Jaguar Tours
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The jaguar reigns in the Pantanal. The largest feline in the Americas and the third largest in the world, long considered an unwanted predator, is now seen even by its former hunters as a sign of the biome’s environmental balance. The creation of the Encontro das Águas State Park, in the Porto Jofre area – halfway between the North and South Pantanal – offered a refuge to these fascinating animals who, having been accustomed to seeing fishermen for many years, now show off in the most unimaginable scenes – walking along beaches or riverbanks, training their cubs, crossing waterways, hunting, lurking in the trees...
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Between the months of May and November, we offer jaguar-watching safaris, with a minimum stay of 2 nights, so that we can have at least one full day (or two sessions) on a motorized boat equipped with radio communication to maximize our chances of sightings, which average 3 different individuals per day. There are many rivers, streams, and lagoons, and each jaguar has its own territory, so the more days and trips, the higher the chances of spotting them.
The distance to this area is very long, and we try to drive carefully to avoid the risk of hitting animals along the way. So, we suggest that, in order to get a broader view of the Pantanal and see more of its rich wildlife, spending at least one night at another lodge on both the way there and back is a good idea, and we our transfers around our clients' flight schedules.
The distance to this area is very long, and we try to drive carefully to avoid the risk of hitting animals along the way. So, we suggest that, in order to get a broader view of the Pantanal and see more of its rich wildlife, spending at least one night at another lodge on both the way there and back is a good idea, and we our transfers around our clients' flight schedules.
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All jaguar tour packages include transfers, accommodations, meals and excursions with an English-speaking guide. Drinks are not included, , except coffee and fruit juices at breakfast. Our normal guide for this has been a guide for more than 30 years, so he is very experienced and has great knowledge about the plants and animals in the region .
3 Days / 2 Nights at Porto Jofre
If you don’t have much time and are only interested in seeing Jaguars, you could go to the Porto Jofre area for 3 days/ 2 nights, sleeping in Cuiabá before and after this. We start offering 2 half-days on the fast speed boat rides, at the reasonably priced Dona Onca lodge, with the possibility of adding one more half-day boat ride and of upgrading to another lodge or house-boat, with varied room categories. Day 1 CUIABÁ/ Jaguar Seeking 5-7 hour drive LD Transfer from the hotel in Cuiabá to the Porto Jofre, driving the whole length of the Transpantaneira park-road until its end at km 145. Arrival to a hotel or house-boat in Porto Jofre, at the Cuiabá river banks, after many stops to see varied wildlife along the way. Dinner and overnight. Day 2 PANTANAL Jaguar Seeking BLD The whole day (since very early) is devoted to observing Jaguars on a Full-Day, or morning and afternoon boat ride. Day 3 Jaguar Seeking / CUIABÁ 5-7 hour drive BL After breakfast, departure to the CGB Cuiabá airport for departure at the end of the afternoon. Optional morning half-day boat ride, lunch and departure to overnight in Cuiabá at extra cost. 2026 price per person in US$ for June - October: (priced with Dona Onca Lodge. Can upgrade to Santa Rosa Hotel or a houseboat). With 3 half day boat rides included:
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1 Night at Mato Grosso +
