The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland — and one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth. Sprawling across an area larger than France, this vast mosaic of flooded savannas, gallery forests, and winding river channels supports wildlife in a density that rivals even the Serengeti. Unlike the Amazon, where dense canopy conceals its inhabitants, the Pantanal wears its wildlife openly.

The centerpiece of this journey is the jaguar. Holding the status of the Americas' largest cat, seeing a jaguar in its natural habitat ranks as one of the most sought-after wildlife encounters anywhere in the world. The north Pantanal, where the Paraguay and Cuiabá rivers braid through four remarkable protected areas, offers the best jaguar-viewing opportunity on the planet.

In true Reefs to Rockies style, this trip is about far more than one iconic predator. Giant river otters cavort along the riverbanks with almost theatrical energy. Tapirs wade through the shallows at dusk. Caimans pile onto sun-warmed sandbars in numbers that must be seen to be believed.

And overhead, the birds! Hyacinth macaws, the largest parrots in the world, flash electric blue through the trees. Toucans, herons, kingfishers, storks, and spoonbills fill every perch and line the water's edge. On a good day in the Pantanal, spotting a hundred species in a day isn’t uncommon!

We explore this world in two complementary ways. The first is an exclusive small-ship cruise aboard a comfortable motor vessel with just seven cabins, carrying us along the Paraguay and Cuiabá rivers through the Pantanal National Park, Acurizal Private Reserve, the Meeting of the Waters State Park, and the Transpantaneira Park Road. The rivers are the arteries of this ecosystem. Traveling them by boat puts you at the perfect vantage point for epic wildlife viewing.

After your river cruise, head ashore to Pousada Pequi, a lodge set on a historic ranch in Aquidauana in the southern Pantanal. Here, the focus shifts to land-based wildlife excursions showing a different facet of this extraordinary biome. Pequi operates with a genuine commitment to sustainability, from solar energy to waste reduction, making it a fitting partner for conservation-minded travelers.

Join Reefs to Rockies for this small-group expedition into the heart of the Pantanal - where jaguars patrol the riverbanks, giant otters hold court, and the sheer abundance of life at every turn reminds you why this place is unlike anywhere else on Earth.

Day 1 | Arrival in Cuiabá

Welcome to Brazil! Upon arrival in Cuiabá, you'll be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at Toroari Restaurant, the first meal of many together, and the official beginning of your Pantanal adventure.

Accommodations: Amazon Aeropuerto Hotel

Meals: Dinner

Important Note: This trip begins at Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB) in Cuiabá.

Day 2 | Cuiabá to Porto Jofre & First River Safari

After breakfast, we set out on the overland journey into the heart of the Pantanal. Today’s journey itself is half the experience. The first leg carries us 111 kilometers to Pocoé, the historic gateway town to the wetlands, before we turn onto the legendary Transpantaneira Park Road. This 147-kilometer unpaved track cuts straight into jaguar country, and the wildlife viewing begins immediately. After roughly six hours, we arrive at Porto Jofre and board the motor vessel that will be home for the next five nights.

After lunch and time to settle in, the late afternoon brings our first river safari. We’ll search for wildlife along the waterways as the light softens and the Pantanal comes alive around us. We return to the vessel for dinner as the stars appear over the wetlands.

Accommodations: Akaia Yacht

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 | River Safari: Meeting of the Waters

We're on the water early, heading into the Meeting of the Waters State Park, a place known simply, and deservedly, as "jaguar land." The Cuiabá, Piquiri, and Three Brothers rivers converge here in a maze of channels and tributaries that represent some of the finest jaguar habitat on Earth. We navigate these waterways throughout the day, eyes on the riverbanks, watching for the flick of a tail or the outline of a spotted coat moving through the vegetation. We break for lunch on board, head out again in the mid-afternoon, and finish the day watching the sun melt into the wetlands before returning for dinner.

Accommodations: Akaia Yacht

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4 | River Safari: Cuiabá River & the Negrinho

Another morning in the Meeting of the Waters region, and no two river safaris here are ever quite the same. Different channels and different light bring different encounters. After lunch on board, the vessel begins moving downstream along the Cuiabá River toward the dramatic Amolar mountain range, a striking backdrop that signals a shift in the landscape. In the mid-afternoon, we explore the Negrinho River, a quieter, more intimate waterway with its own cast of wildlife. We return to the vessel for dinner as the boat continues its journey downstream through the night.

Accommodations: Akaia Yacht

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5 | Acurizal Reserve & Pantanal National Park

This morning we disembark at Acurizal Reserve for a walk in the forest providing a different pace and perspective from the river safaris. The target here is the endemic Black-fronted Titi Monkey, a Pantanal specialty found nowhere else on Earth, along with whatever else the forest chooses to reveal. Back on board for lunch, the afternoon brings a river safari near the headquarters of Pantanal National Park, one of the most biodiverse corners of an already extraordinary ecosystem. We return after sunset for dinner as the vessel continues downstream, now navigating the Paraguay River.

