Jaguars, Waterfalls and the Amazon
Prices start at £4,650 per person... excluding international flights
This itinerary takes in three of Brazil's major wildlife destinations staying in world-leading ecolodges offering fantastic activities and guiding. Taking in some of the world's most astounding natural areas, in this itinerary you will spot jaguars in the Pantanal, climb above the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest and marvel at the thundering power of the Iguassu Falls... all in two weeks!
Make your own way to Rio de Janeiro
Fly to Rio de Janeiro international airport. Met on arrival and transferred to the Hotel Miramar by Windsor for 3 nights on a B&B basis. Positioned right on Copacabana Beach from here you'll have easy access to the beachfront areas of Ipanema and Copacabana and it's also only a short taxi ride from the hilltop district of Santa Teresa, Lapa and the historic centre.
Southern Pantanal
Take the hotel shuttle service back to the airport for the early morning flight to São Paulo and connect through to Campo Grande in the southwestern state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Met on arrival and transferred by road for approximately four hours to Caiman Ecological Refuge to stay for 3 nights on a full board basis, including excursions in small groups with other guests.
Set on 53 000 ha of agricultural lands in the Southern Pantanal, Caiman Ecolodge is one of the leading lodges in wildlife conservation in the region and has been nominated as a finalist in the 2017 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Guests at the lodge can visit its Hyacinth Macaw and "onçafari" jaguar habituation project which was covered in a BBC documentary last year. Guests take part in an early morning and late afternoon activity, which are always led by a bilingual naturalist guide and local guide. Examples of activities include jaguar spotting jeep safaris, assisting with the work of the Hyacinth Macaw project, kayaking and river fishing, amongst others.
Campo Grande
Met after lunch and transferred back to Campo Grande to stay at the Deville Prime Hotel for the night on a B&B basis. Just twenty minutes from the airport in a quiet area of Campo Grande, this hotel is ideal for an overnight stop on your way in or out of the Pantanal.
The Southern Amazon
Met and transferred to the airport for the morning flight to Cuiabá and through to Alta Floresta in Northern Mato Grosso state. Met on arrival into Alta Floresta and transferred by road and boat to Cristalino Jungle Lodge to stay for 3 nights on a full board basis, including excursions.
A world leader in conservation and sustainable tourism practice and set within a reserve covering an area the size of Manhattan, Cristalino is one of the best lodges to head to for observing birds, mammals, butterflies and orchids in the Amazon Rainforest with one of the highest number of species recorded. Activities at the lodge include nature trails, observing the rainforest canopy from the lodge's two 50 metre observation towers, canoeing and boat trips as well as photography workshops and birdwatching.
The Iguaçu Falls
Transferred back to the airport for the flight to Cuiabá and through to Foz do Iguaçu. Met on arrival and transferred to the Hotel Belmond das Cataratas to stay for 4 nights on a B&B basis, taking advantage of their 4 nights for the price of 3 promotion. Our pick of the hotels in the area, from here you can wander freely around the Brazilian National Park and wonder at the immensity of the Falls at your leisure. Includes a full day excursion to the Argentinian side of the Falls on day 11.
Fly home
Met and transferred to the airport for the afternoon flight back to Rio or São Paulo and connect onto your international flights home.
Please note the cost of this itinerary does not include international flights and is on a B&B basis, unless otherwise indicated.
