Brazil: Exploring the Pantanal

Highlights of

Brazil: Exploring the Pantanal

What:

Eight days, seven nights in the Pantanal with recommended single overnight in Campo Grande upon landing. Fantastic journey into the the magic of Brazil's Pantanal, one of the world most amazing wildlife refuge. Non-riders can enjoy Photographic safari ,hiking, boat riding, kayaking, short horse rides, cattle work, birdwatching and barbecues/ picnics out in the bush.

Dates and Rates:

Rides are ongoing year round. Dryer seasons with greatest concentration of wildlife from late April to October.

5 days/4 nights $1050 US
6 days/5 nights $1260 US
7 days/6 nights $1470
8 days/7 nights $1680 US

Add extra day Campo Grande normally at beginning of trip: including tour of city with lunch overnight in Campo Grande: $150 US/
Single supplement: 30 %.

Children:0-3 are free, 4-13 50% off

Add ons: Hike up Maracaju Range involving extra day and night $225 US/110 GBP/162 E
Bonito Trip: 3 days/2 nights
$1075 US
Single supplement: $85 US/42 GBP/61 E.

General Description: The Pantanal, offers year round horseback riders, hiker, birders and kayakers a big daily menu of wildlife, (see adventure section for non-riding alternatives) including capybaras, crab eating fox, marsh deer, anteaters, wild pig, tapirs, big cats, caimans, giant river otters, rare hyacinth macaws, macaws of every color, herons, spoonbills, giant flightless birds, and all of this wildlife is present all the time whether readily visible or not. The horses move through this thick tapestry of wildlife with controlled, calm steadiness that lets you enjoy the scenes that unfold before your eyes. Your Pantanal hosts are charming, the food delicious, nutritious, farm made, comfortable private rooms with en-suite facilities, We are now operating year round each season bringing weather changes, changes in flora and fauna as the Pantanal floods, and dries up in a cycle that has been going on for more years then you can throw a jaquar at.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Horsesense:

Our program is very flexible and can accommodate intermediate to experienced. Riders. Locally bred criollo pantaneiro horses which are sturdy, dependable and calm. The tack involves Western style reining with one hand, pantaneiro saddles for riders which include a long leather covered tree, covered by blankets and sheepskin for a unique and comfortable ride.

FOR NON RIDERS:
Photographic safari ,hiking, boat riding, kayaking, short horse rides, cattle work, bird watching and barbecues/ picnics out in the bush.

Getting There:

Riders will normally fly into San Paulo airport and transfer at airport to Brazilian airline that flies to Campo Grande airport, where they will be either transferred to hotel for overnight before departure to Pantanal or go directly from Campo Grande Airport to Pantanal by air or vehicle.

Room and Board:

The inns you will stay at offer typical Pantaneiro food which consists of meat (barbecue, steaks, stews with manioc, dry meat) or fish. There is normally a different specialty served each night, but the spread and amount is huge and of high quality. Fruit juices and vegetables, some locally grown are also offers as are the famous Brazilian desserts which normally include fruit compots, fudges eaten with home cheeses and I might add delicious cakes. You will stay at a variety of country inns which you will get to by vehicle, air and horseback as described in ride itineraries. Rooms will have private bathrooms. On the 12 day trip there is at least one night spent camping Pantanal style.

Weather:

SUMMER: Wet Season from November till May. All vegetation exuberantly green, temporary rivers flowing, lakes full of water. Rains every third day during one or 2 hours, sunny afterwards. All saddles carry raincoats. Temperatures about average 28° Celsius. Refreshing pool or Jaccuzi after safaris or riding, all rooms have air conditioning. Animals and birds scattered around.

WINTER: Dry season- days are warm and nights sometimes get cool. Temperatures about average 25° Celsius. Vegetation dry, animals and birds more concentrated and many flowering trees. No temporary rivers and some lakes can be without water.

Non riders can have specially designed programs with the emphasis on photography, fishing, hiking, boat rides or canoeing on their program. The longer rides are inappropriate for non-riders.

ITINERARY

Pantanal:

1. The seven days ride will cover an area of seven neighboring farms.(aprox 38000hectares or 90000 acres) with a 70 mile ride . A pick up Toyota with radio/ telephone system, 9 comfortable seats behind) and refreshments, fruits will take personal belongins to next stop and will be always somewhere near (radio contact) for those who want to take a rest of riding. The two other neighboring farms that are not used for overnight stay will offer us fruit juices/bathroom use).

2. Each rider will receive a hammock to rest under trees at each stop.

3. The Pousadas have typical pantaneiro food which means: lots of meat(barbecue, steaks, stews with manioc, dry meat, ..)We try to have a different speciality at each meal so that our guests try a little of all).Fruit juices and vegetables, some grown on the farms. Desserts are the famous fruit compots, fudges eaten with home cheeses.

4. The order of the program may be changed if my neighbours aren´t available. If we have well ahead planned schedules this should not happen.

All Pousadas have electricity, lounges for meals, typical food, rivers with boating programs, photographic safaris, night spotting, telephone, good horses with Pantaneiro saddles with sheep skin, galpões where the peões work leather, wild animals and birds, beautiful and different landscapes. Each farm is very different from the other what makes this trip unique.

