Getting Acquainted with "Caiman Ecological Refuge": 130,000 Acres of Wetlands and Wildlife

It’s time to immerse yourself with a newfound knowledge and understanding of how the Caiman Ecological Refuge’s work with conservation and eco-tourism helps provide an amazing balance between humans and nature. We’ll learn all about the inner-workings of the refuge and the Pantanal’s history and ecosystem, as well have the awesome opportunity to closely observe the spectacled caimans who call the wetland waters home.

This is a half-day group tour.

A 4x4 Jeep Safari Excursion through the Pantanal Wetlands

The exotic and exciting wildlife of the Pantanal wetlands awaits, as it’s time to explore on a jeep safari the mosaic of flooded grasslands, savannas, and tropical forests that make up this richly diverse and vast expanse of land! We’ll travel through open fields, lagoons and flooded areas in search of the many intriguing animals that call these wetlands home, including the royalty of the Pantanal... the jaguar!

This is a half-day group tour.

A Sunset Canoeing Expedition to Spot Wildlife around the Pantanal Lakes

It’s time for an up close and personal experience with the lush vegetation, majestic wildlife and the cacophony of nature’s sounds of world’s largest wetlands as we paddle our way through marshes and lagoons on a canoeing adventure that involves witnessing a beautiful sunset while on the waters of the Pantanal.

This is a half-day group tour.

Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience

As darkness falls upon the Pantanal wetlands and we return on our vehicle to the lodge from our afternoon tour, we’ll experience the unique orchestra of sounds of the Pantanal’s wildlife, and we’ll take this opportunity to spot the animals that wake up and become active as the coolness of the night sets in. Beneath the starry skies of these exotic wetlands, we may see owls, brocket deer, tapirs, foxes and waters filled with caimans, whose eyes glow in the dark under the moonlight.

This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour.

On the Track of the Largest Cat in the Americas: the Elusive Jaguar

They’re the largest cats in the Americas, known for their dotted-rosette shaped spots and jaws powerful enough to crack a skull or a sea turtle’s shell, and you’re about to get up close and personal with them... the elusive jaguars of the Pantanal. Caiman Refuge is the only place in Pantanal (and possible the world) where you have a significant chance of spotting a jaguar in the wild year-round. And you’ll have the awesome experience of following these majestic animals in their natural habitat as you observe their habits and behavior out in the Pantanal.

This is a full-day group tour

Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience

As we return from our afternoon tour, we’ll ride our safari-adapted vehicle in a mini-excursion to spot the night-time wildlife of the Pantanal.

This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour

Through the Lens: Pantanal Photo Safari Experience

Immerse yourself in the vibrant, lush wetlands scenery while capturing awesome shots of Pantanal wildlife with your lens as you embark on a photo safari. Get your camera ready as we cruise through open fields and flooded areas in search of the perfect picture!

This is a half-day group tour.

A Hike Through Pantanal: The World’s Largest Wetlands

The incredibly diverse and exotic wildlife of the largest wetlands in the world and a sense of adventure awaits us as we take a trek through the Pantanal in search of fascinating biodiversity, including the star of Pantanal: the majestic jaguar!

This is a half-day group tour.

Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience

As we return from our afternoon tour, we’ll ride our safari-adapted vehicle in a mini-excursion to spot the night-time wildlife of the Pantanal.

This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour.

The "Christ the redeemer" Statue, Tijuca Tropical Forest, Rio’s Historic Center and Off-the-Beaten-Path Explorations (private tour)

Get ready to marvel at the most important icon of Rio de Janeiro and one of the winners of the "New 7 Wonders of the World" worldwide competition, in which more than 100 million votes were cast: the Corcovado Mountain and its “Christ the Redeemer” statue. Our expert local guide will not only take you atop the Corcovado Mountain, where the colossal statue stands, but he’ll also help you discover the off-the beaten-path panoramic viewpoint “Dona Marta,” which most travelers do not get to see. This road less traveled offers amazing and unobstructed clear views to almost the entirety of the city (even on cloudy days when the views from the top of Corcovado Mountain are practically non-existent!).

