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Jaguars of Brazil's Pantanal
Lodge-Based Photo Safari
Upcoming Departures
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Trip Leader(s)
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Starting From [Block//Current Price]
Single Supplement: +$1,200.00
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Deposit: $3,500.00
Start/End
Cuiabá, Brazil / Cuiabá, Brazil
Length
11 Days/10 Nights
Fitness Level
Level 2 - What's This?
Group Size
Up To 8 Guests
Highlights
- Explore the world's largest tropical wetland, the Pantanal, spanning over 70,000 square miles
- Visit the BEST location in the world to photograph jaguars
- Immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity with over 1,000 bird species, 400 fish species, and 300 mammalian species
- Photograph rare and endangered species such as hyacinth macaws and giant river otters
- Cruise along the Pantanal rivers in search of jaguars resting, hunting, and swimming
- Small group size, limited to just 8 photographers
If you have any questions about a trip, itinerary, or gear, our Photo Experience Coordinators are available for a personalized one-on-one consultation to provide all the details you need.
Trip Description:
National Geographic calls it Brazil’s best kept secret.
Covering over 70,000 square miles, the Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland. It sits in the center of South America, and is 10 times the size of Florida’s Everglades. Often overshadowed by the nearby Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal actually boasts a higher concentration of fauna, comparable to the densest animal populations in Africa. Some of the Pantanal’s critters include giant anteaters, piranha, howler and capuchin monkeys, green anacondas—the world’s largest snake, and the star of our proverbial show, jaguars!
Each year rains that fall during the rainy season fill the Pantanal’s giant basin, which creates a vast flooded landscape. Here, unlike the thick jungles of the Amazon, wide-open space extend views for miles and miles. The flooded landscape nurtures a biologically diverse collection of aquatic plants and helps to support a dense array of animal species. When the rains end, water drains into the Paraguay River, leaving behind a rich environment that attracts enormous flocks of spoonbill, egret, and stork. There are few humans here, making birds the primary occupants.
The Pantanal is home to roughly 1,000 bird species, 400 fish species, 300 mammalian species and 480 reptile species. As you can determine, there is a LOT going on here. On our photographic tour of the Pantanal we’ll set out from the Brazilian city of Cuiabá on a safari-like journey south on the dusty Transpantaneira Highway, in search of wildlife encounters.
Porto Jofre, our southerly destination where we’ll spend several days, will bring us to our primary focus – jaguars!
We’ll spend a few days while on the highway photographing whatever we might find, be it marsh deer, coatimundi, giant anteaters, tapirs and giant river otters as we make our way to the settlement of Porto Jofre. It is in Porto Jofre where we’ll spend multiple days in search of the jaguar by boat. The jaguar are often found resting and hunting on the banks of several Pantanal rivers, sometimes even doing a little swimming! Vantage points are best achieved from the river, via boat, so that is what we’ll plan to do! Jaguars are the third largest “big cat” on earth, and the Pantanal jaguar is the world’s largest jaguar subspecies with some males weighing in at over 300 lbs!
While jaguars are ultimately the primary draw on this fantastic South American expedition, birders and other wildlife enthusiasts will be pleased as the bird photography, in particular, is simply astounding here. You’ll certainly want to bring “the big glass” for this tour as we’ll look to photograph jabiru – the world’s largest stork and symbol of the Pantanal, as well as egret, heron, the increasingly endangered hyacinth macaw, alongside capybaras -the world’s largest rodent, caiman, giant otters, and capuchin monkeys.
It’s a mouthful, isn’t it? The list of wildlife that we’ll see could go on and on. Travel with Backcountry Journeys as we venture to South America, and to one of the world’s truly great natural wonders. The Pantanal is still a relatively unknown gem, and provides the wildlife photographer with a plethora of unique opportunities to come away with experiences and images that won’t soon be forgotten.
Covering over 70,000 square miles, the Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland. It sits in the center of South America, and is 10 times the size of Florida’s Everglades. Often overshadowed by the nearby Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal actually boasts a higher concentration of fauna, comparable to the densest animal populations in Africa. Some of the Pantanal’s critters include giant anteaters, piranha, howler and capuchin monkeys, green anacondas—the world’s largest snake, and the star of our proverbial show, jaguars!
