Pantanal: South American Savannah Jaguars, Tapirs, Macaws

Departure dates:
10 – 18 July, 2010 – sponsored by the Houston Zoo

2 – 10 August, 2010 – escorted by Gerard “Ged” Caddick

Cost is $5,999 per person

Meet Patricia Medici, Researcher, IPE in Pantanal and IUCN Tapir Specialist Group Chair

This is an Ecotour that will make a difference to you, and to the areas we visit.
We will donate to the important work of Patricia Medici and the Tapir Conservation Project
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.
Jaguar sightings are extremely likely, however sightings of wild Tapirs cannot be guaranteed.

Reserve your space today – Call 1-877-GO EXPLORE or visit www.ecotours.com

Pantanal

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. Roughly the size of the United Kingdom, the Pantanal is found in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and South Mato Grosso.

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 trip we can be fairly certain you will see WILD jaguar.  At Fazenda Baia 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.

Day 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                                     (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 Fazenda 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 a special 4-W-D game-viewing vehicle for the remainder of the ride.  We will enjoy a picnic lunch en route and arrive at the working ranch in the afternoon.
o/n Fazenda Baia das Pedras (B,L,D)

Game drive vehicle                          Baia das Pedras                           Horseback ride

Day 3: Baía 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 Patricia will present a slideshow of her ongoing research work in the Pantanal to protect jaguars, tapirs and so much more, all of which has been made possible in part thanks to the ongoing support of the Houston Zoo.
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)

Wildlife at Baia das Pedras

Day 5: Baia das Pedras to Meeting of the Waters State Park
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 des 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)

Dining room on boat                      Tent at Jaguar Research Camp

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 Center (B,L,D)

Day 7: Meeting of the Waters State Park
Another full day of exploration.
o/n Jaguar Research Center (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 game-viewing 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.
Fazenda Santa Teresa (B,L,D)

Day 9: Fazenda Santa Teresa to Cuiaba and flights home
After an early breakfast we arrive to the airport in Cuiaba by mid-morning (no sooner than 10am)…for midday flights headed home.  (B)

Cost per person is $5,999

Single supplement is $1,000

Cost includes: All accommodations listed; Meals listed as listed; Bottled water throughout; English speaking local guide services; Reserve entrance fee; and a donation to the Conservation Activities being carried out by Patricia Medici.

Not included: Vaccinations and/or medications; Alcoholic drinks; Visas and/or departure taxes (approx $130); Phone calls; Laundry or other items of a personal nature; Gratuities; any other personal expenses.

:
Terra Incognita Ecotours Inc. is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel.  Registration # ST36712

—  Photography by Gerard “Ged” Caddick and Kevin Schafer  —

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.

Pousada Baia das Pedras, Pantanal
The farm Baía das Pedras is located 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.

Fazenda Santa Teresa
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.

Jaguar Research Camp
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.