Brazilian Pantanal & Iguazu Falls

Tour Code: BRA03

A 15-day birdwatching and wildlife holiday to Brazil, visiting the Pantanal wetlands and the Iguazú Falls.

15 days from
£9,395 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£8,595

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Highlights

Brazil's Pantanal wetlands are one of the greatest wildlife areas in South America. Using the experience gained from many previous visits, our itinerary offers you the best of the Pantanal's birds and mammals along with Caiman, lizards and a plethora of other creatures. The handsome Hyacinth Macaw, the largest parrot of all, will be among the many bird species we see; whilst mammals include Giant River Otter, Capybara and sometimes more secretive residents such as Giant Anteater and Jaguar! Following our extended stay in this wildlife paradise, we conclude our tour with a visit to the Iguazu Falls, one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls.

Jaguars and Giant River Otters never missed
The world’s largest parrot, the Hyancinth Macaw
Agami Heron, Sunbittern and Sungrebe
Excellent chance of Ocelot and Tapir
Admire the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls

Grading

Grade A. A range of gentle walks, and both vehicular and boat safaris.

The vast empty lowlands of the Pantanal extend southwards from the plateau of the Mato Grosso in Brazil to the borders with Paraguay and Bolivia. This area, roughly the size of France, is sparsely populated and contains many huge cattle ranches which provide the main source of employment in a region largely devoid of industry. In the north, low dry woodland, damp grasslands and gallery forest along the banks of a meandering river system create a mosaic of different habitats. Further south the woodland is relieved by broad expanses of swamp and marsh which are recognised as one of the most important wetland areas in the Neotropics.

The relative lack of human disturbance and the open nature of the habitat mean that wildlife is often easier to observe than elsewhere in South America. Herds of Capybara, the world’s largest rodent, browse the swamps within the watchful gaze of many large Caimans. These New World crocodiles reach an impressive size here, but are fortunately mainly fisheaters. Anacondas also occur in the swamps but are less often seen. The edge of the wetland is home to the rare Marsh Deer and in the adjoining woodlands it is possible to encounter Red and Grey Brocket Deer. The taller woodlands are frequented by agile Brown Capuchin Monkeys and echo to the weird calls of the more lethargic Black Howlers. Along the quieter stretches of the large rivers a watch should be kept for Giant River Otters. These endangered animals are often very confiding and will approach to within a few metres of observers, an endearing characteristic that has all too often led to their destruction.

As we journey south, we will check the swamps for Brazilian Tapirs which often spend the hotter parts of the day immersed in the water. Many of the animals here are nocturnal and spotlighting at night could produce such species as Racoon, Crab-eating Fox, Giant Anteater, Ocelot and a range of nightjars. That supreme South American predator, the Jaguar, is by no means rare here and, although always hard to see, the Pantanal is probably the most likely area of the continent to chance upon one.

As might be expected the Pantanal boasts a rich and varied avifauna, from the giant Jabiru Stork to tiny hummingbirds such as the Glittering-bellied Emerald and White-tailed Golden-throat. Herons, storks, ibises and Limpkins throng the marshy areas where raptors such as Great Black, Black-collared and Savanna Hawks and Snail Kites are common. The gallery forests and scrub hold a bewildering array of tropical birds. Antbirds, woodcreepers, toucans, tyrant flycatchers and colourful parrots are well represented but pride of place must go to the huge Hyacinth Macaw, the world’s largest parrot. Under threat throughout most of its range, this charismatic bird is still relatively easy to find in favoured parts of the Pantanal and will certainly represent one of the holiday highlights.

To ensure that we have the maximum opportunity to enjoy its wildlife, we spend a total of eight nights at three different lodges in the Pantanal, covering all the major habitats of this fascinating environment. Boat excursions and nocturnal spotlighting will greatly increase our chances of seeing the more retiring inhabitants.

