Pantanal Jaguar Safaris 6 days

When you arrive at Cuiabá Airport, our team will be waiting for you with open arms to welcome you and ensure you start this adventure in the best way possible. From the airport, we will begin our journey to Poconé, a city located approximately 100 kilometers away. This drive will take around 1 hour and 30 minutes, allowing you to enjoy the changing landscape as we leave the city behind and enter the realm of nature.

From Poconé, one of the most exciting parts of the journey begins as we take the famous Transpantaneira road, a legendary route that crosses the Brazilian Pantanal. This road is unique in the world, as it is not fully paved and features over 120 wooden bridges that pass over the wetlands and rivers of the Pantanal. Along the way, we will have countless opportunities to stop and admire the impressive wildlife.

The Pantanal is home to hundreds of animal species, and during this stretch, with a bit of luck, we may spot and photograph colorful birds, capybaras, caimans, deer, monkeys, and maybe even a jaguar. Every turn in the road is a new opportunity to marvel at the biodiversity of the area.

After this unforgettable journey along the Transpantaneira, we will arrive at our final destination for the day: Porto Jofre, an iconic and strategic spot for jaguar observation. We will stay at a cozy lodge where you can rest after this first day of exploration.

To end the day, you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner prepared with local ingredients, served in a setting surrounded by the majestic nature of the Pantanal. Here, under a starlit sky and with the sounds of the jungle as your background, your Pantanal adventure truly begins.

Wildlife in Porto Jofre

Some of the animals you might spot during the tour include:

Mammals

• Capybaras
• Anteaters
• Deer
• Maned wolves
• Pantanal cats
• Peccaries
• Monkeys
• Armadillos
• Coatis
• Tapirs

Reptiles

• Caimans
• Anacondas
• Lizards
• Turtles
• General reptiles

Birds

• Savannah hawks
• Jabiru storks
• Rheas
• Macaws
• Parrots
• Toucans
• Eagles
• Many bird species

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at our lodge in Porto Jofre, we will prepare for one of the most exciting and unforgettable experiences of the trip: exploring the Encontro das Águas Ecological Reserve, a unique natural sanctuary known for hosting the largest concentration of wild jaguars in the world.

To reach this stunning ecosystem, we will board boats specially designed for wildlife observation. We will navigate the Cuiabá, Três Irmãos, and Piquiri rivers, three waterways that flow through the heart of the Brazilian Pantanal and are considered the best places in the world to see jaguars in their natural habitat.

During these water safaris, our expert guides will help us identify and track jaguar footprints, increasing our chances of seeing them up close and in action. With some luck, we may witness rare and breathtaking moments, such as:

• Jaguars stalking and hunting caimans, displaying their incredible strength and predatory skills.
• Jaguar couples during mating season, interacting and establishing territories.
• Jaguar mothers caring for their cubs, playing with them and teaching them how to hunt.

Each day in the Pantanal is different and full of surprises, so these two days of exploration will offer unparalleled opportunities to connect with the wildlife of this amazing ecosystem.

Wildlife we may spot during our journey

In addition to the majestic jaguars, on our journey through the Pantanal rivers we may also see many other fascinating species that make this place a paradise for nature lovers:

Animals to watch for:

• Jaguar: The largest feline in the Americas, hunts caimans and capybaras.
• Giant otter: Grows up to 1.8 m, lives in groups, and feeds on fish.
• Yacaré caiman: Reaches up to 3 m, prey of the jaguar.
• Capybara: The largest rodent in the world, excellent swimmer.
• Water birds: Herons, jabirus, and roseate spoonbills abound in the wetlands.
• Other birds: Toucans, macaws, and falcons stand out among 650 species.

After enjoying a nutritious breakfast, we will get ready for one last morning of exploration on the Pantanal rivers. Once again, we will return to the Cuiabá River and its tributaries for boat safaris in search of new sightings of jaguars and other fascinating species that inhabit this region.

As in previous days, our guides will help us identify tracks and jaguar behaviors, giving us the best possible chance to see them in action one last time during this trip. This will be a special opportunity to capture incredible photos and enjoy the final moments in Jaguarland, the area with the highest concentration of jaguars in the world.

At midday, we will return to Dona Onça Lodge, where we will enjoy a delicious and comforting lunch while sharing our unforgettable safari experiences.

In the afternoon, we will say goodbye to Porto Jofre and begin a new journey along the Transpantaneira Road. Along the way, we’ll continue to marvel at the wildlife, as the Pantanal always has something new to offer.

By late afternoon, we’ll arrive at our next accommodation: Pousada Pouso Alegre Lodge, a cozy lodge perfectly integrated with nature. Here, after a day full of emotions, we’ll enjoy a homemade dinner made with local ingredients before relaxing in a peaceful atmosphere surrounded by the beauty of the Pantanal.

Amenities at Pousada Pouso Alegre Lodge

The lodge offers a rustic and authentic atmosphere, but with all the necessary comforts to ensure a pleasant and comfortable stay. It features:

• 24 spacious rooms
• Air conditioning and fan to maintain a pleasant temperature at all times.
• Bed mosquito nets to ensure an uninterrupted rest.
• Private bathrooms with hot showers for comfort after a day of exploration.

After dinner, we can relax under the starry sky of the Pantanal, listening to the sounds of the jungle and preparing for the next day of adventure.

After a delicious breakfast, we will prepare for a day full of exploration and connection with nature. We will head to Pousada Pouso Alegre Lodge, a vast natural refuge covering 8,000 hectares, where we’ll have the chance to fully immerse ourselves in the biodiversity of the Pantanal.

During the day, we will take ecological walks through trails surrounded by vegetation, giving us the opportunity to observe and learn about various species of animals and plants in their natural habitat. As we go, we’ll learn to identify tracks, sounds, and behaviors of local wildlife, which will help us better understand the importance of this unique ecosystem.

We will also go on photo safaris, exploring different areas of the Pantanal in vehicles designed for wildlife observation. On these tours, we may spot some of the region’s most iconic species, such as the majestic jabiru stork, the impressive giant anteater, and the colorful blue macaw, among many other fascinating creatures.

This day will offer a special connection with nature, in an environment where the landscapes, sounds, and wildlife presence create an unforgettable experience. At the end of the day, we’ll return to the lodge to rest and share our stories before dinner.

Animals to observe:

Some of the animals we may see in this area include:

• Tapirs
• Deer
• Blue macaws
• Eagles
• Giant anteaters

After enjoying our last breakfast in the Pantanal, we will begin our journey back to the city of Cuiabá. Along the way, we will make several strategic stops along the Transpantaneira road to take advantage of the final opportunities to spot the region’s amazing wildlife. These moments will also be perfect for capturing the last photos of the Pantanal’s stunning wildlife.