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I’m🐾 Into the Heart of the Pantanal

A 7-Day Photo Safari in Search of Brazil’s Iconic Wildlife

From July 9 to July 15 – 6 nights, 7 days
Locations: Pousada Piuval & Hotel Pantanal Norte – Porto Jofre

Day 1 – Arrival in Poconé & First Encounters at Piuval

We begin our journey in Poconé, the gateway to the Northern Pantanal. After a scenic drive down the first stretch of the Transpantaneira Highway, we arrive at Pousada Piuval, a 7,000-hectare private reserve of flooded fields, gallery forests, and termite mounds.

📸 Highlights:

  • Footprints of giant anteaters pressed into the soft earth.

  • Blue and gold feathers dropped by Hyacinth Macaws beneath palm trees.

  • A warm sunset filled with the calls of Southern screamers and black-collared hawks.

Day 2 & 3 – Tracking Giants in Piuval

We explore Piuval on foot, 4×4 safari trucks, and by canoe. The search intensifies for the elusive tamandua-bandeira (giant anteater) as it roams open grasslands at dawn and dusk.

🦶 Clues in the wild:

  • Torn termite nests, fresh anteater tracks, and scratch marks on tree trunks.

  • Troops of capuchin monkeys leap through the canopy.

  • Early morning light reveals deer tracks by the waterholes.

🐦 Birdlife:

  • Red-legged seriemas and Toco toucans call from the savanna.

  • Bright blue feathers mark the passage of the Hyacinth Macaw, the world’s largest parrot.

Day 4 – Driving the Transpantaneira to Porto Jofre

We depart Piuval and travel 147 km south on the legendary Transpantaneira, crossing over 120 rustic wooden bridges. This is one of the most iconic wildlife roads in the world.

🌿 Geographical highlights:

  • Pixaim River – often a great stop for herons and caimans.

  • Campos do Jofre – vast floodplains filled with capybaras and storks.

📍 Arrival at Hotel Pantanal Norte, located at the edge of the Cuiabá River in Porto Jofre, where the land ends and the water takes over.

Day 5 & 6 – River Safaris in Search of Jaguars and Otters

Early mornings and afternoons are spent aboard speedboats exploring the Cuiabá, Three Brothers, and Piquiri Rivers—the jaguar heartland.

🐾 Signs to watch for:

  • Muddy claw prints of Panthera onca on riverbanks.

  • Slippery trails from giant otters sliding into the water.

  • The shrieks of howler monkeys echoing from the riverine forest.

🦦 Wildlife encounters:

  • Entire otter families hunting piranhas.

  • Jaguars stalking capybaras in silence.

  • Flocks of Jabiru storks, kingfishers, and the elusive Agami heron.

Day 7 – Return to Poconé

Our final morning allows one last sunrise on the river or a peaceful walk near the lodge. We drive back along the Transpantaneira, carrying thousands of images and memories from this unforgettable week in one of Earth’s greatest wetlands.

🗺️ Map of Our Expedition Route

Here is a visual reference of our journey—from Poconé to Porto Jofre—highlighting the locations of Pousada Piuval and Hotel Pantanal Norte:


(Map not to scale. For illustrative purposes.)

📌 Tags for SEO:

Pantanal Photo Safari, Giant Anteater, Jaguar Watching, Hyacinth Macaw, Porto Jofre, Pousada Piuval, Wildlife Photography Brazil, Transpantaneira, Giant Otter, Brazil Nature Tour

We finished this tour with 17 jaguar sights and 11 diferent individuos