BRAZIL’S PANTANAL & ALTA FLORESTA – A wonderful journey through Amazonia and the Kingdom of the Jaguar

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.

We also include these flights in our tour price:

Cuiabá – Alta Floresta

Alta Floresta – Cuiaba

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.

BRAZIL’S PANTANAL & ALTA FLORESTA BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Day 1  Our tour begins in the late morning at Cuiabá, the capital city of the huge state of Mato Grosso.

(We will be pleased to arrange your internal flight to Cuiabá from your arrival city in Brazil on request, even if you are arranging your own international tickets.)

From Cuiabá, we drive to the Chapada dos Guimarães for a two-night. Later this afternoon we will commence our exploration of the area.

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Day 2  Situated at the western edge of the Planalto do Mato Grosso, the canyonlands of the Chapada dos Guimarães offer some good birding amidst spectacular scenery. Impressive waterfalls plunge over sheer sandstone cliffs which rise out of riparian forests and cerrado. The scarce, near-endemic Biscutate Swift and the impressive Great Dusky Swift nest in the safety of these cliffs, which also provide a secure roosting site for several members of the parrot family. The most common psittacid species here is the White-eyed Parakeet, but we can also expect spectacular Red-and-green and Blue-winged Macaws.

A wooded valley often holds the near-endemic Cinnamon-throated Hermit as well as Planalto Hermit, Planalto Woodcreeper, Western Fire-eye, Planalto Tyrannulet, Moustached Wren, Curl-crested Jay and Pectoral Sparrow and there is also a chance for the magnificent but rare Pheasant Cuckoo.

In wild stretches of cerrado, we will search for such specialities as the gorgeous Horned Sungem, the lovely Collared Crescentchest, Chapada Flycatcher, White-rumped and White-banded Tanagers, the marvellous Coal-crested and Blue Finches, and Black-throated Saltator. With a bit of luck, we will find the rare, near-endemic Rufous-sided Pygmy Tyrant, an inhabitant of untouched open cerrado.

Among other species that we could encounter during our visit are Tataupa and Small-billed Tinamous, Swallow-tailed Kite, the elegant White Hawk, Pavonine Cuckoo, Tropical Screech Owl, White-vented Violetear, Amazonian Motmot, Brown Jacamar, Lettered Aracari, Channel-billed Toucan, White-eared and Caatinga  Puffbirds, Lineated Woodpecker, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Yellow-bellied, Plain-crested and Lesser Elaenias, Suiriri, Sepia-capped, Southern Scrub and Cliff Flycatchers, Band-tailed and Fiery-capped Manakins, Blue-and-white Swallow, Tropical Parula, White-shouldered Tanager, Red Pileated Finch and Buff-throated Saltator.

Widespread but uncommon or hard-to-see possibilities include Russet-crowned Crake (far more likely to be heard than seen), Long-billed Starthroat and Southern Antpipit.

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Day 3  After some early morning birding in the Chapada dos Guimarães we will return to Cuiabá and take a midday flight northwards to the remote town of Alta Floresta, situated in the far north of the state of Mato Grosso, on the border with the state of Pará.

From Alta Floresta, we will travel through pastures and isolated patches of forest to the comfortable Rio Azul Jungle Lodge for a three-night stay. Rio Azul is situated just over the state line in southernmost Pará. Late this afternoon we will start birding in this remote birding paradise.

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Days 4-5  The Alta Floresta region is situated near the geographical centre of Brazil, at the southern edge of the Amazonian rainforest, between two large rivers (the Rios Tapajós and Xingu) which have, over time, acted as barriers to the dispersal of many bird species.

The comfortable Rio Azul Jungle Lodge at Serra do Cachimbo is surrounded by protected areas that are part of Brazil’s ‘Southern Amazon Protected Corridor’.The rivers in this area are mainly blackwater rivers, a natural phenomenon whereby tannins leaching out from the forest vegetation through the sandy soil give a dark colour to the water.

A prime purpose in coming to Rio Azul is to see the extraordinary and much sought-after Bald Parrot. Rio Azul and, indeed, Alta Floresta, in general, hold a huge variety of Amazonian birds, but it is the fact that the Bald Parrot can reliably be observed here that really stands out!

