Amazon Adventures

Phone: 800-232-5658 or
1-512-443-5393
email

Blog - Jim's Thoughts

Brazil Tours and Travel

Regular Pantanal Tours

These tours have the most affordable prices, because they don't require too much transportation. With accommodation at the Low Pantanal, on the flood-plain, at the very nice Pousada Piuval, with its 7.000 hectares of diversified environments where a wide range of wildlife that can be seen from a motor boat trip on a lake, horseback on the fields or hikes on the mound-hills.

The very comfortable Piuval lodge allows you to experience all the different aspects of the Pantanal. It is situated on the flood-plain and is bordered by a 3000 hectare lake formed by the Bento Gomes river. With plenty of mound hills, there are many possibilities for hiking, as well as for other actitivies such as horse-riding, and canoe or boat trips (especially in the Wet Season).At the end of the Wet Season (Feburary to April), just in front of the lodge, we can take the canoes, to navigate the Flooded Field to the mound-hills where we can hike- it's wonderful! Before the end of the Wet Season. the Baía do Piuval is full of water, offering a longer boat trip, with a spectacular sunset taken from the center of the lake! Fishing is also possible. The night safari is done to just the area surrounding the guest's house. In the Wet Season, animals are looking for higher places, and Piuval has plenty of those mound-hills. After the end of the Wet Season, when the land is getting dry, this is the first place to attract the migratory birds in their return to the Pantanal).

PANTANAL 2 days / 1 night

Day 1 Pick-up at the airport and immediate transfer to the traditional town of Poconé with introduction to the geological formation and flora characteristics, then to the lodge, arriving there after a brief safari along the Transpantaneira park-road with many stops to observe its rich fauna. Dinner and night safari - a night-time drive using a vehicle equipped with a flashlight for highlighting nocturnal fauna, with the chance to observe crab-eating foxes, ocelots, and many caiman's eyes!

Day 2 In the morning is a departure through the fields and forests until the beautiful lake Baía do Piuval, where we do a motorized boat trip, with the possibility of seeing many birds, reptiles and mammals. Return for lunch and immediate departure to the Cuiabá airport or hotel, with drop-off at the convenient time.

PANTANAL 3 days / 2 nights

Day 2 In the morning is a hike through one of the many mound-hills, which attracts a lot of mammals among many birds nests. In the afternoon is a horse ride through the flooding fields. The horse is the most versatile means of transportation, allowing both the crossing of the flood plain and access to the distant forests. The 'Pantaneiro' horse is extremely docile. Other animals are so used to it that they don't perceive the rider on the horse.

Day 3 In the morning is a departure through the fields and forests until the beautiful lake Baía do Piuval, where we do a motorized boat trip, with the possibility of seeing many birds, reptiles and mammals. Return for lunch and immediate departure to the Cuiabá airport or hotel, with drop-off at the convenient time.

PANTANAL 4 days / 3 nights

Day 3 Hiking in another mound-hill in the morning. In the afternoon is a departure through the fields and forests until the beautiful lake Baía do Piuval, where we do a motorized boat trip, with the possibility of seeing many birds, reptiles and mammals and a beautiful sunset. Return in the evening, doing another night safari.

Day 4 In the morning is a departure through the fields and forests until the beautiful lake Baía do Piuval, where we do a motorized boat trip, with the possibility of seeing many birds, reptiles and mammals as they awaken and are active at sunrise. Return for lunch and immediate departure to the Cuiabá airport or hotel, with drop-off at the convenient time.

PANTANAL 5 days / 4 nights

Day 4 Hiking in the morning through one of the many mound-hills with a large concentration of mammals among nests of birds. In the afternoon, departure for a terrestrial safari along the Transpantaneira park-road, with observation of many animals. Return in the evening, with another chance of seeing nocturnal animals.

Day 5 In the morning is a departure through the fields and forests until the beautiful lake Baía do Piuval, where we do a motorized boat trip, with the possibility of seeing many birds, reptiles and mammals as they awaken and are active at sunrise. Return for lunch and immediate departure to the Cuiabá airport or hotel, with drop-off at the convenient time.

For the travelers who have done a tour to the Pantanal or to the Amazon, and would like to comprehend the geological formation of the whole South America continent, or simply want to relax after a hard contact with nature, there is the chance of visiting the beautiful landscapes of Nobres, where there is a real interaction with the aquatic richness, or to Chapada dos Guimarães, where dazzling views and nice waterfalls, with a fresh weather, makes them a great end of the journey in Mato Grosso state.

CHAPADA DOS GUIMARÃES EXTENSION

Day 1 Continuation of the tour to the Chapada Tableland. Having left the Pantanal wetland, where the altitude is about 120m of sea level, is climbed 700m in only 200km! Visit to the Cidade de Pedra for observing a gorgeous sunset into a large panorama that includes the water spring of three very important rivers that form the Pantanal. Then, on to the pleasant town of Chapada de Guimarães for dinner and overnight.

