Araras Pantanal Eco Lodge,a rustic and regional construction,
offers 19 comfortable air conditioned rooms, windows with mosquito netting,
ceiling fan and private bathrooms (cold and hot shower).Excellent regional
food, bar, swimming pool with covered deck, large verandas with hammocks.From
this lodge, with its enviably preserved surroundings, it is possible to
do first-class bird-watching, trekking in pristine forest, canoeing, horseback
riding, truck photo-safaris, night tours, and enjoy two exciting tree
top look outs 12 and 25m high and much more, all under the assistance
of expert bilingual naturalist guides.
Enclosed by the properties that surround
it, the pousada employs 17 registered employees, distributing most of
the income collected to its workers, guides, drivers and suppliers, which
provide gas, transportation, staple foods from supermarkets and a variety
of farmers, hand-crafts, construction materials, and hundreds of other
small businesses, having an important impact on the State and Municipal
economy, as well as having a visible influence on the social behavior
and environmental attitudes in the region.
The
3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) reserve, which the comprise the fazenda and
environmental reserve of the Pousada ARARAS ECOLODGE, have served as a
laboratory in search of the formula for balance in the use of natural
resources, taking advantage of its different ways, adding other income
sources and cultural setting to the business as a whole.
We produce milk, cheese and curd, as well
as desserts made from seasonal fruits, which are greatly appreciated by
visitors. We have included bee culture as a sustainable form of gathering
honey. We also have an organic vegetable garden, in addition to raising
free-range chickens, sheep, pigs and water buffalo for meat production.
In this way, marrying international business
practices with organizational, communication, and administrative technology
and marketing of tourist products to concepts from Pantaneiro cattle ranching
and environmental / cultural conservation, ecotourism offers a true revolution
in the economic use of the Pantanal plain.
It was great! Great people,
food was good, and a fabulous experience. We are planning to go back take
our friends and family - probably next year! - Sue Lord
3 Days/ 2 Nights
Day
1 . Arrival at Cuiabá/Várzea Grande
airport and transfer to Pantanal lowlands. While crossing the area, it
is possible to spot and appreciate the local flora & fauna. Sunset
observation trekking on the surrounding area. After dinner, night tour
to observe the nocturnal environment. Overnight at Araras Eco Lodge.
( , , D)
Day 2 . Full day to observe the Pantanal
flora & fauna. After breakfast, the guide will lead you by car, trekking
or canoe, through this particular ecosystem, allowing you to learn and
understand the local environment. Dinner and Overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 3 . Early morning horseback ride
to the Ronco do Bugio reserve. After lunch, departure to Cuiabá.
Time for last pictures on your photo-safari transfer along the Transpantaneira
Park Road. (B, L, )
4 Days /3 Nights
Day
1 . Arrival at Cuiabá/ Várzea
Grande airport or pick up at hotel and transfer to Pantanal lowlands.
While crossing the area, it is possible to spot and appreciate the local
flora & fauna. Sunset observation trekking through the surrounding
area. After dinner, night tour to observe the nocturnal environment. Overnight
at Araras Eco Lodge. ( , , D)
Day 2 . Full day to observe Pantanals
flora & fauna. After breakfast, the guide will lead you by car, trekking
and horseback ride, through this particular ecosystem, allowing you to
learn and understand the local environment. Overnight at Araras Eco Lodge.
(B, L, D)
Day 3 . Exploration trip on the Pantanal
raised dirt roads, including the Transpantaneira Park Road. Canoe tour
to spot aquatic wildlife, birds and flora; possibility to arrange piranha
fishing. Picnic lunch en route. Return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
(B, L, D)
Day 4 . After breakfast, photo-safari
along the Transpantaneira Park Road and return to Cuiabá. Drop
off at airport or city hotel. (B, , )
5 Days / 4 Nights
Day 1. Arrival
at Cuiabá/Várzea Grande airport or pick up at hotel and
transfer to Pantanal lowlands. While crossing the area, it is possible
to spot and appreciate the local flora & fauna. Late afternoon hike
through surrounding area to a 12 m observation tower and a spectacular
view of sunset. After dinner, night walk to observe the South Hemisphere
sky, hear and feel the nocturnal environment. Overnight at Araras Eco
Lodge. ( , , D)
Day 2. Full day dedicated to observing
the Pantanals flora & fauna at the Araras Eco Lodge private
reserve. After breakfast, the guide will lead you on a 2 to 3 hour horseback
ride through the pastures, woods and wetlands. Lunch at the lodge. In
the afternoon, you will go on a hike in a different area of the private
reserve, allowing you to observe and learn more of the local environment.
Overnight at Araras Eco Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 3. After breakfast travel down
private dirt roads, to Sentinela Camp on the edge of the Rio Clarinho.
Canoe tour to spot aquatic wildlife, birds and flora; possibility of piranha
fishing. Brazilian churrasco style picnic lunch along the banks of the
river. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 4. Early morning hike for sunrise.
Breakfast. After breakfast hike or bike ride to visit to the neighbor
farm. Time to share a guaraná drink following local
tradition, lunch at the lodge. Afternoon photo safari south on the Transpantaneira
Park road. Dinner at Lodge. Enjoy a night tour on our photo safari truck,
with spotlight to search for nocturnal wild life (B,L,D)
Day 5. Morning free for personal enjoyment
at lodge surroundings, before your photo safari transfer to Cuiabá.
Drop off at airport or city hotel. (B, , )
2012 Price per person in US$:
1 person
2-5 people in dbl
single supp.
3 nights/ 4 days
Jan. 4 - June 30
$1307
$1088
$222
July 1-Dec. 4
$1452
$1209
$244
4 nights/5 days
Jan. 4 - June 30
$1682
$1392
$291
July 1-Dec. 4
$1870
$1545
$325
Price Includes: In/out
photo-safari transfers; overnights at Araras Eco Lodge with full board.
All above mentioned activities; guide.
Does not include: Air tickets to/from Cuiabá; beverages;
medical expenses and hospitalization or medical insurance.
Transfers:
departs from Cuiaba airport to Araras at 1320pm or 5pm
departs from Araras to Cuiaba airport at 730am or 12pm
All the pictures copyright by Silvio Vince Esgalha and
Mike Bueno.
Our trip to the Pantanal was magnificent.
My friend and I traveled first to Rio, then Iguazu Falls, then to the
Pantanal and the Pantanal was our favorite. From the very start our
guide was friendly and very enthused about teaching us about the Pantanal
wildlife. He assisted us in every way he could. Araras Lodge was really
great. It was clean, the staff was extremely friendly and the food at
the lodge was really excellent eating. I was surprised I loved the food
so much. I loved that the lodge had a few walkways into the forest that
you could take on your own. My friend and I took a walk right at dusk,
then at dawn the next day. We saw an anteater, foxes, quatis, capibara,
monkeys and of course the thousands of caiman that were everywhere.
Coming into this trip, I prepared myself for the possibility of not
seeing much wildlife so I wouldn't be disappointed, but we were absolutely
stunned by the abundance of wildlife, especially Cayman. We saw hundreds
of birds, including the beautiful Macaws, parrots, falcons, and we even
spotted a pair of Toucans. The canoe ride was so amazing. We saw otters
and Cayman. We went Piranha fishing and fed our Piranha to the Cayman.
During the night trekking, we spotted a few owls, crab eating foxes
and deer. I do plan on returning to the Araras Eco Lodge in the near
future. Thank you for assisting us with our trip, it was definitely
a trip to remember. - Naomi Arce