Pantanal wildlife tours

Only a relatively small area of the Pantanal is officially protected by the UNESCO recognized Pantanal Conservation Area. Most visitors stay at a Pantanal lodge, some of which are also working farms. A tour of the Pantanal typically sees visitors stay a few nights in a lodge and take trips by jeep, on foot, by boat or horseback in search of wildlife. You’ll see many species of birds, perhaps including the iconic hyacinth macaw and jabiru stork. Anteaters, tapirs, tortoises, capybaras and giant river otters can all be found on Pantanal tours. You’ll need a little luck to see jaguars and other felines such as the ocelot and Pantanal cat, or take a special Pantanal jaguar tour which will increase your chances of sightings.

North Pantanal trips

The northern Pantanal has the largest choice of lodges and tours. A typical north Pantanal tour starts with a flight to Cuiaba and from there a journey by road of a few hours to reach a lodge. Along the way, you may well spot wildlife from the road. Some of the best Pantanal lodges in this area include Araras Pantanal Eco Lodge and Pousada do Rio Mutum. Other good lodges in the area include Southwild Pantanal lodge and Pousada Piuval. If you particularly want to see jaguars, Porto Jofre is the place to go. Pantanal Jaguar tours involve boat trips along the Cuiaba river in search of the majestic creatures. If visiting the north, why not combine your trip to the Pantanal with a trip to Nobres, where you can snorkel in crystal clear rivers and visit limestone caves. Or - take a tour of the Chapada dos Guimarães, an area of table top mountains and another good place to see wildlife, especially birds.

South Pantanal trips

The southern Pantanal is reached through the city of Campo Grande. Much like the north, Pantanal tours here start with a drive of a few hours to a lodge. Typically, the lodges in the south Pantanal take longer to get to than in those in the north. Some of the best lodges in the south include Fazenda Barranco Alto and Caiman Ecological Refuge. A visit to the south Pantanal can be combined with a trip to Bonito, another great snorkeling destination.

Specialist Pantanal tours

As we can customize all our Pantanal trips, so if you have a special interest, please let us know. For example, you might have an interest in particular Pantanal birds, be looking for a Pantanal photography tour, or want a Pantanal fishing trip.

Best Time to Visit the Pantanal

The Pantanal wetlands, like many South American destinations, experience a dry season and a wet season. The wet season is from December to March. During this time of the year, torrential rain fills the Pantanal basin, creating a vast flooded landscape. Once the downpour subsides, water slowly flows into the Paraguay River. It’s possible to visit the Pantanal at this time but it is not highly recommended. Many hotels close down during this time and it can be difficult to see wildlife. We recommend experiencing the magic of the Pantanal during the dry season from May to October when wildlife is in full force and rainfall is at its lowest. During this time of the year, native flora and fauna are easy to spot as they gather around the sparkling lakes and rivers, free from the dense foliage. Watch the sunrise over the world’s largest tropical wetland and explore marshes full of capybaras, marsh deer, tapirs, radiant macaws, and if you’re lucky, the rare Pantanal jaguar.

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