Each year rains that fall during the rainy season fill the Pantanal’s giant basin, which creates a vast flooded landscape. Here, unlike the thick jungles of the Amazon, wide-open space extend views for miles and miles. The flooded landscape nurtures a biologically diverse collection of aquatic plants and helps to support a dense array of animal species. When the rains end, water drains into the Paraguay River, leaving behind a rich environment that attracts enormous flocks of spoonbill, egret, and stork. There are few humans here, making birds the primary occupants.
The Pantanal is home to roughly 1,000 bird species, 400 fish species, 300 mammalian species and 480 reptile species. As you can determine, there is a LOT going on here. On our photographic tour of the Pantanal we’ll set out from the Brazilian city of Cuiabá on a safari-like journey south on the dusty Transpantaneira Highway, in search of wildlife encounters.
Porto Jofre, our southerly destination where we’ll spend several days, will bring us to our primary focus – jaguars!
We’ll spend a few days while on the highway photographing whatever we might find, be it marsh deer, coatimundi, giant anteaters, tapirs and giant river otters as we make our way to the settlement of Porto Jofre. It is in Porto Jofre where we’ll spend multiple days in search of the jaguar by boat. The jaguar are often found resting and hunting on the banks of several Pantanal rivers, sometimes even doing a little swimming! Vantage points are best achieved from the river, via boat, so that is what we’ll plan to do! Jaguars are the third largest “big cat” on earth, and the Pantanal jaguar is the world’s largest jaguar subspecies with some males weighing in at over 300 lbs!
While jaguars are ultimately the primary draw on this fantastic South American expedition, birders and other wildlife enthusiasts will be pleased as the bird photography, in particular, is simply astounding here. You’ll certainly want to bring “the big glass” for this tour as we’ll look to photograph jabiru – the world’s largest stork and symbol of the Pantanal, as well as egret, heron, the increasingly endangered hyacinth macaw, alongside capybaras -the world’s largest rodent, caiman, giant otters, and capuchin monkeys.
It’s a mouthful, isn’t it? The list of wildlife that we’ll see could go on and on. Travel with Backcountry Journeys as we venture to South America, and to one of the world’s truly great natural wonders. The Pantanal is still a relatively unknown gem, and provides the wildlife photographer with a plethora of unique opportunities to come away with experiences and images that won’t soon be forgotten.
What's Included
- All listed meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
- All transportation during the workshop
- All lodging during the workshop
- An experienced local guide
- All Pantanal boat charters
- All permits and park fees
- Professional photography guiding and instruction
- Gratuity for service staff
What's Not Included
Flights to and from Cuiabá, Brazil (CGB)
Meals not listed as included on the itinerary
Lodging outside workshop dates
Alcoholic beverages
Souvenirs and personal items
Gratuity for photography guide(s). Please refer to our FAQ section for more details about gratuities
- Trip Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance - see plans here.
Trip Itinerary
Trip Itinerary
Itinerary Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 1 (D)
Arrive in Cuiabá, Brazil. Tonight, we’ll meet at our hotel for a pre-trip orientation meeting and welcome dinner.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
This morning we’ll head out down the long and windy Transpantaneira Highway in search of the local wildlife, where we’ll be sure to encounter some of the estimated 1,000 species of birds. This region is absolutely loaded with wildlife.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
We will set out to explore the birds of the area, like the roosting nocturnal Great Potoos, parakeets, Kingfishers and other birds of prey. It won’t be all birds, though, as we’ll also look for capuchin monkeys, marsh deer, tapir, as well as the elusive anteater – and of course Jaguars! This day will be all wildlife, all the time!
Day 4 (B,L,D)
We’ll hit the road again today, heading south and further into the tropical wetlands of the Pantanal, towards the settlement of Porto Jofre. Upon arriving in Porto Jofre, we’ll spend the afternoon photographing the beautiful and increasingly endangered hyacinth macaw and the wattled jacanas as the latter forages across the top of the large circular leaves of the victoria amazonica water lilies. This is the heart of Jaguar country.
