Things to see & do in the Pantanal
If you were thinking the Amazon Rainforest was the best place to watch wildlife in Brazil, then think again. The Pantanal wildlife reserve is a vast expanse of tropical wetlands, savannah-like plains and low forests that provides habitat for countless species of mammals, birds and water dwelling creatures, many of them rare and endangered, and far more visible than they would be amid the dense vegetation of the Amazon. This landlocked river delta, sprawling across great swathes of Bolivia and Paraguay as well as Brazil, is the jewel in the crown when it comes to biodiversity in South America, a unique ecosystem shaped by rising and falling floodwaters. And the best part? Relatively few people go deep into the Pantanal, as many of our itineraries do, so that if you’re prepared to rough it a little (infrastructure is quite basic here), you’ll find it far less busy than your typical Amazon cruise.
The Pantanal is divided into north and south. Southern Pantanal is usually entered through the town of Campo Grande, leading you into agricultural country. Here you have many different ways to explore the area, such as on horseback, canoeing along the Rio Negro, or trail walking with a naturalist guide. Usually staying on ranches, you’ll be able to head out on nighttime safaris by 4WDs fitted with spotlight to see the Pantanal when it truly comes alive.
Our Brazil Vacations
Pantanal wildlife vacation in Brazil
Wildlife Safari in Brazil's stunning Northern Pantanal.
From
£3995
10 days
ex flights
Tailor made vacation in Brazil
Green Coast, the Pantanal, and Iguaçu Falls
From
US $6450
15 days
ex flights
Pantanal tour in Brazil, Caiman EcoLodge
Explore Pantanal with a stay at the Caiman Ecological Refuge
From
US $1326 to US $1695
4 days
ex flights
Brazil wildlife vacation, Amazon and Pantanal
Thrilling wildlife safari combining Pantanal and the Amazon
From
£5575
11 days
ex flights
Brazil small group vacation, Pantanal explorer
Explore the biodiverse Pantanal region of Brazil
From
£3995 to £4275
11 days
ex flights
Jaguar watching vacation in Brazil
Jaguar spotting in the Pantanal of Brazil
From
US $5979
9 days
ex flights
Wildlife vacations in Brazil, tailormade
From macaws to jaguars in the Pantanal and Amazon, plus Rio
From
£5200
13 days
ex flights
Brazil vacations, tailor made
Visit dramatic landscapes, waterfalls & tropical islands
From
£2748
12 days
ex flights
Brazil 10 day tour, Pantanal & Amazon
Discover the wonders of natural Brazil with eco-lodge stays
From
US $6560
10 days
ex flights
Pantanal wildlife safari in Brazil
Two weeks exploring northern and southern Pantanal
From
£4995
16 days
ex flights
Jaguar watching safari of the Pantanal, Brazil
100% Record for Jaguars and we average 1.1 sightings per day
From
£4745
11 days
ex flights
Amazon jaguar research expedition, Brazil
Help wildlife researchers track unique tree-dwelling jaguars
From
£5500
10 days
ex flights
Jaguar safari in Brazil, private departure
Southern Amazon and Pantanal with your expert naturalist guides
From
£6500
10 days
ex flights
Pantanal, Southern Amazon & Costa Verde beaches vacation
A Brazil wildlife vacation, that's not all about the wildlife
From
£5935
13 days
ex flights
Brazil vacation, tailor made
Wildlife & culture roundtrip through Brazil, all tailormade
From
€3495
23 days
ex flights
Mammals of Brazil wildlife tour
Pantanal, Cerrado & Amazon in search of mammals
From
£8995
25 days
ex flights
Wildlife of Brazil vacation
Jaguars, capybara & caiman: Brazil's ultimate wildlife tour
From
US $7285
16 days
ex flights
The main focus for Northern Pantanal is the reserve’s most famous inhabitant, and also one of its most elusive: the jaguar. Due to protection and a growing familiarity with humans, jaguars can now be seen in greater numbers here, often along the banks of the Cuiabá River around Porto Jofre, hunting for caimans. To explore the northern reaches of the Pantanal, you’ll take the Transpantaneira Highway, staying in one of the lodges along it that are ideally placed for prime jaguar habitat.
So, let’s talk about the wildlife. Beyond the jaguars, it’s possible you’ll see cute capybaras, giant river otters, caiman, ocelots, anteaters and armadillos. As you travel by boat, you may see piranhas, or even massive anacondas gliding through reams of aquatic plants. There are prolific numbers of birds here: parakeets, kingfishers, storks, kites, hummingbirds – it’s a birder’s paradise, especially in summer when flocks of migratory birds come to nest. In short, even if you don’t have much luck, you’re still going to see far more wildlife than you ever would in the Amazon.
