Pantanal
The World'S Largest Tropical Wetland, Shared With Bolivia And Paraguay; The Pantanal Conservation Area Is A UNESCO World Heritage Site And The Region A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · Poconé, Mato Grosso
The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland on earth, a seasonal floodplain the size of a European country spread across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, and it is the best place in South America to see wildlife in the open. Unlike the Amazon, the landscape is flat and wide, so animals are visible: capybaras in family groups, caimans by the thousand, hyacinth macaws, giant river otters, marsh deer, anteaters, and the jabiru stork that is the region's symbol. It is also the most reliable place in the world to see a wild jaguar. The classic route is the Transpantaneira, a dirt road running about 147 kilometres south from Poconé to Porto Jofre across more than a hundred wooden bridges, with lodges on working cattle ranches along the way; from Porto Jofre, boats search the rivers for jaguars resting on the banks. The southern Pantanal, reached from Campo Grande and near Bonito, offers a similar experience. Most of the land is private ranching country, and the wetland has been hit hard by fires in recent dry years.
Rodovia Transpantaneira (MT-060), Poconé to Porto Jofre, Mato Grosso, Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Seasonal in practice, and the season decides the trip. The dry season, roughly July to October, shrinks the water into rivers and ponds where wildlife concentrates, and is the jaguar season at Porto Jofre, when boats find cats on the riverbanks most days. It is also fire season, and smoke or burnt areas can affect some lodges. The wet season, roughly December to March, floods much of the plain, turns the Transpantaneira to mud, can close sections of it and cut access to Porto Jofre by road, and some lodges close or run reduced programmes. Lodges run all-inclusive packages with guided outings at dawn, late afternoon and after dark, and rest through the heat of the day. Jaguar boats leave early and return at midday. Sport fishing closes during the spawning season, set each year by the state. Driving the Transpantaneira after dark is strongly discouraged. Confirm road conditions and lodge opening with your operator before travelling.