Pantanal Trail Ride Safari, Brazil
A riding holiday for nature & wildlife enthusiasts, a trip where you imagine yourself in the middle of a National Geographic documentary!
Day by day:
* Description below is an example of the program. The itinerary can be different during your travel week.We will do everything possible to follow the indicated itinerary, although spot changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Rides are subject to change depending on weather, location, accommodation and difficulty of terrain In the unlikely event that this happens on your trip, we ask you flexibility and understanding. This is a sporty and adventurous vacation!
Day 1 : Campo Grande / MS - Fazenda Baia das Pedras
Transfer by 4x4 vehicles to the first Fazenda (or Cessna flight = optional). Landing at the front door of the fazenda. Welcome drink, room distribution and presentation of the region, general information about the Pantanal and the programme for the next days. If time allows, we will have our first ride in the afternoon. We get to know the horses and get a first impression of the Pantanal. The Pantaneiro horses are strong, well trained and very agile, local pantaneiro saddles extremely comfortable. Dinner and overnight at Fazenda Baia das Pedras.
Day 2 : Fazenda Baia das Pedras
With its approximately 16,000 acres and 4,000 head of cattle, Fazenda "Baia das Pedras" is a traditional farm of the Pantanal. The Fazenda is located in an immense area on the banks of the "Castelo Vazante" river, amid a lot of rich nature and wildlife. Here you can see animals like, Capivara's, howler monkeys, crocodiles, wild pigs, peccaries, coatis, tapirs, and hundreds of birds, including toucans, Arara's (blue, yellow and red), storks, parrots, parakeets and many more. Every day we will be about 6 hours in the saddle, divided into 2 periods (morning and afternoon). Fazenda Baia das Pedras, is a real Brazilian cattle farm. We meet with the local cowboys and their culture. Perhaps here we should just roll up our sleeves and help the cowboys to round up the cattle on horseback?
Day 3 : Fazenda Baia das Pedras
This morning and afternoon we go out on horseback again. Safari at its best, ..looking for large and small game on land, on water and in the air. We recommend that you don't dress in bright colors and be quiet, so you have an even better chance of surprising the wildlife. You might see one or more Giant Anteaters, a tapir, an anaconda, a 90kg giant amardillo and who knows what else. The pantanal is full of surprises.
We will do everything possible to follow the indicated itinerary, although spot changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Rides are subject to change depending on weather, location and difficulty of terrain In the unlikely event that this happens on your trip, we ask you flexibility and understanding. This is a sporty and adventurous vacation!
Day 4 & 5 : Fazenda Baia das Pedras – Fazenda Primaveira
After an early breakfast we saddle the horses and go for a ride to Fazenda Primavera. Today is a full day in the saddle. We ride through the beautiful landscape of Vazante Castelo, where we observe the abundant wildlife of the Pantanal in a unique and untouched landscape. We follow an open area surrounded by native bush adjacent to the bed of the river and see the incredible amount of birds in their foraging.
Once at resting place “Retiro Sao Luis”, we meet the back-up vehicle with our luggage and field kitchen. We take lunch and continue our journey in the afternoon. A true horseman expedition through the wilderness. We arrive at the territory of Fazenda Primavera but not at the actual housing. Here we will stay at a wilderness camp of the far away of the fazenda. In a beautiful and isolated area you will be welcomed in our very nice wooden bush camp. The camp has a good infrastructure. We sleep in hammocks under a fixed roof, with mosquitonet walls, it has a kitchen and 2 bathrooms. Dinner and overnight in the wilderness.
The next morning after breakfast we walk to the River to take a closer look. Take pictures of alligators, capivara and the many bird species. We enjoy a second coffee in the cozy camp overlooking the wilderness. In the afternoon we make a fascinating excursion on horseback. We are in the middle of the wilderness, .. just you and the great outdoors. At sunset you will make the most beautiful pictures .. and after supper we can go with a torch to the River to see the orange eyes of the crocodiles in the water. We sleep for a 2nd time in a hammock. (You will be surprised how comfortable you will sleep in a genuine Brazilian hammock!)
We will do everything possible to follow the indicated itinerary, although spot changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Rides are subject to change depending on weather, location and difficulty of terrain In the unlikely event that this happens on your trip, we ask you flexibility and understanding. This is a sporty and adventurous vacation!
Day 6 : Fazenda Primavera - Fazenda El Dorado
After breakfast at sunrise we will mount our horses and ride through the Pantanal to Fazenda El Dorado. From the saddle we discover how the Pantanal awakes. We notice how the landscape is changing as we get to the area of the Rio Negro. We will have a good lunch and some ice-cold drinks in the shade of tree in the middle of the bush. In the afternoon we continue till getting to the river “Rio Negro” where we will take the boat of the El Dorado farm. The white sand beaches on the shores, indicates we arrived at the El Dorado farm. We enjoy a delicious aperitif at the fazenda and listen to the stories of the past days. Overnight in this authentic fazenda.
Located in a very special and secluded area Fazenda El Dorado is considered as the one of the wildest areas of the Pantanal! The fazenda is situated on the banks of the Rio Negro, where it is possible to go on boat and canoe expeditions and see that way the natural beauty and wildlife of the region. Alligators, otters, capybaras, anacondas and even maybe the jaguar are animals you can see there. You be finding yourself as like in the middle of a National Geographic documentary!
Day 7 : Fazenda El Dorado
Today we will discover wildlife from the water by boat and canoe. It's another fun and quiet way to approach wildlife. We will bathe & swim in the river and go fishing for piranhas. (And now I hear you thinking, how can one swim where piranhas are? .. Haha ..No worries, we will explain to you what is possible and what is not possible) After a good aperitif at the fazenda we will have dinner for the last time in the Pantanal. Overnight in this authentic fazenda.
​
Day 8 : Fazenda El Dorado - Campo Grande
Departure after early breakfast by 4x4 vehicles back to the city of Campo Grande (or optional with Cessna flight) and drop of at the airport of Campo Grande of hotel in the city. End of an unforgettable wilderness journey.
Not a “nose-to-tail” riding experience, but a trail ride for riders looking for a truly exciting and challenging Entre Orejas experience!