Explore the wild heart of the pantanal:
Jaguar safari Adventure
If you crave adventure, wildlife, and breathtaking landscapes, a jaguar safari in the Pantanal is an experience like no other. The Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, is the best place on earth to spot jaguars in the wild. The Pantanal’s open landscapes offer unparalleled wildlife visibility, and these powerful cats are frequently seen along the riverbanks, hunting caiman and capybara right in front of you.
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Pantanal jaguars
Dates: september 14-24, 2027
Location: Pantanal, Brazil
Price: $10799 USD*
Fitness Level: LEVEL TWO - GENTLE ADVENTURE
Group Size: 6 participants + group leader
*Price per person, based on same-sex double occupancy accommodations. A limited number of single supplement rooms are available for an additional $910, which you may select at time of booking. If the single supplement rooms are sold out online, please contact us, and we will reach out to the lodging to see if we can accommodate more, though we cannot guarantee this is possible.
Tour Highlights:
The location of the tour is known for having one of the largest populations of jaguars in the world.
Glide through scenic waterways on specially equipped boats, providing close, unobstructed views of jaguars in their natural habitat.
In addition to jaguars, we will have the chance to see many other mammals, reptiles, and birds. Other common wildlife in the region includes the giant otter, capybara, Hyacinth macaws, toucans, and anacondas. The Pantanal is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most biologically rich environments on earth with over 4,700 plant and animal species.
This trip includes two days in Northern Pantanal for the opportunity to photography giant anteaters and tapir.
Experienced local guides with an intimate knowledge of the Pantanal ensure you get the best sightings and photography opportunities.
This time of year (the dry season) is prime time, when jaguars are most active and frequently spotted along the rivers.
All images courtesy of Dee Webb
Stretching across hundreds of thousands of miles between Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay exists a mosaic of flooded grasslands, savanna, and tropical forest, known as the Pantanal. It is the world’s largest wetland area and seasonal floodplain – and as such boasts extraordinary biodiversity, being home to a wide variety of rare and important plants and wildlife.
Each year, tropical rains submerge almost 80% of the Pantanal basin creating a vast landscape for aquatic life. During the dry season, the water drains into the Paraguay River, leaving a myriad of sea creatures that attract a great influx of migratory birds comprising kingfishers, egrets, jabiru storks, herons, macaws and more.
But the Pantanal is much more than a bird paradise. The region is home to 3500 plant species, hundreds of different mammals and reptiles, and more than 9,000 subspecies of invertebrates.
The Pantanal is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most biologically rich environments on earth with over 4,700 plant and animal species.
Some of South America’s most rare and endangered wildlife species, including the hyacinth macaw, giant otter, marsh deer, margay and the maned wolf, can also be found there.
It is also home to the highest population of jaguars, thanks to an abundance of life and prey that call this unique ecosystem home.
Jaguars can be seen throughout the year in the Pantanal. However, during the dryer months from May to October, less precipitation means that the jaguars are regularly seen at the river to drink, hunt, mate and rest.
What’s Included:
Personalised meet and greet service at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport
Transfer to and from Cuiaba Airport
All accommodations
Breakfast only in Cuiaba
3 meals/day the rest of the trip
2 Boat safaris/day & all excursions
Professional photography tour leader
English-speaking guide and driver
Admission to all parks and reserves
What’s Not Included:
Lunch/Dinner in Cuiaba (First two days)
Visas
Travel insurance
All beverages
Personal items
Photography Gear
Gratuities for guides and drivers
You will be met by a meet and greet service at São Paulo International Airport and escorted to your next flight. Please make travel arrangements to Cuiaba Airport based on the itinerary below, or Contact Us for travel assistance.
What People Are Saying About This tour:
“I am going to write more about my experiences with Focus Photo Tours in Brazil, but I have to say, Dee, the driver and the tour guides for their local operation really made me the star. Unlike other photography tours where the guides try to get the photograph sometimes before you, Dee always put me first. It was hard for me to let her give me that. She genuinely wanted me to be happy with my photographs and was guiding and rooting me on the whole time and because of that I really advanced in my skills. I have no doubt every trip with this company will be the same, and I've already signed up for another!”