In the early morning and late afternoon, squabbling and screeching flocks of macaws, parrots and parakeets exhibit a riot of colours as they fly between their roosts and distant feeding trees. Scarlet, Red-and-green and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Santarem and Golden-winged Parakeets, Dusky-billed Parrotlet, White-bellied and Blue-headed Parrots and the spectacular Red-fan Parrot are all regularly encountered here, but the main prizes of the psittacid family are the strange endemic Bald Parrot (the major draw at Rio Azul) and the recently-described Kawall’s (or White-faced) Amazon. Kawall’s Amazon is a restricted-range species that resembles the closely related Southern Mealy Amazon but can be identified by the patch of bare whitish skin at the base of the bill and the grey eyering.

Mixed-species flocks, led by exquisite White-winged Shrike-Tanagers, career through the canopy and may hold such species as the hard-to-see-well Tooth-billed Wren, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, the lovely Red-billed Pied-Tanager, Turquoise, Paradise, Bay-headed, Opal-rumped and Green-and-gold Tanagers, Golden-bellied Euphonia, Black-faced and Yellow-bellied Dacnises, Green and Purple Honeycreepers and the widespread, but rarely-encountered Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak. Exposed snags provide lookouts for Paradise Jacamar, yelping White-throated Toucans and the glowing Spangled Cotinga.

There are usually flowering or fruiting trees to be found, giving us the opportunity to get acquainted with a whole realm of nectar-loving and frugivorous species including Black-necked and Curl-crested Aracaris, Slate-coloured and Amazonian (or Rothschild’s) Grosbeaks, and Olive Oropendola.

As the thermals start rising, Double-toothed Kites and Black Hawk-Eagles may cruise lazily overhead, whilst Pale-rumped and Grey-rumped Swifts sweep past. The diminutive Amazonian Pygmy Owl may put in an appearance and the secretive Black-bellied Cuckoo likes to creep about in emergent trees.

We will spend a lot of our time quietly creeping along trails in the tall terra firme forest of Alta Floresta. Understorey flocks can usually be detected by listening for the loud calls of Cinereous Antshrikes and may hold a dizzying mixture of species including Striped Woodcreeper, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Plain Xenops, Fasciated, Plain-winged and Amazonian Antshrikes, Pygmy, Sclater’s, White-eyed, Plain-throated, Long-winged and Grey Antwrens, and Wing-barred Piprites.

Tiny, restless Fiery-capped and Band-tailed Manakins play hide-and-seek in the middle levels, where we will also hope to encounter the gorgeous Flame-crowned (or Flame-crested) Manakin.

We will also keep an eye and an ear open for army ant swarms with their attendant species. The superb Bare-eyed Antbird with its pale glaucous-green orbital ring and funny crest is a very localized professional ant-follower, as is the unreal-looking Black-spotted Bare-eye. Other species we should encounter if we witness the amazing phenomenon of an army ant swarm include Plain-brown and White-chinned Woodcreepers, Xingu Scale-backed Antbird, Tapajos Fire-eye and Red-crowned Ant Tanager.

Trails that penetrate the varzea, the seasonally flooded forest near the river, allow us access to a quite different assortment of birds. Here, we will diligently search for the rather saurian-like Long-billed Woodcreeper and the dazzling Glossy Antshrike.

In the ‘alborada’, the local term for the mysterious twilight preceding dawn, one should listen for the barking calls of the Cryptic Forest Falcon, a relatively recently described species, and we will definitely try to lure this exciting bird into view.

We will surely explore a granite outcrop covered in scrubby and thorny woodland, terrestrial bromeliads and many vines. This is the territory of the very patchily-distributed Brown-banded Puffbird and also Dusky-capped Greenlet.

During a boat trip along the river, we also have another good chance of coming across the much sought-after Zigzag Heron.

