The Brazilian Pantanal offers the New World’s greatest diversity and abundance of large, charismatic mammals such as Jaguars, Giant Otters, Brazilian Tapirs, Capybaras, and Giant Anteaters, and spectacular birds such as Jabiru Storks, Hyacinth Macaws, and Toco Toucans. The first is the largest cat in the New World, while the other seven species are the largest in their taxonomic families in South America. The Pantanal is truly a land of giants.

For the first portion of our tour the group will be staying in a beautiful floating lodge that is strategically-sited at the very best location in the entire Pantanal to see Ocelots, Brazilian Tapirs, Giant Otters, and Jaguars. They guarantee sightings of all four species, and are the only company to guarantee any of these species. These are not “houseboats” with cramped cabins and jam-packed dining rooms, but rather a true floating hotel with WIFI, AC, spacious guest rooms, 12 of which are 30 square meters and a dining room of 80 square meters. Each room is specifically geared towards photographers and include huge desks, numerous sockets, adjustable chairs, and wifi and have plenty of space for editing photos.

Additionally, we will be using custom-built Jaguar boats that offer a lot of space between each row of two seats with the boat driver positioned in the back and photographers in the front of the boat. The “Photo Boat” features seven rotating photo seats, each complete with a sturdy camera mount post and gimbal tripod head from Wimberley.

After a quick stop at a cowboy ranch to photograph Pantaneiro cowboys, the second portion of our tour will be dedicated to photographing giant anteaters and macaws. The macaw spectacle involves pairs and flocks of up to 20-30 Red-and-Green Macaws flying at eye level and below you as you stand at the edge of a very deep limestone sinkhole. The second spectacle is wild Giant Anteaters observed daily from only 3-6 meters. These 50-kilo creatures are some of the strangest and most beautiful animals on the planet.

Explore this magnificent landscape with Art Wolfe by your side instructing you on the best ways to properly capture the the amazing wildlife that surrounds you.

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Led by Art Wolfe

Limited to 10 participants

Transportation and Accommodation

All meals, lodging, and transportation specified on the itinerary are included. You will be responsible for your flight into Cuiaba and out of Campo Grande. You are encouraged to arrive one day prior to the workshop so that there is no worry of flight delays causing any problems. Our tour coordinator can assist you with any additional hotel nights needed on either end of the tour.

Itinerary

Shooting schedules have the ability to be altered to effectively cater to the photographic desires of the group, as well as to adapt to changeable weather conditions.

Day 1 Nov 12, 2024 Arrival in Cuiaba

Arrive Cuiaba International Airport. At the Cuiabá airport you will be greeted by a bilingual guide and transfer who will take you to the Piuval Lodge.

This evening there will be a welcome dinner with Art Wolfe and his local guide. (D)

Lodging: Piuval Lodge

Day 2 Cuiaba-Jaguarland

Early in the day the group will be transferred to Porto Jofre. From there the group will travel by boat to our provided lodging in Jaguarland. After arrival at Jaguarland the group will discuss the itinerary and adventures that lie ahead. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Jaguarland

The next four days will be dedicated to the search for Jaguars, and other animals, along the riverbanks. Each day will include two boat outings of 4-5 hours each per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon until dusk. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Jaguarland

Same as the day prior our group will be taking two outings each day in search of Jaguars and other wildlife. We consciously schedule the outings to include visits to the best locations to view Giant Otters and Hyacinth Macaws, and we always see both species extremely well.

