Pantanal - Land of the Jaguar

Customer Reviews

• Alec

  · December 12th, 2011
  A really great holiday with some truly "world class" highlights, but the proportion of time spent travelling was too large. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Iguacu was incredible, definitely one of the 7 wonders of the natural world. Snorkelling in the river in Bonito was like swimming in your own giant aquarium, and the sight of macaws, toucans, giant storks and various other exotic birds in the Pantanal was totally unique in my experience. Rio, of course, has a number of iconic attractions such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the beaches, but what I  remember most clearly from Rio is the insignia badge on the side of the vehicles of the Police Elite Squad given the task of clearing the drug gangs from the favellas (slums). As our guide told us, "when they go in, they don't come out with prisoners". Their insignia? A skull with a dagger driven through it, backed by crossed rifles/sub machine guns. The Met Police they are not.    What did you think of your group leader? Eze was a delightful leader and made a huge contribution to the success of the trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be aware that you will be spending a lot of time travelling and won't be getting much exercise on this trip. There is no need to take all your money in dollars, there are plenty of ATMs available, except for the Pantanal, when you don't need any money anyway. 
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• Louise

  · March 21st, 2011
  Carnival was amazing, have difficulty finding words to describe it and the atmosphere in Rio! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The samba parades were mind-blowing! The sheer scale of the schools and attention to detail was astounding!! Everyone should do this one in their life! I think I may make it an annual pilgrimage! What did you think of your group leader? Alejandro was so friendly and approachable and was always willing to help , very professional Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go to rio carnival!!!
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• Karen

  · December 26th, 2010
  Excellent itinerary.  Saw everything I wanted to and sooo much more.  Went wanting to see Iguazu and Christ the Redeemer in Rio.  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It will have to be a few:  the tango dancers in Buenos Aires; Iguazu Falls, particularly from the helicopter; seeing it from Argentina first, going in the zodiac dinghy into the curtains of water and getting soaking wet; and then seeing it in Brazil, which was even better.  All the birdlife in the Pantanal - kingfishers, more toucans than I could have wished for (love them), tiny owls, more birds than I can name but most wonderful of all, the hyacinth macaws.  Especially when four of them landed on four fenceposts in front of us after our morning horseride.  Awesome.  Swimming (floating really) down the river in Bonito, the fishes were amazing, so many and so big, wonderful; and then tons of red and green macaws where we had lunch.  Going to the blue cave and in the afternoon laughing on the waterfalls walk - you walk along a river and everytime there's a waterfall get in and swim - much screaming when the water's cold.  Paraty, a nice and relaxing day on a schooner.  And Rio.  Ipanema was cloudy and cold but somehow that didn't spoil it.  Going up Sugar Loaf and to the Christ the Redeemer statue.  And the last day walk on the (finally) sunny beach (went to the favellas in the morning but not something I'd particularly want to do again).  What did you think of your group leader? He was brilliant.  Obviously loves both countries.  Two particular things stand out (from many) in the Pantanal we did a night drive and I asked if the truck could stop and have the engine turned off so we could see the Milky Way.  Ale sorted it out and (I think) everyone loved it.  Also, in Buenos Aires, he took us on the underground - but we had to wait for an old fashioned carriage, so we could see it - it was charming.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers? On the night bus from Iguazu to the Pantanal, wear lots of layers, the air con was freezing.  Is there anything else you would like to add? If you're interested in going to Brazil, I would definitely recommend this trip.  Excellent value for money.  So much packed into this trip.  A friend and I booked on the same trip and one of the things we discussed was having the relaxing day in Paraty on the Schooner at the end of the trip, rather than the beginning.  That was definitely a good thing.  I saw everything I wanted to see and much more as well.  I can't remember it all, but lots of little things, like the clouds of butterflies on the train on the Argentinia side of the falls.  Brazil's such a massive country with a wide variety of habitats, it's impossible to "do" the whole country in two weeks but this trip packed in tons and I loved it all.
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