At the end of our stay in the Pantanal we retrace our steps to Cuiabá and thence by internal flights to Iguazú for a stay of three nights. The spectacular waterfalls on the border between Argentina and Brazil are set amidst a vast expanse of tropical forest which is protected as a national park. Over 2,000 plant species have been recorded here, and the stunning birdlife offers a huge range of possibilities, including representatives from such typical South American families as toucans and woodcreepers. We will visit both sides of the border during our stay and follow trails into the forest to look for birds and mammals. There will also be plenty of time to simply admire the spectacle of the falls which can be viewed from various vantage points. Iguazú is ranked among the world’s greatest waterfalls and attracts large numbers of visitors to the area. Few, however, venture along the forest trails, and we can be assured of many superb wildlife encounters.

The length of stay at each location on this tour, and the combination of habitats, make this a most unusual South American holiday and will provide a rare opportunity to absorb the atmosphere of each place visited and become familiar with a unique selection of birds and mammals.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Depart London

Day 2

Arrive São Paulo, fly Cuiabá and transfer to Pouso Alegre

Day 3

Excursions from Pouso Alegre

Day 4/6

Transfer to Jaguar Flotel and take excursions of the Central Pantanal

Day 7/9

Transfer to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge and explore the Pixaim River

Day 10

Fly Cuiabá to São Paulo overnight

Day 11/13

Fly to Iguazú and explore the Falls

Day 14

Fly Iguazú to São Paulo and on to London

Day 15

Arrive London

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What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
Simple but comfortable lodges, all with private facilities.
Food:
All included in the price.

Reviews

The trip followed an excellent itinerary, combining the use of safari trucks, boats and walking to best see the available wildlife and sights. From boats we had close encounters with no less than seven individual Jaguars spotted on river banks, saw multiple individuals and groups of Giant Otters and many species of birds. Well-managed feeding stations allowed close encounters with Ocelots, Black Howler Monkeys and Capuchin Monkeys. We had plenty of time allowed to view the Iguazu Falls from both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides and to explore the surrounding forested areas. There were so many amazing moments during the trip that it would be impossible to list them but every day brought new highlights. All accommodation was comfortable with private facilities and good food provided - the Jaguar Suites flotel and SouthWild Pantanal were particularly good in this regard. An excellent tour and highly recommended to all passionate about nature and wildlife. With wildlife holidays, little can be guaranteed but the itinerary and tour leader provided by Naturetrek allowed us to not only see amazing wildlife and sights but to also spend time getting to know our subjects and capture memorable photographs. Our tour leader was not only a very knowledgeable naturalist but also very friendly and helpful, going above and beyond to assist those on the trip in all aspects of the holiday. He was also helpful to photographers, identifying the best angles for shots, given available visibility and lighting.
T.O. Gloucestershire, Jun 24
Too many wildlife highlights to whittle down. Enjoyed the luxury of the Flotel and the food at SouthWild Lodge.
D. B. Ireland, September 23
Travelled along the Transpantaneira highway. Stopped 3 nights in 2 lodges to explore the area by vehicle then 3 nights at the flotel to explore by boat. Our time was well balanced between all areas with great sightings of jaguar, giant otters, capybara and much more. We then flew to the Iguazu Falls. They were breath-taking. We spent 3 full days at the falls. Three days is definitely needed to see all aspects of the falls. We spent 2 days on the Argentinian side which was phenomenal. Naturetrek are what they say. All about nature. They allow maximum time exploring, and viewing the wildlife. They organise the whole experience and the guides are always expects in their field. We spent an extra night in Brazil before flying home and were personally taken to the airport by our guide, even though the main tour had finished and the other clients had returned home. That is what I call service. Thanks Naturetrek.
J.B. Leicestershire, June 22

This Brazil - Pantanal and Iguazu Falls tour was very well organised and led by local guide Marcos Felix. My main target was to see Jaguar, we had seven sightings of 5 different jaguars. Secondary targets were the birds and we came away with a wonderful list including Hyacinth Macaws, a dazzling array of hummingbirds at a feeding station and difficult species to see like Agami Heron, Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher and Scissor-tailed Nightjars amongst many others. But the biggest surprise for me was the most spectacular Iguazu Falls - absolutely stunning.
A.M. Cornwall, June 22

