An Exclusive Immersion in Pantanal and the Amazon Rainforest: the Best Place for Wildlife Spotting in South America and the Most Biodiverse Ecosystem on Earth
An Exclusive Immersion in Pantanal and the Amazon Rainforest: the Best Place for Wildlife Spotting in South America and the Most Biodiverse Ecosystem on Earth
Including Pantanal and Amazon Rainforest
Hear What Past Guests Loved Most
Your Trip Overview
(everything mentioned below is included in your trip price)
Trip start date: you can choose any starting date you want for your trip, because all our trips have private departures. That is, you won't be traveling as part of a group.
Trip Duration & lodging:
8 days / 7 nights.
Lodging for 7 nights Included.
16 First‑class tours with the best tour guides (7 of them are private tours). All necessary entrance fees to national parks included.
4 airport transfers included (all private)
7 breakfasts + 7 lunches + 6 dinners included.
Worry‑Free planning & First‑Class service
Hear from our guests2 Destinations included:
- Pantanal (Best place to see jaguars and largest wetlands on Earth. Home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the Americas): 4 nights - YOUR STAY HERE IS ALL-INCLUSIVE (breakfast, lunch, and dinner included, with non-alcoholic beverages. Also snacks during tours.)
- Amazon Rainforest (The most bio-diverse ecosystem on Earth, chosen as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" by over 100 million voters): 3 nights - YOUR STAY HERE IS ALL-INCLUSIVE (breakfast, lunch and dinner included, with 2 non-alcoholic beverages per meal)
In the Pantanal we work with the most exclusive lodge in the area, called Refugio Ecologico Caiman. This place is the only area where you have a significant chance to spot jaguars year-round, and because of the high density of jaguars in and around the hacienda, and their habituation to the place, sightings are more probable, and encounters tend to be closer and longer than in other spots in the Pantanal. Besides running a very nice lodge with good food, Caiman takes their tours professionally: every tour is guided by a local "Pantaneiro" who has the expertise to track any of the unique animals found there, and also by a naturalist, some of them having had academic training in biology.
In the Amazon, we have designed an exclusive and unique experience for our guests, including all private tours with a private guide just for yourself (as opposed to the group tours offered everywhere else). Besides covering all of the more iconic Amazonian experiences, we include an adventurous jungle hiking & exploration experience led by a team of former members of the Brazilian Military specialized in jungle rescue operations, who will introduce you to jungle survival techniques such as obtaining drinking water, making fire, differentiating edible plant species, setting up traps, building a shelter, and the Amazonian "peconha" technique to gather fruit from trees; to finally enjoy a jungle BBQ in the thick of the Amazon rainforest!
Having considered all Amazon lodges in detail, we chose Amazon Ecopark Lodge as the best base for this program, because it's the only lodge where such a combination of private tours is possible. An added plus of Ecopark is that you won't need to waste precious vacation time by spending a night in the city of Manaus, as you'd need to do if you stayed at many other lodges.
Trip Photo Summary
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Pantanal
Staying for 4 nights, with 9 tours included
Day 1: You arrive in Pantanal
Flight arrival in Campo Grande. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the Pantanal lodge with private vehicle and guide.
Note: the order of the tours are determined by Caiman Refuge a few days before the tour dates, so they won’t necessarily be in the same order as listed here. The staff will hand you the program for your stay when you arrive.
Getting Acquainted with "Caiman Ecological Refuge": 130,000 Acres of Wetlands and Wildlife
It’s time to immerse yourself with a newfound knowledge and understanding of how the Caiman Ecological Refuge’s work with conservation and eco-tourism helps provide an amazing balance between humans and nature. We’ll learn all about the inner-workings of the refuge and the Pantanal’s history and ecosystem, as well have the awesome opportunity to closely observe the spectacled caimans who call the wetland waters home.
This is a half-day group tour.
Day 2: Pantanal
A 4x4 Jeep Safari Excursion through the Pantanal Wetlands
The exotic and exciting wildlife of the Pantanal wetlands awaits, as it’s time to explore on a jeep safari the mosaic of flooded grasslands, savannas, and tropical forests that make up this richly diverse and vast expanse of land! We’ll travel through open fields, lagoons and flooded areas in search of the many intriguing animals that call these wetlands home, including the royalty of the Pantanal... the jaguar!
