Best time to go to the Pantanal

"The most memorable part of our vacation was the two and a half days we spent at Rio Mutum in the Pantanal… we had a morning horse riding down a flooded area at the start, with our feet touching the water, and then across more open country; the wild flowers and birds were amazing… The next morning we were up early for a 5.30 am canoe trip which was magical, so quiet and peaceful, seeing the beauty of the sun rising and hearing the early morning bird song; the canoe being so quiet we were able to get very close to birds before they flew. Later that afternoon we visited a fishing village down the river and were invited into their one room house and asked to share their evening meal; we were told they would be offended we didn't, so hospitable. The Rio Mutum was a place to remember, wonderful food, lovely people, beautifully situated alongside the river, an orphan deer feeding from a bottle, very tame birds and Capybara wandering around keeping the grass down!” – Harvey Bromley

“Learn some Portuguese phrases - very little English is spoken or understood outside of the big hotels… All the local people in the Pantanal seemed to be very aware of the need to protect the environment, but they were also aware of the struggle to convince local farmers/ranchers to do likewise.” – Christine Waddington

“Everywhere (even in cities) loo paper is put in bin beside toilet and not in toilet. “Normal” European adaptors don't work. Need to be 2 thin pins. Sometimes socket inset so pins didn't reach but hotels managed to find multiplug adaptors to connect. Very efficient and easy internal flights but early starts often needed to make the most of each day… Benefitted local people by mainly staying in locally owned and run accommodation and using local guides.” – Margaret McDermott

“Do not look for the superb quality types of accommodation standard to be found on African safaris, these locations are not POSADAS in the wilderness. The food is not gourmet but very nice and the fish is generally excellent and I asked for the recipe for the beans I liked them so much… the weather was unexpectedly and unseasonably cold and wet for most of the time on the river but this did not stop four sightings of Jaguar two of the same female and two other hunting females, both hunts were unsuccessful, lucky Caiman and Capybara!” – Baron-Vahl Amos