Pantanal & Bonito

The Pantanal and Bonito Tour is a 10-day adventurous sightseeing program in the south-west of Brazil. This is a guided private tour, suitable for young and old. If you are an active traveller, loving nature and fun activities such as horse riding, canoeing, wildlife walks – the highlights of Mato Grosso do Sul will provide a memorable experience. Meet numerous unique species of animals, reptiles and birds in the Pantanal. Explore the wetlands to view the marsh and pampas deer, the capybaras, caimans, howler monkeys, the tapirs, anteaters, peccaries, toucans, jabiru storks, the hyacinths and the yellow and red macaws. Try freshwater snorkeling and diving in the crystal clear azure rivers and waterfalls of Bonito. You will encounter beautiful scenery and rich ecosystems. Best time to visit is during the dry season (July-September) or the transition seasons (March-June and September-November). Depending on your flights, you can start the tour the other way around, in Pantanal, and finish it Bonito. You will stay in a small boutique hotel in the middle of nature and a remote farm , deep in the Pantanal. Full board is included in the Pantanal and half board in Bonito. The length of the trip can be adapted.

10 Days – From £2,650 per person

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Bonito, remote Pantanal, Campo Grande

Included

Price is per person, based on two people sharing in a double/twin room
Accommodation with breakfast in Bonito and full board in Pantanal (more hotels HERE)
All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary
All transfers by car and boat on a private basis
One way charter flight to the remote lodge
Entrance & guiding fees
All mandatory local taxes

Excluded

Visa, where applicable
International Flights (See Flights to Brazil)
Domestic Flights
Personal Expenses
Insurance
Tips & Gratuities
Meals not mentioned in the description

Flights

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to book the flights yourself, use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections. Return flights to Brazil start from £800 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year. The starting point is Bonito Airport (BYO) which is well connected to two of the Sao Paulo airports.

For families and groups (starting with 5 pax), we can book domestic flights in Brazil, during the high season, and if the trip is part of a more complex itinerary. This is to ensure a seamless travel and no complications.

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp (+44 7 308 449 233) or email us at brazil@boutiquetravelexperts.com to check availability, discuss your preferences and get a quote.

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor it to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. You can also combine this trip with other sights in Brazil, like the cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro, the culture of Bahia, the deep canyons of the south or a beach break in the North-East. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

When to Visit

Best time to visit:

Pantanal: the best time to observe wild life is during the drought season, from May to September.
Bonito: tropical and warm weather all over the year. from September to March it is very warm and rains a lot, filling the waterfalls up and making them perfect for rafting. From April to August it rains less and the sky is always blue, but the temperatures tend to get a little bit cooler.

To avoid unpleasant weather surprises, we recommend to check our Brazil Weather Guide to plan your trip in the right season. Click on the month you want to travel in and see the tours which are best for each month of the year.

Day 1 - Arrival in Bonito

Today you will arrive at Bonito Airport (BYO) from Sao Paulo. You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your lodge. The hotel is set away from the busy town, in a beautiful place, on the banks of Formoso River, with green transparent waters and abundant nature. This is a true oasis of tranquility and relaxation. Walk along trails in the forest, stop for bathing and floating at the meeting of Cristalino and Formoso rivers, kayak, stand-up paddle on the quiet river, and observe animals. In the next few days, prepare for exciting snorkeling in crystal-clear creeks and rivers with fantastic visibility, teeming with colourful fish. Overnight at Pousada Boyra.

Day 2 - Estancia Mimosa

Early in the morning, depart to Estancia Mimosa for a pleasant hike (3,5 km / 4 hours), passing by ten waterfalls of several sizes and shapes, with 6 suitable places for swimming close to the falls and small limestone caves. Along the way, contemplate the privileged view of the Serra da Bodoquena. The hike offers the chance to spot parrots, toucans, monkeys, agoutis and more. Trees like perobas, aroeiras, jataí, angicos and piúvas, orchids and bromélias just add up to the charm. You can also do horse-riding for 1 hour with an experienced guide (group of 6). In the afternoon return to your hotel. Spend a relaxing afternoon near the river. Overnight at Pousada Boyra.

Day 3 - Lago Azul & Sucuri River

After breakfast visit Gruta do Lago Azul cave with an enormous blue lake and many beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. The beauty of the lake is mesmerising. The silence only adds to the scenery of this place (minimum age: 5 years). For conservation reasons swimming is forbidden. Later on, continue to Sucuri River, one of the three clearest rivers in the world. The tour starts with a pleasant stroll along a trail through the forest. At the end of the trail, you can go snorkeling down the river and see many different species of fish in lush aquatic vegetation. A support boat, wetsuits, special shoes and all necessary equipment are provided. Overnight at Pousada Boyra.