2 Nights at Porto Jofre Add a night at the Dynamic High Pantanal environment so you can do a boat ride on a small river to see more aquatic birds, as well as Capibaras, Caimans, etc., since the Porto Jofre boat rides are just devoted to Jaguars as well as Tapirs and Giant-river Otters. With this one night break along the way, we also gain time to have one more half-day boat ride to seek Jaguars. Day 1 CUIABÁ/ PANTANAL Dynamic 3-4 hour drive D Transfer from the hotel in Cuiabá to the Pantanal, arriving to a hotel, at km 65 - half way of the total of the Transpantaneira park-road length. Boat ride on a small river with a chance to see lots of aquatic birds, including the pretty rare Agami Heron, Pigmy Kingfisher and Sungrebe. Dinner and overnight. Day 2 PANTANAL / Jaguar Seeking 3-5 hour drive BLD Transfer from one to another lodge at the Cuiabá river banks, in Porto Jofre for lunch. In the afternoon, we have our first experience on a fast speed boat ride looking for Jaguars. Dinner and overnight. Day 3 PANTANAL Jaguar Seeking BLD The whole day (since very early) is devoted to observe Jaguars on a Full-Day or morning and afternoon boat ride. Day 4 Jaguar Seeking / CUIABÁ 7 hour drive BL After breakfast, departure to the CGB Cuiabá airport for embarking at the convenient time. 2026 price per person in US$ June - October: (priced with Dona Onca Lodge. Can upgrade to Santa Rosa Hotel or a houseboat)
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2 Nights at Piuval Lodge
+ 2 Nights at Porto Jofre Add 2 nights in the Dynamic Low environment to the basic package so you can experience the totally diverse environment of the flooding fields where we do lots of jeep safaris from the first hours of the day to the night, seeing wildlife not seen on river banks, with the highlights being the Giant Anteater, as well as the endangered Hyacinth Macaws. Day 1 -CUIABÁ/ Jaguar Seeking 5-7 hour drive LD After breakfast in your hotel, we depart to Poconé and, then, through the Transpantaneira park-road until its end at the Cuiabá river banks, in Porto Jofre with lunch on the way. Arrival at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight. Day 2 - PANTANAL Jaguar Seeking BLD The whole day is devoted to observe Jaguars on a Full-Day (or 2 1/2 day) boat ride. Day 3 - Jaguar Seeking/ Pantanal 4-6 hour drive BLD In the morning we have our last boat ride, as a chance to see Jaguars in different angles or situations. Lunch and transfer to the Low Pantanal, at km 10 + 3 of private access, located on the flooding fields – home of the Hyacinth Macaw. Arrival to Piuval lodge at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and overnight. Day 4 - PANTANAL Dynamic low BLD In the early morning, we do an overland safari through the Termite mound-hills, trying to see the Giant Anteater. In the morning, we visit an ‘island of vegetation’ where many birds nests (Hyacinth Macaws, Jabiru Storks) can be observed. In the afternoon, we do an overland safari through the fields and forests, in the Jaguar territory, with good possibility of seeing Americas’ third largest cat. Day 5 - PANTANAL Dynamic low/ CUIABÁ 2-3 hour drive B In the early morning, we do another safari looking for the Giant Anteater and later in the morning, we do another jeep safari along the forests and fields. At the convenient time, departure to the CGB airport for departure. Observation: the order of the lodges could be done in the reverse way, according to clients’ flight schedule. We recommend the longest journey to start or end with an overnight in Cuiabá but if this is impossible, we suggest to 1} have fewer activities at the Piuval or 2} have only 2 half-day boat ride in the Jaguar Seeking portion for a lower price. 
Day 4 - JAGUARS
Departure by boats equipped with radio-communication for navigating the rivers Cuiabá, São Lourenço, Three Brothers and Piquiri, seeking Jaguars hunting Caiman or simply resting on the banks. On the journey can be observed many other species of the rich fauna such as the Giant-river Otters, Tapirs among hundreds of birds including the Black-skimmer. During these days, expeditions would be done in varied times of the day (some tours in the early morning or late night) on a way to maximize the chance to see the largest cat in the Americas. Day 5 - depart in morning to arrive to Cuiaba in time for an afternoon departure flight. 2026 price per person in US$ June - October: Pricing with Dona Onca Jaguar Lodge and standard room at Piuval. Can price with more expensive Santa Rosa or a houseboat and upgraded rooms at Piuval. We are showing high season prices. Might be lower at other times
Dona Onça Jaguar lodge is a small, simple lodge built in 2021. The structure is very new and clean. The white building is made of recycled material. The rooms are very comfortable with air conditioning and mattresses of the best quality. The bathrooms are modern and clean with hot showers. The restaurant in the hotel is clean with air conditioning, wooden tables and chairs and the food is delicious.
