Brazil: The Pantanal - New Trip!

• Paddle, hike and raft through the world’s largest wetlands, teeming with wildlife
• Experience mighty Iguassu Falls as we explore the national park on foot and by boat
• Snorkel Bonito’s crystalline rivers, eye to eye with a kaleidoscope of tropical fish

Few places on earth are as tantalizing for active explorers as Brazil’s little-known Pantanal. This massive marsh system, inundated by seasonal floods, is a magnet for wildlife, from capybara and crab-eating fox to wild pig, tapir and the elusive jaguar. Millions of caiman lurk in the reeds as we paddle quietly past, while more than 650 bird species create a natural cacophony in the swamps and forests of this inland delta. From our remote eco-lodge base we head out each day on a new adventure, exploring the vast, watery maze by varied modes.

The Pantanal is the largest flood zone in the world, covering 90,000 square miles in southwest Brazil. Here, the Paraguay River and a number of highland rivers converge, creating a labyrinth of channels, lakes and bays punctuated by “camalotes,” islands made of floating plants, and outposts of solid rock. It’s an oddly paradoxical ecosystem in the midst of a semi-arid climate, a perfect intersection of aquatic and terrestrial habitats that teems with wildlife, much of it readily visible in the open landscape.
 

Despite the immensity of the Pantanal, Brazil’s natural wonders don’t end here. The sweetwater streams of Bonito, perfectly clear aquamarine waters that seduce snorkelers, are next on our adventure agenda as we head into even lusher climes. And the finale of our Brazilian odyssey may be the most spectacular experience of all: standing in the spray of the 275 individual cataracts that join to create Iguassu Falls, largest in the world.

*Price does not include international airfare or mandatory trip insurance. Prices are given in US Dollars.