September 23-30, 2024
We currently have seven people. Three spots left!
Optional side trip to Bonito, Brazil
A well-kept secret of wildlife lovers and nature photographers around the world, the Pantanal shines as Brazil’s best region for animal watching. The world’s largest floodplain has an incredible quantity of birds, reptiles and big mammals because of its rich geography.
It’s a seasonal wetland that spends part of the year underwater and all its natural species are adapted to this reality. For photographers and those looking to get up close with animals that exist only in one of the last large untouched natural reserves on Earth, the dry season is paradise.
From May to October, immense flocks of birds come in search of fish, as some 200 species reside in the temporary lagoons and oxbow lakes. These birds include roseate spoonbills, wood storks and jabirus. Caimans and capybaras in turn are drawn to the water by the birds. And at the top of this food chain is the much sought-after jaguar.
This abundance of food and diversity is particularly evident in the Northern Pantanal, homeland of the jaguar – known here as the onça-pintada – the largest and most elusive feline in the Americas. Also, the giant otters, neotropical otters, greater rhea and other species aren’t scared off by human presence.
Also, the fact that there are no hills in these open plains make the scenery even better for spotting wildlife. During the dry season, there is the added bonus of the beautiful ipê trees in bloom. Those interested in cultural differences get to observe the daily lives of the “pantaneiros,” local cowboys who engage in a seasonal work-life herding cattle in the wetlands.
- Intensive viewing and photography – Up Close And Personal – Jaguars, Giant Otters, Caiman, Macaws, Tapirs, Storks, and a wide variety of birds and other wildlife
- Early morning and late afternoon photo shoots to take advantage of the best light, watching and waiting for wildlife in just the right setting
- Custom designed itinerary
- Comfortable safari accommodation, most locations equipped with wifi
- 2 to 14-seater boat available for the Jaguar-searching portion of our Pantanal Safari
- Count on assistance from SouthQuest’s naturalist guides who have vast experience with the local wildlife and photography expeditions
- Optional hands-on photography assistance by Brazilian NatGeo photographers
Itinerary: 23-30 September 2024
9/23/24 - Arrival in Cuiabá; transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Amazon Airport or similar
9/24/24 - Transfer to Porto Jofre; afternoon boat safari. Overnight at Hotel Pantanal Norte (B, L, D)
9/25/24 - Morning and afternoon boat safaris. Overnight at Hotel Pantanal Norte (B, L, D)
9/26/24 - Morning and afternoon boat safaris. Overnight at Hotel Pantanal Norte (B, L, D)
9/27/24 - Morning and afternoon boat safaris. Overnight at Hotel Pantanal Norte (B, L, D)
9/28/24 - Morning and afternoon boat safaris. Overnight at Hotel Pantanal Norte (B, L, D)
9/29/24 - Morning boat safari. After lunch, return to Cuiabá; Overnight at Amazon Airport (B, L)
9/30/24 - Check out, transfer to the airport for departure (B)
Included: accommodation; meals according to the above program; regular airport transfers by hotel’s shuttle; private A/C vehicle during the whole program; all permits and taxes; English-speaking naturalist guide during all the tours.
Not included: International flights; Brazilian visa, if necessary; travel insurance (mandatory); early check-in/late checkout; drinks and other meals; personal expenses and tips.
Requirements: You must ensure that your travel documents including passport and visas are in order and will remain valid for the entire length of your stay in each destination. We are able to give general advice on these matters but such requirements are subject to change and we cannot be held responsible if you do not check current requirements before your departure.
Prices: Please note that the cost depends on the number of people we recruit. If we sell 10 spots the price will go down to $3680 per person
8-9 guests total - $4430 per person sharing
10 guests total - $3680 per person sharing
Single supplement: $710
MARCELLO CAVALCANTI - Guest Photographer & Tour Leader
Marcello Cavalcanti is one of the best-known nature and landscape photographers in his photogenic hometown of Rio de Janeiro. With extensive international experience, having photographed remote locales such as the Inca cities of Peru, the Atacama Desert, the Bolivian Altiplanos, Argentine and Chilean Patagonia, the Canadian Rockies and the Serengeti in Africa. Cavalcanti seeks to portray Rio from the point of view that he considers most important, in other words, the city’s relationship with nature and weather. His photos clearly reflect this, as the lush, widely-recognized touristy landscape gives way to lightning storms, intriguing rainy days, breathtaking daybreaks and twilights and, of course, the most extraordinary and original angles of the famous mountains that surround the Serra da Carioca. The urban forest and its vast fauna are also a constant theme in Cavalcanti’s photos of the city. Cavalcanti also acts as a teacher of landscape photography and runs his own Youtube channel, “Por Trás da Foto” (literally “Behind the Photo”), where he reveals his sophisticated techniques and creativity in short, charismatic videos. Cavalcanti has participated in dozens of exhibitions, both solo and group shows. His photos are seen in art and photography galleries and not uncommonly in newspaper and magazine articles published in Brazil.