Terra Incognita \"ter-a-in-kag-net-a"\ [L] (1616): unknown territory: an unexplored country.

Brazil

Pantanal: South American Savannah
Jaguars, Tapirs, Macaws and more. 9 days and 8 nights

Jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil
Jaguar, Pantanal, Brazil

The Pantanal is the largest inundated plain in the world and is a refuge for endangered species like the jaguar, hyacinth macaw, the giant anteater and the giant otter. The dry and wet seasons are a remarkable characteristic of this ecosystem and dictate the rhythm of the incredible wild life sheltered in its ecosystem. There are an estimated 3,500 species of plants, 124 species of mammals, 177 species of reptiles, 41 species of amphibians and at least 423 species of birds.

On this safari we can be fairly certain you will see WILD jaguar. At Fazenda Baía das Pedras, Fazenda Santa Teresa and the remarkable Jaguar Research Camp, all located in the Brazilian section of the Pantanal, you will also have the opportunity to spot numerous species like the marsh deer, pampas deer, capybara, caimans, howler monkeys, tapir, peccaries, toucans, jabiru stork and of course both red and yellow macaws, and the stunning hyacinth macaw.

Jabiru storks, Pantanal, Brazil
Jabiru storks at nest, Pantanal, Brazil

Group size is limited to 12 individuals

2012 Departure dates:
28th July to 5th August (Sponsored by the Cleveland Zoo)
TWO spaces left on this departure

3rd - 11th August

Cost is $5,999 per person
This departure is now FULL and closed to enrollment
Single supplement is $1,000

For each participant a donation will be made towards the Conservation of the Pantanal ecosystem.

This is an Ecotour that will make a difference to you, and to the areas we visit.
We will employ local people.
We will use locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters.
We will use local goods and services.

We hope to encounter both wild Jaguars and Tapirs on this trip, however, sightings cannot be guaranteed.


Watch some "You Tube" clips from August 2010.

Jaguar hunting and killing a Caiman by Dave and Patricia Beebe, YouTube

Giant Otters by Dave and Patricia Beebe, YouTube


Brazil Eco Tour Detailed itinerary:

Map of Pantanal, BrazilDay 1: Arrival Campo Grande, Brazil
We are met on arrival at the airport and transferred to our hotel for the night.
o/n Bahamas Apart Hotel (L,D)

Day 2: Campo Grande to Pantanal
Today we will drive from Campo Grande to our base for the next three nights, the very comfortable Pousada Baia das Pedras. We will depart in a mini-bus for the first segment of the journey, and when we reach the dirt roads at the edge of the Pantanal we transfer into 4-W-D vehicles for the remainder of the ride. We will enjoy lunch en route and arrive at the working ranch in the afternoon.
o/n Fazenda Baia das Pedras (B,L,D)

Day 3: Baia das Pedras
Today we have a full day to explore the ranch, with game drives, horseback riding, boat rides all possible means of exploration. This evening we will hear about the conservation programs talking place in the Pantanal and the efforts to protect jaguars, tapirs and so much more.
o/n Fazenda Baia das Pedras (B,L,D)

Day 4: Baia das Pedras
A second full day to explore the ranch — we will learn about all the conservation efforts being undertaken on this working ranch. We will see first-hand how agriculture and conservation can work hand-in-hand.
o/n Fazenda Baia das Pedras (B,L,D)

Giant Otter, Pantanal, Brazil
Giant Otter, Pantanal, Brazil

Day 5: Baia das Pedras to Jaguar Research Center
Today we will board a charter flight from the ranch airstrip and head north as we really get a sense of the scale and size of the Pantanal and the threats to the unique ecosystem. We will depart from Baia das Pedras in the morning and plan to arrive in Jaguar Research Center in the late afternoon. After our plane ride we will board river boats for the journey up the Rio Cuiaba - a fascinating journey! Our destination is the amazing Jaguar Research Camp, an ecologically-sensitive facility located directly inside the forest inside the 270,000 acre "Meeting of the Waters" State Park. The camp is quite basic, electricity is only available a few hours each day, showers are a "bucket-shower" system, and our overall footprint is as minimal as possible. Further details about camp life are provided below.
o/n Jaguar Research Center (B,L,D)

