Caiman Ecological Refuge ITINERARY
1: Campo Grande – Caiman Lodge Pantanal (236 km)
Caiman, Pantanal – 1 x Suite for 4 nights on a Full Board basis
Includes daily group guided excursions, Environmental Tax & Shared Oncafari
Project tour
The Caiman Ecological Refuge’s goal is to provide a unique experience of getting
in contact with nature and knowing its entire splendor in one of Brazil’s main
biomes while offering luxurious hospitality and gastronomy services. The Caiman
Refuge is a pioneer in ecotourism operation in the Southern Pantanal. A unique
initiative that for more than thirty years has offered its guests integration with the
Pantanal’s wildlife and the region’s culture.
Program at any of the Pousadas includes 2 activities per day – morning / afternoon
– and 1 nocturnal program.
Walking tours: Walking trails in the woods: taken in many trails in the surrounding
areas of the lodges, the walk in the forests allows guests to observe small animals
and local vegetation. This activity provides the greatest contact with the
environment. Reinforcing the ecological focus of its activity, the Caiman Ecological
Refuge alternates the trails, minimizing the impact on the environment.
Caiman Tour: a walk through the surroundings of the main area of the ranch,
corral, research centres, school and Environmental Interpretation Centre. The
final destination is the Paizinho’s bridge, one of the most traditional spots at the
Caiman Ecological Refuge, an excellent place to observe the Spectacled
Caimans. It is a magical moment in which guests get to know up close one of the
Pantanal’s most prominent symbols, with all the safety provided by the guides.
Photographic Safari: taken on specially adapted vehicles, this activity enables
access to the most distant places on the farm. During the photographic safari, it is
possible to observe the peculiarities and the contrasts of the vegetation, as well
as a large variety of animals.
Canadian canoe trip: in the bays of the ranch. The guests row in three-seat
Canadian canoes and contemplate the nearby vegetation and water birds. It is also
a good opportunity to listen to many of the local sounds and admire the fantastic
Pantanal sunset. Nocturnal Spotlighting: provides the opportunity to observe
nocturnal animals. One of the highlights is when the caimans are spotted, and their
eyes present an impressive red reflex.
Upon check-in all guests must sign a disclaimer acknowledging the risks involved
in the activities and that they will respect all the instructions given by guides
(caimaner and field guide).Activities are not fixed and may vary according to the
weather conditions.
Shared Jaguar Full Day & Evening Oncafari Experience Included
Spend a full day and evening with the Jaguar Habituation Team. Go out with them
in the morning and get involved in their daily activities.
The team spends a vast amount of time searching for the animals themselves as
well as for clues that will point us in the right direction when the nocturnal Jaguars
get active as the sun sets down in the horizon.
The Team will check previously set camera traps for any sign of them, look for
tracks on the ground, check data from satellites that follow our collared Jaguars
and even search them via a receiver that can capture VHF signals emitted by their
collars. You may have a chance to experience tracking on foot with our expertly
African trained trackers, to see at first hand pictures taken by our camera traps
and experience all the technological features available to us in this project.
Once a sign of the animal is found we will attempt to locate the animal in order to
further the habituation process and you and your group can be part of this
amazing experience. More often than not we will be likely to find the approximate
location of the cats during the day, increasing our chances of finding them at
night. Depending on circumstances we will set out at Sunset or just after dinner
in order to see the Jaguars. You will also be given a full presentation on the on the Project’s work and objectives at our base station.
Jaguars Eco Lodge ITINERARY
Day 1: Depart from Cuiaba to the Jaguar Ecological Reserve
Arrival at Cuiabá airport, and drive to Poconé (62 miles on paved road), where your safari on the Transpantaneira Highway (unpaved) begins. You will have chances to observe herons, egrets, ibis, parrots, parakeets, and macaws, caiman, capybaras, and possibly other wildlife such as crab-eating raccoon, fox, coati, anacondas, rheas. You will arrive at the Jaguar Ecological Reserve in the late afternoon. After dinner, enjoy a nighttime safari in one of our trucks prepaired with a safari spotlight. We will search for nocturnal birds such as great potoos, night jars, and owls, and mammals including ocelot, jaguar, margay, tapir, pantanal deer, and armadillo. (D)
Day 2 spend on the Jaguar Ecological Reserve
Wake up early to the sounds of birds and Black & Gold Howler Monkeys roaring in the distance. This day is dedicated to exploring this incredibly rich area on foot and by vehicle. Several areas of different types of forest are found alongside lakes, seasonally flooded fields and rivers. Look for the Purplish Jay, Chestnut-eared Araçari, the fascinating Red-billed Scythebill, Sunbittern, the clown-like Toco Toucan with its huge orange bill, Bare-faced Currasow, Yellow-billed Cardinal, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Rufescent Tiger-heron, Blue-crowned Trogon, Black-tailed Tityra, Mato Grosso Antbird and a number of other bird species. Black-and-Gold Howlers and a black-capped race of the Brown Capuchin also live in the forests we explore today, and we often see them both. The early afternoon can be spent discussing and enjoying a cold drink at the bar. In the mid-afternoon start out into the field again Tonight we will go out again to look for owls, nightjars, anteaters, Jaguar, Margay, Ocelot, Brazilian Tapir, Little Brocket Deer and a number of other crepuscular and nocturnal animals with a spotlight. (B,L,D)
photo © Caiman Lodge
Day 3 spend on the Jaguar Ecological Reserve
Today a full day boat ride on the Cuiaba river. Boat trips provide an excellent opportunity to view giant river otters up-close. This is often a highlight of visitors’ trips to Brazil. In the dry season, we occasionally see jaguars on the exposed beaches of the rivers – a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Other wildlife commonly seen on the river are capybara and caiman. Birds frequently encountered include kingfishers, egrets, storks, herons and terns. End of the afternoon return to the lodge. Overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Return from Jaguar Ecological Reserve to Cuiaba
Depending your departure flight transfer to the airport of Cuiaba in time for your domestic flight out. (B)
