9 Day Land Of The Jaguar

The group flights should be arriving in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is free to relax after the long journey.

This morning we head towards the remote Paraguay River in the Pantanal. We start by driving 205kms towards the town of Caceres before continuing a further 100kms on dirt roads to our lodge located on the banks for the Paraguay River where we will spend the next 4 days exploring the region for jaguars and other wildlife.

This area is further off the beaten path and the ideal place for jaguar spotting and, with fewer visitors than other areas of the Pantanal, is also much quieter.

This afternoon we will board our small motorboats to go on our first jaguar safari exploring the river and its tributaries for the elusive big cat as well as tapirs, monkeys, macaws, anacondas, capybaras, Giant otters and any other wildlife we can find. Whilst no guarantees can be made when it comes to wildlife, there is a 95% chance of seeing jaguars.

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, of course, 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, of course your cameras and/or binoculars.

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, of course, 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, of course your cameras and/or binoculars.

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, of course, 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, of course your cameras and/or binoculars.

This morning we retrace our steps towards Caceres and on to Pocone and finally Araras Ecolodge. 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. The lodge’s expert bilingual naturalist guides accompany us on all excursions to truly enhance our wildlife viewing.

The next two days we have a full programme of activities around the lodge. Hundreds of species of bird, and dozens of mammals and reptiles have been recorded in the immediate surroundings, and 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.

The next two days we have a full programme of activities around the lodge. Hundreds of species of bird, and dozens of mammals and reptiles have been recorded in the immediate surroundings, and 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.

After breakfast we head back to Cuiaba where the trip ends. Those on the group flights will be departing this afternoon.