Day 6: Meeting of the Waters State Park
A full day to explore the area by river boat. We will in fact spend the next two days exploring this area by boat, searching for jaguars, caiman, capybara and giant otter that are all present in the area and regularly seen.
o/n Jaguar Research Camp (B,L,D)

Day 7: Meeting of the Waters State Park
Another full day of exploration.
o/n Jaguar Research Camp (B,L,D)

Day 8: Jaguar Research Camp to Fazenda Santa Teresa
A final morning boat ride in search of jaguars and other wildlife, and then we transfer to vehicles for the two hour drive to Fazenda Santa Teresa, where we can find wi-fi internet, electricity, hot and cold running water, and other amenities. Our farewell dinner is tonight.
o/n Fazenda Santa Teresa (B,L,D)

Day 9: Fazenda Santa Teresa to Cuiaba and flights home
Arrive to the airport in Cuiaba by mid-morning (no sooner than 10am)...for midday flights headed home.
(B,L, in-flight D)

Cost per person is $5,999
Single supplement is $1,000

Caiman, Pantanal, Brazil
Caiman, Pantanal, Brazil

All Photography by Gerard "Ged" Caddick and Kevin Schafer

Cost includes:

Not included:

Our lodgings:

Bahamas Apart Hotel, Campo Grande
This sleek modern hotel houses the Restaurant “Biribah” and other services such as bar; coffee shop, swimming pool, tennis courts, soccer, lake for fishes, game room and playground. Room Service is available 24 hours per day. Rooms for meetings and conventions with complete audiovisual equipment are available, and there is ample parking.

There are 108 apartment/rooms with color TV; mini-bar; air conditioning; and surround sound.

Hyacinth Macaw in nest cavity, Pantanal, Brazil
Hyacinth Macaw in nest cavity, Pantanal, Brazil

Pousada Baia das Pedras, Pantanal
The farm Baía das Pedras is located in the Pantanal of Nhecolâândia, Aquidauana District, in the heart of the Pantanal. It is 300 km from Campo Grande, the capital of South Mato Grosso.

Placed on the shores of Drain of Castelo, the Fazenda was founded in 1940 by José Coelho Lima and his wife Cyra Gomes Coelho Lima. The couple inherited a small piece of land where they lived and worked with cattle. As the years passed by they bought new areas and formed Baía das Pedras, on 15 thousand hectares. The two fresh water lakes with gravel rocks and sand in the bottle, located at the Fazenda, inspired the name “Bay of Rocks” or just Baía das Pedras.

Good hospitality is a tradition at the Fazenda; in July 2003 the main house was completely refurbished to receive guests. The host’s Doio and Rita Coelho Lima, are now responsible for the farm, where besides the Hotel activities they also raise cattle and Pantaneiro horses.

Jaguar Research Center, Pantanal
This remarkable facility is gaining International renown, as in 2007 and 2008 the specially trained boat men and guides have shown jaguars to guests 397 times in 220 guest days! Indeed with three nights here we can be fairly certain everyone will see jaguars at least once, and maybe multiple times. This is a unique opportunity!

The camp is composed of ten elevated (20ft X 30ft) African style walk-in tents, each tent has hardwood floors, 2 double beds, 2 stand-up moveable fans, electricity for 5 hours per day and an en suite bathroom with a dry ecotoilet and warm shower. Electrical outlets are available for recharging camera gear. Our dining room is on a river-boat moored alongside the camp to keep food and activity outside the forest.

Fazenda Santa Teresa, Pantanal
The partner facility to the Jaguar Research Center, the Fazenda consists of one large fully-screened living / dining room with overhead fans, outdoor sitting areas on the banks of the river, air conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, hot and cold running water, overhead fans, electricity and even free wi-fi internet throughout.

