Note: The order in which the sites are visited is sometimes different from what is listed here due to availability in the lodges, but we intend to visit all sites that are mentioned.

​

Day 1: Arrival in Cuiabá

The tour begins this evening in Cuiabá. No activities are planned for today.

 

Days 2-3: Pousada Piuval

On the morning of day 2, we’ll drive south about two hours to Pousada Piuval at the northern edge of the Pantanal, where we’ll

spend two nights. Piuval is a truly amazing place for bird photography – numbers of both species and individuals can be astronomical, and the wide open nature of the Pantanal makes great shots a given. The habitat is a mosaic of open pasture,

wetlands, and scrub interspersed with islands of forest. We’ll spend our mornings stalking the likes of Southern Screamer, Plumbeous Ibis, Red-legged Seriema, Bare-faced Curassow, Greater Rhea, Whistling Heron, Blue-fronted Parrot, Long-tailed Ground-Dove, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, White Woodpecker, and Red-crested Cardinal, to name just a few. This is one of the best spots for Hyacinth Macaw, which can be seen in good numbers every day, and we’ll spend time trying to get the perfect shot of these majestic birds. Depending on conditions, we may visit a small canopy tower one afternoon offering eye-level views of Orange-backed Troupial and Gray-crested Cacholote as well as a vista of the surrounding wetlands that are teeming with birds and other wildlife.

 

Day 4: Pousada Puival to Pouso Alegre

We’ll swap one great location for another as we work south along the Transpantanal Highway. Pouso Alegre is another Pantanal lodge that has become well known as a great place to see and photograph the impressive Giant Anteater, and this will be our major target. Pouso Alegre is in fact a haven for many rare mammals, as it has pristine habitats lacking in many other Pantanal lodges, with mammals like Giant Armadillo, Ocelot, and Crab-eating Fox all known to be there. Of course, birds are plentiful too, and some of the classic Pantanal birds are here, like Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, Red-crested and Yellow-billed Cardinals, and even the secretive Agami Heron stalks the waterways on site. A single night will be spent at Pouso Alegre.

 

Days 5-6: Pixaim River area

Traveling south along the Transpantanal Highway can get us some truly great photo opportunities. Some sections of the highway are lined with literally thousands of caimans as well as waterbirds as far as the eye can see. Yellow-billed and Large-billed Terns flit over the isolated pools offering great chances to practice flight shots. We’ll arrive at our next lodge by early to mid afternoon, where we stay for two nights. Boat trips on the Pixaim River are the undoubted highlight of a stay at this lodge. Experienced boat drivers know how to get up close and personal with numerous herons (with luck both Agami and Boat-billed among the more common species), Sunbittern, Sungrebe, up to five species of kingfisher, Giant Otters, and maybe even a Brazilian Tapir. The lodge area itself is an oasis full of birds any time of the day, and feeders bring in Chestnut-eared Aracari, Orange-backed Troupial, Grayish Saltator, Grayish Paywing, and others. Gallery forest along the river is difficult for photography, but some may want to give it a shot since it offers an escape from the blazing sun. With persistence and the help of your guide you have chances for great birds like Pale-crested Woodpecker and Helmeted Manakin, or monkeys including Brown Capuchin and Silvery Marmoset.

 

Days 7-9: Porto Jofre and Jaguar Search

Well spend the morning of day 7 driving south along the Tranpantanal Highway to the end of the road at the Cuiaba river. This drive offers our best chance to get shots of the gorgeous Scarlet-hooded Blackbird and the stately Maguari Stork. We’ll arrive at our hotel in time for a quick lunch, then board our private boat to begin searching for Jaguars. This involves cruising up smaller tributaries of the the Cuiabá River, watching carefully for any movement. The boatmen also share information with each other via radio, and if a cooperative jaguar is found by another boat, we’ll try to get to the spot as soon as possible. We also won’t ignore other photo opportunities, and should encounter the likes of Sungrebes, Black-collared and Great-black Hawks, scores of herons and kingfishers, as well as Giant Otters, Tapirs, Capybara, and possibly even other cat species. Three nights will be spent in Porto Jofre in order to give us plenty of chances to track down, and shoot, Jaguars and other Pantanal wildlife.

 

Day 10: Pantanal to Cuiabá

After breakfast, we will retrace our path north along the Transpantanal Highway, stopping for any good photo opportunities or to just admire the abundance of wildlife. In the afternoon we will reach the city of Cuiabá, where we spend our final night.

​

Day 11: Departure

The tour ends this morning in Cuiabá. No activities are planned for today.