Refugio Caiman

Reflugio Ecologico Caiman is the most upscale and acclaimed option in the southern Pantanal. It is located 236 km west of Campo Grande , State Capital of Mate Grosso do Sul.

It comprises 4 different lodges :
CAIMAN LODGE : Ibero - American style building with 11 rooms,private baths , air conditioning , swimming pool , homestyle restaurant , living room , TV and video.
PIUVA LODGE : 1 km away from Caiman lodge . it has 6 rooms with private baths , air conditioning , swimming pool , living room .
BAIAZINHA LODGE : this rustic lodge has 6 rooms with privates bath and terraces , air conditioning , ample living room , homestyle restaurant , swimming pool and an observation tower 9 km from Caiman lodge .
CORDILHEIRA LODGE : it has 6 apartments with private bath and terrace , ample living room, air conditioning , swimming pool and an observation tower 17 km from Caiman lodge.

Program of Activities

Trekking around the lodge for observation of animals and vegetation. At night, one can also observe caimans and other nocturnal animals.

Horse back riding, which is the best way to get into the heart of the Pantanal, getting to places which normally could not be reached by regular means of transportation.

Rides on specialty adapted vehicles to distant places, where a wider variety of animals and, sometimes, thousands of birds can be observed. On such rides one can notice the peculiarities and contrast of the habitats along the way.

Motor boat trip on the Aquidauana River - only during the dry season (April through October).

Row boat rides on the lakes close to Caiman and Baiazinha lodges. Such rides are very peaceful and one can enjoy the sounds of Nature.

Also included in our program are a lecture with slides and video show.

Guests are taken on twice daily outings, one early in the moming and a second in the afternoon. A third activity takes place at night after dinner, including a night outing for nocturnal animal observation. The different seasons as well as weather conditions determine the destinations for each excursion and they are decided locally by our staff. The final schedule is given to guests upon arrival by our guides and managers.

The package includes:

Full board (drinks consumed are charged separately);

Horseback, row and/or motorboat excursions, nature observation and photographic safari, hikes and nocturnal animal spotlighting;

Bilingual (English/Portuguese) guides with knowledge of local fauna and flora;

Welcoming orientation lecture and audiovisual presentation.

2008 Prices (not including transfers):
Jan. 1-May 31
Thurs.- Sun. - $664 single, $519 double, $369 triple
Sun.- Thurs. - $884 single, $691 double, $491 triple
June 1-Dec. 31
Thurs.- Sun. - $934 single, $660 double, $513 triple
Sun.- Thurs. - $1245 single, $880 double, $684 triple
Discounts available for children 11 and under.

Land Transfer: Distance from Campo Grande airport to Caiman Ranch - 236 km / 147 miles.
Length of trip - 4 hours average, including stop
Regular Departures : TUESDAYS / THURSDAYS / FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS (transfers are available on other days (except high season) at extra cost)
Time Schedule : Campo Grande airport to Caiman Ranch - must meet our receptive staff at the airport at 11:00 am for 12:30 or 5pm departure.
Caiman Ranch to Campo Grande Airport - depart at 6:00am and 1030am.
TRANSFER RATES : per person each way- US$ 123

Seasons and packing reccommendations:
WET SEASON = SUMMER (Dec. through Mar.)
Sport clothes, two pairs of shoes (tennis shoes, boots or hiking shoes), jeans, light long sleeve shirts, swimming costume, hat, rolls of film, insect repellent, binoculars, light raincoat and flashlight, sun cream,sunglasses.

INTERMEDIATE SEASON (Apr. through Jun. and Oct. through Nov.) and
DRY SEASON = WINTER (Jul. through Sep.)
To the above add an anorak and pullovers as temperatures drop drastically in addition to wind chill effects.

TEMPERATURE: can drop to as low as 0 degrees C for a brief period in May/June and get up to 40 degrees C in Jan/Feb.. The average is 28 degrees C.

Brazil

Refugio Caiman

Program of Activities