Pantanal-Itinerary-2017 2
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WILDLIFE OF THE PANTANAL A Journey to Brazil’s Wetland Jewel 17 Days from September 6 through September 22, 2017 The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world, stretching out over 230,000 square kilometers in three countries: Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The majority of this vast ecosystem lies within Brazil’s borders and is home to the greatest wildlife concentrations on the South American continent. The Amazon gets most of the biodiversity fame, but the density of the forest can make wildlife observation difficult. By contrast the wide open spaces of the Pantanal provide easier wildlife viewing. EcoQuest Travel is proud to partner with the North Carolina Zoo Society on a once in a lifetime trip to the Brazilian Pantanal. Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians, Dustin Smith, will co-lead this trip. We are traveling in September to take advantage of the end of the dry season when the already abundant wildlife gathers in extraordinary numbers in and around the shrinking pools of water. Huge numbers of caiman and waterbirds reap the fishy rewards the receding waters provide. Herds of Capybara, small groups of Marsh Deer and Anacondas also frequent the water’s edge. Many of South America’s rare large mammals are quite common in the Pantanal and with luck we could see Giant Anteater, Giant River Otter, Tapir, Ocelot, Puma and even the elusive Jaguar (we saw five Jaguars on our 2009 trip!!). No wonder the Pantanal is often called the Serengeti of South America! The birdlife is no less spectacular including flightless Rheas, giant Jabiru Storks, colorful Toco Toucans and, the symbol of the Pantanal, the endangered Hyacinth Macaw. This trip’s itinerary rises above the competition because, unlike most trips, we will visit both the northern and southern sections of the Pantanal as well as the fantastic crystal clear rivers of Bonito. This will help us maximize our chances of seeing the greatest diversity of wildlife and will also increase the likelihood of spotting the rarer denizens of these fantastic ecosystems. EcoQuest Travel and the North Carolina Zoo Society invite you to join us as we explore the bounty of the Pantanal – Brazil’s wetland jewel. ITINERARY All Contents Copyright 2016 EcoQuest Travel Inc. • All Rights Reserved • www.EcoQuestTravel.net • 919.963.3038 Day 1 – Wednesday, September 6: Home City to US Gateway and on to Sao Paulo, Brazil Our adventure begins today as we depart from our home cities to a US gateway city for our overnight flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Please make sure that you arrive at your home airport no later than two hours prior to your scheduled departure time. Once you arrive at the gateway city please go directly to our departure gate for Sao Paulo. For those departing from Raleigh/Durham, Dave Davenport and Dustin Smith will meet you and help you get checked in. For those not departing from RDU Dave and Dustin will meet you in our US gateway city at our departure gate for Sao Paulo. Day 2 – Thursday, September 7: Arrival in Sao Paulo, Fly to Cuiaba and Into the Cerrado We will arrive in Sao Paulo, Brazil early this morning and, after clearing immigration and customs, we will transfer to our domestic flight to Cuiaba. Cuiaba, in Mato Grosso State, is the gateway to the Cerrado and the Northern Pantanal and after our arrival we will begin our adventure by driving to Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park. Chapada dos Guimaraes is the geographical center of the South American continent and the transition between the cerrado and the Amazon rainforest. The Guimaraes plateau, 2,400 feet higher than the Pantanal, acts as the dividing line between the Paraguay and Amazon River basins, forming an ecosystem of great ecological interest and fascinating geological formations. The terrain is reminiscent of the southwestern US with waterfalls, rock formations, forests and grasslands. We will have time this afternoon to begin to explore this park before settling into our accommodations at the Pousada do Parque. The grounds around our lodge and the park access road are excellent for wildlife and after dinner we will briefly explore these areas to see what we can find under the spotlights. We could see armadillos, anteaters and if we are incredibly lucky perhaps a Maned Wolf. This long-legged canine is quite rare, but does occur in the area. (D) Day 3 – Friday, September 8: The Cerrado of Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park The cerrado is one of the South America’s special habitats. These endangered grasslands, ribboned with forests, support an incredible array of species including many endemic birds. We will be out early this morning looking