Land of the Jaguar
Land of the Jaguar
Land of the Jaguar
9 Days Starting and ending in Cuiabá
Visiting: Brazil
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WAI
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 14
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
The Pantanal straddles the borders of Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia and is the largest wetland region in the world. Its plains and low scrubby forests are home to more than 1,000 bird species and 300 different mammals, including tapirs, anteaters, jabiru storks and the striking hyacinth macaw. Concentrating on the incredibly rich northern Pantanal in the southwest of Brazil, we divide our time between two lodges, journeying deep into the wetlands in search of jaguars, the largest feline in the Americas. These solitary, elusive predators, as well as being formidable opponents on land, are strong swimmers and are known to frequent the waterways we explore.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Cuiabá
Welcome to Cuiabá, the capital of the Mato Grosso state and the gateway to the Pantanal wetlands. After arriving at the hotel, you have the rest of the day free to relax.
Accommodation: Deville Prime Cuiabá (or similar)
Day 2 : To Hotel Baiazinha On The Paraguay River
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we head towards the remote Paraguay River in the Pantanal. We start by driving 127mi (205km) towards the town of Cáceres before continuing a further 62mi (100km) on dirt roads to our lodge on the banks of the Paraguay River, where we spend the next four days exploring the region for jaguars and other wildlife.
This off-the-beaten-path area is the ideal place for jaguar spotting and, with fewer visitors than other areas of the Pantanal, is also much quieter.
This afternoon, we board our small motorboats to go on our first jaguar safari, exploring the river and its tributaries for the elusive big cat plus tapirs, monkeys, macaws, anacondas, capybaras, giant otters and any other wildlife we can find. While no guarantees can be made when it comes to wildlife, there is a 90 percent chance of seeing jaguars.
Accommodation: Hotel Baiazinha (or similar)
Day 3 - 5 : Morning And Afternoon Boat Safaris On The Paraguay River Searching For Jaguar And Other Wildlife
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We spend the next three days on morning and afternoon boat safaris looking for jaguars and other local wildlife and learning about the delicate ecosystem of the area. The exact lengths of the outings will vary depending on the sightings and you should be prepared to be flexible with the timetable. Make sure to bring all you’ll need including sun protection, insect protection, rain protection, water and your cameras and/or binoculars.
Accommodation: Hotel Baiazinha (or similar)
Day 6 : Transfer To Araras Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we retrace our steps towards Cáceres and onto Poconé and finally Araras Lodge. Surrounded by pristine forest, the lodge offers a range of activities designed to showcase the flora and fauna of the Pantanal, including jeep safaris, trail walks, nocturnal safaris, canoeing and horse riding. Expert bilingual naturalist guides from the lodge accompany us on all excursions to truly enhance our wildlife viewing.
Accommodation: Araras Lodge (or similar)
Day 7 - 8 : Search For Giant Anteaters And Capybaras
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The next two days we have a full programme of activities around the lodge. Hundreds of bird species and dozens of mammals and reptiles have been recorded in the immediate surroundings; if we are lucky, we will catch sight of the striking hyacinth macaw (Portuguese: arara jacinta) after which the lodge is named. The largest of the macaws, its dark blue plumage and the bright yellow skin around its eyes and beak make it instantly recognisable.
Accommodation: Araras Lodge (or similar)
Day 9 : To Cuiabá; End
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we head back to Cuiabá where the trip ends. We bid farewell and begin our return journey home. If you’d like a little more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
What's Included
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Eight breakfasts, seven lunches, seven dinners
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
Venturing into the Pantanal, the land of the jaguar, we split our time between two lodges, both well located for our wildlife-watching adventures, while the trip begins at a contemporary hotel in Cuiabá.
Cuiabá: Deville Prime Cuiabá (night 1)
Begin the adventure at Deville Prime, a modern hotel in the heart of Cuiabá. After your flight, you may wish to make use of the outdoor pool and sun loungers, plus there’s a gym with free weights and machines. In the evening, head to the atrium bar with the group and raise a glass to your trip – a good chance to get to know each other a little better.
Paraguay River: Hotel Baiazinha (nights 2-5)
On the banks of the Paraguay River, in an area visited less often by other tourists, this family-run 15-room lodge hotel is ideally located for our jaguar-spotting adventures. When we’re not out scouring the landscape for wildlife, make use of the pool or unwind in your air-conditioned room. There’s also a restaurant serving typical local food cooked by chef Isaias. Try the flagship dish: mojica, a fish broth with cassava, which they call the pride of their kitchen.
Poconé: Araras Lodge (nights 6-8)
Spend our final three nights at Araras Lodge, which is designed in a rustic regional style and has 19 air-conditioned rooms. The property also has a restaurant-bar, which serves local cuisine and plenty of good drinks, plus a swimming pool and gift shop. There are also three observation towers, the tallest of which is 82ft (25m) high, allowing you to gaze over the landscape in search of birds and other wildlife.
Food
All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners are included.
All meals are included in Hotel Baiazinha and Araras Lodge. Food is likely to be a mix of dishes using a lot of local produce. The local fruit is normally very good. Meat is a staple part of the Brazilian diet, but vegetarians can be catered for throughout the trip. Please advise us at the time of booking if you have any special dietary requirements, especially since the remote nature of the places we stay means special supplies can be difficult to obtain without prior arrangement.
Camomile tea and fruit infusions are available at the lodges, however traditional tea is not available, so you may wish to take teabags with you.
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
16+ people can go on this tour.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.