 | Green Planet Expedition's
Brazil's Grand Savannahs - The Pantanal Rio and the Iguazu Falls
Sample Itinerary
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Day 1 SAO PAULO
Upon arrival in Sao Paulo we will clear customs and immigration and check into the Caesar Business Hotel, located at the airport. A representative of the Hotel and our Land operator will meet you. Please note that the meet and greet is handled by the hotel themselves. Day 2 SAO PAULO / IGUASSU FALLS
This morning you will check in for our flight to Iguassu Falls where we will be met by our local guide and transfer to our Hotel, The Tropical das Cataratas Hotel. The Tropical das Cataratas Hotel is a four-star hotel built in an original Colonial architectural style. The hotel, located on the Brazilian side, is the only hotel located inside Iguazu National Park Falls. Hotel amenities include beautiful grounds, an indoor and outdoor restaurant, several bars, large pool, and shops. After checking in we will depart for a tour of the Brazilian side of the falls, a short walk from the hotel. Tonight we will meet for dinner at the hotel at 7:00pm. (D) Overnight Tropical das Cataratas Hotel. Tam Flt 3169 lv SP 7:40 Ar 9:10 Day 3 IGUASSU FALLS
Today we will spend the entire day exploring the Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls. One of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Iguazú Falls are located in the Iguaçú National Park, at the border of Brazil and Argentina. The falls form a horseshoe that stretches the 2,700 meters between the two countries. Over 72 meters high, the actual number of falls varies between 150 and 300 depending on the time of year and the flow of the river. The view of the falls will both overwhelm and fascinate you as you take in this incredible panorama. We will take a Macuco Safari tour in an open vehicle that allows us an unobstructed view of the scenery and wildlife that may be seen here. We will also board our inflatable bi-motor boats constructed to withstand the rigors of the excursion. The boat travels up-river passing the canyon facing the rapids at a speed that permits the appreciation of the scenery. Waterfall shower - Rainbows, blue sky, mist and water in profusion, punctuate the spectacle that has as its high point the area of the Falls baptized "The Three Musketeers". There the captain maneuvers the boat in order to get close enough to provide the passengers with a quick and refreshing shower.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Tropical das Cataratas Hotel. (B,L,D) Day 4 - 7 IGUASSU FALLS / PANTANAL
Today is an adventurous day beginning after an early breakfast with our flight to Campo Grande where we will be met and then transferred to the Caiman Ecological Refuge in the heart of the Pantanal. During our transfer we will have a light box lunch on the bus as we make our way to the Pantanal of Southern Mato Grosso, approximately 140 miles west of Campo Grande, has a diverse landscape of savannah lowlands, seasonal wetlands and rich forested areas. The Refúgio Ecológico Caiman was founded in 1987 on a cattle farm called Estância Caiman. Estância Caiman was at one time Miranda Estância, a traditional farm of the region, which was founded by English investors in 1912. Estância Caiman is 53,000 square hectares and is the headquarters of three recently completed projects: Eco-tourism, Extensive Cattle Raising Research, and Preservation of the Environment. All of these activities are set in a classic ranch infrastructure built throughout 88 years of investment. Over the next three days we have the opportunity to participate in many activities offered by the refuge. Below is a description of the many ways we will explore the refuge. ACCOMMODATIONS: Caiman Ranch (B,L,D)
ACCOMMODATIONS
The Caiman Ranch is the most luxurious lodge in the Pantanal. It is comprised of one main lodge and three additional lodges situated at strategic points about the ranch, each with its own infrastructure and architectural style, blending in with its distinctive surroundings. The food and service are outstanding and the air-conditioned rooms and the pools, positively luxurious. PHOTO SAFARI
Traveling in an open vehicle is the best way to reach places far from the farm. Crossing fields and stretches of jungle, our tour broadens opportunities to observe and photograph the wild life. At night we will go out to do “night spotting”: to observe, with the help of flashlights, nocturnal animals, such as alligators, capybaras, anteaters and small wolves.
CANOE TOUR
While at the Refuge we have the chance to canoe on the lakes within the ranch. While canoeing around the shores mammals such as capybaras, and monkeys can be seen on the shoreline. Amongst the birds that commonly inhabit the area are: cormorants, anhinga, skimmers, herons and egrets.