We’ll also see the Tijuca Tropical Forest, one of the main reasons why Rio was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. We’ll later visit Rio’s historic quarters and appreciate the urban beauty that has earned Rio the honor of having been declared the first World Capital of Architecture by the United Nations and the Council of the International Union of Architects, as a recognition to the architectural treasures that show the city’s culture and history since the 16th century. Our final experience as "Cariocas" (as locals from Rio are known) will be hopping aboard a "bondinho" (a very cute local tramway) that runs from the beautifully-preserved, historic neighborhood of Santa Teresa to the hip and bohemian Lapa neighborhood. This visit will include witnessing the largest sculpture in the world made by a single man, according to National Geographic: the Selaron Tiles staircase.

This is a full day private tour.

A Cable Car Ascent to the Sugarloaf Mountain and its Astounding Panoramic Views (private tour)

Get ready to behold some of the most eye-popping panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, embarking on a ride in a cable car to the mountaintop of one of the city’s most recognized icons: Sugarloaf Mountain. This is one of the main highlights that made Rio de Janeiro the #1 destination in South America, as voted by millions of travelers on Trip Advisor in 2017. Once we reach the top of Mount Sugarloaf, we’ll feast our eyes upon a stunning 360-degree panoramic view, including Rio’s beaches, mountains, and the Tijuca forest (it’s the largest tropical forest in the world in an urban setting). Also, in a leisurely walk across the newly renovated Olympic Boulevard, we’ll see the largest graffiti on the planet, a colorful and detailed depiction of Brazilian faces. To top the day off, we’ll end this tour relaxing at Arpoador peninsula, a beach that boasts one of the best views of Rio’s beaches and coastline.

This is a half day private tour.

Discovering the Best Beaches in the World and Snorkeling in a Unique Oasis for Marine Life (private tour)

Get ready to discover some of the best beaches in the world (including a visit to Baia do Sancho, voted as the #1 beach in the world by millions of voters on Trip Advisor’s worldwide contest in 2017, 2015 and 2014), swimming among a collection of multi-colored fish and sea turtles, enjoying breathtaking views, and witnessing a picture-perfect, orange and tangerine imbued sunset, as we visit these unique natural highlights of the exclusive island of Fernando de Noronha.

Fernando de Noronha has been declared Mankind’s Natural Heritage by UNESCO, serving as a unique oasis for marine life. Because it’s an equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha has some of the most stable temperatures in the world, staying at around 79F (29C) year round.

This is a full day group tour .

Navigating the beauty of Fernando de Noronha and Discovering its Unique Marine Wildlife

Prepare to enjoy a one-of-a-kind navigation experience to discover the beauty and underwater world of some of the most gorgeous spots of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago; including the Bahia do Sancho Beach, voted as the #1 beach in the world by millions of voters on Trip Advisor for 3 years. The Fernando de Noronha archipelago is made up of 21 beautiful, pristine volcanic islands on which no human visitor is allowed to set foot, in order to protect and preserve them. We’ll have the chance to see some of them from our boat.

During this navigational experience, we’ll likely have the opportunity to witness an impromptu acrobatics show by “Spinner Dolphins.” This particular species of dolphin is quite possibly the most acrobatic in the world, and it can only be found in the waters of Fernando de Noronha and Hawaii. These cute and playful mammals sometimes put on an acrobatic display of such dexterity, that they have been known to spin up to an impressive 7 times in a single jump!

This is a half day group tour, but you’ll have a private guide speaking your language just for you.

Serenity at Sunset: a Fernando de Noronha Boat Cruise

Immerse yourself in the warm tropical breeze, the lazy lapping of waves against the boat, and an awe-inspiring vision of the sun setting over the ocean, as we experience the breathtaking and picturesque vistas of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, on a sunset boat cruise. You’ll enjoy a fish & meat barbecue on board. Also, you’ll have the option to “fly underwater” while grabbing a board towed by your boat. This is an awesome way to experience the island’s unique marine wildlife.

This is a 4-hour group tour (including transfers), but with your own private guide. The boat has a maximum capacity of 15 people.

