Our Pantanal holidays & tours

Imagine an area the size of Greece spending half the year underwater. The Pantanal in Brazil is an enormous seasonal wetland which is considered the best place in the country to see wildlife. In fact, its northern region has the highest concentration of jaguars in the world. The open landscape is an easier wildlife-spotting territory than the rainforest. When the water is high, you can go by boat, and the water recedes to reveal river-threaded grasslands. As well as hundreds of species of birds, including the rare hyacinth macaw, there are capybara, ocelot, and caiman – and endangered species like maned wolves and giant otters. Our Pantanal holidays bring to the surface the best that the region has to offer. We use local guides who follow strict wildlife-watching protocol, and stick to locally-run accommodation, eco-lodges and low-emissions vehicles – to help protect this amazing landscape for years to come.

Our top Pantanal holidays

Brazil wildlife holiday, waterfalls and beaches

From £3950 to £4500
16 days ex flights
Explore the Pantanal, Bonito, Iguazu Falls, Paraty and Rio

Pantanal self drive holiday, Brazil

From £1925
7 days ex flights
Freedom of the open road in the Pantanal
Tailor made

Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls

From £7225
16 days inc UK flights
100% jaguar sightings - 100% private - N Pantanal/Iguaçu/Rio

Jaguar spotting holiday in Brazil

From £6649 to £7099
9 days ex flights
Jaguar spotting in the Pantanal of Brazil
Small group2026: 9 Jul, 14 Jul, 24 Jul, 26 Aug, 12 Sep, 25 Sep, 2027: 8 Jul, 13 Jul, 23 Jul, 25 Aug, 11 Sep, 24 Sep

Pantanal and Iguazu tour, Brazil

From US $1834 to US $2378
9 days ex flights
Discover two of Brazil's most important tropical landmarks
Tailor made

Brazil small group holiday, Pantanal explorer

From £4995
11 days ex flights
Explore the biodiverse Pantanal region of Brazil
Small group2026: 13 Jun, 8 Aug, 13 Sep, 19 Oct, 2027: 12 Jun, 7 Aug, 12 Sep, 16 Oct

Brazil luxury wildlife and beach adventure holiday

From £6000 to £7200
15 days ex flights
Explore the very best in wildlife and nature in Brazil

Brazil holiday, tailor made

From €4795 to €5920
23 days ex flights
Wildlife & culture roundtrip through Brazil, all tailormade

Jaguar tour in the Pantanal, Brazil

From US $6990 to US $8215
10 days ex flights
Discover the Jaguar and other biodiversity of Pantanal
Small group2026: 11 Sep
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
Responsible Travel, Travel Team

Pantanal map & highlights

This wetland is separated into the Northern and Southern Pantanal, each with its own highlights. This is no destination to dip in and out of; you’ll need to fly to reach Brazil’s remote interior, and from there drive further into the wilderness to reach the reserves and lodges – so you’ll be spending three days here, at least. For the Northern Pantanal, in the state of Mato Grosso, fly into Cuiabá then drive along the Transpantaneira Road to one of several lodges strategically placed close to prime jaguar habitat. The Southern Pantanal, in Mato Grosso do Sul, is generally reached via the city of Campo Grande. This is a vast terrain of cowboy ranches, grasslands and rice fields, dotted with homely pousadas.
Hyacinth Macaw Research project

1. Hyacinth Macaw Research project

The hyacinth macaw, known locally as the arara azul, is a beautiful, vivid blue bird. Unfortunately, its good looks meant that it became popular as a pet – decimating wild populations. This research project, initiated in the 1990s, has managed to triple the number of birds in the wild. Visitors can learn about the macaws, how the project has conserved them, and visit protected nesting sites.
Jaguars in Porto Jofre

2. Jaguars in Porto Jofre

Jaguars are one of South America’s most notoriously elusive creatures – but also, possibly, its most striking. Porto Jofre is the place to come to see them, and while sightings are never guaranteed, success rates are extremely high. Cosy lodges mean you can spend three days here, too – exploring the surrounding wetlands, and giving yourself many more opportunities to encounter this well camouflaged predator.
Southern Pantanal

3. Southern Pantanal

The Southern Pantanal offers many more ways to see wildlife than its northern counterpart, with walking safaris along the trails of the national park, as well as horseback riding tours. Boat and kayak excursions on the Rio Negro offer opportunities for piranha fishing as well as wild picnics, and few experiences match a night safari, as this thriving ecosystem comes alive after dusk and reaches its screeching crescendo.
Taiama Ecological Station

4. Taiama Ecological Station

This remote little reserve is a wonderful place for seeking jaguars, and it receives even fewer visitors than other parts of the Pantanal. One of Taiamã’s real treats is its house boat anchored on the Paraguay River – a suitably tranquil place to stay, with easy access to motorboats which will carry you down tributaries in search of giant otters, anacondas, capybaras, tapirs, macaws and jaguars.

Transpantaneira Highway

5. Transpantaneira Highway

This famous road crosses the Northern Pantanal between Cuiabá and Porto Jofre. Over its 147km course, it crosses over 120 wooden bridges. The Transpantaneira is a wildlife hotspot in its own right, with some 100 species of birds – including many waterfowl – and dozens of mammals such as anteaters and capybara, appearing along the way. This journey will be a slow one, with plenty of photo ops.

Our Pantanal holidays reviews

4.7

29Pantanal holidays reviews

21
7
1
0
0
Virginia Trott18 Nov 2025
Just overwhelmingly amazing.read more
Simon Hutchins29 Oct 2025
10/10....We managed to see 15 jaguars, plus multiple giant anteaters, tapirs, anacondas, river otters and toucans. Excellent guide as well.read more
Matthew Lapointe18 Oct 2025
Our time in the Pantanal will stay with me forever. Although the entire trip was amazing, as a wildlife enthusiast, the Pantanal was a special experience for me.read more
Nicki Casado09 Aug 2025
Fantastic organisation and on the ground assistance for any hiccups. The local operator were excellent.read more
Written by Vicki Brown
Photo credits: [Page banner: Tambako the Jaguar] [1. Hyacinth Macaw Research project: Tambako The Jaguar] [2. Jaguars in Porto Jofre: Charles J. Sharp] [3. Southern Pantanal: Murray Foubister] [4. Taiama Ecological Station: Williamcarvalhojk] [5. Transpantaneira Highway: Bernard DUPONT]