In 2008 I did an unforgettable tour in the Pantanal (Brazil). The Pantanal is situated in the middle of South-America and is the biggest tropical wetland of the world and has the most biodiversity. It’s the home of caimans, monkeys, anaconda’s (yes, the giant snake), huge parrots and thousands of other colourful birds, piranha’s, toucans, giant anteaters, capybaras and jaguars. And most of those animals I’ve really seen there.
I booked the tour with Pantanal Trekking and Ecological Expeditions when I arrived at the bus station of Campo Grande in Brazil. Pantanal Trekking organizes unforgettable multiple day tours where you’re able to explore the Pantanal in a relaxed, but alternately and exciting way.
A toucan in the Pantanal
Three day tour
During the three day tour I did a jeepsafari and a birdwatching hike with a very experienced guide who knew exactly where to find the parrots and other colourful birds. At the end of the day we took a small boat through the wetlands and spotted a lot of along the shore. During the horseback-riding trip we encountered a huge giant anteater! Very impressive, even though you’re high on the back of a horse.
A caiman waiting in the water during our boat trip; keep your hands inside the boat!
Fishing Piranha’s
One of the highlights for me was fishing for piranha.Our guide first dropped the two of us off at a water pond. He gave us a very simple bamboo fishing rod and a bucket with pieces of the heart of a cow. We had to put the bait (a piece of the heart) on the hook and we were ready to fish. Since the guide took off quickly after showing us how the fishing rod worked, we didn’t think we were going to catch piranha. Because, what did we have to do if we actually catch one!? But after a couple of minutes, a fish was pulling on my fishing rod. It was my first piranha!! Well… my very basic fishing skills I achieved in my younger years on holidays were helpful: grab the fish firmly and véry carefully take the hook out. OMG, those teeth!
After two hours the guide picked us up. In that time we did catch about eight piranha’s (and we still had all our fingers). Our guide was very proud of us. Our piranha’s were cooked for lunch that afternoon on the barbecue. Really cool to catch your own piranha-lunch and it actually very tasty!
Sleeping in hammocks
There are different base-camps in the Pantanal where you can start your tours from: a more luxurious camp with private rooms and dorms and a back to basics-camp which is not more than a wooden building with, on safe height to protect you from anacondas and jaguars, a lot of hammocks! Obviously I choose a hammock to spend the night. It’s a unique experience to sleep almost outside! At night you hear the sounds of the jungle and at dawn the sounds of nature are almost deafening.
The hammocks at base-camp 
A caiman sunbathing at the river of our campsite
The camps are well organised and decent and the food is delicious. The base-camp with the hammocks is situated at a river, attracting a lot of wildlife. The cozy nights around the fire pit under the spectacular starry sky are unforgettable!
The guides know everything about the environment and take good care of Mother Nature. This tour in the Pantanal is a great adventure for everyone! Definitely an unforgettable tour in the Pantanal.
Location:
Pantanaltrekking and Ecological Expeditions
Av. Gury Marques 1215
79063-000 Campo Grande – MS, Brazil
Whatsapp:+55 67 96 14 97 97
E-mail: contact@pantanaltrekking.com
Website: http://pantanaltrekking.com
More travel inspiration for a trip in South-America? Read it here.
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