Walking Tour with Local Community Members, and Preparing and Enjoying Lunch Together (private tour)

Visit a working-class neighborhood in Salvador to meet Brazilian homemakers of African descent, whose passion is sharing their culture and experience with their guests and teaching to cook Bahian specialties. Then you’ll enjoy together a home-made lunch (which you’ll help prepare) consisting of the signature Bahian dishes and desserts.

This is a half-day private tour and includes lunch without alcoholic beverages.

Exploring the Afro-Brazilian & Colonial Heritage of Salvador da Bahia: the Largest Slave Market Ever in the Americas (private tour)

The millions of slaves captured in Africa and brought to Brazil by the Portuguese brought with them a culture rich in music, dance, cuisine, and religion that’s still present and mainstream in Salvador da Bahia. This city was the epicenter of the largest slave market ever in the Americas, in fact, seven times more slaves were brought to Salvador alone than to the entire United States!
Get ready for a journey to Salvador’s historic center, declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and let us help you discover the singular Afro-Brazilian and Portuguese heritages of Salvador da Bahia.

In this city, steeped in Afro-Brazilian, colonial and indigenous heritages, you’ll get to admire the greatest collection of Baroque architectural heritage in Latin America, the first urban elevator in the world, as well as appreciate the sight of multicolored colonial and baroque houses and mansions that make up the city’s historic center.

This is a half-day private tour.

A Colorful and Enchanting Evening of Afro-Brazilian, Indigenous and Popular Dance and Folklore

Behold a performance by the renowned Afro-Brazilian dance company: Bale Folclorico da Bahia, which has toured in more than 180 cities worldwide and has and has gained both local and international acclaim It has obtained the “Best Dance Company in Brazil” award by Fiat Industries and “Best Performance of the Year” award by the Brazilian Ministry of Culture.

With its mesmerizing choreography and feverish rhythms, complete with gorgeously elaborated costumes, the performance features the three cultural pillars of Bahian culture: the mystical religion of Candomble, the acrobatic Capoeira (a dance and martial art), and the colorful and rhythmic Samba dance.

We’ll be treated to diverse Afro-Brazilian dances that includes flips, spins, high back kicks, fast-paced rhythms, and the boundless energy of rapid-fire footwork.

This tour includes dinner without beverages and with private transfers.

A Nighttime Canoeing Expedition in the Amazon (private tour)

It’s pitch black darkness in the Amazon Rainforest, as we’re embarked aboard a motorized canoe on an expedition to contemplate and listen to the myriad of sounds coming from the nocturnal creatures of the Amazon Rainforest. With many animals being nocturnal, the Amazon Rainforest comes alive at night, giving us the chance to experience the Amazon’s animal “orchestra” while hopefully spotting some of its nocturnal wildlife, as well as seeing the glowing eyes of a caiman swimming in the dark right beside our boat!

During our outing, we’ll be able to take in the constant and enthralling sounds of chirping and singing from the nearby birds and insects as we’re surrounded by the ambience of nighttime on the Amazon.

This is a 1 hour private tour.

Hands–on Survival Techniques and Trekking in the Thick of the Amazon Rainforest (private tour)

Get ready for a most adventurous afternoon and dinner in the thick of the Amazon rainforest! We’ll spend an entire afternoon in the jungle, hiking and learning a wealth of hands–on jungle survival techniques from a team of former members of the Brazilian Military, specialized in jungle rescue operations. Our trained professional team leaders will take us on a hiking tour and will introduce us to jungle survival techniques, such as obtaining drinking water, making fire, differentiating edible plant species, setting up traps, building a shelter, and the Amazonian “peconha” technique to gather fruit from trees.

For dinner we’ll make a genuine Amazonian chicken and fish barbecue served with sides and fruits.

At the end of the evening, you can choose to have your night’s rest either back at the lodge, or on hammocks tied between trees, with canopies to protect yourselves in case of rain. (There is an ecological bathroom on site.)

This is a private tour for people of all ages (5 and up) and it’s designed to be safe and easygoing. The total hiking distance is normally around 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) but can be adapted to as little as 1200 feet (400 meters) or even less for guests with limited mobility. The tour, in sum, is designed for almost everyone and, although it is adventurous and exciting, it is certainly not challenging.

This tour starts in the afternoon. It includes dinner with non-alcoholic beverages.

