Journey wildlife and nature in Brazil

15 days - from € 3,900 per person

self drive - Pantanal

  • Drive your rental car through the “Wild West” of Brazil
  • Go snorkeling in crystal clear waters around Bonito
  • Discover the rich wild life of the Pantanal
  • Stand right below the mightiest falls in the world: Iguaçu
  • Climb the famous steps of Selarón in Rio de Janeiro

Travel itinerary

Day 1: Amsterdam – São Paulo – Campo Grande

Your unique journey through Brazil starts today. You will depart with an intercontinental flight from Amsterdam to São Paulo, where you will change to your domestic flight to Campo Grande. Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our local staff and brought to your accommodation.
Overnight stay: Hotel Vale Verde | bed & breakfast
 

Day 2: Campo Grande – Bonito

(approx. 300 km | 4 hour drive)
After breakfast you pick up your rental car and drive to Bonito on your own. The place where Bonito is today, was 550 million years ago a sea. Today it is one of the most fascinating water recreation areas in the world. You will stay in Pousada Olho d'Água which is located three km from the center of Bonito. The area around Bonito is known for its crystal clear rivers, which are rich in fish. When you let yourself be guided by the stream of one of these rivers with snorkel gears, it is as if you are in a life-size aquarium. 
Overnight stay: Pousada Olho d'Água | bed & breakfast

Day 3: Bonito

Today a day off is planned, you can explore the surroundings of Bonito on your own. You can visit Rio Sucuri and Rio da Prata (rivers calles after anaconda and river of silver). These rivers are known as two of the clearest rivers in the world. This is because the water is filtered by the limestone foundation. A good place to snorkel, where you will be surrounded by different species of fish such as the Piraputangas, Pacu, Cachara, Pintados, Curimbatás and Dourados. The rays of light, branches, broken/fallen tree trunks, rock walls and rock formations form an amazing underwater landscape. 
Overnight stay: Pousada Olho d'Água | bed & breakfast
 

Day 4: Bonito – Pantanal

(approx. 155 km | 2 hour drive)
Today you will drive to your eco-lodge Refúgio da Ilha located in the Pantanal. The Pantanal is after the Amazon forest the most important nature reserve of Brazil. It is a seasonal swamp that is flooded for half the year and dry for the other half. During the rainy season, water from the surrounding areas flows into the Pantanal, forming a kind of bowl that slowly but surely fills up during the rainy season. As the water 'gradually' flows out again, the nutrients that make the Pantanal a biologically very rich and diverse area are left behind. The rivers are full with fish and so are the banks filled with waterfowl and caimans. Other characteristic animals are the giant anteater, the giant otter, the anaconda, the capibara and the beautiful hyacinth macaw. You will stay in a beautiful location, in the middle of nature. During your stay, professional English-speaking guides are ready to take you through this impressive nature reserve.
Overnight stay: Refúgio da Ilha | full board

Refugio da Ilha

Refúgio da Ilha is a small lodge in the southern part of the Pantanal on the banks of the Salobra River, surrounded by beautiful nature. This small lodge has only 8 guestrooms. The rooms have a simple appearance in line with the rural Pantanal, but offer you plenty of peace and comfort during your stay. The rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioning and fan. In addition, the lodge has communal areas such as a living room, a video room, a small library, a shop and two verandas. Around the lodge you will find garden sheds and a pier by the river where you can swim or just enjoy the lovely surroundings.

Day 5 and 6: Pantanal

These days you can explore the surroundings of the Pantanal. There are many different ways to explore the beautiful landscape and wildlife during your stay. Your accommodation offers various excursions accompanied by professional English speaking guides. There will be guided walks where you will have the chance to spot monkeys, caymans, macaws, toucans, rheas (the South American pampa ostrich), anteaters and many other animal species. There are also horseback rides, boat trips and trips with 4x4-powered all-terrain vehicles available, in order to spot the lush wildlife of the Pantanal.
Overnight stay: Refúgio da Ilha | full board

Day 7: Pantanal – Campo Grande 

(approx. 230 km | 3.5 hour drive)
In the morning you can enjoy another activity. After this you will drive back to Campo Grande. Here you will stay another night before continuing the next day to the waterfalls of Foz do Iguaçu. 
Overnight stay: Hotel Vale Verde | bed & breakfast

Day 8: Campo Grande – Foz do Iguaçu 

Today you drive to the airport of Campo Grande, where you drop-off your rental car and board your domestic flight to Foz do Iguaçu. Upon arrival at the airport of Foz do Iguaçu you will be welcomed by our local staff and brought to your hotel, you will stay at the Brazilian side of the falls.
Overnight stay: Vivaz Cataratas Resort | bed & breakfast
 

Day 9: Foz do Iguaçu

Foz do Iguaçu is located on the tri-border point Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Here the Iguaçu river plunges into the Paraná river. With an average height of 80 meters, the Iguaçu Falls are wider than the Victoria Falls, higher than the Niagara Falls and without a doubt one of the most beautiful spectacles in the world. The lush green national park in which the falls of Foz do Iguaçu are located adds an extra dimension to this mighty spectacle. The national park in which the waterfalls are located is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This day your guide will take you to the Brazilian side. Foz do Iguaçu consists of about 275 waterfalls and these are best to visit in the morning because then the light on the water is at its most beautiful. When the sun rises, rainbows appear on all sides. There is a path all the way down to the bottom of the thundering mass of water with several beautiful viewpoints. Enjoy!
Overnight stay: Vivaz Cataratas Resort | bed & breakfast

