July 25 – August 2, 2012

Brazil bursts with life, and we encounter it in all its exuberance on this unique nature odyssey. This watery green system of flooded marshes 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.

• View both sides of the Iguacu Falls and overnight at a hotel just a few hundred yards away.
• Search for animals at one of South America’s primary wildlife sanctuaries, Caiman Ecological Refuge.
• Visit the Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project to learn about efforts to preserve this tiny endangered primate.

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, July 25, 2012: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and transfer to your hotel on the beach. Gather for a welcome dinner this evening. Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza (D)

Thursday, July 26: Golden Lion Tamarin Project
At the Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project outside Rio, learn about the successful rehabilitation of wild populations of these delicate tiny primates returning from the brink of extinction. Found only in the lowland Atlantic rain forest of Brazil, these exquisite creatures were nearly extinct a generation ago. Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza(B,L,D)

Friday, July 27 & Saturday, July 28: 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 to observe hundreds of small waterfalls that compose 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 Argentine side, laced with trails leading to ever-varying views of the river’s cataclysmic plunge over the cliffs. Then visit a bird sanctuary where many tropical species from Brazil and elsewhere in South America, endangered by habitat loss, are protected. You hotel this evening is in full view of the falls. Hotel das Cataratas (B,L,D daily)

Sunday, July 29: 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 World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, 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 Refuge (B,L,D)

Monday, July 30 through Wednesday, August 1: Pantanal
From your base at the refuge spend three full days exploring the Pantanal’s verdant recesses. Waking at sunrise is a magical experience as you listen to the chorus of birdsongs and monkey calls announcing a new day. Depending on seasonal conditions, you may take nature walks, horseback rides, canoe trips and ecological safaris. 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 due to the expansion of ranching, mining and land-clearing, yet it is reassuring to know the group’s presence contributes to the economic value of conserving this incomparable ecosystem. Caiman Ecological Refuge (B,L,D daily)

Thursday, August 2: Campo Grande/Home
Transfer to the airport in Campo Grande for flights home. (B)