Jaguars & Pantanal Wildlife River Cruise

Overview

Jaguars & Pantanal Wildlife River Cruise
Cuiabá - Coxipó da Ponte, Cuiabá - State of Mato Grosso, Brazil
Oct 13 - 24, 2026
Group size: 1 - 6
Mark Buckler Photography
$9,950
Deposit: $100

About this trip

This unique jaguar (and other wildlife) photo safari occurs in two parts:

  • 6 nights on a river cruise through two of the best areas to view jaguars in the Pantanal

  • 3 nights at a Ranch for special land-based wildlife (including jaguars) and boat tours.

Limited to just 6 guests.

What's included

Arrival Accommodation

2 nights at Cuiaba Airport Hotel

Full Accommodation

Cabin on the cruise boat and a room at the ranch

Full Board

All

All Boat & Truck Safaris

Daily excursions by water and/or land

Widlife Guide

A wildlife guide will accompany all excursions

All Transfers

All transfers between Airport/Hotel, Boat and Ranch

What's not included

International Flights

You must book your flights to and from Cuiaba, Brazil

Meals at Cuiaba Hotel

All food while at the hotel is your responsibility

Travel Insurances

Gratuities

Beverages, Laundry

October 13

October 13 image

Arrival in Cuiaba

This is your arrival day in Cuiaba, Brazil. You will be lodged at a hotel at the Airport.

October 14

October 14 image

Cuiaba Airport Hotel

Day 2 will be spent relaxing in preparation for an amazing photo safari in the Pantanal.

October 15

October 15 image

CUIABÁ | CÁCERES | PARAGUAY RIVER AGUAPÉ CRUISER BOAT

Starting 08:00am, you will meet your guide and group at the airport or hotel. In an air-conditioned and very comfortable van, we will drive for 200km on a paved highway to the city of Cáceres, from where we will drive an additional 70km on the Facão road. Facão is a beautiful unpaved road among the valleys bordering the Paraguai River and during our drive we will already begin to have our wildlife spotting opportunities. We will embark on the Aguapé Houseboat, a very large and sturdy vessel. After lunch on board and a break to settle ourselves in, we will start our first Jaguar Safari: around 03:00pm, we will leave on the speedboats to have our first close contact with the Pantanal,exploring the Paraguai River and its bays. 

October 16

October 16 image

PARAGUAY RIVER | JAGUAR PHOTO SAFARIS

Wake up in the northern part of the Taiamã Ecological Reserve remote and pristine Pantanal region! Taiamã offers us some real natural sanctuaries, with a beautiful landscape, ideal for finding Jaguars, Howler and Capuchin Monkeys, Giant Otters, Capybaras, Caimans, Anacondas, and an abundance of birds. , we will embark in our speedboats and during full morning and afternoon until sunset.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

October 17

October 17 image

TAIAMÃ RESERVE | JAGUAR PHOTO SAFARI

Durnig the morning, on board of our safari boats, we explore the area between the historic Conceição Harbor and the entrance to the bays that precede the Amolar Hills. Here, we will approach the most flooded area in the entire Pantanal, offering yet more opportunities to observe all kinds of wildlife! 

October 18

October 18 image

EXPLORING AMOLAR MOUNTAIN RANGE

In the morning, after breakfast we will explore, by speedboat, the surroundings of the Amolar Hills, its bay (Acorizal) and tributaries. We will find many birds, amazing landscapes, the iconic Giant-Lily Pad and even petroglyphs. Black and Gold Howler Monkeys and Marsh Deer are also likely to make an appearance. After lunch, we will  explore the Park on the Paraguai River and its tributaries and bays. We may see Jaguars anytime as we push deeper into an area with heavy concentration of them.

October 19

October 19 image

PANTANAL NATIONAL PARK CUIABÁ RIVER | PORTO JOFRE

In the morning we will explore the surroundings on the Cuiabá, as well as on the , a very charming channel resembling Negrinho river a tunnel of trees. While navigating on it, wildlife may be seen all around, including Herons, Kingfishers, and Caciques as well as Giant Otters and Jaguars. The houseboat will continue its journey towards Porto Jofre, where we meet by lunchtime. In the afternoon, we will explore the Encontro das Águas State Park, that boasts the greatest concentration of Jaguars in the world! 

October 20

October 20 image

PANTANAL NATIONAL PARK CUIABÁ RIVER | PORTO JOFRE

Encontro das Águas State Park, often able to approach Jaguars from a safe and respectful distance of approximately 20 meters. Every day,we always have a great opportunities for Giant Otter, Kingfisher, Howler Monkey, and Jaguar sightings. It is rare to come away from this Park without having seen at least a couple of cats.

We may also encounter other interesting wildlife including Capybaras, Caimans, Capuchin Monkeys, Tapirs, and even Anacondas. The birdlife here is also fantastic, with many unique species present, including Jabiru Storks, Toucans, Trogons, and Ibises, among many others. Along these three nights, the houseboat will keep anchored at the entrance of the State Park.

October 21

October 21 image

PORTO JOFRE | Transfer to Aymara Lodge

After breakfast, we will disembark at 07:00am and start our drive Aymara Lodge. Over the course of the morning, we will cross a total of 125km overland along the magnificent and famous Transpantaneira Park Road, making this drive still a veritable safari! This road is very scenic and charming, with many classic wooden bridges. During the drive, we will frequently stop to stretch our legs and admire the beauty of the surroundings. Wildlife is often spotted along this route, so keep eyes open and camera at hand,

October 21-24

October 21-24 image

AYMARA LODGE | OVERLAND SAFARIS

Located in the Northern Pantanal, one of the most abundant wildlife regions on the planet, Aymara Lodge offers guests an authentic immersion experience without sacrificing comfort. The apartments are nestled in the forest and on the banks of a corixo (a small watercourse in the Pantanal), where animals such as alligators, capybaras, wolf-eared owls, pacas, coatis, and monkeys are seen daily in their natural habitat, as well as several bird species, including the hyacinth macaw, the great blue parrot, the curassow, and toucans.

Aymara Lodge is located in a protected 216-hectare Nature Reserve and features 18 Aymara Suites (16m2), a restaurant, bar, and swimming pool—a true ecological refuge home to animals such as the Pantanal deer, tapir, ocelot, giant otter, and more! There's an immense diversity of bird species, making Aymara Lodge a prime location for birdwatching in Brazil.

Due to its strategic location in the heart of the native forest and on the banks of a "corixo" (a seasonal water channel), Aymara Lodge is a true wildlife sanctuary. During your stay and on excursions through the region, it is possible to encounter species such as Jabiru Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, various types of Herons, Hawks, Owls, Parrots, and mammals like the Marsh Deer, Tapir, Giant Anteater, Crab-eating Fox, Ocelot, Monkeys, Capybaras, Coatis, Giant Otters, and with a bit of luck, even Pumas and Jaguars!

Here at Aymara, we also have hides (blinds) where we wait in silence for animals coming to drink water or eat seasonal fruits

Map of the trip locations

A. Cuiabá - Coxipó da Ponte, Cuiabá - State of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Cuiabá - Coxipó da Ponte, Cuiabá - State of Mato Grosso, Brazil

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Jaguars & Pantanal Wildlife River Cruise