Pantanal - Brasil
7 days / 6 Nights


Silent Thunder: Jaguar — America’s Greatest Cat
The tour begins from: Cuiabá - Brasil.
Location: Mato Grosso - Brasil.
You need a high‑probability, well‑organized photographic expedition to find and photograph jaguars and other Pantanal wildlife, but limited local knowledge, timing, and logistics make reliable sightings and good light hard to achieve. This itinerary is built to solve that by concentrating effort in proven jaguar zones and optimizing daily timing.
Our expert‑led 7‑day, 6‑night program puts you in the field when and where sightings are most likely. Traveling the Transpantaneira to Porto Jofre and using boat transfers gives direct access to remote river channels and productive jaguar habitat, so you spend less time transiting and more time shooting. Twice‑daily boat safaris (early morning and late afternoon) provide two golden‑hour windows each day for portraits and action, while local guides’ spotting experience improves location speed and shot positioning. Comfortable meals and lodge/boat arrival before sunset keep the schedule predictable and energy high for long shooting days.
Concrete outcomes you can expect: multiple guided opportunities to photograph jaguars from the boat at prime light; repeated chances to capture giant otters, capybaras, monkeys, herons, kingfishers, marsh deer, coatis, anteaters, and yellow anacondas; and a varied visual story of the Pantanal—action sequences, close portraits, and landscape frames suitable for prints, portfolios, or publication. Logistics are efficient and clear: ~100 km transfer to Poconé, then 147 km along the Transpantaneira to Porto Jofre (arrival around 5:00 PM on Day 1), followed by a boat transfer to the lodge before sunset.
Day 1 — Morning: meet at the hotel or airport, then take a 100 km transfer to Poconé. We continue along the Transpantaneira for 147 km to Porto Jofre, eyes on marsh deer, coatis, giant anteaters, diverse birds, and yellow anacondas sunning by the road. Arrive Porto Jofre ~5:00 PM, boat transfer to the lodge’s boat and reach camp before sunset. Dinner at 7:00 PM and overnight.
Days 2–6 — Full days of focused boat safaris. Breakfast at 5:30 AM, then depart for the morning run, focusing on jaguars and key mammals and birds along the Cuiabá River and within Encontro das Águas State Park. Return ~12:00 PM for lunch and rest; depart ~2:30 PM again for the afternoon safari, returning at sunset. Navigate wide rivers, intimate channels and floodplain edges to capture portraits, behaviour, and landscape sequences across changing light. Dinner at 7:00 PM and overnight.
Day 7 — Morning transfer back to Cuiabá with one last window for striking shots of birds, anteaters or other wildlife before arriving at the hotel or airport. Final debrief and RETORNO HOME.
Accommodation - Bonança Flotel
Rooms are available from August 30th to September 5th.
Cost
06 PAX – USD 4000,00 (per person in a double shared room)
05 PAX – USD 4.500,00 (per person in a double shared room)
04 PAX – USD 5100,00 (per person in a double shared room)
Single Supplement – USD600,00
Accommodation – Aguapé Flotel
06 PAX – USD 4.500,00 (per person in a double shared room)
05 PAX – USD 5.100,00 (per person in a double shared room)
04 PAX – USD 5.750,00 (per person in a double shared room)
Single Supplement – USD 600,00



Additional information

- 6 nights accommodation on Bonança Flotel - All nights of accommodation (mentioned in the itinerary) in a suite with a private bathroom and heated shower. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning.
- All meals (except breakfast on the first day and lunch and dinner on the last day).
- Mineral water - in 6-liter gallons, please bring your own reusable bottle.
- Private VAN for transfers;
- Private boat saf6-litreari 9 meters with 120hp engine - equipped with a canopy, cooler, mineral water, and radio. With a licensed pilot.
- Full-time certified bilingual naturalist guide (CADASTUR).
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary are included.

- International/domestic airfare to/from Brazil, including international/domestic departure taxes.
- Unspecified meals.
- Any activities not mentioned.
- Any additional taxes levied by the Brazilian government on the tourism sector in the future.
- Any personal expenses, such as alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone calls/faxes, tips, etc.
- Any items not mentioned in the previous section.
- Costs arising from any changes to the itinerary/stay due to flight cancellation, inclement weather, health problems, road closures, and/or any factors beyond our control.

- Bring Binoculars
- Photography equipment
- External memory for downloading pictures at night.
- Computer to process at night.
- Be prepared for rain and sun: a waterproof rain jacket and quick-drying clothing.
- Bring a camera protector.
- Bring silica gel to store the equipment at night and avoid humidity.
- Sunscreen, hat, or cap.
- Waterproof trekking boots or rubber boots.
- VERY IMPORTANT: insect repellent
Consider several factors that directly influence the package price, such as quality, comfort, and safety of the operation.
We only use safari boats equipped with 4-stroke engines, which are quieter, more comfortable, and less polluting than the 2-stroke engines still quite common in the region. This type of equipment provides a more pleasant navigation and a better safari experience.
In addition, we work with experienced and duly qualified guides and pilots, complying with all legal and safety requirements in the region. This includes documentation, licenses, and regulated operations, something that unfortunately doesn't always happen in the Pantanal.
We believe these details make a difference in the quality of the experience, comfort, safety, and reliability of the operation as a whole.

LOGISTICS COULD CHANGE FOR MANY REASONS AS FOLLOWS:
We will not be liable for interruptions or inability to provide services due to circumstances beyond our control, such as severe weather conditions, park closures, transportation disruptions, terrorist incidents, fires, floods, and disease outbreaks. We appreciate your understanding in such situations and are committed to doing everything possible to reduce the impact.
Travel Insurance: We do not include travel insurance in our packages. It is strongly recommended that travellers purchase their coverage before travelling to protect against cancellations, medical emergencies, and other unexpected events.
Acceptance of Terms and Conditions: We will consider the terms accepted upon writting confirmation.
The local operator provides cancellation and out-of-peak policies.
RETORNO does not guarantee any bird species or their photography; nature is unpredictable.
RETORNO works hard to have the best logistics and protocols for safety during your visit to COLOMBIA BIRD PARADISE.

