The Pantanal affords the richest wildlife viewing in the Americas. Here are several great ways to enjoy this spectacle.

1999 REFUGIO ECOLOGICO CAIMAN - PANTANAL

Refugio Ecologico Caiman 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.

PROGRAMS/PACKAGES

The four lodges are offered in packages and programs as follows :

PRICE: Adult per day = US$250 in single, $200 double (transfers are additional) Child up to 12 years sharing the same room with parents is entitled to a 40% discount on the rates (= $120) . Two children up to 12 years in separate room from parents are entitled to 25% discount on the rates (= $150)
Prices above are subject to sudden changes without notice.

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.

Land Transfer: Distance from Campo Grande airport to Caiman Ranch - 236 km / 147 miles. Length of trip - 3.5 hours average
Departures : TUESDAYS / THURSDAYS / FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS
Time Schedule : Campo Grande airport to Caiman Ranch - must meet our receptive staff at the airport at 11:00 am for 12:00 departure. Estimated time of arrival on the ranch - 15:30h
Caiman Ranch to Campo Grande Airport - depart at 06:00. Estimated time of arrival at the airport -09:30h
RATES : per person roundtrip - US$ 70.00

Alternate Times:
Campo Grande airport to Caiman Ranch - meet our receptive staff at the airport at 15:00h for 16:45h departure. Estimated time of arrival on the ranch - 20:15h
1ST OPTION Caiman Ranch to airport - depart at 08:00h. Estimated time of arrival at the airport - ll:30h
2ND OPTION - depart at 12:00h Estimated time of arrival at the airport - 15:30h
RATES : per person roundtrip - $100

Seasons and packing reccommendations:
RAINY SEASON (Nov. through Mar.)
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.)
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: Year average : 25 C. During the winter the temperature can drop to 40 C, and during the summer reach to 40 C.

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PANTANAL/ WETLANDS

The Pantanal (swampland and shallows, actually a vast alluvial plain) is a vast wetlands in the center of South America with around 130,000 sq. kilometers (50,000 sq. miles) in Brazil. A perfect ecological niche for a great number of birds, reptiles and other animals to the delight of wildlife watchers and photographers. Transpantaneira, a raised dirt road crossing more than 100 small wooden bridges which ends 147 Km (90 miles) from Pocone at Porto Jofre, penetrates deep into the Pantanal ecosystem.

The ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE (Standard Category) is located on the Transpantaneira dirt road, 132 Km (82 miles) from Cuiaba. (Cuiaba-Pocone: 100 km (62 miles), paved road + Pocone-Araras Ranch ECO Lodge: 32 Km (20 miles), dirt road). It has a total of 14 standard rooms & bathrooms (6 twin + 4 triple + 4 quadruple rooms),air conditioning and ceiling fan. Swimming pool. Bar & Restaurant. Electricity power line. Radio-telephone. Typical birds you can see while touring from the lodge include Bare-faced curassow, buff-necked ibis, ducks, egrets, falcons, great blue heron, rhea, hawks, horned screamer, jabiru, large-billed & lesser seed-finch, macaws, parakeets, parrots, pintails, red-winged tinamou, wood storks. Wildlife spotting varies according to season and fauna migration.

ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE - 3 DAY/ 2 NIGHT PROGRAM -
PRIVATE, with daily departures

Day 1- Arrival at Cuiaba -Varzea Grande airport or pick up at hotel and transfer to Pantanal lowlands. Lunch at a local restaurant in Pocone. While crossing the area, it is possible to spot and appreciate the local flora & fauna. Sunset observation hike on the surrounding area. After dinner, night tour to observe nocturnal environment. Overnight at ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE. ( L , D)

Day 2- Full day to observe Pantanal flora & fauna at Araras Ranch private reserve. After breakfast, guide will lead you by car, hike or canoe, through this particular ecosystem, allowing you to learn and understand the local environment. Overnight at ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE. (B, L, D)

Day 3- Early morning horseback rides at "Ronco do Bugio" reserve. After lunch, departure to Cuiaba. Time for last pictures on your photo-safari transfer along Transpantaneira dirt road. (B, L )

PRICE: Jan. 1 - June 30 and all of Dec. = US$621 each for double , $523 each for triple, $757 for 1. From June 30 - Dec. 1 = $685 each for double, $580 each for triple, $834 for single.

ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE - 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS PROGRAM
Regular departure. S.I.B., Wednesday to Saturday OR Saturday to Tuesday

. Day 1- Arrival at Cuiaba- Varzea Grande airport or pick up at hotel and transfer to Pantanal lowlands. Depart Cuiaba at 1pm, arrive at ranch about 4pm. While crossing the area, it is possible to spot and appreciate the local flora & fauna. Sunset observation hike on the surrounding area. After dinner, night tour to observe nocturnal environment. Overnight at ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE. ( D)

Day 2- Full day to observe Pantanal flora & fauna at ARARAS RANCH private reserve. After breakfast, guide will lead you by car, hike and horseback ride, through this particular ecosystem, allowing you to learn and understand the local environment. Overnight at ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE. (B, L, D)

Day 3- Discovery trip on the Pantanal raised dirt roads, including the Transpantaneira. Canoe tour to spot aquatic wildlife, birds and flora; possibility to arrange piranha fishing. Pic-nic lunch en route. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 4- After breakfast, depart at 7:30am for photo-safari along Transpantaneira dirt road and return to Cuiaba, arriving about 11am. Drop off at airport or city hotel. (B)

Price: Jan. 1 - June 30 and all Dec. = $530 per person double, $487 triple, $692 single. From June 30 - Dec. 1 = $585 each for double, $536 each for triple $762 for single

ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE - 5 DAYS/ 4 NIGHTS PROGRAM
Regular departure Tuesday to Saturday OR Saturday to Wednesday.

This adds the Guimaraes Tableland to the program. This is the source of all the main rivers and waters that run into the Pantanal. It's waterfalls, creeks, rock formations covered with Cerrado (savannah) vegetation and exotic wildlife add unbeatable beauty to this national park.

Day 1- Arrival at Cuiaba-Varzea Grande airport or pick up at hotel and transfer to Pantanal lowlands. Depart Cuiaba about 1pm, arrive at ranch about 4pm. While crossing the area, it is possible to spot and appreciate the local flora & fauna. Sunset observation hike on the surrounding area. After dinner, night tour to observe nocturnal environment. Overnight at ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE. ( D)

Day 2- Full day to observe Pantanal flora & fauna at Araras Ranch private reserve. After breakfast, guide will lead you by car, hike or horseback ride, through this particular ecosystem, allowing you to learn and understand the local environment. Overnight at ARARAS RANCH ECO LODGE. (B, L, D)

Day 3- Discovery trip on the Pantanal raised dirt roads, including the Transpantaneira. Canoe tour to spot aquatic wildlife, birds and flora; possibility to arrange piranha fishing. Pic-nic lunch en route. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 4- After breakfast, departure to Guimaraes Tablelands. Visit of main sites: Portao do Inferno, Veu da Noiva waterfall, Salgadeiras. Lunch will be served at Cachoeirinha's Restaurant, located in front of a nice waterfall. Dinner and overnight at regional inn. (B, L, D )

Note: Tuesdays departures will have 1st overnight at Chapada dos Guimaraes, while Saturday departures will have last overnight there.

Price: Jan. 1 - June 30 and all Dec. per person double = $705, triple = $640, single = $925. From June 30- Dec. 1 = $784 per person double, $714 triple and $1023 single

All tours include: photo safari transfers, accommodations, all meals mentioned , all above mentioned activities, Guide.
Not included: Air tickets to/from Cuiaba. Beverages. Medical expenses and hospitalization. Any type of insurance.
What to Bring: T-shirts, long sleeved shirt, tennis shoe or hiking boots, hat, jeans or track suit, mosquito repellent.
Luggage: must be limited to 1 small bag per person. Storage space available in Cuiaba office.

For groups of 6-12 we also offer a 7 day Pantanal adventure program that includes camping, long hikes, kayaking and horseback riding and a 5 day program that includes horseback riding and camping. Details available.