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Brazil Wildlife: Iguazu, Pantanal and Amazon Cruise

Trips to Tailor

15 days from £7,675

per person
Based on two people sharing & excluding flights
A nature-focused holiday in two contrasting region of wild Brazil: the wetlands of the Pantanal and the Rio Negro on Amazonia. Two distinct wildlife experiences; a land-based eco-lodge and a whole week's expeditionary cruise on MV Tucano.
What to expect
Itinerary

Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.

Day 1 - Iguazu Falls
Arrive in Foz do Iguaçu. Transfer to your accommodation on the Brazilian side of the Iguazú Falls.

Arriving at Foz do Iguaçu in the southeast of the country, on the border with Argentina and Paraguay, you’ll be driven to your hotel, which is situated at the entrance to the national park and next to the delightful and quirky Bird Park.

The Iguazú Falls are unquestionably one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena in the world. A total of 275 falls thunder over a 60m high rust-coloured cliff surrounded by dense tropical forest. The U-shaped Devil’s Throat is the most dramatic sight, here the frothing water of the Iguazú River crashes over a 1.5km-wide precipice and columns of vapour are thrown skyward. Elsewhere the river flows decorously through the rainforest breaking up into dozens of smaller cascades. You can usually spot toucans and many other exotic birds perched in the foliage above the tumultuous waters.

Sanma has an excellent location within walking distance of Iguaçú Falls National Park, only 2km from the airport.

Set in its own small reserve, Sanma’s low-rise design, natural setting and extensive grounds makes it an appealing and relaxing base for exploring the falls and surrounding rainforest.

Compact guest rooms have a clean, minimalist style, well-equipped with the essentials, while larger family suites are also available.

The large outdoor swimming pool and terraced area has sunbeds, a hot tub, pool bar and tennis court. For dining and entertainment, the hotel also offers two restaurants and a piano bar.

There are woodland walks in the hotel grounds to the river, and the nearby Bird Park is worth visiting, an opportunity to walk through aviaries and observe a plethora of tropical birds.

Sanma is across the road from the heliport, near the international airport and the falls themselves are within a 15-minute drive.

 

Day 2 - Iguazu Falls
Guided excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls.

Today you have a half day excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls. Here there’s a broad panoramic view of these colossal cataracts, and there are some excellent opportunities to photograph the full sweep of the water.

Sanma has an excellent location within walking distance of Iguaçú Falls National Park, only 2km from the airport.

Set in its own small reserve, Sanma’s low-rise design, natural setting and extensive grounds makes it an appealing and relaxing base for exploring the falls and surrounding rainforest.

Compact guest rooms have a clean, minimalist style, well-equipped with the essentials, while larger family suites are also available.

The large outdoor swimming pool and terraced area has sunbeds, a hot tub, pool bar and tennis court. For dining and entertainment, the hotel also offers two restaurants and a piano bar.

There are woodland walks in the hotel grounds to the river, and the nearby Bird Park is worth visiting, an opportunity to walk through aviaries and observe a plethora of tropical birds.

Sanma is across the road from the heliport, near the international airport and the falls themselves are within a 15-minute drive.

 

Day 3
Guided excursion to the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls.

Private guided tour of the Argentine side of the falls. You will be driven across Fraternity Bridge, which links the towns of Puerto Iguazú in Argentina and Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil. The day begins with a visit to the National Park Visitor Centre, where there is a display that illustrates the biodiversity of the region’s tropical rainforest, and from there a little train transfers you to Cataratas station where the Upper Walk begins.

This sequence of causeways and passarelles links dozens of tiny basalt islands at the top of the sheer rock face, and the walkways cross the myriad of streams as they cascade over the lip of the precipice.

The train then continues to Devil’s Throat station and from here a walkway leads across the river to the thunderous Garganta del Diablo, the Devil’s Throat. From this spectacular vantage point you can feel the incredible power of the water as it plummets into the vortex below.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Part of The Iguazu Falls seen from the Argentinian National Park

Sanma has an excellent location within walking distance of Iguaçú Falls National Park, only 2km from the airport.

Set in its own small reserve, Sanma’s low-rise design, natural setting and extensive grounds makes it an appealing and relaxing base for exploring the falls and surrounding rainforest.

Compact guest rooms have a clean, minimalist style, well-equipped with the essentials, while larger family suites are also available.

The large outdoor swimming pool and terraced area has sunbeds, a hot tub, pool bar and tennis court. For dining and entertainment, the hotel also offers two restaurants and a piano bar.

