World Wildlife Fund

Brazil: Pantanal, Iguacu & Beyond

August 24 – September 1, 2011

Brazil bursts with life, and we encounter it in all its exuberance on this unique nature odyssey. This watery green system of flooded marshes that sprawls more than 90,000 square miles in the heart of South America. 

Though the Amazon is better known, this region is home to the planet’s densest concentration of wildlife, including 10 million caimans, nearly 700 bird species and the endangered jaguar. Brazil also boasts the world’s largest cataract, mile-wide Iguacu Falls.

Trip Itinerary

The dates below do not include travel time to and from the destination. Please consult our tour operator, Natural Habitat Adventures, to discuss your best flight options.

Wednesday, August 24: Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and transfer to the hotel on the beach. Gather for a welcome dinner this evening. Ipanema Plaza Hotel (D)

Thursday, August 25: Golden Lion Tamarin Project
At the Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project, learn about the successful rehabilitation of wild populations of these delicate tiny primates. Found only in the lowland rain forest outside Rio de Janiero, these beautiful creatures were nearly extinct 30 years ago. Ipanema Plaza Hotel (B,L,D)

Friday & Saturday, August 26 & 27: Iguacu Falls
Iguacu Falls, straddling the Brazil/Argentina border, is one of the mightiest waterfalls on the planet. On the Brazilian side, walk along the canyon rim above the Iguacu River, where you can observe hundreds of small waterfalls that comprise the mile-long cataract. A full view of Devil’s Throat reveals the most dramatic section of the falls. Crossing Tancredo Neves Bridge, explore the national park on the Argentinean side, laced with trails leading to ever-varying views of the river’s cataclysmic plunge over the cliffs. Also visit a bird sanctuary where many tropical species from Brazil and elsewhere in South America, endangered by habitat loss, are protected. Stay at a hotel in full view of the falls. Hotel Tropical Cataratas (B,L,D daily)

Sunday, August 28: Campo Grande / Pantanal 
Fly to Campo Grande and transfer by road to Caiman Ecological Refuge, deep in the green other-world of the Pantanal. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, this vast area of wet marshlands and dry islands is South America’s primary wildlife sanctuary. The name of the region derives from the Portuguese word pântano,meaning "swamp." With rhythmic regularity, this vast depression in the center of South America floods with the annual rains submerging most of its environs. As the waters recede during the dry season, they leave a mosaic of pools and marshes where a plethora of life flourishes in intense concentration. Some 3,500 different plants thrive here as well as nearly 700 bird species, 100 kinds of mammals, 80 reptile species, and 260 different kinds of fish. Caiman Ecological Reserve (B,L,D)

Monday – Wednesday, August 29 – 31: Pantanal
From a base at Pantanal’s most important refuge, spend three full days exploring the region’s verdant recesses. Waking at sunrise is a magical experience as you listen to the chorus of bird songs and monkey calls announcing a new day. Depending on conditions, the group may take nature walks, horseback rides, canoe trips and ecological safaris. Local guides are resident experts in the flora and fauna of the region, unveiling their wonders as you are immersed in this environment.

You may be fortunate to see some of the Pantanal’s threatened species, which include the jaguar, panther, maned wolf, giant otter, giant armadillo, capybara and Brazilian tapir. Their habitat is under duress because of the expansion of ranching, mining and land-clearing, yet it is reassuring to know our presence contributes to the economic value of conserving this incomparable ecosystem. Caiman Ecological Reserve (B,L,D daily)

Thursday, September 1: Campo Grande / Home
Transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)