• Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
• Dates: Start: 13 June | End: 21 June 2027 & 2028
• Group Size: Small group 6 to 10 persons
• Basis: Fully Inclusive throughout — all meals, all local brand drinks, park fees, game-viewing activities
• Destinations: Brazil — São Paulo | Cuiabá | Pantanal | Jaguarland | Northern Pantanal

ABOUT THIS JOURNEY

There is a creature that haunts the rivers and flooded grasslands of the Brazilian Pantanal like a living myth — powerful, cryptic, and breathtakingly beautiful. The jaguar. The world’s third-largest cat and the undisputed apex predator of the Americas. And there is no place on earth where the chance of seeing one — in the wild, at close range, in its full untamed element — is greater than here, in the northern Pantanal of Mato Grosso.

This nine-day journey is built around that encounter. Beginning in São Paulo — Brazil’s extraordinary, layered megalopolis — the route moves quickly into the wilderness, descending into the Pantanal along the Cuiabá River before reaching Jaguarland itself: a stretch of river channel, lagoon, and forest that has become the single most reliable place in the world to observe wild jaguars. Here, guided boat excursions move slowly through the waterways, tracking jaguars along the banks while giant otters tumble through the current and caiman bask in their hundreds in the midday heat.

Beyond the jaguar, the Pantanal delivers one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on the planet. The world’s largest tropical wetland — larger than France — it supports staggering concentrations of wildlife: hundreds of bird species, capybara in vast herds, tapir, giant anteater, marsh deer, and a biodiversity that rivals anywhere on earth. Night safaris reveal the Pantanal after dark. Walking trails expose tracks, burrows, and the subtle signs of a functioning ecosystem at every scale.

Led by expert naturalist guides throughout, this is a journey for serious wildlife travellers — people who want not just to see the jaguar, but to understand the extraordinary wilderness that sustains it.

SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

• Dedicated jaguar search excursions by boat along the rivers and channels of Jaguarland — the single best location in the world for reliable wild jaguar sightings
• Three full days in Jaguarland with morning and afternoon guided jaguar excursions, offering multiple opportunities to find, observe, and photograph these iconic big cats
• Observe giant river otters — among the rarest and most charismatic mammals in South America — in their natural river habitat
• Encounter yacaré caiman by the thousand in the Pantanal waterways, along with the region’s remarkable spectacle of massed wildlife at water level
• Evening ocelot observation at a specialist wildlife observation area — a rare and intimate encounter with one of the Pantanal’s most secretive nocturnal predators
• Night safari through the Northern Pantanal, with expert guides reading the darkness for tapir, giant anteater, pampas deer, and the many species that emerge after sundown
• Boat safaris along the Cuiabá River — one of South America’s great wildlife waterways — in search of jaguar, giant otter, and extraordinary birdlife
• Walking trails through the Northern Pantanal, exploring the grasslands, gallery forests, and wetland edges that make this one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth
• Exceptional birdwatching throughout — from jabiru stork and hyacinth macaw to roseate spoonbill, toco toucan, and hundreds of species unique to this extraordinary region
• Guided nature activities at Piuval Lodge across the varied habitats of a traditional Pantanal cattle ranch — combining capybara encounters, birdwatching, and wetland exploration
• Evening science lectures at Jaguarland providing deep insight into jaguar ecology, Pantanal conservation, and the remarkable research being conducted in this landscape
• Arrive via São Paulo — a brief immersion in one of South America’s great cities, founded in 1554 and today the economic and cultural capital of Brazil
• Expert naturalist guiding throughout by WWJ-selected specialists with deep knowledge of Pantanal wildlife and ecology

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

All activities, transfers, and game-viewing as listed are included in the total cost. Fully inclusive throughout.