Important targets at Rio Azul also include the stunning Crimson Topaz, Straight-billed Hummingbird, Pavonine Quetzal, Cinnamon Neopipo, Pale-bellied Mourner and Plush-crested Jay. Pale-bellied Mourners,

Among the many other new species that we may well encounter during our time at Rio Azul or at Cristalino Lodge are Great, White-throated, Variegated, Grey, Cinereous, Little and Brazilian Tinamous (as almost always with tinamous, they are much more likely to be heard than seen), White-tailed Hawk, Spix’s Guan, Tawny-bellied Screech Owl, Blackish Nightjar, Ocellated Poowill, Short-tailed Swift, Neotropical Palm Swift, Reddish and Tapajos Hermits, Green-tailed Goldenthroat, Amethyst Woodstar, Grey-fronted Dove, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Green Ibis, King Vulture, Double-toothed Kite, Black-tailed and Amazonian Trogons, Green Kingfisher, Amazonian Motmot, Blue-necked Jacamar, Eastern Striolated and Pied Puffbirds, Rufous-capped Nunlet, White-fronted Nunbird, Black-girdled Barbet, Red-necked Aracari, Gould’s Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Red-stained, Scaly-breasted, Ringed and Red-necked Woodpeckers, Laughing Falcon, Black Caracara, Blue-headed and Orange-cheeked Parrots, and Southern Mealy Amazon.

Among the passerines are Uniform and Spix’s Woodcreepers, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, White-eyed Stipplethroat, Pygmy, Dot-winged, Sclater’s, Southern White-fringed and Rufous-winged Antwrens, Saturnine, Spoitted, Fasciated, Cinereous, White-shouldered and Plain-winged Antshrikes, Yellow-browed, White-browed, Spix’s Warbling, Southern Chestnut-tailed, Grey, Band-tailed, Spot-backed, Dot-backed and Rufous-faced Antbirds, Yellow-crowned and Mouse-colored Tyrannulets, Forest Elaenia, White-bellied Tody-Tyrant (generally an uncommon speciality, but easier to see here than in most places), Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant, Grey-crowned, Ochre-lored and Rufous-tailed Flatbills, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Ochre-bellied, Sulphury and Dusky-capped Flycatchers, Screaming Piha, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Spangled and Pompadour Cotingas, White-crowned, Flame-crested and Red-headed Manakins, Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin, Masked Tityra, Brown-winged Schiffornis, White-browed Purpletuft, Pink-throated Becard, Chivi Vireo, Grey-chested Greenlet, the handsome White-banded Swallow, Thrush-like and Buff-breasted Wrens, Southern Nightingale-Wren, Chattering Gnatwren, Rufous-bellied Euphonia, Red-rumped Cacique, Red-breasted Blackbird, Olive Oropendola, Southern Yellowthroat, Green, Purple and Short-billed Honeycreepers, White-lored Euphonia, Swallow, Magpie, Flame-crested, Blue-necked, Green-and-gold, Opal-rumped, Paradise and Bay-headed Tanagers, Yellow-bellied and Black-faced Dacnises, Buff-throated Saltator and Bananaquit.

In addition, we are sure to encounter a number of more uncommon species during extended stays at Alta Floresta. These include Pied-billed Grebe, Black Hawk-Eagle, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Amazonian Pygmy Owl, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Rufous-breasted and White-bearded Hermits, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Black-eared Fairy, the superb Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots, Great Jacamar, Collared Puffbird, Yellow-throated and Ringed Woodpeckers, Barred Forest Falcon, Red-throated Caracara, Red-fan Parrot, Yellow-crowned Amazon and Dusky-billed Parrotlet.

Less common passerines include Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-tailed Xenops, Plain Xenops, Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper, Fasciated Antshrike, Xingu Scale-backed Antbird, Rufous-capped, Striated and Black-faced Antthrushes, the superb Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Wing-barred Pipirites, Slender-footed Tyrannulet, Zimmer’s Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Spadebill, Ochre-bellied, Variegated, Dusky-chested and Ruddy-tailed Flycatchers, the superb Amazonian Umbrellabird, Greyish Mourner, Cinnamon and Bright-rumped Attilas, Varzea Schiffornis, Black-capped Becard, Hauxwell’s Thrush, the amazing Lawrence’s Thrush with its unique imitations, and Dotted Tanager.