Days 5 - 9 (B,L,D)
Each morning we’ll travel by speedboat on the Rio Cuiabá and its tributaries in search of the star of our show – jaguar! Our hotel will have us strategically located to provide us the best chances of finding and photographing the world’s third largest “big cat.” We’ll spend a good part of these days on boats which allows us to cruise the river in search of the best photo opportunities for cats, which, believe it or not, is along the banks of the river. Jaguars will be the focus of our adventures while in Porto Jofre, but we’ll be able to find other wildlife, like the endangered giant otter, too.
Day 10 (B,L,D)
Our eleventh day begins our return north, again traveling along the Transpantaneira Highway. In classic “safari” style, we’ll make sure to stop whenever good photographic opportunities present themselves. Yacare caiman are plentiful here, as are an assortment of other critters like nacunda nighthawk, caracara, and the capybaras -which is the world’s largest rodent. This is a perfect habitat for the hyacinth macaw, toucans and parrots. Birders, especially, will enjoy this day out on the Transpantaneira.
Day 11 (B,L)
Our final morning together will see us return to Cuiabá in time to catch your late afternoon flights home.
We’ll leave this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with unforgettable memories, new friends, enhanced wildlife photography skills, and digital cards full of stunning images!
Day 1 (D)
Arrive in Cuiabá, Brazil. Tonight, we’ll meet at our hotel for a pre-trip orientation meeting and welcome dinner.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
This morning we’ll head out down the long and windy Transpantaneira Highway in search of the local wildlife, where we’ll be sure to encounter some of the estimated 1,000 species of birds. This region is absolutely loaded with wildlife.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
We will set out to explore the birds of the area, like the roosting nocturnal Great Potoos, parakeets, Kingfishers and other birds of prey. It won’t be all birds, though, as we’ll also look for capuchin monkeys, marsh deer, tapir, as well as the elusive anteater – and of course Jaguars! This day will be all wildlife, all the time!
Day 4 (B,L,D)
We’ll hit the road again today, heading south and further into the tropical wetlands of the Pantanal, towards the settlement of Porto Jofre. Upon arriving in Porto Jofre, we’ll spend the afternoon photographing the beautiful and increasingly endangered hyacinth macaw and the wattled jacanas as the latter forages across the top of the large circular leaves of the victoria amazonica water lilies. This is the heart of Jaguar country.
Days 5 - 9 (B,L,D)
Each morning we’ll travel by speedboat on the Rio Cuiabá and its tributaries in search of the star of our show – jaguar! Our hotel will have us strategically located to provide us the best chances of finding and photographing the world’s third largest “big cat.” We’ll spend a good part of these days on boats which allows us to cruise the river in search of the best photo opportunities for cats, which, believe it or not, is along the banks of the river. Jaguars will be the focus of our adventures while in Porto Jofre, but we’ll be able to find other wildlife, like the endangered giant otter, too.
Day 10 (B,L,D)
Our eleventh day begins our return north, again traveling along the Transpantaneira Highway. In classic “safari” style, we’ll make sure to stop whenever good photographic opportunities present themselves. Yacare caiman are plentiful here, as are an assortment of other critters like nacunda nighthawk, caracara, and the capybaras -which is the world’s largest rodent. This is a perfect habitat for the hyacinth macaw, toucans and parrots. Birders, especially, will enjoy this day out on the Transpantaneira.
Day 11 (B,L)
Our final morning together will see us return to Cuiabá in time to catch your late afternoon flights home.
We’ll leave this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with unforgettable memories, new friends, enhanced wildlife photography skills, and digital cards full of stunning images!
Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.
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Testimonials From Our Customers
Julie K.
"I have traveled with Backcountry Journeys (BCJ) several times over the last 4 years to Glacier NP, Costa Rica (2x), Smoky Mountains NP, Joshua Tree, Zion and Bryce NPs, and most recently to Alaska.
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
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Scott S.
"BCJ provides an outstanding experience for photographers of all levels of experience/expertise. Each day's excursion is well planned-out and the guides always have a back-up plan if the weather is less than cooperative.
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
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Katherine P.
"I have now been on 8 trips with Backcountry Journeys. I love traveling with this company, as I am a woman traveling alone, and all I have to do is show up and they take care of everything else.
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
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We offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry - our worry free travel, peace of mind guarantee to you!We’re so confident that the Photography Trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip.
Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve made on the site – we guarantee it!
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2024