Brazil - Just Jaguars! Traveller Reviews

An adventure in the Brazillan Pantanal with the primary aim of seeing Jaguars in their natural surroundings.Stayed in 3 different centres to give the widest range of wildlife sightings. Led by a brilliant naturalist who was extremely knowledgeable,spoke excellent English and had eyes like a hawk! Our accommodation was very good, and all the Brazilian staff were friendly and helpful Highlights for me would be the many sightings of jaguars, the gorgeous birds especially the fabulous coloured ones like toucans and hyacinth macaws and the distinctly South American animals like giant otters, capybara and ocelots.

Naturetrek were at all times helpful, efficient and accurate in their information. The paperwork always arrived timeously and everything went very smoothly. The holiday flowed easily with the appropriate vehicle always turning up at the correct time and the right people available to assist if needed.

Our guide Paulo Ribeiro was excellent; amiable, knowledgable, resourceful and tireless. Our accommodation I would classify as adequate to very good (we stayed in the 3 different places). On the Flotel I enjoyed the interaction with and informative talks about the main animals we saw from an expert of the jaguar team conservation based on the boat. I loved going out on the boats looking for the jaguars and seeing the giant river otters I had on my 'hope list' to see. I'm not a very keen bird watcher; however the variety of birds we saw was stunning. I am a lover of wetlands and generally loved visiting the Pantanal.

I have travelled on tours with Naturetrek several times. Trips were always well organised and local guides have been very good. The staff at head quarters have always been pleasant, helpful and supportive when things did not go according to plan.

With no guarantees to see either big cat, we were totally overwhelmed with the opportunities to view these magnificent creatures. Sixteen sightings of Jaguar including one three our session where we followed one jaguar down river as it hunted for prey. Plenty of other wildlife to see in the Pantanal including, unexpectedly, the beautiful ocelot. We had fourteen sightings of Puma in Torres del Paine where the scenery is breathtaking. Being a tailormade holiday for the extension to Chile, at little extra cost, we were able to discuss areas of interest with our guides and help with the daily planning, days out and excursions. A long way to go but a holiday filled with terrific memories that will last a lifetime.

Plenty of discussion and advice before finally booking with Naturetrek. We were able to plan our trip with their help and combined a group trip to the Pantanal with a tailormade extension to Chile. The trip followed the itinerary given and met all our expectations given by the operator.

I loved this holiday from start to finish. The wildlife of Brazil is wonderful, my main aim was to see the Jaguars in their natural habitat, I was not disappointed to view these magnificent beasts like this was a true privilege, spellbinding & breathtaking. we sat & watched them move, sleep, hunt & swim at close quarters. Something I will never forget, & I am very fortunate to be widely travelled. The lodges were friendly & surrounded by wild life. I have not even mentioned the giant river otters, tapier, & giant anteater & beautiful ocelot, not to mention the comical capybara, we were so lucky. It was worth every penny & I would pay it all again & go back in a shot. Well organised well run tour Very happy, I do have to mention the guide they provided, his knowledge, was excellent ,he had a sense of humour & catered for everyone's needs.

My first experience with Naturetrek having wanted to see the Jaguars they provided the trip suitable for me & guided me in the correct tour to take, they even added on an extension form me to Iguazu Falls. Trip details & pre departure details all comprehensive. They were always happy to help out with any query one might have. A well thought out trip that was outstanding from star to finish. I will most defiantly use them again

A super Naturetrek holiday seeking out the rare and charismatic Jaguar. We were 100% successful in locating and watching these brilliant big cats, with 10 sightings of 6 individuals during our stay at the Jaguar Flotel. We enjoyed myriad of other wildlife from Anaconda to Ocelot and there was a supporting cast of beautiful birds. Our intrepid and eagle-eyed guide Paulo was superb and catered for our every need and the accommodation was comfortable throughout the holiday. Do yourself a favour and enjoy the bountiful biodiversity of the Pantanal!

Naturetrek are a well-established and highly reputable company, so I had few reservations about booking this holiday. My decision turned out to be an excellent one. The tour was well organised and extremely good value.

A fantastic trip to the Brazilian Pantanal to see jaguars, giant otters and so much more. Our local guide was excellent-very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.On the last morning he even found us what must be the world's weirdest looking bird-the Great Potoo-spectacular!

I have used Naturetrek many times over several years and have always found them extremely professional, friendly and helpful. If I had the time and the money I would work my way through their entire collection!

Unbelievable experience we saw a vast range of animals and birds at such close range, amazing. The tour guide was brilliant, knowledgeable, passionate and great fun. The accommodation was perfect and the staff at the lodges very welcoming. A brilliant trip.

Naturetrek provided a great package of information which helped us to prepare for an amazing trip. All the promises and arrangements worked like clockwork.

Organised by Naturetrek, this offered the opportunity to visit an area rich in wildlife, much of it critically endangered. We were not disappointed. Our bases were in three ecologically different areas: Savannah, river system and tropical forest. All had comfortable accommodation and were in the heart of the areas of interest. Our guide, driver and boatmen were fully competent and led us to the very best wildlife rich areas. We had close viewings of Jaguar (the prime reason for the trip), giant river otter, Ocelot and Giant Anteater. Their bird knowledge was exceptional with more tan 150 species identified in nine days. Altogether a trip that fully fulfilled our expectations and was of the quality that Naturetrek has always given us.

Naturetrek: Probably the best tour operator in it's field. Always going at the right time to the right place. Their office service and back-up are second to none.

A Naturetrek escorted group tour in the Pantanal area of Brazil. It was called Just Jaguars and it certainly lived up to it's name with these big cats seen on seven boat journeys from our base, the Jaguar Flowtel. Sightings of one Jaguar were long and sustained as it walked in full view along the river bank before swimming across to continue hunting on the opposite bank. Exotic bird species were plentiful with about 170 species seen, most of which were new to me with many photographic opportunities.

Excellent contact with the office-based staff at Naturetrek by phone, letter and in person at the Rutland Water Bird Fair. All arrangements as expected. Knowledgeable Brazil-based guide with us all the time and with excellent identification skills.

two stays in rural lodges, one hotel and one in the jaguar flotel on the river near porto Joffre. The lodges were simple but comfortable and the flotel luxurious, very near the area for jaguar sightings. Many birds seen from the pantanal safari bus and fantastic views of jaguar, ocelot, capybara, giant and small anteaters, tapir, giant river otter and more with each part of the days full of new things to see. very good service from the southwild ground agents and naturetrek so the holiday went smoothly. seeing the iguazu falls and parks on the brazil and argentine side was amazing and very impressive. this holiday was the most rewarding and busy but the wildlife was spectacular

we have travelled with naturetrek before and they have looked after the clients well and dealt with any problems helpfully and effectively. the holiday guides have always helped with hotels and been very knowledgable about what we might see whether it was plants, birds or mammals. local ground agents have been equally helpful for us to have a good experience in their country.