Accommodations: Akaia Yacht

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6 | Amolar & Swimming in the Paraguai Mirim

Our final full day on the river begins in the wildlife-rich Amolar area, where mornings on the water have a way of producing the unexpected. After lunch and a leisurely stretch of downstream navigation on the Paraguay River, the afternoon offers something a little different - the chance to swim or snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Paraguai Mirim, a striking contrast to the tannin-stained channels we've been exploring. It's a fitting send-off from the river. We return after sunset for a final dinner on board as the vessel navigates through the night toward Corumbá.

Accommodations: Akaia Yacht

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7 | Corumbá to Pousada Pequi & Southern Pantanal

After an early breakfast, we leave the vessel behind and transfer overland to Pousada Pequi, a three-hour drive through the sweeping landscapes of the southern Pantanal. Set on a historic ranch in Aquidauana, Pequi Lodge offers a different kind of immersion. Here, we’ll enjoy the rhythms of a traditional fazenda, comfortable accommodations, and a genuine commitment to sustainability and Pantanal conservation. After lunch and time to settle in, the afternoon brings our first game drive into the surrounding wetlands and grasslands in search of the southern Pantanal's rich wildlife. We return to the lodge for dinner as the sun goes down over the ranch.

Accommodations: Pousada Pequi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 8 | Full Day at Pousada Pequi

A full day to explore the southern Pantanal at the lodge's unhurried pace. We'll likely mix and match activities based on what the day and the wildlife are telling us.

Accommodations: Pousada Pequi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 9 | Pousada Pequi to Campo Grande & Departures

After a final breakfast at the lodge, we check out around 7:00 a.m. and begin the journey to Campo Grande Airport. First the 180-kilometer drive to Aquidauana (approx. 3 hours), then another 140 kilometers on to Campo Grande (approx.. 2 hours). It's a last chance to watch the Pantanal roll past the windows and let the scale of what you've witnessed over the past eight days settle in. From jaguars on the riverbanks of Porto Jofre to giant otters in the channels of the Meeting of the Waters, from the sweep of the Paraguay River at sunset to the quiet forest trails of Pousada Pequi, this is a journey that stays with you. Safe travels home.

Meals: Breakfast

Important Note: This trip begins at Campo Grande–Ueze Elias Zahran International Airport (CGR) in Campo Grande.

Sheridan Samano, Co-Founder of Reefs to Rockies, is thrilled to co-lead this expedition into the heart of the Pantanal. For Sheridan, the best wildlife journeys are the ones that deliver a full spectrum of wildlife experiences, and Brazil's greatest wetland does exactly that. The chance to track jaguars along the riverbanks, then turn her binoculars on a colorful toucan or macaw flying through the trees is precisely the kind of trip she lives for. Throughout the journey, Sheridan will share her extensive field experience, deep knowledge, and passion for wildlife and wild places, bringing the natural history of this remarkable ecosystem to life for a small group of fellow adventurers.

Price: $9950* per person based on double occupancy accommodations (two people sharing a room). Add $1575** if you prefer private accommodations. Single cabins for the cruise portion are limited. Contact us to ensure availability before booking private room option.

Includes: 5-night private charter of North Pantanal houseboat including speed boats for river excursions; hotel accommodations for 1 night; lodge accommodations for 2 nights; 2 Expedition Leaders; private in-country ground transportation; all meals starting with dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 8; activities and entrance fees as listed; and 24/7 in-country support. A conservation donation will be made on behalf of all participants.

Excludes: international flights (Reefs to Rockies will assist with flight arrangements); passport/visa fees; room upgrades; travel insurance – a policy with medical emergency evacuation benefits is required; optional activities; excess baggage fees; pre- and post- hotel stays; personal expenses; and gratuities.

*Price is based on payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable, will be assessed at time of payment based on card used.

**If you are a solo traveler hoping to share accommodations, we’ll do our best to pair you. If we’re not able to find you a suitable roommate, the private room supplement will apply.

Group Size: Min 6, Max 9 + 2 Expedition Leaders

Level of Difficulty – Moderate: Activities include river safaris by small, motorized boats, wildlife drives, light hiking, and wildlife viewing across a full range of Pantanal environments. Participants should be comfortable with early morning departures often before sunrise and full days in the field. Boarding and disembarking small boats requires a reasonable degree of mobility and sure footing. The overland journey along the Transpantaneira Park Road on Day 2 is approximately six hours on an unpaved road and can be bumpy and tiring. Trails at Acurizal Reserve and Pousada Pequi involve uneven terrain. July brings warm to hot temperatures and high humidity throughout the region. Participants should be prepared for extended time outdoors in these conditions.