Welcome to the Pantanal
A land full of life like nowhere else
The Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland and one of the most vibrant wildlife sanctuaries on Earth. Spanning an area of over 150,000 km², the Pantanal stretches across Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, with the majority located in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. Often overshadowed by the Amazon, this hidden gem is actually one the best places in the world to observe animals in the wild.
What sets the Pantanal apart?
Unlike dense rainforests like the Amazon where animals are often hidden, the open landscapes of the Pantanal make wildlife encounters not only possible but spectacularly frequent. Whether you're scanning the riverbanks for jaguars, gliding past caimans, or waking up to the calls of howler monkeys and hyacinth macaws, the Pantanal delivers unforgettable moments, day after day.
🐾 A Paradise of Biodiversity
The Pantanal is home to a staggering concentration of wildlife:
Few other places on the planet can offer such richness, visibility, and accessibility.
To know more about the wildlife you are susceptible to see during your tour, discover our dedicated “Animals” page !
A Landscape Shaped by Water
The Pantanal's life rhythm follows its water.
This ecosystem is governed by a unique flooding cycle tied to the Paraguay River Basin, which causes dramatic seasonal shifts between wet and dry seasons:
- Rainy season (Dec–Apr): Rivers overflow and vast areas become submerged, up to 80% of the region. Wildlife concentrates on higher ground, creating incredible scenes of animals adapting to rising waters. Photographers find breathtaking scenery but animals are harder to see, except otters.
- Dry season (May–Nov): As waters recede, birds, mammals, and reptiles gather in ever-shrinking water sources. This is the best time for boat and land safaris as well as wildlife photography. High chances of seeing jaguars, otters, caimans, capybaras and thousands of birds.
Both seasons reveal a different face of the Pantanal, offering year-round nature spectacles.
The World’s Jaguar stronghold
If your dream is to see jaguars in the wild, there is no better place.
The northern Pantanal, particularly around Porto Jofre, has become world-famous for jaguar sightings, often seen lounging along riverbanks or hunting capybaras and caimans.
Spotting a jaguar in the wild is an extremely rare privilege almost anywhere else. Here, your chances are the highest in the world.
A Natural Treasure Under Threat
Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Natural Heritage Site, the Pantanal is not just a marvel, it’s also vulnerable. Wildfires, unsustainable cattle farming, and climate change threaten its delicate balance. Conservation efforts, research projects, and ecotourism play a vital role in protecting this precious ecosystem.
When you visit responsibly, you help protect one of the last true wildernesses on the planet. For us, this is essential.
To know more about our ethical and eco-friendly policies, visit this dedicated page.
