Overview

Slap in the centre of Brazil is the world’s largest wetland, a mix of wilderness and cattle ranches with savannah, swamps and sluggish rivers. Just one road (the Transpantaneira) leads into the heart of the region, giving access to farms and eco-lodges.

You could spend a week or more in the Pantanal but 3-4 days can provide a memorable experience of its remarkable wildlife and inexplicable beauty. Stands of trees are scattered, so that the huge array of wildlife: birds from giant storks to macaws, mammals from capybara to anteaters and reptiles from caimans to anacondas are easily viewed by nature enthusiasts exploring by boat, on foot and on horseback. Flooding after the rains brings vast lagoons reflecting apricot sunsets; the dry season reveals walkable trails.

The Mato Grosso region has much more to offer besides: the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park near Cuiabá is endowed with waterfalls, ridges and tablelands, a magnet for birders. Closer to Campo Grande, a nucleus of labyrinthine rivers and caves has turned Bonito into a soft adventure destination.

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Holidays The Pantanal

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

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Private Journeys

Brazil / The Amazon

Brazil Wildlife: Iguazu, Pantanal and Amazon Cruise

15 days from £7,060pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Pantanal

Group - Discovery

Brazil / Iguazu Falls

Trogon: Natural Brazil

12 days from £3,602pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

pantanal jaguar

Private Journeys

Brazil / Iguazu Falls

Wildlife Brazil: Jaguars of the Pantanal

11 days from £5,310pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Things to do

Wildlife spotting is the main activity in the Pantanal, and you can do this on foot, on horseback or by boat. Speak to an expert or enquire online.

Where to go when - our guide to The Pantanal

Pantanal

The weather in The Pantanal is wide and varied

The world’s largest wetland is home to a huge array of wildlife: from giant storks to macaws, capybara to graceful jaguars. From January to March, heavy rainfall results in widespread flooding of the wetlands, with wildlife packed onto islands above the water level. April - June the waters recede and water-birds return to the isolated lakes, while July - September (winter) wildlife is at its most abundant. Winter is the optimum time to spot wildlife, especially mammals, though they can take cover during cold snaps.

View our The Pantanal weather guide

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Meet our team

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  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

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    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

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    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

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    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

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    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

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