Wildlife Sanctuaries
By Amazonarium

Destination: Pantanal, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park and Amazon rainforest.

Interest: animal observation, especially birdwatching, boat rides, conservation, hiking in the forest, natural history, sustainable development, water falls.

Maximum group size: 12 people

Departure Dates: August 19

Description: In this trip, you will explore three major Brazilian ecosystems- Cerrado, Pantanal and the Amazon rainforest - and visit some of the greatest sanctuaries of wildlife in tropical Latin America. You will explore the "cerrado" or savannas of central Brazil with a visit to Chapada dos Guimarães National Park.

Chapada dos Guimarães is a gorgeous region, with waterfalls and rock formations, forests, fields and open pastures. The park is 40 miles from the city of Cuiabá and situated on a rocky plateau 2,400 feet above the lowland Pantanal. The climate is generally pleasant.

On the Cristalino River, you will visit the Amazon rain forest. The Cristalino has rapids and waterfalls, as well as calm natural swimming pools and small beaches full of capybaras and caimans during the dry season. The forests around Cristalino River are home to macaws, toucans, cranes, curassows, hawks, hoatzins, howler monkeys and tapirs. You will stay at the Cristalino Jungle Lodge, a charming lodge located in the Brazilian Amazon.

Itinerary

Day 1: Departure from S‹o Paulo to Cuiab‡. Transfer to Pousada Pluvial in the Pantanal and boat ride in Bento Gomes River's lake, lunch and afternoon hike.

Day 2: Pantanal. Hike or horse ride to Cap‹o dos Macacos (Monkey's Woods). After lunch, ride on Transpantaneira Park Road. Arrival at Fazenda Pouso Alegre for blue macaw observation. Arrival at Pousada Santa Tereza in time for the dinner. Night caiman spotting.

Day 3: Pantanal. Piranha fishing. Night animal spotting on Transpantaneira Highway.

Day 4: Transfer to Chapada dos Guimar‹es. Visit to Salgadeira waterfalls. Chapada dos Guimar‹es National Park with visit to VŽu de Noiva waterfalls, the most spectacular in the region. Lunch at Cachoeirinha. Caminho das çguas (Waters' Path), which includes five awesome waterfalls. Pousada Penhasco.

Day 5: City tour in the town of Chapada dos Guimar‹es. Visit to Mirante (Lookout) of Geodesic Center (considered the very center of South America). Lunch in town. Visit to Cidade de Pedra (City of Stones). Transfer to Cuiab‡ Bus Station. Bus to Alta Floresta departing at 7:00 p.m.

Day 6: Alta Floresta. Transfer to Floresta Amazonica Hotel in the City of Alta Floresta for check-in and breakfast. Transfer to Cristalino Jungle Lodge. Lunch at the lodge: best food in the entire Amazon. Afternoon: hikes in the forest. Optional: overnight in a forest camp.

Day 7: Amazon rainforest. Hiking in the forest; giant otter, capybara and caiman spotting. Dinner by candle light in thatch roof patio.

Day 8: Amazon rainforest. Hiking in the forest. Rappel on rocky outcrops. Canoe ride.

Day 9: Amazon rain forest. Time to sunbathe, swim in the refreshing waters of the Cristalino River and relax on the floating deck. Transfer to Alta Floresta Bus Station. Return to Cuiab‡

Day 10: Cuiab‡. Day off. Return to S‹o Paulo.

Includes: transfers, accommodations, breakfast, lunch and dinner in Pantanal and Alta Floresta, roundtrip bus ticket Cuiab‡-Alta Floresta, boat rides in Pantanal and Alta Floresta, nature guide services in Pantanal, Chapada and Alta Floresta.

Does NOT include: international flights, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, insurance of any kind, extra transfers or special programs.