Day 1  |  São Paulo, Brazil 

Arrive at Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo. Your WWJ ground team will meet you on arrival and transfer you to your airport hotel — a modern, comfortable property just minutes from the terminal, ideal for a night in transit. If you wish to arrive a day or two earlier to explore São Paulo — its extraordinary food culture, museums, and neighbourhood character — WWJ can arrange additional nights at the same property. Welcome dinner at the hotel this evening.

Days 2–3  |  Pantanal — Cuiabá River, Brazil

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Cuiabá — the jumping-off point for the northern Pantanal. On arrival, you begin the long, spectacular road transfer south into the wetlands, following the Transpantaneira highway as the landscape gradually opens into a vast, flooded world of rivers, lagoons, and bird-filled skies. The drive itself is a wildlife experience: hundreds of caiman line the roadside ditches, jabiru storks stand sentinel in the marshes, and the first capybara herds appear in the late afternoon grass.

Your lodge sits along the Cuiabá River, and the afternoon of Day 2 brings the first wildlife activities: boat excursions on the river, nature walks, and a special evening visit to the lodge’s wildlife observation area for the chance to observe ocelots in their natural habitat. Day 3 continues the exploration of the Pantanal ecosystem — morning activities around the lodge, afternoon boat safaris along the Cuiabá River in search of giant otters, jaguar, and the extraordinary birdlife that crowds every channel and bank. A night safari after dinner provides a first glimpse of the Pantanal after dark.

Days 4–6  |  Jaguarland, Northern Pantanal 

After breakfast, transfer by vehicle to Porto Jofre — the remote river port at the end of the Transpantaneira — and then by boat into Jaguarland itself. This is the heart of the journey. Three full days are dedicated entirely to the jaguar search, with guided boat excursions morning and afternoon moving slowly through the river channels, scanning the banks, forest edges, and open shores where jaguars are known to hunt, rest, and patrol.

The Pantanal’s jaguars are remarkably habituated to slow-moving boats, and the sighting rates here are extraordinary — far beyond anything achievable in any other jaguar habitat in the world. Between jaguar excursions, the wildlife is relentless: giant river otters surfacing and diving in family groups just metres from the boat, yacaré caiman massed on every sandbank in the dry-season sun, hyacinth macaws crossing the sky in pairs, and the constant, spectacular parade of waterbirds that makes the Pantanal one of the great birdwatching destinations on earth. Evening science lectures at the lodge provide context and depth — insight into jaguar ecology, Pantanal conservation, and the research being conducted in this landscape.

Days 7–8  |  Northern Pantanal — Piuval, Brazil 

After breakfast at Jaguarland, transfer by boat to Porto Jofre and then by road to Piuval Lodge, set on a traditional Pantanal cattle ranch in the northern reaches of the wetland. The change in landscape brings a change in wildlife: capybara herds graze the open pastures, tapir leave their tracks along the ranch’s muddy trails, giant anteaters move through the savanna in the early morning light, and the birdlife is staggering in its richness and variety.

Afternoon activities explore the ranch’s varied habitats — trails through gallery forest, wetland edges alive with wading birds, and observation areas overlooking the lagoons at dusk. An evening safari after dinner ventures into the Pantanal after dark, where the spotlight picks up pampas fox, maned wolf, and the brilliant reflected eyes of caiman in the water. Day 8 continues with morning and afternoon guided activities across the ranch, with time to absorb the quieter, more contemplative side of this extraordinary ecosystem.

Day 9  |  Departure 

After a final breakfast at the lodge, transfer by road to Cuiabá Airport for your onward domestic flight to São Paulo (GRU) and international connections home. The journey ends here — but the image of a jaguar on a riverbank in the first light of a Pantanal morning does not. It travels with you. It always does.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• International flights to and from São Paulo (GRU)
• Domestic flights within Brazil — São Paulo (GRU) to Cuiabá (CGB) and return — not included; WWJ will advise on recommended flights
• Entry visa to Brazil — requirements vary by nationality; guests are responsible for all documentation
• Travel insurance — strongly recommended (see Practical Information below)
• Premium brand drinks (Champagne, premium spirits, imported wines)
• Laundry and items of a personal nature
• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
• Any activities not listed in the inclusions above
• Any costs arising from flight delays, cancellations, or circumstances beyond WWJ’s control