Day 10: Foz do Iguaçu

Today you will visit the Argentinian side of the waterfalls. When you look straight into the "Garganta del Diablo" (Devil's Throat) from above, you will immediately understand how this part got its name. Here nature shows its true nature. It really is a unique experience to be so close to this waterfall. After the visit to the Argentine waterfalls you will see the waterfalls in a spectacular way from the water. You will be taken by an all-terrain vehicle through the Mata Atlantica rainforest. At Puerto Macuco you will board a powerboat. With this speedboat you will sail through the canyons of the Iguaçu River up to the waterfalls. After admiring the tranquil side of San Martin Island, you'll go to the Tres Mosqueteros waterfall, where the very impressive Brazilian, Argentine, but also the Devil's Throat will be easy to see. After that you will sail along the shore to the enormous San Martin waterfall. Afterwards you will be brought back to your hotel on the Brazilian side. 
Overnight stay: Vivaz Cataratas Resort | bed & breakfast

Day 11: Foz do Iguaçu – Rio de Janeiro

You will be picked up from your hotel today and taken to Foz do Iguaçu airport where you will board your domestic flight to Rio de Janeiro. Upon arrival you will be taken to your accommodation. You will stay in the Santa Teresa district, the oldest part of the city. The beautiful villas in this part of town were almost all built at the end of the nineteenth, beginning of the twentieth century. A number of these villas have been renovated in recent years into small-scale boutique hotels. An attraction in the Santa Teresa district is the Escadaria Selarón, the colorful staircase with all kinds of tiles made by the Chilean artist Jorge Selaron, which connects the district with Lapa and of course the Santa Teresa tram. It is a lively neighborhood with lots of nice shops, bars and good restaurants. The adjoining district Lapa, is considered to be the nightlife area with Rio Scenarium and the real center of Rio de Janeiro. You can reach Copacabana or Ipanema in about 20 minutes by taxi.
Overnight stay: Mama Shelter Santa Teresa| bed & breakfast

Day 12: Rio de Janeiro

This day a private guide will pick you up to visit the famous Corcovado with its huge statue of Christ, the symbol of this vibrant city. At the statue you have a great view. After this you will be taken to the Sugarloaf Mountain where you will go up by cable car. This mountain was discovered by the indigenous Indians who called it 'pau-nd-acuqua', which means high pointed point. To the Portuguese this sounded like 'pão de açucar', with its shape reminiscent of the earthenware pointed pots that were used to refine sugar. The Sugar Loaf Mountain is an imposing and natural monument that cannot be ignored in the skyline of Rio de Janeiro. From here you have a completely different view over the city and you can see the statue of Christ the Redeemer, where you just stood. Afterwards you will be brought back to your hotel where you will have the everning at leisure. 
Overnight stay: Mama Shelter Santa Teresa | bed & breakfast

Day 13: Rio de Janeiro

Today you will make a cycling tour through the city together with a guide. You will cycle along the city's beaches, visit the historic center and cycle past a famous cemetery where many prominent Brazilians are buried. You will visit the district of Lapa and via the famous staircase of Selarón you will arrive in the district of Santa Teresa. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. In the evening you and a guide will visit some of the most popular Botecos of Rio de Janeiro. These are typical Brazilian pubs. The city has a lively Bohemian scene that is constantly changing. This evening you will mingle with the Cariocas, as the inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro are called, and enjoy petiscos (snacks) and live music. You will not enter the tourist pubs but you will be taken to the botecos that are visited by the Cariocas. Of course you will have to drink a delicious caipirinha (Brazilian cocktail made of lime, sugar cane and pinga) or one of the various refreshing variations with other fruits. 
Overnight stay: Mama Shelter Santa Teresa | bed & breakfast

Day 14: Rio de Janeiro – Amsterdam 

Your unique journey through Brazil is unfortunately over. Our local staff will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Rio de Janeiro airport, where you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam. You will arrive here the next day.

Day 15: Amsterdam

Today you will arrive in Amsterdam.

We compensate all our trips through the reforestation project of the Black Jaguar Foundation

Price

From € 3,900 per person

  • On the basis of 2 persons travelling together 
  • Depending on the time of booking, flight availability and period of travel

Included:

  • domestic flights, economy class 
  • 10 overnight stays, meals as mentioned
  • 3 overnight stays in Refúgio da Ilha with full board including excursions accompanied by professional guides
  • 7 days rental car (cat. GX: Renault Duster or similar) pick-up and drop-off in Campo Grande, incl. basic insurance
  • all transfers and excursions as mentioned 
  • our backup 24/7; locally and in the Netherlands
  • extensive travel document package with a small attention

Not included:

  • international flights, if desired we can book these for you
  • early check-in / late check-out, based on availability, this is sometimes provided by the hotel. If you want to be sure that you have this, ask us about the additional cost
  • (Dutch) public contribution Calamity fund; € 2.50,- per booking 
  • SGR contribution of € 5,- per person per booking
  • travel and cancellation insurance

Request travel proposal

Would you like to make this tour too? We can of course arrange the above trip for you, but we are also happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04, send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a customized quote below. We will be happy to help you. 

Request travel proposal

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