I found this trip just brilliant in every way...Both the local guides are excellent and were a great help to me...We had clear skies and bright sunshine every day which helped a great deal...I had great views of all the key birds I had especially wanted to see, many now on film, including of course the highlight of the tour - the wonderful Giant Otters.
J.B. Kent

An excellent itinerary and an exceptional guide in Braulio Carlos, who educated and inspired us. We were often awake before dawn and returned after dusk, enabling the best viewing opportunities. Braulio led by example with a never-say-die attitude; nothing was too much trouble and he was forever positive. His attention to detail, knowledge and personal manner ensured that all guests of varying standards and specialities remained interested throughout the trip. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip - our expectations were greatly exceeded.
Mr & Mrs D. Berkshire

This was another memorable holiday with many splendid highlights: caiman eyes glowing in the spotlight; hundreds of snowy egrets roosting at dusk and flying to fish at dawn; floating under the stars - no light pollution just the sounds of the night and millions of stars; beautiful butterflies; spectacular sunrises, sunsets and reflections; the amazing Iguazu Falls; and after many hours and kilometres - finally seeing a Jaguar!! Two minutes of behaviour - stunning! What a beautiful animal!
R.A. Bristol

I thought the Brazilian guide, Paulo, was excellent. He worked extremely hard to ensure all 12 of us in the group were kept informed, constantly identifying and explaining the behaviour of the fabulous wildlife seen. The wildlife was great, Iguazu was sensational, and the lodges were as good as they can be for this type of holiday. I particularly liked the Flotel on the river. The bananas in coconut sauce at the restaurant at Iguazu was almost worth all the flying on its own!
A.M. Jersey

Our guide Paulo was extremely knowledgeable about the mammals and birds of the region, we highly rate him as a guide and would strongly recommend that you continue to use him. Having experienced holidays with a number of birding guides around the world - he is one of the best. A well-organised holiday to a wonderful part of the world - who could ask for more!
R.H. Glamorgan

Our main guide, Paulo, was excellent and enthusiastic. He was knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the region and very informative about the things we saw. He spared no effort to find those more elusive birds and we were rewarded with views of some of the rarer species. The opportunity to stay in different areas of the Pantanal enhanced the enjoyment as it offered varied landscapes and wildlife viewings. We met some lovely, sociable people who, like us, were determined to see as much as they could. The falls were awe-inspiring, seeing them from both sides really help you appreciate their size and force.
Mr & Mrs A. West Yorkshire

Marcos was hard-working, full of fun and dedicated to ensuring everyone had a good time and that everything ran smoothly. The highlight was our time at the Jaguar Flotel although, being bird-watchers, we enjoyed everywhere. There was an excellent variety of habitats. Also, the Iguazu Falls were stunning.
Mr & Mrs E. Hampshire

As a trip it more than exceeded our expectations seeing birds and mammals, the memories of which will stay with us for years. The boat trips searching for Jaguar were most enjoyable and staying on the flotel proved to be really good in cutting down travel time. The Iguazu Falls were awesome and the icing on the cake was seeing the Black-fronted Piping Guan on the last day there.
Mr & Mrs H. Australia

Our guide was superb. He had excellent knowledge, found all sorts of rare animals, was really enthusiastic and always positioned our boat really well when viewing the jaguars. He also looked after the smallest details and cared really well for us.
H.N. London

Marcos is an excellent guide and was very effective in sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural environment. The Flotel provided great accommodation, the boat was very fast and very stable and we had successful sightings of Jaguars and River Otters. Iguazu is stunning and was a perfect end to the holiday.
J.P. Gloucestershire

Managed to see a great variety of birds and mammals and the final days at the falls were awesome. Marcos Felix was an excellent guide who was very conscientious, hard working and friendly. His knowledge of the wildlife was considerable and he had an obvious passion for conservation.
N.G. Surrey

Thanks to the keen eye of our tour leader, we saw over 200 species of birds and over 20 mammal species and this certainly exceeded my expectations. The experience of being in the Pantanal and seeing first hand all the different habitats and species living there was amazing. The group size of 12 was perfect and we all got to know each other really well and got on well together.
H.W. Aberdeenshire

