Pantanal & Bonito Eco Trip (PA) – 06 nights / 07 days
PRESENTATION

Day 1

Private transfer from Campo Grande to Pantanal with local driver
Assistance at the airport of Campo Grande and private transfer to the Pousada Aguapé located in Pantanal of Aquidauana. The trip from Campo Grande to the Rach/Pousada are almost 200km, it takes 03 up to 04 hours (depend of the conditions of the dirt road) and the transfer is with a private car with local driver. Depending what time, you arrive in Pantanal, will be possible to do a tour in the afternoon, that can be for example, Piranha Fishing on lakes or Aquidauana River that is located few meters from the Pousada. The activity´s schedule will be organized on the ranch with your local guide.
Overnight in private room. (D)

Day 2

Pantanal day tour with English speaking guide
Right after the breakfast you go for an activity that can be for example a Boat Trip. Boats are the best way to know the Aquidauana River and the beauty and exuberance of its gallery forest. It is the natural habitat of birds, mammals and reptiles that lie out on river banks or simply hear the songs of the birds. This tour takes 02 up to 03 hours, and it is necessary to use a life jacket (provided by the lodge). During the tour the local guide turn off the engine and the boat down the stream with the river current, it´s nice to enjoy the silence and the nature songs. All the boats are legalized and have insurance.
In the middle of the day (when it is warmer) you have a free and time to rest. After lunch you go for a Trekking – it tour is done in dense bush, open fields and gallery forest. It’s in this tour that you will have a better contact with the flora and fauna of the region learning about their function and importance in Pantanal ecosystem. It is a good opportunity to see the animals more closely. There are different routes that you can go on that and it takes between 1h30 to 04h00 hours. You can decide with your local guide how long would like to walk.
Dinner and overnight in private room. (B, L, D)

Day 3

Pantanal day tour with English speaking guide
After breakfast you have the option of go for a Horseback Ride on the Pantanal´s field and see a little bit how it´s rune the cattle farming in Pantanal. Riding through its open fields, marshes, capões, ridges, streams and bays, you encounter a rich variety of lush flora and fauna, typical of a region well preserved. The horses are quiet, which means that even those who have never ridden a horse can do this tour. There are several tracks with shorter or longer routes (you decide with the local guide which one is better for you), which can be made in both the floods and dry seasons, always with experienced local guides.
In the middle of the day (when it is warmer) you have a free and time to rest. After lunch you go for another activity that can be a Jeep Photo Safari – The photo safari is done in a 4×4 open vehicle. This tour gives the opportunity to cover more territory of the farm going through different landscapes like cerrado (patches of stunted vegetation), open grasslands, “vazantes” (low-lying areas that are often seasonally flooded), “brejos” (swamps) and bays which are permanently flooded areas. It is also a perfect tour to see and observe the wildlife of the Pantanal. During the trip some stops happen and small wlks can be done. The returning to the ranch happens at night and you will do a nocturnal tour using a strong flashlight to observe the night animals like anteaters, foxes, capybaras and caimans. You also will hear the sounds of frogs and insects at night and see the beautiful sky of the Pantanal.
Dinner and overnight in private room. (B, L, D).

Day 4

Private transfer from Pantanal to Bonito
After breakfast you can do a Piranha Fishing – The piranha fishing is made in a bay of Aquidauana River, that it is located near the lodge. The piranha is mainly used to prepare a typical dish of the region, piranha soup. It is also good way to see the caimans who watch the fishers to steal their piranhas.
After lunch private transfer with local driver from Pantanal to Bonito. Check-in on the chosen Pousada/Hotel. Depending what time you arrive it is possible include an extra eco tour in Bonito.
Overnight in private room. (B,L)

Day 5

Bonito day tour with private transfer to the activities
After breakfast the driver will pick you up in your accommodation and bring you to visit to the Blue Lake Cave (Gruta do Lago Azul) – Considered the postcard of Bonito city, the Blue Lake Cave was discovered in 1924. Inside the cave there is a lake of crystalline waters. The light reflecting on the water gives a bluish tone to the lake. The contemplative and historical tour starts with a walk for about 300m until the entrance of the cave, which is stuck in the middle of the forest. From the entrance to the lakefront, we have a rustic steps trail about 100m down. During the way down, there are stopping points for observation of the geological formation of the cave (several types of speleothems) and specially to watch the beautiful blue lake. The reception place offers bar and restaurant, restrooms and a gift shop. Obligatory use tennis shoes. Duration: 1h20min.
After visit the cave your driver will bring you to the Estância Mimosa Water Falls where you will have lunch. The tour begins with a walk by a trail for about 3500m by the gallery forest of Mimoso River among trees and wild animals. There are seven stops for swimming in natural pools with waterfalls and a part of the route is taken in rowboats. Several lookouts with panoramic views of Bodoquena Hills makes Estância Mimosa one of the most fascinating tours of the region. The farm main house, which serves a delicious lunch, maintains its original characteristics from before the tourism starts. Lunch and snack after the tour are included. The reception desk has a bar and restaurant, restrooms, hammocks and a gift shop. Distance: 24 km. Duration: half a day. After the tour your driver will bring you to your accommodation.
Overnight in private room. (B,L).

Day 6

Bonito day tour with private transfer to the activities
After breakfast the driver will pick you up in your accommodation and bring you to Silver River Snorkeling Tour (Flutuação no Rio da Prata) – To get to the headspring of Olho D`água river, where the tours begin, you take an open car to the PRNP – Private Natural Heritage Reserve. The journey starts with a pleasant walk through the riparian of Prata River, through an interpretive trail, where you will see numerous trees, orchids and bromeliads and several species of mammals, as well as observe the different species of birds that live in the place. Upon reaching the springhead – a huge natural pool of crystal clear water – there is a training that aims to adapt the mask and snorkel to perform the activity. While floating, you will get an underwater world, inhabited by dozens of species of fish and aquatic plants. Shoals of piraputangas, golden curimbatas, piaus, matogrossinhos and other fish of the Pantanal are some of the companions during the way down the river. There is an about 2 km ride to the meeting of Olho D`Água River and Prata River. There you have the chance to choose between snorkeling or taking a place in an electric-motor small boat. The tour lasts about 4 hours. When returning to the farmhouse, a delicious lunch typically from the south of Mato Grosso will be waiting for you. The flotation equipment (wetsuit, neoprene boot, life vest, mask and snorkel) is included in the tour.Duration: full day.
After have lunch and rest a little bit your driver will bring you to Macaws Sinkhole (Buraco das Araras) – In the savanna there is a huge crater in sandstone called doline (depression formed by collapse) which fits 124 meters deep and 160 meters in diameter. During the tour, you will walk through a trail around the hole and stop at two lookouts that give you a panoramic view of the inside hole. In its back, there is a lake and some reptiles. Several bird’s species live over there. The “Red Macaws” adopted it as their natural habitat and make their nest in the sandstone walls holes. The tour is a good option for before or after the snorkeling tour at Rio da Prata once they are close to each other. The reception place has a bar and a gift shop, bathrooms and a lounge. Duration: 1 hour. After the tour your driver will bring you to your accommodation.
Overnight in private room. (B,L).

Day 7

Private transfer from Bonito to Campo Grande
Breakfast. Depending of your departure time, it´s possible to do one extra activity on the last morning. Check-out until midday and transfer from Bonito to Campo Grande in Private Car with local driver. (B)