impact on the environment, the refuge alternates the trails being used.
Caiman Tour: This excursion is a walk through the main areas of the property, including the ranch, corral, research centers, school and Environmental Interpretation Center. The final destination is the Paizinho’s bridge, one of the most traditional places of the Caiman Ecological Refuge and a great spot to observe the Spectacled Caimans. It is a magical moment in which the guests get up close to these reptiles.
Canadian canoe trip: Within the bays of the ranch, guests row in a three-seat Canadian canoe and contemplate the nearby vegetation and water birds. It is also a good opportunity to listen to the many local sounds and to admire the fantastic Pantanal sunsets.
Nocturnal Spotlighting: This activity provides guests the opportunity to observe nocturnal animals. One of the highlights is when the caimans are spotted because their eyes appear impressively red in the light.
Jeep Safari: This tour is done in a 4×4 adapted vehicle. It provides the guests the chance to get closer to the wildlife and also have access to different areas in Pantanal.
Oncafari Project: Spend one full day with the Jaguar Habituation Team and follow their activities. This experience is 6-7hr in duration, with short breaks back at the lodge for meals and snacks.
Some of the tasks you can participate in are searching for jaguar tracks, looking for different clues that may lead to these magnificent big cats, checking previously set camera traps for signs of jaguars, downloading satellite data to check monitored jaguars’ previous positions, searching for specific jaguars using a VHF receiver, finding, and also monitoring and observing jaguar behaviors in the wild.
Caiman Ecological Refuge Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
This morning after breakfast and checkout, you will be met for your charter flight to Campo Grande, where you will check in for your flights home.
N/A Meals: Breakfast
