PANTANAL...
World's Biggest Ecological Sanctuary
Welcome to Pantanal!...
Storks at Dusk - © Embratur
Even though not as widely known and visited as the Amazon jungle, Pantanal wetlands has the biggest concentration of fauna in the New World.
It's the world's biggest ecological sanctuary and home to the richest ecosystem ever found to date.
With an incredible size, it embraces millions of ha in central-western Brazil, eastern Paraguay and eastern Bolivia.
About 80% of it lies in Brazil, covering the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.
It's name comes from the Spanish and Portuguese word: "Pantano", that means swamp of marsh.
It's actually not a swamp, but a floodplain.
Basically is a huge lowland that becomes flooded during rainy season - around 1,600 mm (64 inches) of rain annually.
Every year, 2/3 of this area gets inundated.
It has two major river systems: The Cuiabá and the Paraguay rivers.
Pantanal's vegetation is a mixture of the most important ecosystems in South America: the Chaco dry forest, the savanna-like to the east and the Amazon jungle to the north, with an estimated size of around 140,00 sq. km (54,000 sq. miles).
It's a paradise for eco tourists, bird watchers and nature oriented travelers in general.
Since the Down of time it's been the convergence point for millions of birds.
It has 650 species of birds - more than Europe.
The breeding ground for ibis, heron, stork and pink spoonbill.
The Jururu stork is considered to be the symbol of this magic land.
Here you will find the largest South American parrot: The Hyacinth macaw - more than one meter long, and another 15 species of parrots.
Thousands of butterflies.
Home to the Capuchin and howler monkeys. Caimans, anacondas, tapirs, capybaras - the world's largest rodent (up to 70 kg), as well as pecary, jaguar, marsh deer, giant armadillo, etc.
Pantanal will give you the opportunity to do some...
- bird watching
- photographic safaris
- canoeing
- hiking
- horseback riding
- fishing. Using only fish lines with hooks. The maximum catch is 30 kg. per person
Dry season (April to September) is the best time of the year to visit.
Don't forget to bring with you...
- binoculars
- insect repelent
- hat
- sun glasses
- sun blocker
- long trousers
- small back-pack
- hiking shoes
Pantanal Wetlands - © Embratur
Cattle grazing is the main economical activity in region.
About 98% of it is privately owned.
An estimated 10 million head of cattle and water buffalo graze here.
There are basically two public areas...
- Pantanal National Park (135,000 ha.)
- Transpantaneira Park Road, a dirt road of for about 145 km
Transpantaneira runs from south of Pocone and expires on the northern shore of Cuiaba river.
Would you like to see the Pantaneiros (Brazilian cowboys) in action?
A National Geographic Podcast, for you to enjoy...
Pantanal it's been listed by UNESCO in the World Heritage List in 2000.
And definitely..... another unique South America travel experience...
How To Get There:
You can reach it from the north, via Cuiabá (capital of the State of Mato Grosso) or from the south, via Campo Grande (capital of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul).
Either way, you have regular flights to Corumbá, the gateway city.
Distance from Cuiabá to Brasilia: 1,133 km.
From São Paulo: 1,616 km.
From Rio de Janeiro: 2,017 km.
Where To Stay:
There are a number of fazendas (ranches) that provide food and accommodation.
Among others...
- Pousada das Araras: (132 km south of Cuiabá via Transpantaneira road)
- Fazenda Hotel Beira: Rio (70 km from the entrance)
- Pousada O Pantaneira: (110 km from the entrance)v
- Pousada Caiman: (236 km of Campo Grande)
- Pousada Arara Azul: (92 km from the entrance)
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