Pantaneiro Ride in the Pantanal

The Pantanal, the largest swampland area in both North and South America, unique in the world, is a perfect area for those who like to ride a horse and get to know its rich variety of flora and fauna. The area has a diversity of ecosystems where it is possible to see fauna like capybaras, caimans, anteaters, armadillos, monkeys and lots of birds.

Over a period of more than 200 years of farming and cattle ranching, the Pantanal’s biodiversity and landscape are basically the same as they were in their ancestor’s time.

This ride is and excellent introduction to the immense flood plains of the Pantanal and its inhabitants - a proud and very hospitable people. The ride explores the beautiful surrounding of two distinct historic ranches - Fazenda Sao Jose and Pousada Pequi.  Riding through its open fields, marshes, caápões, ridges, streams and bays, we encounter a rich variety of lush flora and fauna, typical of a region well preserved. There are several tracks with shorter or longer routes, which can be made during the floods and dry seasons, always with experienced local guides. During a morning or afternoon, you can accompany the cowboys in their work routine with the cattle. Move cattle to other parts of the farm (cattle drive), take care of the calves or see the cowboys working at the corral. It is also a good opportunity to learn a little bit more about the culture and habits of the people from Pantanal. Night safaris and boat tours round up the Pantanal experience.

The ranches are located in a rich area formed by typical wetland vegetation and open pastures with patches of stunted vegetation (cerrado), lakes, lowlands, pond outlets and the Aquidauana River with its exuberant gallery forest. In these uncommon Pantanal habitats, there is a rich flora and exuberant fauna which delights everyone. Those who have the opportunity to visit this hidden tropical paradise in the heart of South America and to experience even for a little while, its wildlife and lush vegetation as well as to get to know the people, will see the world with different eyes.

Day 1: Arrival

After the long journey, arrival at the fazenda located in the Rio Negro region, the most preserved region of the Pantanal, with abundance of wildlife and nature. 

In the afternoon, you'll have a brief presentation of the Program before leaving for a boat tour on the Rio Negro/Black River. An idyllic setting that serves as an introduction to the Pantanal, you'll get your first opportunity to see Pantanal fauna (fishes piraputanga, golden, painted, pacu, piranha and stingray ; also capybara, caiman, giant otter, otter and many birds, more than 360 are cataloged in this region.)

Day 2:

After breakfast, you'll go to the corral where the presentation of the troops will be following the tradition of Pantanal, organizing the horses "online". You'll start the ride by fields, savannas, forests, mountain ranges, bays and salt marshes that serve as the backdrop for bird and wildlife watching. Typical lunch in the field as is done in the cattle drives.

 ~5 hours ride

Day 3:

We leave early to ride until we reach Capao farm, where before lunch, we will visit an authentic school of Pantanal, Rio Negro School. After a good rest under the trees, we start our journey on horseback along the banks of Vazante Castelo, whose landscape changes as we leave the Rio Negro region. We will ride about 3 hours to reach our Fly Camp Refuge Primavera, which as the name implies, is a true refuge in the middle of the Pantanal.                                        

This night, you will have a unique experience sleeping in a hammock with lighting lanterns in the middle of Pantanal. The Refuge has a comfortable infrastructure: hall with screens to protect against insects, bathrooms and a kitchen. It is very nice to sleep on hammocks,  for those who don’t like it, we can provide a mattress instead of hammock (need to be informed when book the ride)

 ~5 hours ride

Day 4:

You will wake up with the sounds of the birds in the trees around the Refuge. This morning you will ride to explore the surrounding area and return for a lunch in the Refuge.

After a snack in you hammock, you will walk a few meters to the big water Baia in front and have the experience of fishing Pirana. At night you will taste the Pirana soup ( that you fished)

 ~3 hours ride

Day 5:

After an early breakfast, depart for BP Farm. We will ride along the beautiful landscape of Vazante Castelo, where we will enjoy the lush Pantanal flora and fauna with incredible and untouched scenery. We will ride through an open landscape, surrounded by native forest (cerrado), along the shores of Vazante. This is a great opportunity for bird and wildlife watching.

We'll pause for a tereré (a drink typical in the mid-West of Brazil, made with yerba-mate and cold water) at Retiro Sao Luis, where the support vehicle will be waiting. A few more hours of riding up to the place where we will stop for a picnic lunch in the field. After a rest, we will continue riding along the Vazante Castelo, until the BP Farm, where we will spend the next few days.

 ~6 hours ride

Day 6:

After breakfast, we will leave on horseback until the pasture where herds of Pantaneiro horses are bred. We will have the opportunity to observe the behavior of the stallion in contact with our horses when they approach his "family". We return to the Farm for lunch and after a good rest in the afternoon we will drive to the Bay for the experience of piranha fishing.   

 ~5 hours ride

Day 7:

We will have an early departure after breakfast to enjoy the sunrise while we ride. On this last day, we will attend an authentic culture of the Pantanal, following the Pantaneiro cowboys on their work with cattle.

 ~5 hours ride

Day 8:

Depending on the weather, you still will be able to do some activity in the morning before return to Campo Grande