Outside Dona Onca Lodge
Dona Onca Dining Room
A Bedroom at Dona Onca Lodge
The Santa Rosa hotel is more upscale resort, with 23 exclusive suites, an airy and cozy restaurant, a leisure area with a pool table, a large swimming pool, and a pier to enjoy the São Lourenço River.
2026 Prices per person in US$ to upgrade from Dona Onca Lodge to Santa Rosa Hotel for 3-6 day packages in high season
to upgrade to a Jaguar Bay room:
to upgrade to a Standard room:
to upgrade to a Deluxe room:
"The Pantanal: what a wonderful, almost overwhelming semi-wilderness—including the ranches we saw, which appear to have left the natural environments in the region largely intact without all the overgrazing, wetland draining, forest clearing, riparian trampling and overgrazing by too many cattle, etc that seems to characterize too many ranchlands in our American West. The animals there were stupendous; their relative tameness suggested rancher respect for their wildlife. We saw a single adult male jaguar up close and quite personal. Sharp-eyed Alfredo alerted us as it swam ashore and climbed the bank. It disappeared behind a screen of vegetation on the raised bank then walked fully into the OPEN and proceeded to show itself off (seemingly ignoring us, and brandishing some battle scars) before finally disappearing. We learned of no other group that matched that experience during our stay. But, the BIRDS. Pantanal is a supreme bird experience. I ended up with close to 150 species. We had representatives of most of the regional groups, from rheas, seriemas, sunbittern, sungrebe, to Hyacinth Macaws, Toco Toucans, other parrots, nightjars, nighthawks, to small forest species that I was able to identify, etc etc. The trip went smoothly with no glitches that I was aware of. Thanks to you for putting together a deeply rewarding experience. My sense is that all members of the group truly enjoyed themselves. The two pousadas and the hotel at Porto Jofre were really great, each complementing one another with different landscapes and experiences. They were charmingly rustic and very comfortable, great food, and friendly, supportive people. As naturalists, we could not ask for more." Jon "We had the most wonderful time and saw 5/6 individual jaguars. We saw mating, swimming, sleeping and even one hunting and catching a caiman. Plus all the other wonderful animals we saw. Our guide was great and the accommodation was lovely too. The boat we stayed on went to the trouble of getting us soya milk and soya protein so we were really pleased. Thank you so much for arranging it, I managed to get some pics I’m really pleased with and had a fantastic birthday while there. Great end to my 3 months travelling." Gaia |
2 Nights at Piuval Lodge + 2 Nights at Porto Jofre + 1 Night at Mato Grosso Lodge
This is our favorite and most recommended tour, because we think we have to allow time for animals to show up and hurrying is not the best method for wildlife observation. 1 night on a small river bank, plus 2 nights in Porto Jofre looking for Jaguars, ending with 2 nights in the flooding fields with possibility of seeing terrestrial animals is just a suggestion, as you could add or skip some of these nights, according to your time and interests. According to room availability or flight schedule, the order of the lodges could be reversed. Day 1 CUIABÁ/ PANTANAL dynamic high D Pick-up at the CGB airport or hotel and immediate transfer to the traditional town of Poconé, with lunch in a barbecue restaurant and introduction to the geological formation and flora characteristics, then to the lodge, arriving there after an overland safari along the Transpantaneira park-road with many stops to observe the first Egrets, Storks, Rheas, Toucans, Capybaras and Caimans of its rich fauna among 700 species of birds, 120 of mammals, 80 of reptiles...Arrival to the lodge in time to have the first activity: a boat trip on the Claro/Pixaim river, with a change of environments and possibility of seeing the Giant-river Otters, Agami heron and many other animals that, especially in the dry season, has there their only water resource within a large area. Day 2 PANTANAL dynamic high/ JAGUAR seeking' BLD In the morning we depart for a terrestrial safari along the whole Transpantaneira park road until its end on the Cuiabá river banks at Porto Jofre, arriving to the lodge for lunch after many stops to observe rich and most rare fauna. In the afternoon, there is a boat ride - the first opportunity to observe the elusive Jaguars in their natural habitat, resting on the riverbanks or playing on the beaches. Day 3 JAGUAR seeking BLD Departure in boats equipped with radio-communication for navigating the rivers Cuiabá, Three Brothers and Piquiri, seeking for Jaguars while they are hunting Caiman or Capybaras or simply resting/ playing on the banks. During the journey can be observed many other species of the rich fauna such as the Giant-river Otters an Tapirs among hundreds of birds including the Black-skimmer. 