Note: we’ve had guests of all ages (up to 81 years old!) do this tour with great enjoyment, and we highly recommend this experience. It can be done as easy as you prefer, and you can let your guides know on that very day. Also, sleeping over on the hammocks is optional and you can make this decision on that same evening during the tour.

A Unique Up-Close Experience with the Friendly Amazonian Pink Dolphins (private tour)

It’s time to head out on the Amazon river bound for an exciting encounter with the largest species of freshwater dolphin in the world: the Amazonian pink river dolphin! You’ll have the opportunity to dive in a shallow bank of the Amazonian Black River and enjoy an unique close-up experience around free and wild pink dolphins, known for their very friendly nature.

The professional caretaker will tell us about some of the unique features of this mammal, which is unique to the Amazon basin, and feed the dolphins while they swim next to us.

The transfer to the dolphin site is in a private boat with a private guide and takes approximately 90 minutes to get to the dolphins site and 1 hour to return, and the time spent with the dolphins is about 1 hour.

Witnessing the Unique Phenomenom of the Amazon River’s Unmixable Waters and Navigating on a Speedboat Through Amazonian Waters (private tour)

Get ready to discover one of the many amazing features of the largest river on Earth: the Amazon River, whose flow is even larger than the flow of the next eight largest rivers in the world combined!

We’ll hop on our boat for a full day exploration on the Amazon river. We’ll first navigate to the confluence of the two rivers that form the Amazon River: the pitch-black Rio Negro and the cream-colored Solimoes River. That confluence is known as “the meeting of the unmixable waters.” Due to a unique quirk of nature, the waters of these two tributary rivers flow side by side for about 8 miles (12 kilometers) without mixing, due to a large difference between the rivers’ flowing speeds and temperatures. The difference in color between the two rivers is so stark, in fact, that the two “unmixable” waters can even be distinguished from satellites orbiting in space!

This is a half day tour in a private speedboat with a private guide. It includes lunch without alcoholic beverages at a floating restaurant on the Amazon river, and comes right after the "Interacting with the Unique Amazonian Pink Dolphin " private tour.

A Fishing Adventure in Search of the Amazon’s Most Voracious Creature: the Piranha (private tour)

Grab your fishing pole and bait as we embark on a fishing adventure in the Amazon River in search of a fish famed for its aggressiveness and extremely sharp teeth: the piranha. Among the 2,200 species of fish living in the Amazon basin (more species than in all of the rivers of Europe combined!), piranhas have become the most famous due to their voracity. Due to their keen sense of smell for blood, they can attack at the scent of it, swarming by the thousands and stripping an animal to the bone in mere minutes!

Our expert guide will take us out in search of a good spot where he thinks we’ll have the best chances to fish piranhas and other species, while we take in the lush atmosphere of the surrounding Amazon river!

This is a 1 hour private tour.

A Taste of Amazon Life: an Amazon Dweller Shows Us His Traditions, Customs and Distinctive Perspective on Life (private tour)

It’s time hop on our boat and navigate down the Amazon river to visit one Caboclo (Amazon dweller). We’ll learn first-hand about the traditions, customs and distinctive perspective on life of a caboclo. We’ll learn about his life, customs, and how Caboclos make a living off the jungle that surrounds them. This is a unique chance to experience and interact with one of the locals that call the Amazon basin their home.

This is a 1 hour private tour.

Visiting a Wild Monkey Conservation Center (private tour)

We’ll set out on a boat to visit the facilities for rehabilitation and re-introduction of wild animals into their habitats (known as "the Monkey Forest"). This center was created in 1991, with the intention of receiving animals confiscated from illegal commerce. In this center, the animals are evaluated and taken care of by a team of veterinary doctors and biologists.

One of the species mostly present at the site is the “macaco barrigudo” (woolly monkey), which has a protected status as a result of abuse by illegal traders and their slow reproductive rate. You’ll also see wild monkeys, that come out every day for food, and maybe even some resident monkeys that live in the center, for rehabilitation purposes.

This is a 40 minutes private tour. The tour is not always available, because the reserve is sometimes depleted when monkeys are readapted to the wild.

A late checkout is included, you can use your room until 2 PM on your checkout date.