This is a half-day group tour.
A Sunset Canoeing Expedition to Spot Wildlife around the Pantanal Lakes
It’s time for an up close and personal experience with the lush vegetation, majestic wildlife and the cacophony of nature’s sounds of world’s largest wetlands as we paddle our way through marshes and lagoons on a canoeing adventure that involves witnessing a beautiful sunset while on the waters of the Pantanal.
This is a half-day group tour.
Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience
As darkness falls upon the Pantanal wetlands and we return on our vehicle to the lodge from our afternoon tour, we’ll experience the unique orchestra of sounds of the Pantanal’s wildlife, and we’ll take this opportunity to spot the animals that wake up and become active as the coolness of the night sets in. Beneath the starry skies of these exotic wetlands, we may see owls, brocket deer, tapirs, foxes and waters filled with caimans, whose eyes glow in the dark under the moonlight.
This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour.
Day 3: Pantanal
On the Track of the Largest Cat in the Americas: the Elusive Jaguar
They’re the largest cats in the Americas, known for their dotted-rosette shaped spots and jaws powerful enough to crack a skull or a sea turtle’s shell, and you’re about to get up close and personal with them... the elusive jaguars of the Pantanal. Caiman Refuge is the only place in Pantanal (and possible the world) where you have a significant chance of spotting a jaguar in the wild year-round. And you’ll have the awesome experience of following these majestic animals in their natural habitat as you observe their habits and behavior out in the Pantanal.
This is a full-day group tour
Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience
As we return from our afternoon tour, we’ll ride our safari-adapted vehicle in a mini-excursion to spot the night-time wildlife of the Pantanal.
This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour
Day 4: Pantanal
Through the Lens: Pantanal Photo Safari Experience
Immerse yourself in the vibrant, lush wetlands scenery while capturing awesome shots of Pantanal wildlife with your lens as you embark on a photo safari. Get your camera ready as we cruise through open fields and flooded areas in search of the perfect picture!
This is a half-day group tour.
A Hike Through Pantanal: The World’s Largest Wetlands
The incredibly diverse and exotic wildlife of the largest wetlands in the world and a sense of adventure awaits us as we take a trek through the Pantanal in search of fascinating biodiversity, including the star of Pantanal: the majestic jaguar!
This is a half-day group tour.
Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience
As we return from our afternoon tour, we’ll ride our safari-adapted vehicle in a mini-excursion to spot the night-time wildlife of the Pantanal.
This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour.
Day 5: Last day in Pantanal
Transfer with private vehicle and guide to Campo Grande airport.
Amazon Rainforest
Staying for 3 nights, with 8 tours included
Day 5: You arrive in Amazon Rainforest
Flight arrival in Amazonas. Welcome at the airport and transfer with private vehicle and group boat to your lodge. The approximate total transfer time is 60 minutes (40 minutes by car and 20 by boat).
A Nighttime Canoeing Expedition in the Amazon (private tour)
It’s pitch black darkness in the Amazon Rainforest, as we’re embarked aboard a motorized canoe on an expedition to contemplate and listen to the myriad of sounds coming from the nocturnal creatures of the Amazon Rainforest. With many animals being nocturnal, the Amazon Rainforest comes alive at night, giving us the chance to experience the Amazon’s animal “orchestra†while hopefully spotting some of its nocturnal wildlife, as well as seeing the glowing eyes of a caiman swimming in the dark right beside our boat!
During our outing, we’ll be able to take in the constant and enthralling sounds of chirping and singing from the nearby birds and insects as we’re surrounded by the ambience of nighttime on the Amazon.
This is a 1 hour private tour.
Day 6: Amazon Rainforest
Hands-on Survival Techniques and Full-day Trekking in the Thick of the Amazon Rainforest (private tour)
Get ready for a most adventurous exploration in the thick of the Amazon rainforest! We’ll spend an entire day in the jungle, hiking and learning a wealth of hands-on jungle survival techniques from a team of former members of the Brazilian Military, specialized in jungle rescue operations.