— Molly Holm
Day 1 - september 14
Upon arrival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where you will have a personalised meet and greet service, and your handler will transfer you to the check in counter in the Domestic Terminal for your connecting flight to Cuiabá (this is needed due to the large airport and the lack of English signs and language spoken). Once your scheduled flight arrives in Cuiabá, your Driver will meet you in the Arrivals Hall and will transfer you to your Hotel for check in, where you will meet the rest of the group and your Tour Leaders. The evening will be at leisure.
Day 2 - september 15
Early morning start to the day at 5am, where your Driver will collect you from the Hotel to start your journey to Chapada Dos Guimarães National Parkto photograph the beautiful macaws and other species. After a full day excursion, you will return to the Hotel for the evening.
DAY 3 - september 16
Early breakfast and check-out. We drive to the Pantanal, with plenty of photo- opportunities along the road, as we cover the Transpantaneira road to reach Porto.
Check-in at our lodge, situated at the riverbanks of the Cuiabá river.
Daily itinerary
Lunch and break.
In the afternoon, we go on our first boat safari, searching for Jaguars and other wildlife along the riverbanks.
Day 4-8 - September 17-21
Five full days devoted to boat safaris on the Cuiabá river and its tributaries, in order to maximize our chances to watch and photograph Jaguars, Giant Otters and other wildlife in the Meeting of the Waters State Park.
Our outings are in the morning and afternoon, cruising the rivers in search of Jaguars which often come to the banks in search of food, water, or just to cool off.
Day 9 - September 22
Departure after breakfast to the Transpantaneira, a dirt road that transects the Northern Pantanal. We will stop to photograph all kinds of wildlife on our way, and arrive at the Hotel before lunch time.
Check-in and lunch.
After a break we go on a forest walk in search for dry-land mammals and birds. At night, we go out on a night safari in search of nocturnal wildlife such as Ocelot, Puma, Giant Anteater, Tamandua, Potoos, and Owls. Dinner and Overnight.
Day 10 - september 23
We have a full morning to explore the many photo - opportunities at this place. It may be the Hyacinth Macaws, Toucans or Aracaris , and small mammals just by the lodge. We will also spend time photographing the hundreds of caimans on the small lakes, and Jabirus in their nest along the lodge’s 7km private road.
After lunch we take our safari vehicle to discover remote areas of this vast ranch, which stands as the best place to photograph Tapirs & Anteaters in the Northern Pantanal, and often offers close species such as Redbrocket and Marsh Deer, Coati and Tayra.
After dinner we will go on a night safari in search of mammals and other nocturnal wildlife such as the Great Horned Owl, Nightjar & Pottoos
day 11 - September 24
Breakfast, check-out. Transfer to Cuiabá International Airport, approx. 2hrs
location & accommodations
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![Map showing location of tour in Brazil's Pantanal region]()
the pantanal
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Hotel Gran Odara
Cuiabá, Brazil
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Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte
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Piuval Lodge
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Tour Leader: Dee Webb
Dee Webb is a passionate photography guide and adventurer with a deep love for nature and a commitment to protecting our planet for future generations. Originally from the wild and beautiful landscapes of Australia, Dee has spent her life exploring some of the world’s most stunning ecosystems, from growing up in Australia's outback to her current life split between the biodiverse rainforests of Costa Rica and beautiful and pristine Rocky Mountains.
With an adventurous spirit and an insatiable curiosity, Dee has turned her love of travel into a career that blends her artistic vision with her dedication to conservation. Her photography captures the beauty and fragility of the natural world, inspiring others to connect with nature and understand its importance.
Dee’s tours are more than just photography workshops—they’re immersive experiences that celebrate the wonder of wildlife and the joy of exploration. Whether trekking through rainforests, hiking mountain trails, or kayaking serene waters, Dee’s approach combines adventure with a deep respect for the environment.
Her philosophy is simple: Living my best life camera in hand. For Dee, every journey is an opportunity to learn, grow, and inspire others to cherish and protect our planet.
Join Dee on an unforgettable adventure where photography meets purpose, and let her help you capture the beauty of the world while creating memories that last a lifetime.