2 Boat rides are available for the whole day in order to maximize the chance to see the largest cat in Americas. Day 4 JAGUAR seeking/ PANTANAL dynamic low BLD In the morning we depart for a terrestrial safari along the Transpantaneira to another lodge, Arrival to Piuval lodge by the middle of the afternoon, in time to do the check-in and the afternoon jeep safari through the flooding fields, visiting an ‘island of vegetation’ where many birds nests (Hyacinth Macaws, Jabiru Storks) can be observed. Dinner and overnight. Day 5 PANTANAL dynamic low BLD In the morning, we visit a remote stream with a large concentration of birds, many caimans and some otters. In the afternoon, we do an overland safari through the fields and forests, in the Jaguar territory, with a good possibility of seeing Americas’ third largest cat. After going back to the lodge for a brief time, we depart again for a night safari, using open vehicles especially equipped with lights to spot night behaved animals, such as foxes, deer, puma, jaguar, tapir, etc. Dinner and overnight. Day 6 PANTANAL dynamic low/ CUIABÁ B In the early morning, we do an overland safari through the Termite mound-hills, trying to see the Giant Anteater. Transfer to Cuiabá, with drop-off at the convenient time. *Observation: depending on the flight schedule, we are able to manage the order of the lodges and of the activities. For example, if we start the tour after 12pm on day 1, the boat ride at Dynamic high would be in the early morning on day 2. 2026 price per person in US$ June - October: Pricing with Dona Onca Jaguar Lodge and standard room at Piuval. Can price with more expensive Santa Rosa Hotel or a houseboat and upgraded rooms at Piuval. We are showing high season prices. Might be lower at other times
"On the 1st email you sent us last year, you mentioned that “Pantanal offers a wildlife experience that can’t be matched”. I think you undersold this.. The Pantanal is a magical place. The otters & sheer volume of jaguars we saw in the Porto Jofre area is still hard to believe. On one of the afternoon boat rides, our guide suggested we take a different less popular route and on this journey we came across howler monkeys (we had only ever heard them but not see them up close) and some roseate spoonbills In terms of birds, the blue macaws stand out but it was also the 1st time we saw other species such as the vermillion fly catcher & jabiru storks. Each lodge offered a different setting & perspective of the nature & river. Staying in different areas, allowed us to see a variety of species: jaguars & otters at Porto Jofre, tapir, foxes, deer, rheas & ant eater in Pousada Puival, etc. The food, tours and accommodation was all excellent, with our only suggestion to perhaps have mosquito nets in the rooms to help limit the bugs This diversity of species was something we both really enjoyed & appreciated We had a great time with Munir. He affectionately called us “children” while he was able to give us lots of details about every animal & plant we came across & luckily there were many. He was organized & prepared for any scenario, often giving us sweets and pastries to enjoy on the car ride or speed boat. He went above & beyond to make sure we were comfortable, even bringing with 20L water containers to all the lodges. We grew fond of him & will miss our boat rides & nature walks, with his contagious excitement each time we came across an animal. Like with Manaus, switching to the earlier flight made a huge difference. This change meant we got to the 1st lodge (Mato Grosso Lodge) in time for a late afternoon excursion. More than this, we got to see a great deal of wildlife on the drive on the Transpantaneira, including a baby anaconda. We wanted to thank you for this as if you had not made this flight change we probably would have not seen the king of all snakes." Wayne and Saul "It was great- 5 jaguar sightings, 4 different one day, including 20 minutes watching one. 120 different birds, great photos- all worked out. thanks." Robert
