Jaguars of the Pantanal
Overview
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-wetland mosaic in central-western Brazil that is home to the highest density of jaguars in the world. Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas, and the Pantanal cats are the most massive anywhere in their range, commonly weighing between 300 and 350 pounds, the size of an African lioness. Here, we observe a range of jaguar behaviors, including active hunting, courtship and mating, mothers with cubs, swimming the river, young males hunting in coalition, 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 branches or 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, which Visionary Wild helped design – 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 (the hyacinth macaw), the world’s largest snake (green anaconda), the world’s largest otter, and many other species in astonishingly high densities.
Justin Black been visiting the Pantanal for years, and is excited to return to lead Visionary Wild’s 13th jaguar expedition in the Pantanal, with a special custom-tailored itinerary. Justin will provide attentive photo instruction and guidance throughout the itinerary, and the small group size ensures ample space to maneuver for photography from our special boat and safari vehicles, and plenty of time for one-on-one instruction and feedback on your images.
After gathering for a welcome dinner with Justin and our local naturalist guide, and an overnight at the excellent Hotel Deville in the gateway city of Cuiabá, Brazil, your group will be picked up by our driver in an air-conditioned and spacious Mercedes Sprinter van to drive down the renowned Transpantaneira Highway to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge on the Pixiam River. This former ranch is now a wonderland for wildlife, rich with diverse tropical birdlife including Hyacinth Macaws, Great Potoos, Jabiru Storks, Vermillion Flycatchers, and a plethora of waterbird species, and local mammals like ocelots, giant anteaters, brocket deer, and capybaras.
On the morning of our second day, following our game drive and breakfast, we will continue south to the “Jaguar Zone,” an expansive interconnected inland river delta. At the road’s end, a speedboat will whisk us half an hour up the Rio São Lourenço to the confluence with the Rio Piquiri, where we will spend seven nights at our floating Jaguar Suites lodge, consisting of two hotel barges: the original Jaguar Flotel which houses the recently renovated upstairs restaurant and lecture room, and the newer, more spacious two-level Jaguar Suites (the latter are our accommodation). These are moored together, forming a single unified facility. 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 quickly on location at the best times of day for quality light, comfortable temperatures, and scenic beauty in the Pantanal.
After our final sunrise jaguar excursion, we will jump into the speedboat to return to Porto Jofre and our van, which will take us back up the Transpantaneira to Pouso Alegre Lodge, where its relatively dry “Cerrado” forest and watering holes provide superb opportunities to photograph rhino-like tapirs, giant anteaters, crab-eating foxes, large bands of coatis (of the raccoon family), tayra (a powerful weasel), capuchin monkeys, and various bird species, including toco toucans, great currasows, chestnut-eared araçaris, and much more. We will stay at Pouso Alegre for one night, before returning to the airport in Cuiabá to catch outbound flights.
Itinerary
September 9 – 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 10 – SouthWild Pantanal: After breakfast, we will drive south on the Transpantaneira Highway to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge. After lunch, we will make an excursion by boat, seeking giant otters, jacaré caiman, and an array of abundant and diverse birdlife. Overnight at South Wild Pantanal Lodge. (B,L,D)
Sept 11 – Into the Jaguar Zone
After breakfast, we continue down the Tanspantaneira Highway to Porto Jofre on the Cuiabá River (a.k.a. Rio São Lourenço). 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 private 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 12-17 – 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, jacaré caiman, macaws, and a wide array of exotic birds and other fauna. Overnight Jaguar Suites and Jaguar Flotel. (B,L,D)
Sept 18 – Pouso Alegre: After breakfast, we will drive south on the Transpantaneira Highway to Pouso Alegre 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, giant anteaters, coatis, brocket deer, tayras, and . Overnight at Pouso Allegre Lodge. (B,L,D)
Sept 19 – 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, writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Writers (ILCW), a former executive director of the International ...
Gallery
Pricing
Jaguar Suites
Pricing options by accommodation class and occupancy:
Package with Jaguar Suites (a deluxe upgrade from standard rooms at the “Jaguar Flotel”)
- Single-Occupancy: $15,995.00
- Double-Occupancy: $14,595.00
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 9, 2025
- 40% final payment due June 9, 2025
A 60% deposit is due for registrations after April 24, 2025. 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 nine nights
- All meals and beverages (including wine, beer and/or cocktails with dinners), from dinner on September 22 to breakfast on October 1
- All in-tour photographic instruction
- All land transportation from Cuiabá airport and back
- Exclusive use of customized Jaguar photo boat, and wildlife excursions
- Services of our favorite professional naturalist guide and boat driver.
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 actively hunting in their native habitat.
- Excellent opportunities to get close to Giant Otters, Yacaré Caimans, Hyacinth Macaws, Tapirs, Coatis, Toco Toucans, 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.
- eighteen wildlife photography excursions, including fourteen by boat in the prime jaguar zone, each from three to four hours in duration, plus a boat excursion at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge, and a safari vehicle excursion at Pouso Alegre Lodge.
- The best boat available for photography in jaguar habitat. Seats swivel 360-degrees and are oriented in a single lines along the centerline of the boat, maximizing stability and sight lines. Each seat features a rotating Wimberly head with Arca-compatible quick release mount to accommodate long telephoto lenses. Many other operators in the area use narrow, unstable fishing pangas 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, with accommodations for special dietary restrictions.
- All beverages included, including soft drinks, beer, wine, and/or caipirinhas with dinner.
Accommodations
- One night at Hotel Deville in Ciuabá.
- One night at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge
- Seven nights at SouthWild Jaguar Suites: The Suites offer powerful air conditioning and en suite bathrooms with hot showers. Compared to the adjacent Jaguar Flotel, The Jaguar Suites offer 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. The upper deck restaurant, bar, and lecture room at the Jaguar Suites have undergone a stylish renovation and expansion, offering guests a great place to relax in comfort and modern elegance. The Jaguar Suites couldn’t be better positioned to make the most of the local wildlife spectacle.
- One night at wildlife-rich Pouso Alegre Lodge along the Transpantaneira route, in air-conditioned bedrooms with en-suite hot-shower bathrooms.
Travel
