Jaguars & Wildlife of Brazil's Pantanal

A WWF Expedition to Brazil’s Pantanal with María José Villanueva, WWF Jaguar Conservation Initiative Lead (Sold Out)


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To register or if you have questions, please contact Aly Jacobsen at Natural Habitat Adventures (888) 993-8687 or [email protected].

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Situated in the heart of South America, the Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland, covering 75,000 square miles, and is one of the most biologically-rich environments on the planet. It is a refuge for iconic wildlife, including the hyacinth macaw, the caiman, and giant river otters—creating an intricate food chain made up of the largest concentration of wildlife in the Americas. At the apex is the elegant and elusive jaguar. WWF and partners have worked in the Pantanal since 1998, helping to protect this extraordinary ecological system, so humans and nature can continue to thrive. Over the last several years, WWF supported a new transboundary sustainable development and conservation strategy in partnership with the governments of Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay that will protect this globally significant freshwater resource.

Join WWF’s María José Villanueva, and local experts on a journey into the heart of our efforts as we visit the regions vital to the future of the Pantanal. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity explores firsthand how WWF is working on-the-ground with communities, NGOs, governments, and the private sector to protect the iconic wildlife, habitat, and the people who call this extraordinary region home. On foot, by boat and in 4x4, we will venture into the verdant depths of the Pantanal.

Reservation Info/Trip Details

Dates: September 08 – 18, 2023

Group size: Limited to 9 guests

Cost: $10,659 per person (based on double occupancy)

Deposit: $500 per person (nonrefundable)

Airfare: $1,552 per person (for internal airfare)

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About Our Experts

María José Villanueva
María José Villanueva WWF Jaguar Conservation Initiative Lead and WWF-Mexico’s Conservation Director

For over ten years, María José Villanueva has worked with WWFMexico helping to establish a nationwide partnership with over 60 NGOs, Indigenous communities, local and federal governments, and private sector businesses to conserve Mexico’s unique biodiversity. She leads the implementation of WWF’s regional jaguar strategy, which aims to secure 15 priority landscapes within the continental jaguar corridor that extends from Argentina to the North of Mexico. Jaguars have already lost 50% of their original territory, through protecting its natural strongholds, empowering the local communities who coexist with them, and influencing policy at all levels we will achieve this goal. As WWF-Mexico’s Conservation Director, she also leads the Ocean, Terrestrial Ecosystem, Climate Change, and Freshwater programs. Prior to WWF, María José earned her PhD in Marine Sciences and Limnology with an emphasis in marine mammals from the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology, worked for several conservation organizations in Mexico, and taught biology and conservation courses.


To register or if you have questions, please contact Aly Jacobsen at Natural Habitat Adventures (888) 993-8687 or [email protected].