We will also be able to study the different species of monkeys that live in the Alta Floresta region. Family groups of Red-bellied Titi Monkeys, Guianan Brown and Bearded Capuchins, Spix’s Red-handed Howlers and White-cheeked Spider Monkeys often forage in the trees, and we may also see Silvery Marmoset. Most other mammals are inconspicuous, but sightings of Spotted Paca and the awesome Giant Otter are quite frequent, and we may also encounter Brazilian (or Lowland) Tapir. Along the rivers, we should find the strange Proboscis Bat roosting on the bark of a riverside tree.

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Day 6  After some early morning birding at Rio Azul, we will first head back towards Alta Floresta and then take a boat ride to the famous Cristalino Lodge for a four-night stay. We will arrive in time for some initial exploration.

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Days 7-9  The 630-hectare (1556-acre) privately owned Rio Cristalino Forest Reserve surrounding the comfortable Cristalino Lodge is well protected and is bordered on three sides by 2500 square kilometres (965 square miles) of almost completely undisturbed rainforest. No indigenous people live here, there is no disturbance from outside settlers and no hunting takes place. The lodge itself is built in a clearing on the banks of the river.

One of the main attractions at the Rio Cristalino Forest Reserve is the two well-built, 50m-high (160ft) aluminium towers that offer extraordinary views over the surrounding forest, which stretches away to the far horizon. One of the towers stands next to a magnificent forest giant and the roomy platforms allow intimate looks at different levels in the surrounding forest canopy. The towers are superb spots to bird from during early mornings, late afternoons and just after showers when many species come to dry out and enjoy the sunshine on top of the canopy.

Another fantastic feature of Cristalino is its bird-drinking pools. These attract a wide variety of Amazonian birds, some of which are sure to be new, while for other species, we will get far better and more intimate views than at Rio Azul.

Low guttural humming sounds emanating from the forest floor betray the presence of Dark-winged Trumpeters. These large and social birds roam the jungle in small groups and they are surely one of the most-wanted prizes of Cristalino.

There is a real chance for Harpy Eagle at Cristalino, depending on whether or not there is an accessible active nest that one can visit. Seeing an adult at a nest is always unlikely as they may only visit once a day or even less frequently; watching a well-grown or recently-fledged juvenile is the norm.

A short boat ride away, a fairly steep trail at Cristalino will take us to the top of a granite outcrop covered in scrubby and thorny woodland, terrestrial bromeliads and many vines. This is the territory of the very patchily-distributed Brown-banded Puffbird, the localized Natterer’s Slaty Antshrike, Black-throated Antbird, Dusky-capped Greenlet and Masked Tanager, whilst Blackish Nightjars roost on the bare rocky areas.

Isolated, almost-impenetrable bamboo thickets hold a very interesting range of specialities including the localized Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Bamboo Foliage-gleaner, Manu and Striated Antbirds, and Dusky-tailed and Large-headed Flatbills.

Another major speciality at Cristalino is the range-restricted Alta Floresta Antpitta, which, with persistence, we should see well.

We are sure to see a huge array of species while we explore the fabulous Cristalino area, but further additions beyond the species mentioned for Rio Azul are likely to include Hook-billed Kite, the superb White-browed Hawk, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Rusty-capped Nunlet, Long-tailed Woodcreeper, Curve-billed Scythebill (of the form cardosoi, sometimes split as Tapajos Scythebill), Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Striated and Bare-eyed Antbirds, Drab Water Tyrant, Dusky-headed Flatbill, Amazonian Royal Flycatcher, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Tooth-billed Wren, Black-collared Swallow, Red-billed Pied Tanager and the beautiful Rose-breasted Chat.

Less frequent species we could come across at Cristalino include Marbled Wood Quail, Least Grebe, Agami Heron, the rare Crested Eagle, Tiny Hawk, Plumbeous Pigeon, Crested Owl, Chestnut Woodpecker, Spot-throated and Strong-billed Woodcreepers, Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner, Ornate Stipplethroat, Thrush-like Antpitta, Amazonian Inezia, White-crested Spadebill, Large-headed Flatbill, Blue-backed Manakin, Tawny-crowned Greenlet and Rothschild’s, Yellow-shouldered and Slate-colored Grosbeaks.