"Thank you, thank you thank you for organising Munir to look after us for the ten days. He is an amazing guide/person and could not do enough for us (on top of having the most incredible knack for spotting wildlife). We cannot sing his praises highly enough. Charles will email you when we get home next Friday (at the moment, we're still recovering in Manaus from our disastrous three day trip to see the pink dolphins - we should have listened to you, sorry!!!!!!!!) Again, many thanks for all your organisation - we couldn't have wished for a better experience. Regards" Jennie "We had a great trip. We saw a jaguars on 4-5 times, including swimming in front of us & attempted mating which was fantastic. Hyacinth macaws & lots of other birds & animals. Really enjoyed it. The boat driver/ guide JD was excellent. Thanks" Donna "We had an excellent time in Brazil. Thank you for organizing all the details. Everything went like clockwork except when the airlines messed it up. We specifically want to call out Munir. He was excellent, easily the best guide we have ever had. His deep knowledge, experience and continued passion is what made the whole trip special. Apart from showing us so many species of birds and animals, some relatively hard to be seen, he also made our trip more comfortable by arranging comfort food for the kids such as Pizza and Pasta in Porto Jofre. We highly recommend him and we would want him as our guide if we go back to Brazil. We wish him the very best and hope his dreams are very successful. Cristalino was excellent as expected. Everything went well and it was a very good experience. In Pantanal, we specifically liked Piuval Lodge. The open areas filled with birds and other animals made it very special. We wished we had more time in Piuval lodge. In Porte Jofre, we saw jaguars in every boat trip including once a jaguar in a tree and a jaguar eating a caiman. As you must have heard, we did not care for Rio Claro. I will add a referral for you in tripadvisor, yelp and google. Overall, we had a great time in Brazil!" Regards, Raj & Subha. "The trip was fantastic, it was our favourite part of our 18 day trip. We loved the lodges and food. We were hoping to see at least one jaguar at Porto Jofre but ended up seeing 11 including a mum and cub, we saw a tapir on a night drive and even an anaconda sun bathing in the morning. What was lovely to see was Munirs excitement at viewing the wildlife and because he likes taking photos too, he would make sure that we were positioned to get clear shots. We were sad to leave the pantanal to continue our trip we enjoyed it that much." Kirsty "We had a fantastic time! Munir was a wonderful guide and we really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot. Thank you for all your assistance in coordinating such a large group!" Brittany "We had a wonderful time! 8 Jaguar sightings of 7 different jaguars. Munir was really helpful and knowledgeable and we had some great experiences with him. Including rescuing an injured Potoo. Thanks for all your help in the booking process, you made it very easy for me." Christina "We had a great time on our trip. Richard shared a lot of his knowledge on area wildlife and local history. He ( and driver Nate) were very attentive to our needs and quickly picked up on activities we liked to do. At Porto Jofre our boat driver/guide (Alex) got us to all the right locations.......seeing 8 jaguar in one day and some close up visits to a couple families of otters , plus much more. The food and accommodations met and generally exceeded our expectations. " Pat and Jerry "It was incredible. We had a fantastic time and saw so much wildlife. We saw 3 jaguars on our boat tours with one less than 10 feet away! We saw a tapir, giant anteater, giant river otters, porcupine, caiman, monkeys, capybara and so many beautiful birds. We had super guides Munir and Joseph who were so enthusiastic about nature and finding animals for us. We loved all the lodges we stayed at as well. We were also blessed with great weather and no crowds. Overall an A+ trip. Feel free to us my comments on your website. thanks again." Doug |
