Jaguars of the Pantanal
Overview
VIDEO: Being Prepared to Receive Luck.
Justin Black describes photographing jaguars in the Brazilian Pantanal.
THIS IS THE FINEST JAGUAR PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE, BAR NONE.
EXCELLENCE IS IN THE DETAILS.
The Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest continental wetland, is a luxuriant forest-savannah mosaic in central-western Brazil that is home to the highest density of jaguars in the world. The jaguars here also happen to be the most massive anywhere in their range, commonly weighing in at 300 pounds, about the size of a large African lioness. We commonly observe jaguars actively hunting (including young males hunting in coalition from time to time), courting and mating, mothers with cubs, swimming the river, and more. Peak action can include successful hunts of caiman and capybaras, males in a territorial battle, jaguars surveying the landscape from tree trunks leaning over the water, leaping off high banks into the river, and other highlights. The rivers and channels provide easy access for our customized photo boat – a stable state-of-the-art aluminum speedboat with revolving centerline camera mounts – to locations frequented by the big cats in the dry season.
The Pantanal is also simply the greatest wildlife spectacle of Latin America. In addition to the jaguars, it harbors the world’s largest parrots (hyacinth macaw), the world’s largest snake (green anaconda), the world’s largest otter, and many other species in astonishingly high densities.
Justin Black will lead his ninth expedition in the Pantanal for Visionary Wild, and will provide attentive photo instruction and guidance throughout the itinerary. The small group size ensures ample space to maneuver for photography from the boat, and plenty of time for one-on-one instruction and feedback from Justin.
After gathering for a night at the excellent Hotel Deville in the gateway city of Cuiabá, we will head down the renowned Transpantaneira Highway to spend two nights at the Pantanal Wildlife Center’s Fazenda Santa Tereza, a comfortable lodge located on an expansive estate on the banks of the wildlife-rich Pixaim River. Then we will continue to the inland river delta that constitutes the prime “Jaguar Zone,” spending six nights at our floating hotel, which consists of two hotel barges – the comfortable Jaguar Flotel and the newer, more spacious Jaguar Suites – moored together (you step from one hotel barge to the other) on the shore of the Piquiri River near the confluence with the Cuiabá River. Located in the heart of the best jaguar action, when compared with the longer commutes by boat from other area accommodations, this privileged location on the water permits us to spend an extra two hours per day with the big cats, and to be on location at the best times of day for quality light, comfortable temperatures, and scenic beauty in the Pantanal. Two classes of accommodation are available: the first consists of a block of four Jaguar Suites rooms, offering the finest guest rooms in all the Pantanal, purpose-built to support serious photographers in comfort. We are also offering a somewhat less expensive option in two rooms on the Jaguar Flotel barge. Both classes of accommodation are available as single or double occupancy, and both have great air-conditioning and hot showers.
At Fazenda Santa Teresa, several wildlife observation towers include one located just 16 meters from an active nest of habituated Jabiru storks – perfect at first light in the morning – and a second one in gallery forest along the banks of the river. Virtually guaranteed wildlife sightings here include giant otters, ocelots, capuchin monkeys, numerous bird species including toco toucans, hyacinth macaws, rufescent tiger heron, anhingas, crested caracaras, various fishing hawks, stunning yellow-billed cardinals, an the extraordinary great potoo. Jaguars and tapirs are sometimes seen at the Fazenda Santa Tereza as well.
On our way back up the Transpantaneira, we will spend our final night at Pouso Allegre Lodge, which offers excellent opportunities to photograph tapirs, giant anteaters, and diverse bird species.
Itinerary
September 26 – Arrival day in Cuiabá: Fly into Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB) in Cuiabá, Brazil. You will be met at the airport and transferred to Hotel Deville in Ciuabá. We will have an introduction and orientation in the late afternoon, followed by a group dinner. Overnight at Hotel Deville, Ciuabá (D)
Sept 27 & 28 – Fazenda Santa Tereza on the Pixaim River: After breakfast we will be picked up by a comfortable air-conditioned van to drive into the Pantanal wetlands via the Transpantaneira highway, to Fazenda Santa Tereza Lodge on the Pixaim River, our accommodation for two nights. We will enjoy boat excursions on the river to photograph fishing hawks, kingfishers, various heron species, giant river otters, and caiman, while the lodge’s various wildlife viewing platforms will provide access to toco toucans, hyacinth macaws, jabirú storks, ocelots, and more.