The truck was a bit of a surprise - we had seen the picture prior to booking but both the comfort and viewing were much better than expected (and the dust factor less). Jaguar viewing was much better than expected - we had been prepared for a 'dip' or at best a glimpse through the forest. Flotel itself was very comfortable and the outings boats were very accessible with smooth speedy ride and excellent viewing.
Mr & Mrs F, Canada

Good itinerary with a very professional, hard working and informative guide. Each day had as many trips by truck, foot or boat as we could manage and on all occasions, we saw plenty of wildlife. Marcos always went the extra mile to see we were looked after, providing a flask of coffee on early starts and bottled water during the day.
L.H. Highland

Exploring the Pantanal in Brazil was the culmination of a long held dream. We saw a wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles on our morning and afternoon excursions. A special highlight were the wonderful views we had of jaguars. We saw 7 different individuals during our time on the river. Special birds included a Sun Bittern displaying and a Great Pooto and chick scarcely distinguishable brim the branch on which they sat. It is impossible to describe Iguazú Falls in words. The majesty and power took my breath away. Standing on a platform at the base of the falls with water pouring down on one side and falling away on the other was a moment I will never forget. I took the trip to see the Pantanal. My most cherished moment was standing in the spray at the falls.
M.D.T. California, USA

Our guide Marcos was absolutely excellent and his care for us and the interest he brought to the whole trip was outstanding. He is knowledgeable, kind, has a great sense of humour and did his very best to make sure we were all included. The whole trip was outstanding and I enjoyed it immensely.
G.I. Surrey

We were particularly lucky to see jaguars on ten different occasions. The birdlife was spectacular and other mammals that we were privileged to catch sight of included Giant River Otters, Giant and Lesser Anteaters, Ocelot, numerous Capybara and Brazilian Tapir.
Mr & Mrs O. Aberdeenshire

Fantastic views of jaguars, giant anteater, ocelot, giant river otters, lesser anteater, birds and more in all the places we stayed. The flotel was excellent for quick river trips in a speedy boat. Finishing with wonderful views of the Iguazu Falls from both sides and (wet)close up platforms near to the falls for photos. Every day was full and interesting and downtime in the midday heat much appreciated. Just about the best trip so far.
S.R. Norfolk

Good sized group, variety of transport and excellent opportunities to see rare mammals and birds in their natural habitat at close range. The flotel was a brilliant place to stay, situated so close to the rivers and the outings by boat were both magical and exciting (depending on the speed!) I enjoyed the short evening talks given by the resident researcher each evening. The contrast between the quiet of the remote Pantanal and impressive Iguazu made for a good combination holiday.
E.R. Norfolk

There was a variety of activities and wildlife, busy for many hours each day. Competent guiding from Marcos, who worked hard for us.
C.P. London

I knew little about the Pantanal and had never heard of the Iguazu Falls so had no high expectations. As a result I was delighted to be able to see jaguar, ocelot, anteaters and loads of bird species thanks to Kike, our excellent guide. The majestic Falls just took my breath away, the power and noise of the water dominated all senses at once! The hotels were of an excellent standard as was the food which was rather too plentiful for my waistline!
J.C. Kent

This was a fantastic holiday, the group got on so well. Overall a great holiday.
T.S. Bedfordshire

I liked staying three nights at the Lodges/Flotel to get more of a feel for the places within the Pantanal. I liked the combination of birds and mammals with daytime and nighttime viewing.
H.R. Morayshire

I love my birds and it was very relaxing to spot birds by boat or on the truck instead of just on foot safari in the heat. It was good having downtime in the middle of the day. This holiday was nicely paced. Birding Iguazu Falls has to be the ultimate!!! It was way beyond my expectations as somewhere to spend three days. Wonderful.
C.E. Devon

The Pantanal was very interesting and staying in three different locations was excellent. Both the bird and wildlife watching was excellent. Although the travelling to the Falls was a little tedious, they were amazing and I would not have wanted to miss them.
L.H. Cheshire

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Extensions

Giant Anteater Extension - Pantanal

With expert guidance, early morning and evening sessions will see you go out in search of Anteaters and with our guide we can give you the best chance of success as well as enjoying a whole host of other wildlife. Our base has lovely grounds, a swimming pool and Wi-Fi providing a perfect place to relax between morning and late afternoon searches. The Caipirinha is very good here also!