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Days 10-14  After some final birding at Rio Cristalino we will head for Alta Floresta airport and take an afternoon flight back to Cuiabá. We are going to be sad to leave – even several weeks in this fantastic area would be great!

From Cuiabá, we will travel deep into the northern Pantanal for a six-night stay (spending two nights at Piuval to the south of Poconé, three nights at Porto Jofre at the end of the Transpantaneira and a final night in the Pixaim area). As we drive through this splendid area today we will not be able to resist stopping as we come across one exciting new bird after another.

The Pantanal of Brazil needs little introduction for it is undoubtedly one of the most famous wetlands in the Americas. This seasonally flooded grassland close to the Bolivian border is one of the largest marshes on the face of the globe and lies along the upper and middle course of the Paraná River. We will visit the northern fringe of this huge expanse of marsh, where the numbers of waterfowl are impressive and where a varied avifauna definitely makes for a rich experience. In recent decades this part of South America has become famous among wildlife enthusiasts for its spectacular and unafraid Jaguars that are now routinely observed by visitors (indeed, usually every day between July and September!).

We will spend most of our time along the famous Transpantaneira, a dirt road with more than a hundred, often rather dilapidated bridges, that runs through a variety of habitats including pastures, palm groves, gallery woodland, scrubby growth, meandering rivers, ponds and extensive flooded marshes. We will drive to within metres of the gigantic nests of the huge and grotesque Jabiru, which seem to balance precariously on the crowns of the scattered trees. The weird, haunting cries of Southern Screamers are a common early morning sound as numerous herons, egrets and ibises fly in to throng the marshes. Pairs of reclusive Plumbeous Ibises feed in the shallows, away from the more boisterous species. Raptors are very well represented and include Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Western Osprey, Grey-headed and Snail Kites, Crane, Savanna, Black-collared and Short-tailed Hawks, Great Black Hawk and Laughing and Bat Falcons.

Away from the water, birdlife abounds in the scattered patches of gallery forest and in the distinctive savanna habitat which is so characteristic of this part of Brazil. These palm-rich forests are the stronghold of the world’s largest parrot, the spectacular Hyacinth Macaw. As we watch these huge birds flapping lazily towards their roosting trees, their rich purplish-blue feathers glow in the last rays of the setting sun. The world population of this fantastic creature, which surely epitomizes the wildness and uniqueness of the Pantanal, is now sadly reduced to just a few thousand birds, due to trapping for the cagebird trade. Here we should also find two splendid cracids: the rare Chestnut-bellied Guan and the gorgeous and not uncommon Bare-faced Curassow.

Amongst the many other bird species we may well see here are Undulated Tinamou, Neotropic Cormorant, Anhinga, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Whistling, Little Blue, Capped, Cocoi and Striated Herons, the splendid Agami Heron, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, the bizarre Boat-billed Heron, Bare-faced, Green and Buff-necked Ibises, the unlikely-looking Roseate Spoonbill, Wood and Maguari Storks, Chaco Chachalaca, the smart Blue-throated Piping Guan, Gray-necked Wood Rail, Purple and Common Gallinules, Limpkin, the strange Sungrebe, the spectacular Sunbittern, Wattled Jacana, Collared Plover, Pied Lapwing, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Large-billed and Yellow-billed Terns, Black Skimmer, Blue Ground Dove, the dainty Long-tailed Ground Dove, Monk and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets, Blue-fronted (or Turquoise-fronted) Parrot, Little and Striped Cuckoos, Great Horned Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Band-tailed and Nacunda Nighthawks, Spot-tailed and Little Nightjars, Common and Great Potoos, Buff-bellied Hermit, Blue-crowned Trogon, Green, Green-and-rufous and American Pygmy Kingfishers, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Black-fronted Nunbird, Chestnut-eared Aracari, White-wedged Piculet, and Golden-green, Little and Pale-crested Woodpeckers.

