From Wikitravel

The Pantanal is a region in South America lying mostly in Western Brazil but extending into Bolivia as well. It is considered one of the world's largest and most diverse freshwater wetland ecosystems. The Pantanal is also one of Brazil's major tourist draws, for its wildlife. Some of the large cattle farms offer accommodations and organized tours.

[edit] Destinations

The Pantanal is accessible through two major gateways: Campo Grande in the south and Cuiabá (MT) in the North. Both offer many options. From Campo Grande you can access Bonitoand from Cuiabá Chapada dos Guimarães. The southern Pantanal is stonger influenced by the Chaco and the Atlantic Rainforest fauna and flora and the northern part of the Pantanal by Amazonia. But this doesn't make one area better than the other. If you look for budget lodging and tours then choose the northern Pantanal, the southern is in average more expensive but most operations offer higher standards and are less touristy. From both extremities you can drive on a road called Transpantaneira (north, Cuiabá) and estrada Parque (south from Campo Grande). The road offers some good wildlife viewing and has budget lodging along it. But try to avoid weekends, holidays etc.

Lodges on "fazendas" are the best way to experience the real Pantanal. Several of the traditional cattle stations, called fazendas, nowadays accommodate guests in their lodges and show them what makes the Pantanal a special place. Many of these lodges take only a few guests, making your stay a unforgetable experience. Be aware of lodges that call themselves "fazendas" but are nothing more than just tourism operations, thus lacking the authenticity. Good options on traditional and big ranches are Caiman Lodge, a luxurious and beautiful resort and Fazenda Barranco Alto, a small and personal lodge on the banks of the most pristine of all rivers, the Rio Negro and sourrounded by a myriad of fresh and salty lakes.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

There are daily flights from other Brazilian cities such as Campo Grande and Cuiabá to the gateway city of Corumbá, from where tours can be organised. It is not possible to get into Pantanal from Bolivian side - from city of Puerto Suarez and Puerto Qujarro there are no organised visits due to nature protection politics or incapability of infrastructure.

[edit] Get around

From Campo Grande you can catch a bus to go into the Pantanal. Depending on where you plan to go it may take between 4 to 5 hours to get into the Pantanal. In the bus station in Campo Grande catch the bus to Corumba. Depending where you wish to stay or booked your tour you may get of beforehand. A good place to get of is Buraco das Piranhas.

[edit][add listing] See

You can expect to see a huge variety of birds and mammals such as the giant anteater, giant river otter, capybara, caiman, capuchin monkey, anaconda, howler monkey, hyacinth macaw, army ants and piranhas.

If you are especially lucky, perhaps even a tapir or jaguar.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Photographic safaris
• Fishing
• Birdwatching see A Pantanal Bird list and pictures

Pantanal is certainly one area of the world where there are a lot of birds. From small and delicate hummingbirds to large ones as the jabiru. Several types of macaws, parrots, parakeets and other are easily spotted.

• Horseback riding
• Hiking
• Other tours - There is nothing ecological to The Pantanal Ecological Expedition, but it's one of the budget tours to the Pantanal. The way it is sold at the Campo Grand youth hostel can be annoying, to say the least, but it is still not a bad deal. For R$110 you camp three days in the Pantanal and activities include hiking and animal spotting, horseback riding and piranha fishing.

Pantanal Discovery/GILSTOUR offers 3 day/2 nights tours with experienced guides. The cost is 400 reais, including transportation into the Pantanal (to get out is not included). They will be able to send you right into the Pantanal when you arrive.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Fish. Lots of.

www.pantanaltrekking.com

info@pantanaltrekking.com

[edit][add listing] Drink

It may be hot, so do bring enough water. Further, in some accommodation you may not find fresh water from the tap.

[edit] Stay safe

For travel to the Pantanal. you are advised to get vaccinations against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio.

YELLOW FEVER: Vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory for all travellers visiting Mato Grosso, the region where the Pantanal is. Please note that yellow fever vaccinations take approx 10 days to become effective.

MALARIA: Malaria is a high risk in this area so you should take anti-malarial tablets and precautions against mosquitoes incl. wearing long trousers and long sleeves during the day, using a mosquito net at night and regularly applying a mosquito repellent with a high concentration of DEET (above 30%).

DENGUE FEVER: There’s also a high risk of Dengue Fever. In 2007, there has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region. According to postings on ProMED, approximately 247,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported so far this year, a significant increase over the same period last year. More than 68,000 cases have been reported from Mato Grosso do Sul (located in the southwest of the country along the border with Paraguay). There is no vaccine to prevent dengue fever, which has severe flu-like symptoms and can sometimes be fatal (Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever).

In March 2007 health authorities in Brazil declared a health alert in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (which includes the Pantanal), where the highest concentration of the disease has been reported, other states are also affected. Fatalities from DHF have been confirmed.

OTHER: Rotavirus is also common all over Brazil. The symptoms are severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. It can also lead to dehydration and shock if not treated. This virus is highly contagious and usually spread through contact with an infected person but can also be spread through the air. If you suspect you may have contracted the disease, seek medical advice.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Other infectious diseases prevalent in Brazil include trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (on the increase). There are epidemics of meningococcal meningitis in and around the Rio area. Air pollution, especially in São Paulo, may aggravate chest complaints. Rabies is present.

FOOD & DRINK: Water should not be drunk unless boiled or sterilised first. Even filtered water in more remote areas should be avoided and bottled water should be drunk instead. Pasteurised milk and cheese is available in towns and is generally considered safe to consume. Milk outside of urban areas is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.