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Price on Request

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Rio de Janeiro Extension

Rio acted as the capital of Brazil until 1960 and is home to some of Brazil's most famous tourist attractions such as Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) and the Christ the Redeemer statue (Corcovado). A stay in Rio will allow you to capture the essence of Brazil as found nowhere else in the country.

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Price on Request

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Harpy Eagle and Southern Amazon Extension

A huge chunk (around half the size of the UK) of the southern Amazon holds previously-unknown concentrations of large, charismatic animals including Harpy Eagles, Brazilian Tapirs, Scarlet, Blue-and-gold, and Red-and-green Macaws as well as Woolly Monkeys, Black-faced Spider Monkeys, Red Howler Monkeys.

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Price on Request

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Atlantic Rainforest Extension

Bird feeding stations and trails will occupy our time here as we go about seeing as many special birds as we can. Such highlights will include a mouth-watering variety of tanagers, hummingbirds, euphonias, toucans, woodpeckers and much more. 320 species have been recorded here in total and we can expect to see around 180 bird species on this extension.

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Price on Request

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Tue 10th Jun – Tue 24th Jun 3 £9,395

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£8,595

Room sharing options:

If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.

Male sharing available

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£1,295

Tue 8th Jul – Tue 22nd Jul 6 £9,395

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£8,595

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£1,295

Wed 24th Sep – Wed 8th Oct SPACES £9,395

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£8,595

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£1,295

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            [description] => Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:

Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader

  
 
All Birdwatching Tours
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Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:

India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears 
A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert

Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.

Our specialist recommends...




"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager

  
All Mammal Watching Tours
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            [description] => Jaguar Holidays in the Pantanal
The Jaguar is South America’s most iconic big cat. Notoriously secretive and stunningly beautiful, seeing one of them in their natural habitat ranks among the world’s most memorable wildlife experiences. We offer dedicated Jaguar watching tours to Brazil, and the area we visit in the Pantanal offers the very best chance of anywhere in all of South America. Our groups have seen these beautiful wild cats in Tambopata, Peru (on the Macaws and Machu Picchu tour) and in the Iwokrama Rainforest in Guyana (on the Guyana – Timeless Paradise excursion), although sightings in both these localities are far less frequent than in the breathtakingly wildlife-rich Pantanal.
Jaguar Watching Holidays with Naturetrek
We offer one dedicated tour for seeing Jaguars (Brazil – Just Jaguars!) and we’re proud to say that, to date, our 12-day excursion has a remarkable 100% record of success. The elusive big cats have also been seen on our 17-day 'Brazilian Pantanal & Iguazu Falls' holiday and shorter 10-Day 'Mammals of the Pantanal' holiday both also with 100% success.
We have a wealth of experience offering wildlife tours to South America and have developed an extensive network of the very best naturalist guides in Brazil. Our itineraries to the Brazilian Pantanal, stay at the very best locations for the right amount of time, which is what's allowed us to achieve a 100% sighting success rate. At Naturetrek it's paramount that our holidays aid wildlife conservation, and in the Pantanal the power of ecotourism to protect wildlife-rich habitat is evident – as income from tourism has grown, so too has the area of Jaguar habitat, as has the number of Jaguars. Land previously used for farming is being rewilded, and Jaguars which were previously seen as a threat to livestock are now viewed as a valuable commodity. Our holidays stay at a Jaguar research station, which is located better than anywhere to see these iconic cats. 
Our Jaguar watching holidays in the Pantanal actively seek the other wonderful wildlife, such as Giant Otter, Brazilian Tapir, Ocelot, Giant Anteater, Toco Toucan and Hyacinth Macaw, plus a multitude of other exciting species.
 
