From start to finish this was an amazing experience. The team at Neblina Forest worked with us to craft an itinerary that suited our specific needs, and followed through with superb logistics to make sure everything went smoothly. The infectious enthusiasm of our guide, Xavier, from Day 1 set the tone. Through his knowledge and spotting skills on safari we had joyous, wonderful opportunities to see and photograph the Pantanal wildlife - not just numbers, but also taking time to observe behaviors and interactions - even striking out on our own to quieter stretches of the rivers and roads in search of more personal interactions with jaguars, tapirs, otters, anteaters and birds. Xavier's attention to everyone's needs throughout the trip was outstanding: Arranging extra early coffees; swapping out our van overnight when the rear AC failed; organizing horseback riding at a moments notice; communicating with other guides to provide us with exclusive sightings, including a maned wolf - we felt truly lucky to have him as our guide. Xavier's love of wildlife, protection of the environment and the education of tourists and locals alike, shone through as a beacon of hope for this amazing, yet threatened, landscape. I would recommend the Neblina Forest team to anyone planning a trip to the Pantanal, indeed to anywhere they would lead you. We are already considering a repeat performance with Neblina Forest to Ecuador in 2028. Thank you for memories of a lifetime.

The Maned Wolf Camp experience was for us one of the highlights of a magical trip to the Pantanal. The boat ride from our Flotel took us up a different river (the Piquiri) and into a different world. On the way we saw a swimming Tapir, perhaps 100 vultures drying their wings, 6 giant river otters as well as numerous other birds and cayman. Once we arrived at the camp around 4pm we were greeted with drinks and cake. We then settled in to wait for the Maned Wolf. The airstrip, that he usually used to approach the camp, provided other sightings including hawks, parrots, ibis, another Tapir and a Barn Owl. Around 6:30 we moved inside for dinner having not seen the Wolf up until then. No sooner were are plates loaded than he appeared. Zinho brought the wolf's daily meal out as we gathered our cameras and quietly started capturing this impressive, shy and endangered animal. Standing as tall as a Brocket deer, with the coloring of a Marsh deer and the head of a fox, the trust and empathy between the wolf and Zinho was palpable. Zinho provided a second set of food just outside the camp, again under lights, so we could capture the moments with natural backgrounds and see his natural behavior as he slowly left camp - about 20 minutes after his arrival. At that point we could breathe again. We ate dinner, waiting in case an Ocelot that had been seen visiting the camp appeared, but finally called it a night around 7:30pm. The boat ride back in the dark was perhaps more impressive than the ride out. Thousands of bats, birds and insects swirled around the boat, against a backdrop of a million stars as the Milky Way stretched over our heads. A fish jumping into the boat halfway home provided more entertainment and we ended back at the Flotel around 9:45, elated, exhausted and full of awe. Seeing one man's efforts to protect and encourage the Maned Wolf, endangered by the actions of other men, was an inspiration and a ray of hope that with the right incentives and a selfless nature we can continue to see these and other animals for many years to come in the Pantanal. Thank you for providing the opportunity and experience not only for seeing the Maned Wolf but also the efforts locals will go to to protect the animals around them.

We had a great time。 Have seen all big 5 of south America.

In September 2026 we had a fantastic 5-day private trip to the North Pantanal with Xavier Muñoz as our guide (2 people - my wife and I). Our goal was to spot jaguars, capybaras, giant otters and all kinds of birds, especially parrots and toucans. We definitely succeeded in achieving this goal thanks to the laser-sharp eyes and immense experience of Xavier. On the birding side, some highlights included seeing Hyacinth Macaws mating (!), Toco Toucans and Chestnut-eared Aracaris feasting on wild mangoes, a flock of Nanday Parakeets, nesting Jabirus symbiotically coexisting with Monk Parakeets, Whistling Herons, Capped Herons, Boat-billed Herons, Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Maguari Storks, Red-crested Finches, a Red-billed Scythebill, Guira Cuckoo, Chestnut-bellied Guans, Bare-faced Curassows, Roseate Spoonbills, Rufous Casiornis, Orange-backed Troupial, Gray-headed Tanager, an American Pygmy Kingfisher (tiny!), a Blue-and-yellow Macaw, tons of other parrot species (including Blue-winged Macaw, Yellow-collared Macaw, Orange-winged Amazon, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet and more), and many, many others. On the mammal side, we were lucky enough to witness the absolutely jaw-dropping jaguars of the Pantanal. We saw a jaguar eating a cayman kill, two jaguar brothers licking each other, yawning, and swimming together (their mother had recently abandoned them, so they are hunting and living together for a while before eventually going their separate ways), and on two separate occasions, a mother with her cubs. It was funny to see such powerful and large cats behaving in ways very similar to domestic house cats! We also saw plenty of capybaras (often with a Cattle Tyrant perched atop them!) including baby capybaras (!) and Giant Otters (the perfect mix of terrifying and cute). While on the Transpantaneira, at various points in time we were fortunate enough to see tapirs, Crab-eating Foxes, a Crab-eating Raccoon, and even a distant jaguarundi crossing the road! On the reptile side, there were plenty of caymans and a mating pair of Yellow Anacondas! Weeks after the trip got over I'm still struggling to process the infinitude of beautiful animals we saw. Itinerary: we arrived at Cuiaba airport, were picked up by Xavier in a car, and headed to Pocone and then to our first lodge on the Transpantaneira, Pousada Rio Claro. We birded in the area and did a night safari in a truck, and then headed to our next lodge further south, Pousada Santa Clara, which is on Porto Jofre. Over the next couple of days we made several trips on the river in a private boat, getting amazing looks at jaguars and other river bird species. We then headed north to our final hotel, Mato Grosso Hotel, where we did a river tour to look for the American Pygmy Kingfisher. The final day we skipped morning birding because I was under the weather, and we then headed back to the airport for our flight home. Some things to watch out for: to fly to Cuiaba you have to fly through Sao Paulo airport if you're coming from Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo airport Terminal 2 is pretty bad: noisy, and with huge flight delays. We lost almost 5 hours at the airport because our flight kept getting delayed. The frequent announcements were also horribly loud and harsh-sounding because of the acoustics of the terminal. The Pantanal can be extremely hot and somewhat humid. We had portable electric fans, which were extremely useful during the hottest parts of the day. Keep drinking water! Summing up: Xavier made the trip a huge success. He's a great guide with a wealth of experience and knowledge, and is a fantastic communicator and storyteller. Like the best guides, he has a keen awareness of where to look, when to look, and when it's a good idea to call off a search. He made sure we were comfortable and chose great lodges for us to stay at. I'd highly recommend planning a Pantanal trip with Neblina Forest (owned by him and his family), and in the future if I plan another trip to South America (not just Brazil), I will make sure to check with them.

We had a wonderful time, with great informative guides and comfortable accommodation. Thanks to our guides, Yago and Branco for their endless enthusiasm and great knowledge.