for some these special species including Blue-winged Macaw, White-eared Puffbird, Rusty-backed Antwren, Curl- crested Jay and both White-rumped and White-banded Tanagers. The grassland specialties include the Coal-crested Finch and a spectacularly colored little hummingbird – the Horned Sungem. The forest belts hold both Helmeted and Fiery-capped Manakins and Large-billed Antwren. Mammals are not nearly as common in Chapada dos Guimaraes as they are in the Pantanal, but we will be on the lookout for them both today and tonight as we once again search for nocturnal All Contents Copyright 2016 EcoQuest Travel Inc. • All Rights Reserved • www.EcoQuestTravel.net • 919.963.3038 species and hopefully another chance for a glimpse at a Maned Wolf. We will overnight once again at Pousada do Parque. (B,L,D) Day 4 – Saturday, September 9: Chapada dos Guimaraes to Pocone and into the Pantanal Today we will depart the Cerrado of Chapada dos Guimaraes and drop in elevation as we descend into the Pantanal. We will drive to the town of Pocone and the beginning of the Transpantaneira. The Transpantaneira is a raised dirt road that pushes deep into the Pantanal. Wildlife is plentiful along this road and we will spend the first part of our trip along its entire length. Once we leave the town of Pocone and head south on the Transpantaneira the ponds along the road will be full of wildlife creating an incredible safari atmosphere. Caiman, Marsh Deer and Capybaras should be among the first wildlife we see. We also have a good chance of seeing Giant Anteater and Black Howler Monkeys. Birds will be abundant and could include Greater Rhea, Jabiru Stork, Southern Screamer, Roseate Spoonbill, Toco Toucan and a host of other species. Our three hour drive along the beginning of the Transpantaneira will take us to our accommodations at Pousada Pouso Alegre. Pousada Alegre is a basic, but comfortable lodge and the surrounding area is a haven for wildlife. With whatever time we have this afternoon we will observe wildlife before dinner and perhaps another night drive if we are up to it. (B, L,D) Day 5 – Sunday, September 10: Pousada Alegre and on to Porto Jofre Pousada Alegre has a great variety of mammals and birds and we will be out early this morning searching for wildlife. Black-bellied and White-faced Whistling-Ducks, all five species of South American kingfishers, Great Black Hawk, Black-collared Hawk, Chaco Chachalaca, Band-tailed Antbird and numerous heron species are found among the wetlands. With luck we could also see Chestnut-bellied Guan, Helmeted Manakin, Mato Grosso Antbird and a variety of mammals including Black-tailed Marmoset, Southern Tamandua, Yellow Armadillo and South American Coati. After a full morning and lunch we will depart Pousada Alegre and drive south along the remainder of the Transpantaneira. The Transpantaneira ends deep within the Pantanal at the Cuiaba River and the small fishing enclave of Porto Jofre. Once we arrive in Porto Jofre we will check into our accommodations for the next four nights aboard the Jaguar House Boat. The Jaguar House Boat is a comfortable live-aboard boat that is specifically designed for the rivers and for Jaguar spotting. Each of the nine double cabins on the boat has two bunk beds – so the upper bunks are usually reserved for luggage storage. Each room is basic, but clean and functional with a private bathroom and air conditioning. Our floating hotel will be an ideal way to look for wildlife in this remote area. Once settled in our cabins we will cruise to our anchorage for the night and watch the sunset before dinner under a blanket of stars and surrounded by the sounds of a Pantanal night. (B,L,D) All Contents Copyright 2016 EcoQuest Travel Inc. • All Rights Reserved • www.EcoQuestTravel.net • 919.963.3038 Days 6, 7 & 8 – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, September 11, 12 and 13: Jaguar Quest on the Rivers We will have three full days to explore the Cuiaba, Piquiri and Three Brothers Rivers. Each day as the sun rises we will board smaller boats and begin navigating the quiet channels of these rivers. The main focus will be to find the phantom of the Pantanal – the Jaguar. Seeing these great cats requires patience and a bit of luck, but we will be in the best area in the world to see them. The rivers are also home to Giant River Otters and we hope to see several family groups during our time on the water. While searching for Jaguar and Giant Otter we will certainly see plenty of Capybara and Yacare Caiman – both of which provide an ample food supply for the big cats. Howler monkeys are abundant in the trees along the river and their deafening morning chorus should follow us as we meander through the waterways. Tapir are sometimes found along the river and with luck we could see them swimming and diving.