Why Our Jaguar Watching Tours are So Successful

100% sightings on our “Just Jaguars!” holiday
Led by expert naturalist guides
Visit regions famous for their density of wild Jaguars
Up-to-date information from local contacts
Outings at optimal times of the day when the wildlife is most active
Night drives, plus early morning and late afternoon excursions
Superb local guides whose expertise and knowledge guarantee us the best sightings
We stay in the right areas for the right amount of time

What can I expect on a Jaguar watching holiday? 

Explore the Pantanal by day on boat trips & in open vehicles
Night outings with spotlighting
Spend time in prime big cat habitat with two dedicated outings each day
The chance to be immersed in another culture
A host of other wildlife including Ocelots, Giant Anteaters, Hyacinth Macaws, Giant River Otters, Caimans and Capybaras
The security of a small friendly group and a highly experienced leader


Our specialist recommends...



"If you want a holiday dedicated to looking for these magnificent cats, you can't do any better than our 'Brazil – Just Jaguars!' tour. This tour gives you the optimum amount of time for not only finding Jaguars but also to enjoy a great range of behaviours. We’ve seen them hunting Caiman, swimming the river channels, mating and even having a tug of war with a Yellow Anaconda! For those who want to stay longer and explore a greater variety of habitats I'd recommend our 17-day 'Brazilian Pantanal & Iguazu Falls' tour. You’ll see a host of fantastic wildlife on either trip!"

Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager

 
All Jaguar Watching Tours
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            [description] => Big Cat Safari Holidays
Big cats are among the most admired and sought-after mammals on the planet, and we are proud to offer a broad and comprehensive range of big cat safari holidays. We offer inspiring and truly memorable wildlife tours to enjoy sightings of all of the world’s iconic species in their natural habitats, including Tigers in India and Nepal, Jaguars in the Pantanal, Pumas in Chile and Snow Leopards in India and Mongolia and we certainly do not neglect the smaller cats either.
We offer a range of itineraries around Africa and encounter the continent’s high-profile species like Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards and also the lesser known species such as Caracal, Sand Cat, Black-footed Cat, Serval and African Wild Cat. We also have wildlife holidays that catch sightings of the Asiatic Lion in India and the elusive Leopard in Sri Lanka.
We also offer a pioneering tour to try to see the most difficult of all big cats the Sunda Clouded Leopard in Borneo with Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat and Flat-headed Cat all having being seen on our Borneo holidays. Closer to home, we offer holidays in Europe to go in search of Wildcat and both Eurasian and Iberian Lynx.
We have run these holidays for many years with great success, working with the best local contacts and guides and staying at the very best locations with carefully crafted itineraries which allow the optimum amount of time to achieve sightings.  

Our specialist recommends...


"Naturetrek has been instrumental in designing, researching and pioneering many of the big cat safari tours on the market. Our dedicated Tiger-watching trips have an unparalleled 100% success record with sightings, while if you want an experience dedicated to looking for Jaguars (also with a 100% success rate), you can’t do any better than our 'Brazil – Just Jaguars!' holiday. Additionally, our 'South Africa – Just Cats!' holiday offers a chance to see a wide variety of species in stunning scenery and for a real adventure, well off the beaten track, our 'Borneo's Mammals - Deramakot Forest Reserve' holiday is hard to beat for sheer excitement as we go in search of Sunda Clouded Leopard with extensive night time spotlighting outings encountering a wonderful number of mammals as we search for this elusive cat. Finally, if you wish to combine two holidays in one, our 'South America's Big Cats' holiday, first goes in search of Pumas in Chile followed by Jaguars in Brazil with a wonderful chance now for Ocelot in the Pantanal. "

Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager
 

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Tour Dates or Itinerary Don't Suit?

Allow our experts to create a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices to suit you.

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Tour Reports

Tour report - September 2018

Tour report - October 2016

Tour report - July 2014

Tour report - June 2013

Tour report - August 2011

Tour report - August 2009

Tour report - August 2008

Tour report - October 2007

Tour report - August 2007

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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