Wildlife of the Mato Grosso

Arrive in Cuiaba - to the northern Pantanal

You will be met on arrival at Cuiaba airport and driven south into the Pantanal along the Transpantanera Highway (2-3 hrs) to stay for 4 nights at Araras Lodge private reserve including all meals and daily shared excursions with resident naturalist guides. 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 Poconé. 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. After dinner at the lodge, you will be taken on a night walk in the reserve to look for nocturnal wildlife.

Full day of shared guided excursions dedicated to observing the Pantanal’s flora & fauna Morning excursion by horse, truck or hike through surrounding pastures, woods and wetlands. After lunch at the lodge, hike with guide in a different area of the reserve allowing you to observe and learn more about the local environment.

Full day of shared guided excursions dedicated to observing the Pantanal’s flora & fauna After breakfast travel down private dirt roads, to the banks 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.

Full day of shared guided excursions dedicated to observing the Pantanal’s flora & fauna After breakfast, visit a neighbouring family-run cattle ranch, with an extensive collection of "zebu" and a preservation area for sustainable use of soil. After lunch hike or horse ride open pasture-lands for birding and nature viewing. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

to the Cerrado - Chapada dos Guimaraes

Today you will be transferred back to Cuiaba where you will be met and transferred on to the Park Ecolodge in Chapada dos Guimaraes where you 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.

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 Véu de Noiva, to see Red-and-green and Blue-winged Macaws return to their cliff-side roost sites before returning Park Ecolodge

to the Southern Amazon - Cristalino Lodge

This morning you will be transferred back to Cuiaba airport for your flight to Alta Floresta On arrival transfer by road then 2-3 hrs by boat to Cristalino Lodge where you stay the next 4 nights on a full board basis. Cristalino Jungle Lodge is situated by the Cristalino river nestled in a private rainforest reserve in the Southern Amazon. The region is recognized as an important area of the Amazon in terms of biodiversity and is one of the richiest places in the Amazon for observing birds, mammals, butterlies and orchids in a primary forest environment and there are a great variety of endemic species. Each day Cristalino lodge offers a broad range of shared excusions with experienced English-speaking resident naturalist guides, from hiking along trails / boat trips along the riverine forest / observation tower / birding and butterflying. Excursions can be customised to suit guests particular interests (with advance notice)

Full day of shared guided excursions based at Cristalino Lodge In the morning, walk to the lodge's 50m canopy tower where you will be able to see the forest from above the canopy. Monkeys, macaws and several species of birds can be found here. Then guided hike along some of the lodges trails for further nature viewing opportunities.

Full day of shared guided excursions based at Cristalino Lodge In the morning hike towards Saleiro House - a rustic tree house located in the middle of the forest reserve. The soil here is naturally rich in minerals, and is often visited by large forest mammals such as the South American tapir, collared peccary, white-lipped peccary, giant anteater and the southern tamandua. In the afternoon, boat trip up river and hike the remarkable Brazil Nut Trail in a region with enormous Brazil nut trees. On the way back it is possible to canoe or take a boat ride, for further nature viewing opportunities along the river

Full day of shared guided excursions based at Cristalino Lodge Boat trip in the morning and hike the "Sierra Trail": a site with a low, drier and deciduous type of forest. This trail has viewpoints as it is located on hilly terrain. Orchids are often found in this area. In the afternoon hike on Teles Pires island, a place where parakeets, parrots, macaws and nesting wood storks can be seen. A great location for photography at sunset

to Cuiaba

Light morning hike along the Tapiri Trail, where the White-whiskered-spider-monkey, symbol of Cristalino State Park, can be seen. Then boat the road transfer back to Alta Floresta for lunch and your flight back to Cuiaba You will be met on arrival and transferred to a hotel where you stay for the night before your flight home the following day

Depart Brazil

This morning you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Cuiaba airport to catch your flight home

Arrive in the UK