Ecology expedition through the Amazon and Pantanal: Brazil

26 September 2024 – 13 days from £7,585

Calling all wildlife enthusiasts! Join this exceptional journey exploring two of Brazil’s most celebrated ecological regions, the Amazon and the Pantanal. This expedition is an opportunity to better understand what makes them so incredible and, primarily, what differentiates them.

The Amazon river originates in the Andes mountains of Peru, traversing its way through Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. It traverses a total distance of around 6400 kilometres and is the second longest river in the world, after the Nile. While the Amazon may be Brazil’s most revered wildlife destination, the Pantanal is definitely a hidden gem. Spreadover 42 million acres, the Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland and one of the most pristine. It sprawls across three South American countries: Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.

After a brief stay in the charming city of Manaus, you will board the small and comfortable motor yacht Tucano, chartered exclusively for this venture to travel up the Rio Negro, the least inhabited river in the Amazon river basin. Weave in and out of small channels and discover untouched native forest, which is the habitat of exotic birds such as parrots and toucans, howler monkeys, three toed sloths, frogs, snakes, peccaries and tapirs. While sailing, look out for giant river otters, piranhas, various species of caiman and pink river dolphins. 

Disembark and continue your journey to one of the most beautiful regions of the northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, staying at the Pousada do Rio Mutum Ecolodge. Located right on the banks of the Mutum river, it is an ideal base from which to explore these remarkable wetlands. While you enjoy the gentle hiking trails through thick jungle and wetlands, you will have the opportunity to observe the huge biodiversity of the area. 

The group size will be limited to an absolute maximum of 16 and you will be accompanied by local, highly skilled guides.

In partnership with The Ultimate Travel Company.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL INTO MANAUS

You will be met on arrival to Manaus and transferred to your centrally located hotel, where you will spend the next two nights. 

Manaus, meaning "mother of the gods", is the capital of the state of Amazonas in Brazil. It was founded in 1669 and declared a town in 1832, then subsequently transformed into a city in 1848 and re-named Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro, only to be changed back to Manaus in 1856.

You will have time to settle into your hotel before the welcome meeting in the evening, which will be held at your hotel. During the meeting, you will meet your tour leader and the rest of the group before enjoying a welcome dinner at the hotel. 

DAY 2: MANAUS

After breakfast, depart the hotel for a morning walking tour of Manaus. Begin with a visit to the Teatro Amazonas. In the 19th century, Manaus was at the centre of the rubber boom. Rubber barons generated huge personal wealth and the city became an architectural playground for those with money to spend. Remnants of this period can be seen today: the city’s oldest marketplace – the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, founded in 1882 – is one such example, with its grand edifice inspired by Paris’s famous Les Halles market. It features cafes, a labyrinthine bazaar and a fragrant fish market. But perhaps the most spectacular feature is the city's $10 million dollar opera house, Teatro Amazonas, which was built in 1884 at the height of Manaus's opulence. 

From here, visit the Palacio do Rio Negro. Dating back to the early 20th century, it functioned as the seat of the government of the state of Amazonas and the official residence of the governor. Today, the historic palace is the last fully preserved building from the rubber era.

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. 

The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore at your own pace. Please ask the tour leader for their suggestions or places to visit.  

Dinner this evening will be under your own arrangements.

DAY 3: AMAZON BOAT EMBARKATION

After breakfast, you will be transferred to embark the motor yacht Tucano for your exclusive charter, where you will meet with your onboard team of knowledgeable guides. 

After embarkation is complete, begin cruising upstream on the Rio Negro, one of the major tributaries of the Amazon. Head to the observation deck, where you can scan the magnificent tangle of vegetation at the water’s edge. Keep an eye out for pink river dolphins, primates and a large collection of exotic birds. 

In the late afternoon, you will have the opportunity to join a skiff (a flat-bottom motorboat) cruise to search for wildlife through some of the narrower channels.

In the evening, you will return to the boat for dinner onboard. 

DAYS 4 - 8: EXPLORING THE RIO NEGRO

Over the next five days, the schedule varies according to navigational and weather conditions. However, your days will have a basic outline of activities, as below: 

Each morning, you will get up with the sun, at which point you will have the option to explore the forest by skiff in search of birds – make sure to listen out for the distinctive sound of howler monkeys. If you haven’t heard them before, it can be an interesting experience! Alternatively, you may prefer to board a kayak and silently paddle deep into a forest stream overhung with vines and bromeliads.

By mid-morning, return to the boat for a hearty Brazilian breakfast followed by relaxation time. 

Later in the afternoon, you can enjoy walking excursions into the rainforest accompanied by naturalists who will offer insight into the surrounding ecology. Walk quietly along narrow trails deep into a forest that has hardly changed for millions of years. Listen to informative talks, see the three different types of fores and learn about local medicinal plants. To make the most of these walks, you will be divided into smaller groups.

There will also be opportunities to fish and swim safely in clear water and go for night walks enhanced by the lack of light pollution.

You will return to the boat with time to relax and unwind before dinner followed by evening talks.

Every evening, enjoy informal talks from the onboard team covering a variety of topics including:

• The flora and fauna that we have observed during the day 
• The ways that plants and animals have evolved in the rainforest
• The relations between the plants, animals and their physical environment
• The ecology of the Amazon rainforest

After sunset, head to the observation deck to look at the millions of stars and constellations of the southern hemisphere.  

DAY 9: RIO NEGRO / MANAUS / CUIABA / PANTANAL

Disembark and transfer to Manaus airport for your flight via Sao Paulo to Cuiaba. 

From here, you will be transferred overland to the Pousada do Rio Mutum (journey time approximately 2 and a half hours, part of which will be travelling on dirt roads). Although a long transfer, it is an excursion in itself, cutting directly across the Pantanal and giving you the first taste of the region's beautiful landscape and abundant plants and wildlife.

The Pantanal is the world’s largest freshwater wetland, about half the size of continental France. The region lacks the thick vegetation found in the Amazon rainforest, meaning that here there is more opportunity to spot the surrounding wildlife. 

You will be based at Pousada do Rio Mutum Ecolodge, located right on the riverbanks. Connected to a maze of canals and lakes, it is a superb place to experience this unique environment.

DAYS 10-12: EXPLORING THE PANTANAL

During your time in the Pantanal, you will have the opportunity to explore by boat, by four-wheel drive, on foot and even on horseback in hope of seeing jaguars, hyacinth macaws, capybaras, capuchin monkeys, giant otters and giant anteaters all going about their day. This is a bird-lover’s paradise and a wildlife-watching haven that is continually rated as the best in all of South America.

While staying at the lodge, you will be joined by trained bilingual naturalist guides, who will lead you on daily wildlife viewing excursions by jeep, by boat or on foot. Typically, each day includes two daytime activities and one nighttime activity. 

During your stay, there will be an opportunity to visit local villages, see many bird species and begin to appreciate this wonderful ecosystem. 

DAY 13: PANTANAL TO CUIABA

In the morning, you will travel back to Cuiaba airport for your international departure flight.