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Early arrival in São Paulo (12 June or earlier) is strongly recommended to allow for international flight delays — please enquire with WWJ about arranging additional nights
• The road transfer from Cuiabá to the Pantanal Lodge takes approximately five hours; an early morning domestic flight into Cuiabá on Day 2 is strongly advised to maximise time in the Pantanal
• Luggage restriction applies for all internal transfers: soft-sided bags only, no hard suitcases or rigid-framed cases
• June falls in the dry season in the Pantanal — optimal conditions for jaguar viewing and wildlife observation, with mild days and cool nights
• Jaguarland wildlife excursions are conducted by boat; guests should be comfortable with extended periods on the water
• A 30% non-refundable deposit is required on booking confirmation, together with copies of all passports and a completed WWJ Tour Booking Form
• All payments by Electronic or Telegraphic Bank Transfer
• WWJ reserves the right to substitute alternative properties and services of equal or superior standard, subject to availability
• All prices in USD and subject to change due to unforeseen cost increases or exchange rate fluctuations

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Visas & Passports

Visa requirements for Brazil vary significantly by nationality. US citizens do not currently require a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days. Citizens of many other countries may require a visa in advance. It is your responsibility to verify current entry requirements for your nationality well before departure by consulting the Brazilian consulate or embassy. Requirements can and do change; WWJ accepts no liability for failure to hold the correct documentation.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is STRONGLY recommended for all WWJ travellers and is considered an essential part of any expedition. Your policy should cover, at minimum: trip cancellation due to illness or injury, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, personal accident and personal liability, loss of or damage to baggage, and travel and flight delays. Ensure your policy is valid for activities including boat-based wildlife excursions and guided walks in remote wilderness environments. Do not travel without adequate cover.

Health & Vaccinations

Yellow Fever vaccination is recommended for travel to the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso and may be required depending on your onward travel plans. Consult your physician or a specialist travel medicine clinic well in advance of departure for advice on Yellow Fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and other recommended vaccinations. The Pantanal carries a low but present risk of malaria — please seek current advice from your travel health clinic. Carry all vaccination certificates with you.

Climate in June

June falls in the Brazilian dry season — and for wildlife viewing in the Pantanal, it is close to ideal. Days are warm and sunny with low humidity, typically between 22°C and 30°C. Nights can be genuinely cool, particularly on the water during early morning boat excursions. A warm layer is essential for dawn jaguar searches. Rainfall is minimal, water levels are receding, and wildlife concentrates around the remaining water sources, making this one of the finest times of year to visit.

Clothing & Packing

Lightweight, neutral-coloured clothing is appropriate for all wildlife activities — muted tones in khaki, olive, grey, and cream are recommended. A warm fleece or light down jacket is essential for early morning boat excursions. Comfortable closed-toe shoes or boots with ankle support for walking activities. Sun protection — hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses — is critical for extended time on the water. Insect repellent is strongly recommended throughout. Pack light; soft-sided bags are required for all internal ground transfers.

Currency

The Brazilian Real (BRL) is the local currency. US Dollars are not widely accepted outside of hotels and tour operators; guests should carry a mixture of local currency for incidentals and personal purchases. International credit cards are widely accepted in São Paulo and at lodge properties. ATM access is available in São Paulo and Cuiabá but not in remote Pantanal areas. Most activities and meals on this itinerary are fully inclusive, so cash requirements in the field are minimal.

Electricity

Brazil uses Type N plugs (two round pins, one grounding pin) and operates on 127V or 220V/60Hz depending on the state — Mato Grosso operates on 220V. A universal travel adapter is strongly recommended. Remote Pantanal lodges typically offer limited charging facilities; USB charging and 220V sockets are usually available in the main area. Confirm with your WWJ contact before departure.