There are woodland walks in the hotel grounds to the river, and the nearby Bird Park is worth visiting, an opportunity to walk through aviaries and observe a plethora of tropical birds.

Sanma is across the road from the heliport, near the international airport and the falls themselves are within a 15-minute drive.

 

Day 4 - Cuiaba
Fly to Cuiabá in Mato Grosso, Brazil’s remote interior.

Fly to Cuiabá, a major city in the heart of Brazil’s interior and the gateway to the Pantanal wetlands. Overnight here.

The Pantanal wetlands cover a large basin half the size of France. This basin is seasonally flooded and is drained by the Paraguay River, which flows into the south Atlantic via the River Plate estuary.

The result is a paradise for nature lovers, especially for wildlife observation. Unlike the areas of high jungle, the Pantanal is an open area of swampy grasslands, leaving some of the highest concentration of fauna in the continent exposed to view.

Day 5
Transfer to your lodge in the Pantanal wetlands.

By road (4hrs) to your lodge within the wetlands. The lodge offers a programme of activities where you can view wildlife. Sun-seeking caiman (alligators) stretch out on the river beaches or observe you with a beady eye just visible above the water’s surface.  Gangs of the ubiquitous capybara -a giant rodent – stroll lazily across the road. Giant storks and roseate spoonbills wade through the standing water while agitated parakeets and clouds of snowy ibis take to the sky.

The welcoming Pousada do Rio Mutum is a three-hour drive from Cuiabá airport in the Pantanal in forested surroundings, ideal for wildlife-watching.

The red-roofed chalets contain modest but cosy and brightly-decorated rooms. There is a swimming pool, shady patio and large thatched restaurant serving hearty buffet meals, even including piranha soup.

Thanks to the lodge’s position where the Rio Mutum merges with two lakes, there are frequent sightings of giant river otter. The surroundings are thickly forested and support a rich variety of bird life, including the Pantanal’s signature macaws. Guides are well-informed, and excursions, which include kayaking on the river at sunrise, as well as nature walks and horse riding, are suitable for most ages and abilities.

Days 6-7
Wildlife-spotting expeditions from the lodge.

Depending on local conditions, daily expeditions may include boat rides, walking trails and horse-riding through the Pantanal’s watery landscapes. You could visit a fazenda (farm) on the banks of a shimmering lake for sunset, when birds congregate for evening feeding with a raucous cacophony of sound. You may set off on an excursion by safari vehicle or boat to view wildlife in the crystal clear waters on a remote section of the Mutum river; seize an opportunity to fish for piranha, or take a boat trip to a small fishing community on the Cuiabá river.

The welcoming Pousada do Rio Mutum is a three-hour drive from Cuiabá airport in the Pantanal in forested surroundings, ideal for wildlife-watching.

The red-roofed chalets contain modest but cosy and brightly-decorated rooms. There is a swimming pool, shady patio and large thatched restaurant serving hearty buffet meals, even including piranha soup.

Thanks to the lodge’s position where the Rio Mutum merges with two lakes, there are frequent sightings of giant river otter. The surroundings are thickly forested and support a rich variety of bird life, including the Pantanal’s signature macaws. Guides are well-informed, and excursions, which include kayaking on the river at sunrise, as well as nature walks and horse riding, are suitable for most ages and abilities.

Day 8 - Manaus
Fly to Manaus, Amazonia; transfer to riverside hotel.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Manaus, isolated capital of the state of Amazonas, sprawling along the banks of the Amazon river. The vast city of 2 million inhabitants is on the northern bank of the Rio Negro, just upstream from its confluence with the Amazon.

Although it’s 1,600km from the Atlantic, ocean-going vessels can sail this far upstream. Towering modern skyscrapers intermingle with the traditional red-tiled roofs of the older buildings, many of which reflect the wealth of Manaus’s illustrious past during the rubber boom – notably the magnificent opera house.

Your hotel is just outside town on the banks of the Rio Negro: your expeditionary vessel, will depart from the pier at the property.

Just a stone’s throw from Manaus downtown Opera House, Villa Amazonia is a converted colonial mansion and something of a haven in the city.

Its grandiose entrance, complete with ornate, lemon-tinted façade leads into a reception area combining original stone walls and a wood-panelled ceiling. This, along with the friendly service and collection of decorative antiques, cultivates a warm, homely atmosphere throughout.

Guest rooms continue the blend of modern and traditional, with marbled bathrooms and rainmaker showers complementing the classic style.