II- DAY BY DAY SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY:

Day1:	Optional: add on day in Campo GrandeL 09:40hs arrival TAM Campo Grande. Hotel check- in. Lunch (local fish or barbecue restaurant). Afternoon City tour, local market, saddle shop, Indian village.
Day2:	After breakfast departure for Sao Roque farm(220 kms) arriving in 3 hours. You will then be introduced to property and your accommodations, lunch and off to ride toward the scarps of Serra de Maracaju the geographical formation that forms one ends of the Pantanal.This can be a very strong nesting area for a variety of exotic birds. Dinner and overnight after ride at Sao Roque farm.
Day3:	7:00hs departure to picnic under the trees next to a vazante(temporary river ) with caimans, hammock rest. Afternoon: visit to lagoons and cattle management centers. The rest of the way may be on horse back or in a 4x4 pick up with photographic safari leaving the mountain range entering lowlands. Dinner and overnight at Sao Roque farm. Total: 30 kms = 19 miles ( Non riders in 4x4 safari vehicle.)
Day4:	Drive down in safari vehicle 4x4 to São João fazenda. After lunch presentation of horses, cowboys and cattle drive with the leading steers. Dinner and overnight at Sao João fazenda.
Day5:	Safari to the Correntoso river . Boat ride- river down to see wildlife sun bathing on the margins(caimans, capybaras,ducks, herons,etc Trek through the forest by the river. Barbecue in the bush. Fresh fish can be grilled if anyone wants to fish) Most commonly caught: piranhas, pintados(skin) and dourados(scales). Afternoon- kayak ride downstream. Night spotting. Dinner and overnight at Sao João fazenda.
Day6:	Hike through vazantes, fields and forests –macaw trail where they nest in tall Mandovi trees.(Hyacinth-red and green and blue and yellow species of macaws). Lunch in under the shade of Bacuri palm forrest with the view of a 5 hectare lagoon. Afternoon ride will go to Santo Amaro outstation, where we will leave the horses for the following day acitivities, crossing the fields of Cumbarú outstation along temporary rivers and lagoons. Dinner and overnight at São João farm (Monteiros) Total: 20 to 30 kms.
Day7:	Santo Amaro outstation is the wettest area in the fazenda. Drive to get to our horses and departure to visit giant otters nests along a corixo (branch of the Correntoso river). We will cross big lagoons and ride besides the ones we cannot cross on horseback. Lunch at outstation, with traditional local food. Afternoon ride we will go back to São João farm going along the border of the wet areas. Dinner and overnight at Pousada dos Monteiros- S.João farm. Total: 20 to 30 kms.
Day 8:	Ararauna-Uniderp(University of developement of the State and region of the Pantanal). Visit installations with a permanent nature exhibit with wild life explanations and research projects(blue hyacinth macaw and others. Horse or pick up ride in the country side. Lunch at the pousada. Visit to the flood plain of River Negro , boat ride. Dinner and overnight at Pousada Ararauna with a typical pantaneiro music group. Total: short ride 3 -5 kms.= 2 to 3 miles.( can be longer)
Day 9:	Breakfast- brisk walk to say good bye to the Pantanal. Check out to Campo Grande. Vehicle transfer to Campo Grande in time for lunch and then head towards the airport.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a sample itinerary, planned several months in advance. Accordingly, arrangements (routes or facilities) are subject to change depending on local conditions and hotel choice may vary due to availability. Also, the tour may be arranged in different order than is described above.

III –SERVICES INCLUDED:

Transfers to and from Campo Grande to ranch, all meals, accommodations with ensuite facilities, all riding and extra activities as described.

IV–NOT INCLUDED:

Overnight in Campe Grande, all meals in Campo Grande except for breakfast on day of transfers. airfare, discretionary gratuities and insurance.

3day add on - Pantanal Plus: Bonito Add-on:

Please note that for those who choose to visit Bonito on the ninth day you are transferred by vehicle to a hotel in Bonito that you will stay in on ninth and tenth night being transferred to Campo Grande on the morning of the 11th day in time for final tour of Campo Grande, shopping spree before boarding your plane.
In Bonito your accommodations and breakfast are included as is a visit to cave, a session of snorkeling, a horseback ride, a visit to the waterfalls , and a visit to macaws. You will be assisted throughout by bi-lingual guide, who will also be your driver. Bonito should make a pleasant and relaxing end to a trip to the Pantanal, Bonito offers up in particular another view of Brazil but of greater importance a river where the mineral composition allows for crystal clear waters that you can swim in with the colorful fish that inhabit the area while the macaws are flying about.

Alternate Activities: NON RIDERS will have the same schedule day by day, visiting the same farms and outstations alternating photographic safaris, birdwatching, hiking, boat and canoeing.

Non riders can have specially designed programs with the emphasis on photography, fishing, bird watching, hiking, boat rides or canoeing on their program. The longer rides are inappropriate for non-riders.

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Special Considerations:

PLEASE NOTE THAT UNITED STATES CITIZENS IN PARTICULAR NEED VISAS and THAT YOUR US PASSPORT MUST HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE AS LEAST SIX MONTHS LATER THAN YOUR SCHEDULED RETURN from Brazil. The fee is around $100 or $125 dollars. You may apply for them at the nearest Brazilian consulate or by a variety of web services for a fee. The services are registered and legitimate but do require your passport to expedite the Visa.