Day 4 - Rio da Prata & Araras

After breakfast, visit Rio da Prata for snorkeling. The river is part of a private conservation area. Floating in the crystal-clear water feels like being in an aquarium, with dozens of different species of fish and aquatic plants. After you had enough of snorkeling take a delicious lunch at the local restaurant. Wetsuits, special shoes and all necessary equipment are provided (minimum: 8 years). After lunch, visit Buraco das Araras, just 3 km beyond the Rio da Prata, a sinkhole where red-and-blue macaws and other birds have built nests. At dusk the place is filled with macaws. Overnight at Santa Esmeralda.

Day 5 - Boca da Onca

In the morning depart to Serra da Bodoquena National Park, located 55 km away from Bonito. After a hefty breakfast on-site, explore the trail along Salobra River, through a preserved forest (4-5 hours). Pass by many waterfalls (i.e. Buraco do Macaco, Poço da Lontra, Cachoeira da Anta, Cachoeira do Jabuti, Cachoeira do Fantasma and Garganta da Arara) with 4 stops for bathing. One of the stops is the 156m high Boca da Onça Waterfall, the highest waterfall in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Along the way there is a steep staircase of 886 steps. After the trail, return to the starting point for lunch (included). Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Overnight at Santa Esmeralda.

Day 6 - Abismo Anhumas

Today visit Abismo Anhumas. Located 23km from the center of Bonito, the Anhumas Abyss is a dazzling place. Looking up, you cannot imagine that a small opening in the earth hides an immense cavern. During the slow descent, catch a glimpse of this impressive work of nature. After descending 72 m by rappel, you will take a boat trip through a huge crystal clear lake, with dozens of submerged limestone cones. Arriving at the lake’s floating deck, you will be taken to another platform for the boat and floating trips. The water of the lake has a temperature of 18°C – it is colder than the rivers in Bonito. Your suit will covers the entire body and the head. Overnight at Santa Esmeralda.

Day 7 - Bonito to Pantanal

Today after breakfast you will be transferred to Pantanal by air, one of the most exciting UNESCO Heritage Sites of Brazil. The scenic flight will take around 1 hour, with incredible panoramic views over the never-ending wetlands of Mato Grosso do Sul. After check-in, learn about the conservation projects at the farm and visit the cattle ranch. Later, depending on the weather, take a 4×4 jeep safari or a cycling tour for your first intimate contact with wildlife, observing animals and birds, guided by a local naturalist. What an abundant place, full of different unique creature like tapirs, armadillos, anteaters, capybaras and more. At night, head out for a magical caiman tour, when the eyes of the caimans shine like candle lights. Overnight at Fazenda Barranco Alto.

Day 8 - Pantanal

At the farms, the activities start very early in the morning taking full advantage of the best portion of the day to observe the Brazilian wildlife. After a relaxing lunchtime, when temperature cools off, it is time to go out for afternoon excursions, another good time to see Pantanal. Meet the capybaras and the tamandua during the walking trails in the woods and have a direct contact with the environment. Enjoy a photographic safari on specially adapted vehicles. Activities are organised according with weather conditions. At sunset, and enjoy the wonderful orange sundowners over the flatlands. The sheer feeling of vastness is overwhelming. Overnight at Fazenda Barranco Alto.

Day 9 - Pantanal

After a rich breakfast take a guided canoe trip in the bays of the ranch. Row in three-seat canoes and contemplate the nearby vegetation and water birds. Immerse in the sounds of the nature and admire the magic of the place. Return to the lodge for lunch and balancing in the hammocks. You can also choose to do the trip at sunset, which is a great time to see the skies turning red. After dinner, nocturnal spotlighting provides the opportunity to observe nocturnal animals. One of the highlights is when the caimans are spotted, whose eyes present impressive red reflex. Overnight at Fazenda Barranco Alto.

Day 10 - Departure to Campo Grande

Today is the day of your departure. There are many more beautiful sites in the Pantanal – you might well wish to extend your stay! After breakfast you will be transferred to Campo Grande by road (6 hours). You will feel the vastness of the wetlands, by making all this long way, along a single track, to the big city. You will capture how remotely the farms are located and what an amazing animal world the Pantanal is. The road transfer is doable from May to December, during the dry season. During the rainy season the unpaved roads get messy and access is only possible by charter flight.