The in-house restaurant offers a tropical take on many familiar classics. Other standout features include an outdoor swimming pool and private garden, over which most rooms have a view.

Days 9-14
Cruise on the Amazon river and Rio Negro.

In the morning, you will be greeted by your cruise guides and embark on your week-long cruise heading north up the Rio Negro beyond its confluence with the Amazon river. Travel beyond the 400 islands of the Anavilhanas Archipelago towards the Rio Branco, with an ever changing eco-system, and progressively fewer riverside farm settlements. You really feel you have the privilege to enter a remote, seldom visited and intact area of Amazonia.

The ship navigates north up the mosquito-free Rio Negro towards Rio Branco and the border with Colombia. There are a number of excursions every day, from dawn and late afternoon canoe trips to forest walks, piranha fishing and nocturnal wildlife spotting. Your guides will keep a list for you of species identified: you may well be surprised to see how long this will be by the end of your journey: several species of monkey, sloths, alligators, parrots, turtles, spiders, ants, snakes and a huge variety of birds.

You can swim in the river, visit isolated riverbank family farms and the evocative ruins of once prosperous rubber estates, all of which receive very few visitors but where the handful of people who live there will give you a warm welcome. The return journey follows the west bank. On the last day you drop anchor close to Manaus after witnessing the impressive spectacle of the Meeting of the Waters, where the dark tannin waters of the Rio Negro converge with the opaque brown water of the Amazon river proper.

The last night is spent at anchor near Ponta Negra.

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Absorb the sights and sounds of the jungle from the deck of this purpose-built river cruiser, with guided forays on foot or by canoe into the creeks and lagoons of Amazônia. There is a marvellous nautical atmosphere aboard the wooden river boat, which was constructed locally by indigenous craftsmen and inspired by the traditional three-decked design of vessel that has navigated the Amazon for centuries. The vessel underwent a major refit in 2018; she maintains her character with even more polished wood and smart new furnishings. The saloon now has huge new floor-to-ceiling windows which can be opened, so you can enjoy the sultry breezes and lyrical sounds of the Amazon while you eat or relax enjoying a drink. For those seeking an authentic and adventurous rainforest experience, it is an excellent choice that comes warmly recommended by Journey Latin America staff.

The MV Tucano accommodates a maximum of just 18 passengers in nine cabins. The attractive, angelim wood-lined and air-conditioned cabins have comfortable twin lower berths (yellow category) or upper/lower berths (green category), with crisp 700 thread cotton sheets and duvets, private bathrooms with hot shower and Occitane amenities, and large curtained windows opening to the outside world. Facilities include a covered observation deck, where you can sip an aperitif and enjoy Technicolor sunsets, a library and of course the spacious revamped saloon. Three full meals are prepared each day by an excellent local chef, making use of fresh ingredients from the region including river fish and tropical fruits.

The guides are exceptional: patient, friendly and extremely well-informed with respect to the natural environment and socio-economic history of the region. Excursions include a choice of leisurely and more active explorations, and kayaks are available on a daily basis. With such a small number of like-minded guests, the cruise is very sociable and the atmosphere relaxed and informal.

Day 15
Optional city tour. Transfer to Manaus airport for international flight home.

An optional city tour, which includes a tour of the Opera House.

Brazil Wildlife: Iguazu, Pantanal and Amazon Cruise full itinerary
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Overview
Places Visited

The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.

Experience one of South America’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, where immense waterfalls plunge through subtropical rainforest alive with birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls offers sweeping panoramic views, exhilarating adventures and an unforgettable perspective on this extraordinary landscape.

Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side

Vast floodplains, winding rivers and open grasslands make up the world’s largest tropical wetland, and this corner of Pantanal Brazil is one of the best wildlife-viewing destinations in South America. From jaguars and giant anteaters to macaws, capybara and caiman, the Pantanal offers some of the most unforgettable wildlife encounters anywhere on the continent.

The Pantanal

Home to the largest stretch of Amazon rainforest Brazil has within its borders, this is the world’s biggest tropical wilderness – mighty rivers, extraordinary wildlife and dense jungle combining to form one of the planet’s most remarkable environments. For anyone chasing genuine wilderness, Amazon adventure holidays don’t get more immersive than this.

The Brazilian Amazon
Overview
Highlights

Brazil hosts blankets of tropical forest and steaming wetlands brimming with wildlife just waiting to be revealed to you. For this nature-focused holiday we have selected three places where you have the best chance of appreciating the variety.

