Pantanal & Bonito Budget Tour (SC) – 06 nights / 07 days
PRESENTATION

Day 1

Transfer from Campo Grande to Pantanal – Traveling day.
Assistance at the airport / bus station in Campo Grande. Transfer by regular transfer bus/van to Buraco das Piranhas (police station where the bus stop) or by private transfer directly to the Pousada. If you choose the regular transfer, the Santa Clara’s car will be waiting for you at Buraco das Piranhas and will bring you to the Farm. The local transfer to the Farm is done in open car and you already have the opportunity to spot some wildlife on the Pantanal Park Road. Arrival in Santa Clara and check-in. Rest of the day free, you can walk around and visit the camping to spot the Abobral River.

In this farm you can choose where to sleep: Camping (hammocks/tends) or shared dormitory with AC, WC or Private room with AC, WC. (D)

Day 2

Pantanal day tour with local guide
After breakfast Boat Trip – on this activity you will spend about 2 – 3 hours riding on motor boats equipped with life jacket and comfortable swivel seats. The boat trip is done in the Abobral River and you have chance to see and learn about the local flora and fauna. It tour is recommended for people of all ages. Lunch on the Pousada and rest.
After lunch you will go to Piranha Fishing – on this activity you will spend about 2 – 3 hours and you have the opportunity to get very close of the feared piranhas of the Pantanal. It tour is done in lakes, bays and rivers using simple fishing rods.

Overnight in Camping (hammocks/tends) or shared dormitory with AC, WC or Private room with AC, WC. (B, L, D)

Day 3

Pantanal day tour with local guide
After Breakfast Horseback Ride on typical pantaneiro horses (from Pantanal). It is a 2 – 3 hours tour through diverse habitats such as grasslands and higher areas with dense wood vegetation that serve as refuge to animals and birds during the wet season. You may see marsh deer, feral pigs, blue macaws, toucans and many other bird species. Lunch and rest.
After lunch you will go to a Photografic Safari – It tour happens on the Pantanal Park Road where you ride for about 1h30min looking for the animals. The jeep 4×4 makes a stop and you go for a Nature Trekking – on this activity you will spend about 1h30min walking through diverse habitats such as grasslands and higher areas with dense wood vegetation that serve as refuge to animals and birds during the wet season. The walk finishes at the jeep. On the way back to the Farm the guide will use a big spotlight to look for nocturnal animals and birds. During all tour you have chance to spot marsh deers, toucans, capybaras, armadillo and other animal species.

Overnight Camping (hammocks/tends) or shared dormitory with AC, WC or Private room with AC, WC. (B, L, D)

Day 4

Transfer from Pantanal to Bonito with local driver
After Breakfast Nature Trekking – on this activity you will spend about 2 hours walking through diverse habitats such as grasslands and higher areas with dense wood vegetation that serve as refuge to animals and birds during the wet season. When the Pantanal is flooded you walk in wet places turning an unforgettable tour. In the morning you have time to pack you staff.
After lunch transfer by jeep from Santa Clara Farm to Buraco das Piranhas where you’ll take the Regular Transfer bus/van to Bonito. If you use a private transfer, the car will pick you up directly in the pousada and bring you to Bonito. Check-in on the chosen Pousada. In Bonito you can chose between several accommodation options.

Overnight in dormitory or 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 dormitory or 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 dormitory or 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)