Passerines include Red-billed Scythebill, Pale-legged Hornero, Chotoy, White-lored, Cinereous-breasted, Rusty-backed and Yellow-chinned Spinetails, Greater Thornbird, the jay-like Rufous (or Grey-crested) Cacholote, Great and Barred Antshrikes, Large-billed and Rusty-backed Antwrens, Mato Grosso and Band-tailed Antbirds, Common and Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, Tawny-crowned Pygmy Tyrant, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Fuscous, Vermillion, Yellow-olive, Rusty-margined and Piratic Flycatchers, Black-backed Water Tyrant, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Green-backed Becard, Lesser Kiskadee, Black-crowned Tityra, the unusual White-naped Xenopsaris, Purplish Jay, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Chivi Vireo, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Black-capped Donacobius, Thrush-like, Buff-breasted and Fawn-breasted Wrens, Masked Gnatcatcher, Brown-chested Martin, White-winged Swallow, Yellowish Pipit, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Silver-beaked, Guira and Grey-headed Tanagers, Thick-billed Euphonia, Red-crested and Yellow-billed Cardinals, Red-crested Finch, Rusty-collared and White-bellied Seedeaters, Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch, Greyish Saltator, Flavescent Warbler, Solitary Black and Yellow-rumped Caciques, Epaulet Oriole, Orange-backed Troupial, Unicoloured and White-browed Blackbirds, the exquisite Scarlet-headed Blackbird and Bay-winged Cowbird. If we are lucky we will find Ash-throated Crake, Long-winged Harrier, Yellow-collared (or Golden-collared) Macaw or Nanday (or Black-hooded) Parakeet.

A major attraction of the Pantanal for the naturalist is the certainty (yes, we mean certainty!) of meeting the most powerful cat in the New World, the mysterious and cagey Jaguar. Although this magnificent animal is still quite widespread in Central and South America, occurring from northern Mexico south to central Argentina, it is rarely seen almost everywhere. Jaguars are usually associated with large tracts of dense rainforest, but it is now known that they equally feel at home in more open habitats, with a very marked preference for the immediate vicinity of watercourses. The Pantanal probably holds the highest density of this enigmatic creature and is the world’s foremost locale for viewing and photographing Jaguars.

The most reliable way of seeing this inscrutable cat is to take boat trips on the rivers, as they like to loaf at the edge of a river or on the sandbanks. As we patrol the waterways we will be keeping a constant lookout for this spotted beauty, which is regularly active by day here, in contrast to its more crepuscular and nocturnal habits elsewhere on the continent. The largest individuals of ‘El Tigre’, as it is commonly referred to in most of Latin America, live here in southern Mato Grosso, where average adults usually weigh twice as much as their colleagues in Central America.

We will certainly encounter this golden-eyed, exquisite marvel during our two boat trips from Porto Jofre and, very likely, several! There is a good chance an individual will be cooperative enough to allow our cameras to shoot away furiously at close range! We might even be lucky enough to see one hunting caiman and see it leaping into the water in pursuit!

Although Jaguars dominate the scene in the Pantanal, they would not be there for a healthy population of prey animals. Capybaras, the world’s largest rodents, are (along with caiman) a favourite prey of the big cat and occur all over the Pantanal, leading a semi-aquatic life. Collared Peccaries also feature high on the Jaguar’s menu and small, snorting groups are sometimes encountered. Other mammals that we have a fair chance of seeing include Azara’s Agouti, Crab-eating Fox, Neotropical River Otter, South American Coati, Black Howler Monkey, the curious-looking Brazilian Tapir and Marsh Deer. With a bit of luck, we will come across a Giant Anteater, and if we are particularly lucky, we will encounter a Jaguarundi or an Ocelot.

We will also make a special boat trip to try to see the awesome Giant Otter. Several family parties inhabit the rivers. Sometimes inquisitive individuals come to inspect the boat and can then be admired at minimal range.

On at least one evening we will make an extended night drive, armed with a powerful spotlight, with the aim of trying to observe some of the spectacular mammals that inhabit the Pantanal.

Brazil’s Pantanal & Alta Floresta: Day 15  After some final birding, we leave the Pantanal behind and head for Cuiabá airport where our Pantanal & Alta Floresta birding tour comes to an end this afternoon.

(We will be pleased to arrange your internal flight from Cuiabá to your departure city in Brazil on request, even if you are arranging your own international tickets.)