Sept 29 – Into the Jaguar Zone
After breakfast, we continue down the Tanspantaneira Highway to Porto Jofre on the Cuiabá River. There we load into speedboats that will whisk us a half hour up the river to the Jaguar Flotel and Jaguar Suites. We will get settled into our rooms, enjoy lunch in the restaurant, and then head out in our photo boat for our first jaguar search, returning at dusk. Each evening after dinner, the staff biologist will make a presentation on local fauna. Overnight Jaguar Suites and Jaguar Flotel. (B,L,D)
Sept 30–Oct 4 – Jaguars and other Pantanal wildlife from SouthWild Jaguar Suites: Morning and afternoon boat outings on the Pantanal river network (with a total of 8 hours in the boat each day during the period between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm) in search of jaguars, giant otters, tapirs, caiman, macaws, and other fauna. Overnight Jaguar Suites and Jaguar Flotel. (B,L,D)
Oct 5 – Pouso Allegre – After breakfast, we will transfer by speedboat back to Porto Jofre for our van ride north on the Transpantaneira Highway to Pouso Allegre Lodge. After lunch, we will make the most of the wildlife opportunities in the area, including abundant and diverse birdlife, and good chances to see tapirs and giant anteaters. Overnight at Pouso Allegre Lodge. (B,L,D)
Oct 6 – Departure day from Cuiabá: After breakfast we will be transported back to Cuiabá to catch our flights home in the afternoon. (B)
Instructors
Justin Black
- JUSTIN BLACK is a photographer (www.justinblackphoto.com), writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow ...
Gallery
Pricing
Superior
Standard
Pricing options by accommodation class and occupancy:
Package with Jaguar Suites (four rooms available)
- Single-Occupancy: $13,995.00
- Double-Occupancy: $12,545.00
Package with Jaguar Flotel (two rooms available)
- Jaguar Flotel, Single-Occupancy: $13,395.00
- Jaguar Flotel, Double-Occupancy: $11,995.00
All prices are per person.
PRICING AND OCCUPANCY
This workshop is priced for single-occupancy, with pro-rated double occupancy rates for couples or participants who have made arrangements to share a room with another participant. We are not able to pair individual travelers into double-occupancy accommodation.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
- 30% deposit due at time of registration
- 30% payment due April 30, 2023
- 40% final payment due June 30, 2023
A 60% deposit is due for registrations after April 30, 2023. Contact us if you would like to discuss alternate payment arrangements for the deposit.
Click here to review our terms and conditions, including payment, cancellation and refund policies.
INCLUDED:
- Accommodation for ten nights
- All meals and beverages (including wine, beer and/or caipirinhas with dinners), from dinner on September 26 to breakfast on October 6
- All in-tour photographic instruction
- All land transportation from Cuiabá airport and back
- Exclusive use of Jaguar photo boat, and wildlife excursions
- Professional naturalist guide services
NOT INCLUDED:
- All international air travel and domestic transportation until arrival in and after departure from Ciuabá
- Any other travel services required to arrive at the tour commencement location, along with all associated taxes, levies and insurances
- Immigration, duty, passport and visa fees
- Trip cancellation insurance, travel medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage – strongly recommended
- Personal items including gifts or other purchases
- Discretionary gratuities
Highlights
- Photograph wild Jaguars close-up and active in their native habitat.
- Excellent opportunities to get close to Giant Otters, Yacaré Caiman crocodilians, Hyacinth Macaws, Tapirs, Jabiru Storks, Great Potoos, birds of prey, and a wide range of exotic birds and other South American wildlife.
- Generous expert photographic instruction and experienced guiding throughout the trip by Justin Black.
- Wildlife spotting and natural history interpretation by our favorite English-speaking naturalist guides.
- At least sixteen wildlife photography excursions, including eleven in the prime jaguar zone, each from three to four hours in duration, plus at least five excursions at Fazenda Santa Tereza and Pouso Allegre.
- The best boat available for photography in jaguar habitat. Each guest will have his or her own seating row in the boats. Many other operators in the area use narrow, unstable fishing dinghies that are unsuitable for serious photography.
- Comfortable, stylish accommodations in the heart of the wildlife action
- Satisfying home-style Brazilian meals, including fresh local ingredients
- All beverages included, including beer, wine, and/or caipirinhas with dinner
Accommodations
- Six nights at SouthWild Jaguar Suites and Jaguar Flotel (two barges moored together, functioning as a single hotel with two different room classes): Both the Suites and Flotel rooms offer powerful air conditioning and en suite bathrooms with hot showers. The Suites offer more spacious luxury staterooms with two double beds per room (which combine to create a “super-king-size” bed). The suites also feature scenic river views, high-speed Wi-Fi, and desktops with multiple power outlets for charging laptops and batteries (Flotels have outlets as well, but a more limited number, and wi-fi is available in the restaurant and lounge on the upper deck. We have secured enough rooms at the Jaguar Suites and Jaguar Flotel for each of our six guests to have a private room with en-suite bathroom. The suites accommodate double-occupancy very comfortably as well. Jaguar Flotel rooms are smaller, and more suitable for single-occupancy. The upper deck restaurant and common areas at the Jaguar Flotel have undergone a stylish renovation and expansion, offering guests a great place to relax in comfort and modern elegance. The Jaguar Suites and Flotel couldn’t be better positioned to make the most of the local wildlife spectacle.
- Two nights at SouthWild Pantanal’s Fazenda Santa Tereza Lodge: air-conditioned bedrooms with two full beds per room and en-suite hot-shower bathrooms.
- One night at Hotel Deville in Ciuabá
- One night at Pouso Allegre Lodge near Poconé.
Travel