The Jaguar observation boats our group will be using station the boat driver in the back and guests in the front, as that gives guests the best visibility. Additionally, the custom-built Jaguar boats offer a lot of space between each row of two seats, in anticipation of additional camera equipment. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Jaguarland

As in the days prior this day will consist of two boat outings to search for Jaguars and other wildlife. Our lodgings are strategically sited at the very best locations in the entire Pantanal to see Ocelots, Brazilian Tapirs, Giant Otters, and Jaguars. Our tour guides guarantee sightings of all four species, and they are the only company to guarantee any of these species. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Jaguarland – Cuiabá – Campo Grande

In the morning the group will depart for Port Jofre by boat. From there the group will transfer to the a spectacular Pantaneiro Cowboy Ranch where the group can photograph the iconic Pantaneiro cowboys as they do their usual activities throughout the day. A special horseback riding option is available for the adventurous members of the group. After a wonderful day of photographing cowboys and horseback riding the group will be transferred to the Cuiaba airport for an evening flight to our next destination, Campo Grande.  (B, L, D)

Day 7 Campo Grande – Bonito

This morning the group will transfer to Bonito. After getting settled into their hotel rooms the group will spend the afternoon photographing the giant anteater. Giant Anteaters are observed daily from only 3-6 meters. These 50-kilo creatures are some of the strangest and most beautiful animals on the planet. The special biologist guides who will be leading out group have discovered locations within a75-minute drive of the town of Bonito where guests see 5-10 Giant Anteaters per day, and a number of them are mothers carrying a baby on her back! (B, L, D)

Day 8 Bonito

In the morning the group will have an option to snorkel with extremely tame fish which you can capture beautiful photographs of from above as well. This fish snorkel experience takes place at the “Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata”, a private conservation reserve closer to the town of Jardim than to the town of Bonito. Additionally, the bird feeders in the gardens at the headquarters of this attraction offer amazing photo ops of wild parakeets and even sometimes of huge Red-and-Green Macaws at only 2-3 meters from you.

The afternoon will be spent photographing the macaws at the sinkhole.  The macaw spectacle involves pairs and flocks of up to 20-30 Red-and-Green Macaws flying at eye level and below you as you stand at the edge of a 125-meter-deep (450-foot-deep), 90-meter-wide (300-foot-wide) limestone sinkhole. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Bonito

This day will be either be spent photographing the giant anteaters or macaws at the sink hole again. The macaws are absurdly tame, with mated pairs often perching for minutes on end at only 3-6 meters from you. The real challenge for photographers is to freeze the action and choose the right exposure when the birds are flying fast, as the rock wall background changes quickly from sunlit to deeply shaded, making for uniquely striking imagery. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Bonito – Campo Grande Nov 21, 2024

In the morning the group will have one final option to photograph giant anteaters or macaws. Following lunch the group will be transferred back to the Campo Grande airport for their return flights home.  (B, L)

Services Included

• Accommodations (twin sharing basis) as indicated above in the itinerary.
• All meals noted on the itinerary.
• Private transportation
• English-speaking naturalist local guide
• Entrance fees for parks
• One guest per row for Jaguar Search

*Note: We will make every effort to connect you with a roommate should you like to share a room. However, if we’re unable to make a match, the single supplement will apply.

Services Not Included

• Any international Airfare, travel insurance or medical insurance. (We feel travel insurance is important for a worry free trip)
• Anything not mentioned in inclusion above.
• Tipping to accompanying escort is not included in our quote.
• Any expenditure of personal nature like alcoholic drinks, Fruit shakes, sodas, laundry, telephone calls, or internet
• Anything ordered from room service at any hotel including mineral water (other than what being offered by the hotels on their compliment).
• Any sudden increase in price due to steep hike in fuel cost, change in government tax policy or for any reason beyond our control like acts of god, natural calamity, law and order situation, riots etc and any forced change in itinerary for any unforeseen situation or reason beyond our control.
• Laundry services

Going to the Pantanal with Art was probably one of the most productive photographic trips I have done. You get Jaguars, Caiman, Giant River Otter, Giant AntEater, Capybara, Tapir and so many species of birds all in one place over a few intense days. The places we stayed are all top notch and geared towards making sure you are close to wildlife and can get great images. The location combined with the great instruction (both in field and in post processing) with Art means that you will come away with great images and an experience you won’t forget.

Aravind K.