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Wildlife of Mato Grosso

Discover the wildlife of the heart of South America in three markedly different biomas: the dry cerrado, the rim of the great Amazon rainforests and the seasonal wetlands of the Pantanal.

Chapada dos Guimaraes

Day 1 D e.g 05.15h arrive in Sao Paulo Terminal 2 off your international flight with e.g BA from London Heathrow. Clear customs and immigration and change to Terminal 1 for an onwards flight to Cuiaba in Mato Grosso State. Fly Sao Paulo / Cuiaba e.g TAM JJ3804 09.00/11.10 You will all be met on arrival at Cuiaba airport and driven 67km NW to Pousada Penhasco in the Chapada dos Guimaraes where you will stay for the next 2 nights. p.m. free to relax and enjoy the scenery The Chapada dos Guimaraes is a region of ancient weathered table mountains and Cerrado vegetation, monolithic rock formations and fresh mineral waterfalls. It is the source of all the water in the Pantanal. The hotel is located at the edge of an escarpment with impressive views down over the Pantanal region.

Day 2 BLD Full day exploring the Chapada dos Guimaraes and introduction to the Cerrardo. The Cerrardo is considered the richest savanna on the planet with 837 bird species 161 mammals (including the threatened Maned Wolf), 120 reptiles and over 10,000 vascular plants of which 44% are endemic. With a dusk visit to V‚u de Noiva, to see Red-and-green and Blue-winged Macaws return to their cliff-side roost sites before returning Pousada Penhasco.

Rio Cristalino Lodge

Day 3 BLD This morning you will be transferred back to Cuiaba airport for your Trip Airline flight to Alta Floresta Fly Cuiaba/Alta Floresta Trip Airlines 12.10/13.55 via Sinop Lunch at Alta Floresta Lodge, then transfer by road then 2-3 hrs by boat to Rio Cristalino Lodge where you stay the next 4 nights on a full board basis.

Day 4 BLD Each day Cristalino lodge offers a broad range of natural history tours / trails great boat trips along the riverine forest / observation tower / birding and butterflying with the shared services of experienced resident English speaking naturalist guides.

Day 5 BLD Full day of excursions based at Rio Cristalino.

Day 6 BLD Full day of excursions based at Rio Cristalino.

Alta Floresta

Day 7 BLD much of the day based at Rio Cristalino p.m. return by boat and road to Alta Floresta for 1 night at Alta Floresta Lodge.

Pantanal

Day 8 BLD a.m. opportunities for nature viewing in the grounds of the lodge - where there is even a Harpy Eagle nest Fly Alta Floresta / Cuiaba Trip Airlines 14.15/16.20 via Sinop You will be met on arrival at Cuiaba airport and driven south into the Pantanal along the Transpantanera Highway (2-3 hrs) to stay x 4 nights at Araras Lodge private reserve. The Pantanal is the world's largest seasonal wet land (an alluvial plain) where cowboys ranch cattle it is home to the endangered Hyacinth Macaw, to Caimen, Capypara, Jabiru, Howler Monkeys and huge numbers of water birds. Late afternoon boardwalks for sunset from the observation tower The lodge is a rustic regional architecture 32km from Pocon‚. It has 14 rooms with ceiling fans, mosquito nets, private facilities with hot and cold water, a bar swimming pool, large corridors with hammocks and a nice tree-top lookout.

Day 9 BLD Full day dedicated to observing the Pantanal's flora & fauna a.m. 2-3 hr horseback ride through thet pastures, woods and wetlands lunch a the lodge, p.m. hike with guide in a different area of the reserve allowing you to observe and learn more about the local environment.

Day 10 BLD After breakfast travel down private dirt roads, to Sentinela Camp on the edge of the Clarinho river. Canoe tour to spot aquatic wildlife, birds and flora; possibility of piranha fishing. Brazilian churrasco style picnic lunch along the banks of the river. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11 BLD a.m. walk / bike ride to a neighbouring ranch p.m. photo safari drive down the Transpantaneira Highway eve: photo truck safari with search light to look for nocturnal wildlife

Sao Paulo - departure

Day 12 BLD a.m. Photo safari back along the Transpantaneira Park Road to Cuiaba. Fly Cuiaba / Sao Paulo - Congonhas (CGH) JJ3763 12.00/16.48 change airports in Sao Paulo and catch your international flight home with e.g TAM or BA Fly Sao Paulo / London Heathrow

Guide price

12 days / 11 nights. Tailor-made holiday.

Guide price from: £call

supplement for specialist birding guide: £call

based on two people sharing a double/twin room.

Included:

All transport within Brazil including domestic flights Cuiaba-Alta Floresta-Cuiaba in economy class, 11 nights accommodation, meals as indicated B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, all excursions described above, shared services of resident naturalist guides while at Park Eco Lodge, Rio Cristalino and Araras Lodge.

Not Included:

International flights to Cuiaba; travel insurance, Brazilian departure tax, (allow USD$36 pp); Cristalino environmental tax $50pp; items of a personal nature, e.g drinks, tips, laundry, any optional excursions.