Brazil's Pantanal

Day 1, Saturday, July 4, 2009 - Arrive Sao Paulo.
Transfer to the Panamby (Best Western)  Hotel.
Night: Panamby Hotel. 

Day 2, Sunday, July 5 - To Cuiaba
Our morning flight takes us to Cuiaba, and we transfer to the village of  Pocone ( 60 miles from Cuiaba) . We’ll stop for lunch at a typical barbecue restaurant. We will continue our drive to our lodge in the Pantanal, driving about 35 miles along the Transpantaneira Highway. We couldn’t have a better start: as we drive on this road, we will be able to watch & photograph  a number of birds and animals, such the jabiru storks, hyacinth macaws, caimans and capybaras, as well as making several short walks along the road. We will arrive at our lodge at the end of the day, perhaps just in time to watch and photograph a beautiful Sunset.
Night: Hotel Mato Grosso Pantanal

Days 3 & 4, Monday & Tuesday, July 6 & 7 -  Pixaim River and Porto Jofre
This morning finds us on the Pixaim River. This boat ride will be a great highlight : it is only about  150 feet wide, which gives us the chance to watch wildlife on both river banks: All the five South American kingfishers occurs here! We can see rufescent tiger-herons, sunbitterns and sungrebes. Not mentioning a possible encounter with a group of  giant river otters! After lunch we’ll transfer to the Porto Jofre Hotel, about 50 miles south, all the way to the end of the road. We cross different habitats, such a very vast marsh area, with very good chances for yellow anacondas. Arrival by the end of the day.
During our stay, we will have boat rides to search for Jaguars, returning to our lodge at noon for a nice  lunch.   The grounds of our  lodge has a wonderful flock of  hyacinth macaws and a pond covered with giant water lilies for easy photography.
Nights: Porto Jofre Hotel

Day 5, Wednesday, July 8 -  River exploration; transfer to Piuval
Today we’ll explore up river to give us an extra chance to see Jaguars along the river banks. We return by lunch time then transfer to the Piuval lodge. We have good chances for tapir and marsh deer –  respectively, the biggest mammal and largest deer in South America!
Night: Piuval Lodge

Day 6, Thursday, July 9 - To Caiman
This morning we transfer back to Cuaiba and fly to Campo Grande and on to the Caiman Lodge, arriving by the end of the day. 
Night: Caiman Lodge

Day 7, Friday, July 10 -  Caiman Area
This morning we explore the grounds of our lodge where and impressive variety of birds can be seen in a short walk: buff-necked and plumbeous ibis, campo flickers, red-crested cardinals, gray-fronted cacholote, just to mention  a few. Since these birds are quite tame, they also will offer a good number of photo opportunities.

This afternoon, we will have a photo safari by truck and one of our main targets will be the giant and the collared anteater. After dinner we’ll take a night ride, searching for ocelots.
Night: Caiman Lodge

Day 8, Saturday, July 11 – Caiman Area
An early morning forest walk will give us chances for seeing monkeys such the black howler monkey and black-tailed marmoset. South American coatimundis are possible too!
The afternoon will find us exploring by boat for wattled jacanas at a very close range.
Night: Caiman Lodge

Day 9, Sunday, July 12 – Caiman Area
We’ll explore by vehicle this morning for peccaries and South American coatimundis, returning to the lodge for lunch. Our afternoon will be spent on a forest walk in search of woodpeckers, woodcreepers , toucans and aracaris.
Night: Caiman Lodge

Day 10 & 11, Monday & Tuesday, July 13 & 14 – To San Francisco Lodge
After breakfast, we drive to San Francisco Lodge, arriving before lunch. Well spend the next couple of days exploring the surrounding countryside for additional opportunities we may have missed. One evening we’ll search for nighthawks and nightjars.
Nights: San Francisco Lodge

Days 12 & 13, Wednesday & Thursday, July 15 & 16 -- To Iguassu Falls
Today we’ll have a monring transfer to the Airport in Campo Grande for our flight to Iguassu Falls. After settling into our hotel, right at the falls’ edge, we explore by trail along the scenic path by the falls. Lunch at  a restaurant located right by the falls ( Porto Canoas Restaurant).In the afternoon we’ll make a visit to Bird Park, which has a variety of birds and animals from five continents.
Night: Tropical das Cataratas Hotel

Day 14, Friday, July 17 - Iguassu Falls
We’ll explore the Argentinean side of the Iguassu Falls, which offers us totally different angles of these incredible water falls. Lunch, with typical Argentinean barbecue.  Dinner at a local restaurant with presentation dancers/singers  from Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
Night: Tropical das Cataratas Hotel

Day 15, Saturday, July 18 - Return home
Transfer to airport for flight to US.