Day 2 Visits to the National Park, with bath in waterfalls including the largest one - Véu de Noiva at 86 m in height, entering a majestic canyon. Immediate transfer for another extension or to the Cuiabá airport for embarking at convenient time.

The Pantanal tour was equally memorable. I'm glad we took the extra day to see the Chapada dos Guimaraes National park and stay in Chapada. With the help of our guides, Marcos and Adrianos, we were able to have a very intimate experience of the town, and even went with them to a local community/church party on Saturday night. - Stephen Layman

NOBRES EXTENSION
Day 1 In the afternoon, transfer to the village of Bom Jardim, crossing the huge Cuiabá river near its beginning, in a national park. Relaxing bath in a water shed of the Estivado, with plenty of colorful fishes and many palm trees.

Day 2 Snorkeling in both Aquarium and Salobra rivers, with all necessary equipment provided, experiencing the amazing feeling of observing rich aquatic flora & fauna in crystalline water. Departure to any other extension or to the Cuiabá airport for embarking at the convenient time.

"We enjoyed the Pantanal trip very much. Marcus is an excellent guide. The highlight for us was sunset at Bom Jardim with all the Macaws. I am glad we experienced Nobres while it is still unspoilt. We will recommend this trip to relatives that visit Brazil." Nardia Coetzee

Price per person in US$ from Jan. 1, 2010

# of people	room	2 day	3 day	4 day	5 day	Chapada Extension	Nobres Extension
1	sgl	$863	$1173	$1363	$1581	$805	$954
2	sgl	$523	$759	$932	$1104	$489	$598
2	dbl	$466	$650	$776	$920	$449	$575
3	sgl	$454	$667	$845	$1006	$443	$546
	dbl	$397	$558	$696	$822	$402	$529
	tpl	$380	$523	$644	$759	$385	$512
4	sgl	$414	$575	$748	$897	$362	$460
	dbl	$357	$495	$598	$713	$322	$443
	tpl	$345	$472	$546	$655	$305	$426

Children's prices (1 per couple) = 0 to 5 years = free; 6-11 years = 65 % (1 per couple in dbl)
Private Tour price: add 30% in high season, 15% in low season

BOOKING
REQUEST

HIGH SEASON: MAY TO OCTOBER ........ .......LOW SEASON: NOVEMBER TO APRIL

Price includes:
Transportation; accommodation as described; sightseeing as mentioned; all meals (3 a day); entrance fee taxes and accompaniment by a naturalist English speaking guide, equipped with binoculars, books, etc.

Price doesn't include:
Beverages, tips and any other personal expenses.

WE SUGGEST TO TAKE WITH YOU:
A small rucksack, walking boots or anti-skid tennnis shoes, bathing suit, water bottle, rain-coat (anorak), a small towel, insect repelent, shorts, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a camera.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotel Fazenda Piuval - Piuval Lodge is located 110 km from Cuiabá and 10 km from Poconé in the state of Mato Grosso. The lodge is situated on a 7000 hectare cattle ranch with one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Pantanal, full of natural beauty. Here tourists can observe an abundance and diversity of Pantanal flora and fauna. There are large open fields mixed with islands of forest, a fantastic combination for observing wildlife and magnificent sunsets. Visitors will appreciate the scenery in either the flooded season (December to April) or the dry season (July to December), when wading birds reproduce and gather together in colonies. The lodge has 12 guest rooms with air conditioning and ceiling fans, private bathrooms, and screened-in windows providing fresh air. There is also a restaurant that serves typical Pantanal meals, 29-inch television with satelite, swimming pool, volleyball court, and playground equipment.

There are many ways to see the Pantanal at Piuval Lodge. All outings are accompanied by local guides and include:
- Hiking Trails - Where you cas see monkeys, caimans, hyacinth macaws, jabiru storks, toucans, rheas, ibis, coatis, capybaras, anteaters, tapirs, and other animals, in addition to a variety of plant life;
- Horseback riding and cart rides - Providing the same opportunities to see plants and animals as on foot;
- Boat trips and piranha fishing - on the largest natural lake in the area, located on the ranch, with a stop to see monkeys, owls, and other animals that live on the forested bank;
- And pontoon trips for groups of 8-15 people - Providing a comfortable way to see the lake and to fish if desired. Pontoon is equipped with benches, an awning, bathroom and shower.

Hotel Turismo - 2 blocks from the center of town in Chapada;35 bedrooms all with private toilet, air conditioning, frigobar. Swimming pool; Most traditional hotel in town with friendly service.