This
tour takes you in the heart of Pantanal, accompanied by a Naturalist
guide, to spot and identify inumerous species of wild animals in the
biggest wetland area of the world.
Transfer to Pantanal by
land from Cuiabá. The
first 100 km of paved road crosses a disturbed cerrado transition
ecosystem, featuring examples of cerrado vegetation, gallery forests and a
unique tall cerrado forest.The
pavement stops in Poconé and we continue on dirt road another 17km to the
beginning of the Transpantaneira raised dirt highway.The wildlife picks up suddenly as the roadside fills with herons,
storks, Roseate Spoonbills, kingfishers, ibises, Limpkins, cormorants and
caimans.Continue on for
45km, stopping frequently for observation and photographs. Our
light will quickly fade around 6:00pm, and we'll pull out the spotlight.On arrival at the Rio Pixaim, check into a nice hotel on the water's
edge.We will probably have
seen around 60 or many more bird species on the drive, but it will only be
a taste of what is to come.The ease
with which the birds can be seen is equally a bonus for the experienced
birder and first time nature tour participant.
Meals Included: lunch and dinner
Day
2 - Pantanal
Wake
up early to the sounds of birds and Black-and-Gold Howler Monkeys roaring
in the distance.An early
morning walk introduces the bird species of the area.Look for Blue-fronted Parrot, White Woodpecker, Long-tailed
Ground-Dove, Rufous Cacholote, Buff-bellied Hermit, Ashy-headed Greenlet,
Campo Oriole, Greater Thornbird, and Pygmy Kingfisher, among other species.With a bit of luck, the resident Giant River Otters will pass by
our hotel as we are having breakfast.Leave the hotel after lunch, continuing south another 60km into the
richest and lowest area of the Transpantaneira.The plant and animal diversity increases, and herds of Capybara,
the world's largest rodent (more like a guinea pig than a rat), are likely
to be seen.Keep your eyes
open for endangered Marsh Deer, South American Coati, Brown Capuchin,
Yellow Anaconda, Crab-eating Fox, Greater and Collared Anteaters and a
host of other animals.It is
also possible to see the Hyacinth, Blue-and-Yellow, Yellow-collared and
Red-and-Green Macaws.Transfer
to the Jaguar Ecological Reserve at the end of the day for a
two-night stay.The lodge is
located within the Jaguar Ecological Reserve and hosts the largest
concentration of Hyacinth Macaws in the state.Recent tour participants have seen Margay, Brazilian Tapir, Giant
River Otter and Little Red Brocket Deer on the hotel grounds.
Meals
Included: full board
Day
3 - Pantanal
These
days are dedicated to exploring this incredibly rich area on foot and by
vehicle.Several areas of different types of forest are found
alongside lakes, seasonally flooded fields and rivers.Look for bird specialties including Purplish Jay, Plumbeous Ibis,
Red-billed Scythebill, Sunbittern, Toco Toucan, Bare-faced Currasow,
Yellow-billed Cardinal, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Nanday Parakeet,
Blue-crowned Trogon, Cinereous-breasted and Chotoy Spinetails, Mato Grosso
Antbird and a number of other bird species.Black-and-Gold Howler and Brown Capuchin also occur in the forests
we explore today, and it is unusual not to see them both.Return to the hotel for lunch.The early afternoon can be spent discussing and updating our bird
and mammal list, relaxing and/or enjoying a cold beer at the bar.In the mid-afternoon start out into the field once again.Arrive back at the hotel after dark, after looking for owls,
nightjars, anteaters, Jaguar, Ocelot, Maned Wolf and a number of other
nocturnal animals with a spotlight.
Meals
Included: full board
Day
4 - Pantanal
Same
as Day 3
Meals Included:
full board
Day
5 –
Pantanal
Same
as Day 3
Meals Included:
full board
Day
6 - Pantanal
After
breakfast we start a full day of exploration.Given that we spend most of the day in the field, this is often one of
the most rewarding days of the tour. Continue on to Pixaim for the night.
Meals Included: full board
Day
7 - Pantanal
/ Cuiabá
This morning
we might want, if available, to take a boat out in search of Giant River
Otters.Our boatman will have
fished for piranha, and the habituated otters will come to the boat.By throwing the fish on shore, the otters leave the water
where they can be better photographed.Return
for breakfast, and transfer to Cuiabá.
06 nights in Hotel or Pousada
(Inn). Standard Room, including room and government taxes
06 breakfasts
07
Lunches
06
Dinners
Land
transfers as detailed in the itinerary, including bilingual guide
Guided Tours as detailed, including bilingual guides and National Park taxes and Naturalist
Guide accompanying the group. Tours can change due to operational, safety or
weather condition.
Drinks,
Laundry, Tips, Telephone calls, and any
other personal expenses etc….
Meals
Meals included in the program are detailed in the following chart.
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
Breakfast
X
X
X
X
X
X
Lunch
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Dinner
X
X
X
X
X
X
Accommodation:
Double
rooms can have separate beds or not. A third person depending on the hotel
has the possibility of using a sofa bed. Consult for children policy.
Payment:
Deposit
of 30% to guarantee your reservation. The remaining amount must be paid a
minimum 30 days before start of the tour. If reservation is made within 30
days of the tour full payment required to make a reservation.
Cancellation:
Up
to 30 days before full refund is given unless the flight tickets have been
emitted. In this case there will be a penalty due to the cancellation of
the tickets. This depends on the rules of the airline used.No refund is given when a cancellation is made within 30 days of
departure.
Operation
of tour:
Minimum
of 1 pax to operate.
Responsability:
Brasil Travel / Melchior & Hodson Ltda and/or agencies involved with
the packages, flights and tours shall act only as agents of the tour
members in making arrangements for hotels and any other services and do
not assume any liability what so ever for any injury, damage, death, loss,
accident or delay to persons or property due to an act of God, default by
any hotel, company or person rendering any of services included on the
tours or flights. Furthermore, no responsability is accepted for
quarentine, government restrains, weather or other causes beyond control.
No responsability is accepted for any additional expenses, omissions,
delays, re-routing or acts of government authority.