Start off at Iguazú Falls, where you will step out of your hotel room to a symphony of birdsong and the thunderous roar of water crashing over lofty granite cliffs fringed by tropical rainforest. Toucans and parakeets dodge the spray, while inquisitive coatis will try to investigate the contents of your bag. Move on to the country’s heartland and the Pantanal wetlands for a few days based at a nature-lovers’ lodge. The Pantanal is an open area of swampy grasslands, leaving fauna exposed to view. The wildlife co-exists harmoniously with the cattle which breed on the ranches in the area. According to season, you might observe regiments of caiman, and flocks of thousands of roseate spoonbills, ibis, macaws and giant storks.

Move on for a week’s expeditionary cruise on a traditional-style wooden craft in Amazonia, including several days sailing along the black waters of Rio Negro away from the tourist routes. There, you pass few settlements so there is little river traffic: beyond the beautiful Anavilhanas archipelago you are on your own, with a real feeling of remoteness. There’s a catalogue of bird, mammal and reptile life to be seen from macaws and sloths to anacondas: much of it is shy but your experienced guides are experts at spotting it.

Rosie Kay travel expert

Rosie Kay

Travel Expert

All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.

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What you need to know
Essentials

The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.

Brazil information
What's included in the price
Services of our team of experts in our London office
Services of Journey Latin America local representatives and guides
All land and domestic air transport within Latin America
Accommodation as specified
Meals as specified
Excursions as specified, including entrance fees
Taxes and compulsory charges
Included Excursions
Guided tour of the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls
Safari expeditions from the Pantanal lodge
Daily guided explorations during your Amazon cruise
What's not included in the price
International flights to Latin America
Tips and gratuities
Meals other than specified
Optional excursions
The latin america specialists

Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday

We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.

Expert advice for your holidays
Rosie Kay
Rosie Kay
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Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.

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Finn Clennett
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Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.

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Maggie Wilson
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Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

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Gary Tombs
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Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.

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What to do

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Explore the walkways of the Brazilian side of the falls for extraordinary panoramic views and the opportunity to venture right into the gaping mouth of Iguazú’s most dramatically impressive section.

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Explore the walkways of Argentina’s Iguazú National Park to see the falls from a multitude of angles, including the chance to stand on the precipice and watch the water plummet down to earth right beneath your feet.

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Head into the bush on a variety of excursions by boat, on horseback and on foot to spot wildlife in the Pantanal.

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Charming and authentic wooden vessel built to a traditional Amazonian design and renovated in 2018, with great food, exceptional guides and an informal atmosphere shared with just a handful of like-minded guests.

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Witness one of South America’s most captivating natural phenomena as the dark waters of the Rio Negro collide with the paler Solimões.

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Where to stay

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort

tuc 11 01 dji 29 b b.jpg

Charming and authentic wooden vessel built to a traditional Amazonian design and refitted in 2018, with great food, exceptional guides and an informal atmosphere shared with just a handful of like-minded guests.

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Friendly, homely wildlife lodge in Brazil’s Pantanal with modest, cheerful rooms and good wildlife-watching opportunities.

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An ideally-located hotel with a large pool and tranquil ambience inspired by traditional Brazilian ranches.

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Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

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The Pantanal wetlands cover an area almost the size of the British Isles and offers better wildlife opportunities than the Amazon. Writer and photographer Alex Bellos discovers them.

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Small, breathtakingly beautiful Costa Rica is a treasure trove for the nature lover. Trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals and hummingbirds, while the Caribbean shore hosts volcanic beaches and palm-sheltered coves.

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Level definitions

Essential
What it means

Stay in comfortable, well-located hotels chosen to keep you close to the action. These are reliable, practical places with everything you need for a good night’s sleep, sometimes a smaller or family-run find, sometimes a larger, more functional hotel. It’s a straightforward style of stay that keeps costs down and leaves more of your budget for the experiences themselves.

Premium
What it means

Return each evening to well-appointed hotels chosen for their comfort and setting. Rooms are spacious and properly equipped, with all the mod cons you’d expect, and facilities to include a restaurant, a bar or lounge, and often a pool or spa to unwind in. It’s an easy, comfortable style of travel, with somewhere relaxed to look forward to each day.

Essential
What it means

Settle into stylish hotels picked for their character, setting and service. That might be a luxurious city hotel like the Loi Suites in Buenos Aires, or somewhere with a setting you won’t forget, a former estancia on the Patagonian steppe or a lodge at the foot of Machu Picchu. This is our most memorable style, where the hotel becomes part of the journey itself.

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