Additionally the Fazenda has several viewing platforms that provide opportunities to view wildlife such as Jabiru storks on the nest, Capuchin monkeys along the river, and much more.

International Air Travel - International air is not included in the price of your trip, but we would be happy to have you work with AirTreks, our preferred provider of international air arrangements. We recommend our customers work directly with AirTreks as they coordinate your international flights directly with Ecotours and enable you to arrive at your destination at the times specified for your tour. Please contact AirTreks at ecotours@airtreks.com for more information on international air travel, a no obligation cost estimate of your international flights and complete international air itinerary planning.

Make sure to mention Terra Incognita Ecotours when you contact AirTreks to receive preferred pricing, and recommended travel itineraries specifically developed for your tour.

Travel Information:

Thanks for choosing Brazil with Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc. It is our pleasure to help you plan for your upcoming ecotour. To ensure that your travel arrangements are made to your satisfaction, please take a few minutes to read through this information.

What you need to have with you on your trip:

Passport: If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you will need a passport, valid for six months from the date of completion of your trip and you will need to obtain a Brazilian tourist visa. If you are a UK citizen, no visa is necessary.

It is always a good idea to make a photocopy of your airline tickets and of the pages of your passport that have the number, your photograph and other pertinent information. Keep the copies separate from the originals.

Visas: If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, please consult the Brazilian consulate or embassy nearest you for visa requirements to enter Brazil. If a visa is required, you are responsible for obtaining it.

Documents for children under the age of 18, not traveling with both parents: The U.S. government is increasingly requiring that minors under 18 years of age traveling alone, with grandparents, or with one parent/legal guardian only, carry a notarized document signed by both parents or by the parent/legal guardian not traveling with the child. We suggest you obtain such a document (noting the age of the child, relationship to traveling adult(s), dates of travel, and destination) to avoid potential problems. For example, in the case of divorce, the parent with legal custody must sign the permit, and the accompanying adult must carry proof of this fact. In addition, if the child's surname differs from that of either parent, you may want to carry the child's birth certificate.

Emergency Contact number while on your ecotour:
Call COLLECT (813) 289-1049

Practical Information:

Currency: The currency of Brazil is the Brazilian Reai. The exchange rate is at 1 USD = 1.8 Reais. Major credit cards are generally accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger stores. U.S. dollars are not widely accepted in Brazil, so we suggest you change some currency on arrival and carry Brazilian Reais in small denominations for smaller purchases such as refreshments or other miscellaneous expenses.

Health: All information we obtain regarding health precautions is received from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta at 404.332.4559 or www.cdc.gov.

Please note that Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc., as a travel company, is in no way authorized to prescribe any inoculations or medications. We recommend that you consult your personal physician for medical advice, showing him or her the brochure that indicates the places you will be visiting. Your physician is most familiar with your personal medical history and is best qualified to determine your particular needs. It is always advisable to have physical and dental check-ups before you leave.

At the present time, no immunizations are required for this ecotour, although the CDC recommends that the normal "childhood" vaccines should be up to date: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR Vaccine), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Perturssia (DTP Vaccine) and Polio vaccine.

Swimming: There are only one or two opportunities to swim during the ecotour and children less than 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult while swimming.

Time Difference: Campo Grande is on Eastern Standard Time.

Weather: Brazil is located in the Tropics so of course the weather on this ecotour can be expected to be warm and humid, with temperatures slightly cooler at night, indeed the average temperature for most of the country lies between 75 - 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Please remember that the sun's rays are more vertical than you may be used to, so you can sunburn more easily. Be careful of the midday sun.

There are two distinct seasons in the Patanal of Brazil; the rainy (October to May), and the dry (June thru September). Typically in the rainy season it rains in the afternoons and the mornings are bright and sunny. Although one can almost depend on clear, sunny weather, there are occasional unseasonable storms, and brief but intense rain showers occur regularly in the tropical rainforest regions during any season.

Cattle on ranch, Pantanal, Brazil
Cattle on ranch, Pantanal, Brazil