On the canoe, we will travel through the Pantanal with sounds of toucans, herons, parakeets, jacanas and kingfishers and with a spell of luck, capuchin and howler monkeys.
TOUR ON HORSEBACK
Horses are a good way to explore the Pantanal, allowing for visits to areas, which are inaccessible by other means, like local flooded areas, where the water is too deep for motorized vehicles or too shallow for other boats. The horses in the Pantanal are raised in the region and are stout, strong and have water-resistant skin, and are adapted to crossing long distances of flooded fields. These horses are trained for inexperienced riders, making it easy for everyone to observe different environments in the Pantanal, from the flooded fields to the open vegetation. Before each tour basic instructions are given about how to get along with the horses, how to ride, the risks and care involved, etc. The Horseback riding goes from the workers quarters and the hotel, passing the stables. It lasts about 3 hours, but there are shorter trails of about 1 hour.
WALKS
Walking at our own pace on trails through heavy bush make it easy to observe forest vegetation and the animals that live there such as “quatis” (raccoon-like mammals) and monkeys. There are approximately 12 different hikes, which are open on different days to assure the permanence of the animals in each area. The trails begin in bush with vegetation that is typical of the Pantanal, such as long grass and coppice, and in transition areas such as the open pastures. They allow visitors to get to know an even larger variety of animals and plants in the region. The hikes leave from the hotel, or are part of the photo safari. The Farm Tour Walk is taken at the headquarters of the lodge and involves a visit to the stable, the workers’ quarters and the headquarters of Blue Macaw Project. Day 8 Pantanal / Rio de Janeiro
After a very early breakfast we will transfer back to Campo Grande for our flight to Rio. Our local guide and transfer will meet us and bring us to our hotel, the Ipanema Plaza Hotel. The Ipanema Ipanema Plaza is located in the most charming district in the heart of Rio’s south zone by the famous Ipanema beach. Most of the nice shops of Ipanema are almost at the doorstep of the hotel. Ipanema Plaza offers all the services of a deluxe hotel including spacious air-conditioned rooms, restaurant with the best in modern cuisine, a rooftop swimming pool with a panoramic view, dry and steam saunas and a fitness center, Individualized service is a plus that has been mastered by the dedicated hotel staff. You will have for a walk on the beach or just to relax before meeting for a Dinner at Mio’s at 8:30pm, one of the local restaurants. (BLD) Overnight Hotel Ipanema Plaza Day 9 Rio de Janeiro
This morning at approximately 9:00am we will head for a half-day tour of Corcovado, (the Christ Statue). On the way we will stop at the Hippe Market, a popular open air market in Ipanema know for its handcrafts and home made goods. We will have lunch at the Azul Marinho to sample some of the fine seafood Rio has to offer. This afternoon you have free time to explore on your own, or you may take one of the optional tours we can arrange for you at an additional cost. Tonight at 7:00pm we will dine at one of the truly one of kind experiences in Rio, Marious Resturant. (BLD) Overnight Hotel Ipanema Plaza Day 10 POÇO DAS ANTAS BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
After an early breakfast we leave the hotel at 6:30am will travel into the nearby hills, away from the bustle of Rio de Janeiro, where The Golden Lion Tamarin Association works to reintroduce the specie in its natural habitat, preserving and reforesting the area. This program is doing that for the Golden Lion Tamarins, and some few other species of animals. The program began in the early 1970s as a collaboration between the United States National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, IBAMA, Brazilian Environment Bureau and the Centro de Primatologia do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Atlantic Forest extends along the Brazilian coastline, from North to the extreme South. In the time of the early explorers, the Atlantic Forest alone covered more than 140,000 sq. miles (350,000 sq. km). Today, less than 5% of the original forest remains and less than 10% is protected in national parks, biological reserves, ecological stations, state parks or private reserves. We will stop at a private wildlife sanctuary were we will enjoy a traditional farm buffet. These private reserves act as a buffer zone between the Reserve and the surrounding areas. We will return to our hotel for dinner at approximately 7:00pm. ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel Ipanema Plaza. (B,L,D) Day 11 Rio de Janeiro / Flight Home
After breakfast we have one last chance for a walk on the beach or a last minute shopping spree. We will have our Farewell Lunch (time for lunch will be determined by your guide to accommodate the group) enroute to the airport for our flight home. (B,L Additional Meals Aloft) Day 12 Arrive Home |
