The Cerrado is Brazil’s vast tropical savannah, an ancient landscape of open grasslands, twisted trees and rocky plateaus that covers much of the country’s heartland and quietly underpins its great river systems. 

For a wildlife vacation, it offers a very different experience to the Amazon or the Pantanal: here, animals are often easier to spot in the open habitats, from giant anteaters and maned wolves to armadillos and a remarkable diversity of birds, many found nowhere else. Unlike the dense, humid rainforest of the Amazon, the Cerrado has a pronounced dry season and fire-shaped ecology, and unlike the seasonally flooded wetlands of the Pantanal, it is defined by dry ground, big skies and subtle changes in vegetation. 

Long regarded as Brazil’s forgotten biome, it is in fact one of the oldest and most biodiverse savannahs on Earth, with a quieter, more contemplative character that rewards patient observation and a slower pace of exploration.

Like in the Pantanal and Amazon, excursions are in small groups of up to six, but often just two or four of you. It’s all on a very intimate scale.

The 'big ticket' item on everyone's wishlist is an ecounter with a rare Maned wolf. Pousada Trijunçāo is home to a very well-respected conservation project, and a dusk safari in search of the wolves is one of the best experiences you can have on this trip.

The forests of southern Amazonia offer one of the most diverse wildlife spectacles in South America. It's important to keep in mind though that the forest is remarkably dense here, and the canopy is mighty high. So although guides do a quite extraordinary job of pointing out a huge variety of wildlife you would have otherwise missed, it's best to come with a relaxed attitude to wildlife spotting. One thing that is guaranteed is that you will have a deep immersion into nature, including a mindboggling cast of tree and insect species. That's part of the real joy of the Amazon.

Likely sightings include the region’s exuberant birdlife, with hundreds of species from macaws, parrots and toucans to cotingas, manakins and curassows. Primate activity is constant, with spider monkeys, howler monkeys and capuchins among the most frequently observed. The river margins provide encounters with tapirs, peccaries, capybaras, and an abundance of butterflies, adding to the sense of constant movement and color.

Possible encounters may reveal giant river otters, sloths, tayras, brocket deer and the more elusive night monkeys or titi monkeys. Clay licks sometimes draw in tapirs and peccaries, while canopy platforms offer chances to watch raptors and mixed flocks sweeping the treetops.

Remote possibilities are headlined by Jaguars, though sightings are rare and unpredictable. Don't get your hopes up. Harpy eagles - lords of the canopy - can sometimes be seen by the most eagled-eyed visitors. Endemic or little-known species such as white-nosed sakis, cryptic forest falcons and black-girdled barbets are fond of this transition zone, where unique wildlife finds its niche.

A stay in the northern Pantanal opens the door to one of South America’s richest wildlife experiences. Because it is a floodplain environment, the landscape is more open than the Amazon and it's therefore easier to spot creatures on the move. Nature is nature - this isn't a zoo - but within the mosaic of gallery forest, grassland and waterways, you can expect and hope/pray for close encounters with...

Likely sightings include capybaras grazing at the water’s edge, coatis and pacas foraging near streams and monkeys moving through the canopy. Yacare caimans are ever-present in creeks and lagoons, while the birdlife is dazzling: toucans, jabiru storks, herons, macaws and kingfishers are part of a recorded list of hundreds of species.

Possible encounters tend to come during guided excursions—canoe trips, boat rides or night drives—that may reveal tapirs, giant anteaters, ocelots, tamandua anteaters and giant river otters. Hyacinth macaws and marsh deer are also within reach, though less reliably seen.

Remote possibilities hold a particular allure. Jaguars are the pinnacle of Pantanal wildlife, and dedicated safaris are often organized with them in mind. Sightings cannot be promised but are far from improbable in this stronghold of the species. Other elusive creatures, from maned wolves and bush dogs and rare raptors, add a sense of tantalising unpredictability.
 

Generally, there is a wet season (typically from October - March) and dry season (typically from April to September), though with a changing climate, the wet season has tended to start later.

In the wet season - the Brazilian summer - Rio is hot, humid and you can expect very heavy downpours. This period includes the peak holiday season in January and carnival in February. The dry season is much cooler and less busy, so that's easily the best time for Rio.

In the Pantanal, June to September/October is the dry season so water levels are lower and the wildlife is easier to spot. April and May can also be dry. Days are hot (around 30 C) and nights are chilly.

You can travel in the wet season when the lands are flooded (but still accessible) creating a haven for a huge variety of birds and the water flowers are in full bloom. It is beautiful. It can be very humid, and the mammals are harder to spot.

The Amazon has broadly the same weather pattern - it is always hot and humid, and the drier months are May - September when the wildlife is easier to spot.

This is not a particularly active trip physically though you are on the go for most of the time. Both the Pantanal and Amazon are characterized by ealy morning activities, such as game drives or boat rides. You tend to have some free time in the middle of the day before more activities later in the day and into the evening. In both cases, canoeing is an option and highly recommended though in both cases it is a relaxed affair. 

Whereas the Pantanal is very much akin to a vehicle-based safari experience, in the Amazon you have several walking trails and observation towers to explore. There are two higher trails which involve fairly steep up and down hill walks in hot conditions, you also have two 50m high observation towers which you go up pre-dawn to watch the sunrise.

Brazil is a wonderfully welcoming country. At each stage of this journey, you will experience this warm and generous hospitality in a variety of settings, each with its own story to tell, but all beautifully small, quiet and comfortable.

On this trip, you can look forward to...

• A five-room guesthouse in bohemian Santa Teresa, set among street art, cafés and bars, with quiet gardens, a small pool and wonderfully warm hosting
• An eco-lodge on the edge of the Amazon, reached by boat across the Cristalino River, with pioneering conservation, stylish rooms, river swim deck and comfort woven into the forest setting
• A rustic lodge in the Pantanal, set on a vast private reserve with just 16 rooms, offering guided explorations by boat, jeep, canoe or on foot, alongside hearty traditional meals and modern comforts

Absolutely. We can tailor your vacation in any number of ways, from extending your time in any destination, adding other destinations such as thundering Iguazú or colonial Paraty in the south or some downtime on a lovely island that is traffic-free. Call us to start the conversation.

Absolutely, yes. One of the delights of Brazil is its people. There is a genuine openness and atmosphere to the place, despite the fact that most visitors don’t speak Portuguese and most locals don’t speak anything but. The Pantanal is very much about the interaction of humans and wildlife, the surprising aspect is perhaps the cowboy culture. People who come here from Rio or Sao Paulo are genuinely amazed to see people living such traditional lives out here.

The area of the Amazon you visit is not one which has been inhabited in any meaningful way so the experience is therefore very much about the wildlife. In Rio it is all about the history, culture and cuisine. With a local guide to introduce you to it all, you should come away from Brazil with a fantastic sense of its landscapes, wildlife and culture.

In Rio, we have partnered with a small female-led team of guides who share our vision of the city as a place of thriving Brazilian culture. So that means not just seeing a samba show in Rio, but stepping behind the scenes to watch Carnival floats take shape...

As part of our vacation service to you, we provide a travel app which is packed with an extensive planning document to help you prepare and pack for Brazil, as well as our favorite places to eat. This helps take the stress out of planning your time, knowing that we've been there, done that and eaten the feijoadas.
If you get into any major bother, then our team is always on hand to help. In the first instance, that is your hosts and guides, or your local contact in Brazil. But you have a 24/7 emergency contact for our team here should you ever need it.