Our trained professional team leaders will take us on a hiking tour and will introduce us to jungle survival techniques, such as obtaining drinking water, making fire, differentiating edible plant species, setting up traps, building a shelter, and the Amazonian “peconha†technique to gather fruit from high up on trees.
For lunch we’ll make a genuine Amazonian barbecue served with sides and fruits.
This is a full-day private tour for people of all ages (5 and up) and it’s designed to be safe and easygoing. The total hiking distance is normally around 4 miles (6 kilometers) but can be adapted to as little as 1200 feet (400 meters) or even less for guests with limited mobility. The tour, in sum, is designed for almost everyone and, although it is adventurous and exciting, it is certainly not challenging.
This tour includes lunch with non-alcoholic beverages.
Day 7: Amazon Rainforest
A Unique Up-Close Experience with the Friendly Amazonian Pink Dolphins (private tour)
It’s time to head out on the Amazon river bound for an exciting encounter with the largest species of freshwater dolphin in the world: the Amazonian pink river dolphin! You’ll have the opportunity to dive in a shallow bank of the Amazonian Black River and enjoy an unique close-up experience around free and wild pink dolphins, known for their very friendly nature.
The professional caretaker will tell us about some of the unique features of this mammal, which is unique to the Amazon basin, and feed the dolphins while they swim next to us.
The transfer to the dolphin site is in a private boat with a private guide and takes approximately 90 minutes to get to the dolphins site and 1 hour to return, and the time spent with the dolphins is about 1 hour.
Witnessing the Unique Phenomenom of the Amazon River’s Unmixable Waters and Navigating on a Speedboat Through Amazonian Waters (private tour)
Get ready to discover one of the many amazing features of the largest river on Earth: the Amazon River, whose flow is even larger than the flow of the next eight largest rivers in the world combined!
We’ll hop on our boat for a full day exploration on the Amazon river. We’ll first navigate to the confluence of the two rivers that form the Amazon River: the pitch-black Rio Negro and the cream-colored Solimoes River. That confluence is known as “the meeting of the unmixable waters.†Due to a unique quirk of nature, the waters of these two tributary rivers flow side by side for about 8 miles (12 kilometers) without mixing, due to a large difference between the rivers’ flowing speeds and temperatures. The difference in color between the two rivers is so stark, in fact, that the two “unmixable†waters can even be distinguished from satellites orbiting in space!
This is a half day tour in a private speedboat with a private guide. It includes lunch without alcoholic beverages at a floating restaurant on the Amazon river, and comes right after the "Interacting with the Unique Amazonian Pink Dolphin " private tour.
A Fishing Adventure in Search of the Amazon’s Most Voracious Creature: the Piranha (private tour)
Grab your fishing pole and bait as we embark on a fishing adventure in the Amazon River in search of a fish famed for its aggressiveness and extremely sharp teeth: the piranha. Among the 2,200 species of fish living in the Amazon basin (more species than in all of the rivers of Europe combined!), piranhas have become the most famous due to their voracity. Due to their keen sense of smell for blood, they can attack at the scent of it, swarming by the thousands and stripping an animal to the bone in mere minutes!
Our expert guide will take us out in search of a good spot where he thinks we’ll have the best chances to fish piranhas and other species, while we take in the lush atmosphere of the surrounding Amazon river!
This is a 1 hour private tour.
Day 8: Amazon Rainforest
A Taste of Amazon Life: an Amazon Dweller Shows Us His Traditions, Customs and Distinctive Perspective on Life (private tour)
It’s time hop on our boat and navigate down the Amazon river to visit one Caboclo (Amazon dweller). We’ll learn first-hand about the traditions, customs and distinctive perspective on life of a caboclo. We’ll learn about his life, customs, and how Caboclos make a living off the jungle that surrounds them. This is a unique chance to experience and interact with one of the locals that call the Amazon basin their home.
This is a 1 hour private tour.
Visiting a Wild Monkey Conservation Center (private tour)
We’ll set out on a boat to visit the facilities for rehabilitation and re-introduction of wild animals into their habitats (known as "the Monkey Forest"). This center was created in 1991, with the intention of receiving animals confiscated from illegal commerce. In this center, the animals are evaluated and taken care of by a team of veterinary doctors and biologists.