The Transpantaneira Highway
Back in the 1970s, the Brazilian government embarked on an ambitious plan to develop the Pantanal infrastructure with the creation of a highway running through it. It turned out to be a little too ambitious however, and the Transpantaneira Highway actually only runs a short distance, between the colonial gold mining town of Poconé and Porto Jofre. Yet this is a sensational driving experience, spanning over 120 sometimes rickety wooden bridges, with lakes teeming with wildlife and giant lily pads on both sides. It’s vital to keep your eyes open at all times, because you never know when you’re going to spy a jaguar on the prowl, a caiman floating surreptitiously among the reeds, or a flock of colourful macaws taking flight.
Our top Brazil Vacation
Pantanal wildlife vacation in Brazil
Wildlife Safari in Brazil's stunning Northern Pantanal.
From
£3995
10 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2021: 10 Jun
2021: 10 Jun
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Brazil or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
How to see the Pantanal
The Pantanal will typically take up between two and four days of a Brazil vacation. On overland itineraries it will usually directly precede or follow a trip to the Iguazu Falls, Campo Grande being 10 hours by road from Foz do Iguazu. You can explore the Pantanal region either as part of a small group, with a structured itinerary accompanied by a tour leader as well as local guides, or on a tailormade trip that allows you to spend as much or as little time as you want there, and gives you greater flexibility in terms of activities and accommodation.
Best time to visit the Pantanal
You can visit the Pantanal at any time of year, but of course the weather conditions dictate how you will be getting around. During the rainy season between January and March (it rarely actually rains for more than a few hours each day) much of the Pantanal floods so you need to navigate its rivers and lakes by boat. The vegetation is glorious, mammals can be clearly visible as they seek higher ground, but there does tend to be greater quantities of mosquitoes around, too.
The flood waters recede from around April onwards, heralding the dry season which runs from July to September. This is the best time to visit the Pantanal, as creatures cluster around the remaining stretches of water. It’s also peak time for viewing the immense flocks of migratory birds that come to nest in the Pantanal, and it’s also a little cooler. The other big advantage of traveling during dry season is that you can see the park on foot or by horseback, as well as by boat.
The flood waters recede from around April onwards, heralding the dry season which runs from July to September. This is the best time to visit the Pantanal, as creatures cluster around the remaining stretches of water. It’s also peak time for viewing the immense flocks of migratory birds that come to nest in the Pantanal, and it’s also a little cooler. The other big advantage of traveling during dry season is that you can see the park on foot or by horseback, as well as by boat.
Go to the end of the transpanitaria to Porte Jofre this seemed the best place for jaguar spotting and for giant otters. Although we saw a couple of jaguars at Rio Claro I think we were extremely lucky as sightings here are not as common even our guide was surprised & pleased![]()
– Alan Holmwood on a Brazil wildlife tour
More about Brazil
The best time to visit Brazil may well be swayed by the carnival in Rio or temperature & rainfall with the Pantanal and Manaus both experiencing varying conditions as displayed in our easy to use chart.
Find out more about what we rate & what we don’t as you samba your way through our comprehensive Brazil travel guide, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to how to travel like a local.
Reading up on travel times in Brazil as well as classic highlights & itineraries is always a great idea before traveling and our interactive Brazil map is an equally advisable option.
Explore Rio de Janeiro, go wildlife crazy in the Pantanal, cruise the Amazon or get soaked at the Iguazu Falls, things to do in Brazil never cease to amaze, enthrall and inspire in equal measure.
Journey into mysterious parts of the Amazon rainforest, usually traveling by boat, to explore complex, beautiful ecosystems with naturalist guides and discover the planet’s richest store of biodiversity.
The Iguazú Falls span the frontier between Argentina and Brazil, and what a sight it is - the largest waterfall system on Earth, a ceaseless spectacle of foaming river plunging over hundreds of cascades.
Situated on Brazil’s gorgeous Emerald Coast, Paraty is a popular destination for a laidback getaway, home to over 100 beautiful beaches and waters teeming with marine life from whales to penguins.
The Rio Carnival, held every year in the week before Lent, is the world’s biggest party, with millions of revellers taking to the streets to watch as flamboyant dancers parade alongside floats and bands.
Home to iconic landmarks such as the Christ the Redeemer statue, world famous beaches and a legendary nightlife scene that pulsates with rhythm, Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s most popular visitor destination.
Discover activities for families in Brazil and what to do with little ones from experts like Guy Marks and Anna Scrivens who have been traveling in Brazil with kids and would happily return and do it all over again.
This page is packed full of Brazil travel advice and tips from our friends in Brazil so all you have to do is sit back and read all about it as you find out how to travel safely in Brazil.
Responsible tourism in Brazil concerns the important issues affecting the environment, culture and the people living in the favelas within Brazil’s inner cities, and what you can do to travel better in Brazil.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Filipefrazao] [Top box - hyacinth macaws: Roi Dimor]
[Jaguar: Wolves201]
[Transpantaneira highway: Rosanetur]
[Giant otter: www.Araguaia.org ]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