One of the species mostly present at the site is the “macaco barrigudo†(woolly monkey), which has a protected status as a result of abuse by illegal traders and their slow reproductive rate. You’ll also see wild monkeys, that come out every day for food, and maybe even some resident monkeys that live in the center, for rehabilitation purposes.
This is a 40 minutes private tour. The tour is not always available, because the reserve is sometimes depleted when monkeys are readapted to the wild.
A late checkout is included, you can use your room until 2 PM on your checkout date.
Transfer with private vehicle and group boat to Manaus airport. The approximate total transfer time is 1 hour (40 minutes by car and 20 by boat).
The normal check-out time at Amazon Ecopark Lodge is at 10:30 AM. However, your trip includes a late check-out at so you can use your room (depending on your flight departure time) until 2 PM, and the lodge's facilities until the airport transfer time.We look forward to welcoming you again in Brazil!
Lodging for 7 nights Included
suggested comfort category lodging
- Pantanal: 4 nightsCaiman Ecological Refuge
Caiman Ecological Refuge - “superior†category room at baiazinha lodge: 4 nights
“superior†category room at baiazinha lodge - Amazon Rainforest: 3 nightsAmazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge
Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge - "superior" category bungalow: 3 nights
"superior" category bungalow
suggested deluxe category lodging
- Pantanal: 4 nightsCaiman Ecological Refuge
Caiman Ecological Refuge - suite at cordilheira lodge: 4 nights
Suite at cordilheira lodge - Amazon Rainforest: 3 nightsAmazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge
Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge - "superior plus" category bungalow: 3 nights
"superior plus" category bungalow
Domestic Flights Duration & Route
Brazil is a huge country, the 5th largest in the world, so flights tend to be long, because of the long distances. Also many flights have connections. Needless to say, traveling by land is unfeasible in almost every case.
We can take care of booking all the needed domestic flights for your trip.
| Flight Route | Total Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| Campo Grande to Manaus | 6 hours and 50 minutes (there is no direct flight, so a connection is needed) |
For a worry‑free travel experience, we strongly advise letting us take care of your domestic flights. It’s common for local airlines to make several flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip. Taking care of domestic flights will allow us to closely monitor any flight changes, adapting your trip itinerary as needed.
Our flight issuing service includes: flights booking, daily tracking of flight status and changes, reconfirmation with the airline of each flight before each departure, booking of your flight seats, web check-in (not available for all flights) and assistance with your flights arrangements if there is any flight delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.
Hi there! I'm Fred, founder & owner of Exploration Journeys.
Over 20 years ago, I set out to build a travel company that would redefine what “worry-free travel” really means, where every guest feels cared for as if they were part of our family, and every detail runs seamlessly.
With two decades of experience crafting Argentina trips, I’ve learned that the right pacing, local expertise, and genuine care make all the difference. That’s why every itinerary we design blends must-see highlights with authentic local experiences, while leaving space for personal exploration and real connection.
I'd love to personally design a customized itinerary for you.
I look forward to helping make your Argentina journey truly memorable, worry-free and first-class from start to finish.
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Price per Person in U.S. Dollars
(does not include flights)
| PRICE PER PERSON FOR ALL GROUND SERVICES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort Category Lodging | Deluxe Category Lodging | ||
| Double occupancy room | |||
| Triple occupancy room | |||
Our prices above include all hotels, tours and airport transfers mentioned in this itinerary. Discounts available for groups of 4 or more travelers. Request a quote for 4 or more travelers or for a single traveler. Our prices do not include international or domestic airfare. Looking for the most exclusive and luxurious rooms and tour experiences? | |||
Domestic Flights
| Domestic Airfare |
| Starts at $ 131 per person |
| Subject to availability at the time of booking |
Our airfares include:
Most travel agencies and flight websites quote airfares that do not include any of the above, and some don't include seat reservation, but we always book airfares that allow these. Prices for domestic flights depend exclusively on availability — the sooner you book, the lower the airfare. As soon as we receive your feedback on your itinerary, we'll check flight availability and let you know the best flight options and lowest available fare. Our goal is that you don't have to worry about a thing. We take care of:
We actively manage your domestic flight arrangements so you can enjoy a worry‑free travel experience. |