Welcome to North Pantanal!

itinerary; the nature reserve is vast, encompassing an area larger than Romania and nearly as large as the state of Michigan in the United States, as can be seen on the map of North Pantanal.  In addition to spanning the western central Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, the Pantanal also crosses  into eastern Bolivia and northern Paraguay. That acreage within Brazil can be compared to the whole of England; a large ‘playground' of 239,000 sq. km (92,000 sq. miles) and with 139,000 sq. km (54,000 sq. miles).

The Pantanal - enormous plains interspersed with small mountain ranges - is wild, wet and vast! It is also sparsely populated. The settlements of Cuiabá, Rondonópolis and Cáceres within the region of Mato Grosso have a combined population of just over a million.

Mato Grosso (which means ‘thick wood') is where travellers will begin a tour of North Pantanal. Here it’s possible to find the beautiful, uplifted plateau of Chapada das Guimarães Cuiabá. As the land begins its ascent to the Amazon and the thorny scrubland gives way to the emergent rainforest, pause for a breath to take in the mountainous panorama.

The Pantanal has been Mato Grosso's claim to fame for many years; with so many accommodation choices, it won't be difficult to find a comfortable North Pantanal hotel in the area. The wetlands have gifted this area not only with an identity but also with its natural riches. The dreaded piranha fish ends up as a popular soup in North Pantanal restaurants here. Anywhere from two to five million cayman alligators are ‘plucked' annually from the Pantanal. On the other hand, the population is sparse and roads in North Pantanal are underdeveloped. So be prepared for a slow meandering ride through this region.

Considerable real estate in the Pantanal is in private hands. The exceptions are the Transpantaneira and the federally protected area of Parque Nacional do Pantanal Matogrossense, publically owned and administered by the Brazilian environmental government agency IBAMA.

The entire area is ranchers’ domain. Ranches abound, mostly raising cattle and horses. With its high sodium content, the sandy soil is not very fertile for agriculture; though annual flooding in the wetlands leaves the soil rich enough for cattle grazing to flourish. Ranching is the chief sustenance and the economic backbone of the region.

Some working ranches like the Refugio Ecológico Caiman do scientific research on flora and fauna. Some examples are the Hyacinth Macaw Project, which focuses on preservation of the endangered hyacinth macaw, and the Jaguar Conservation Project.

For fishers and anglers, fishing in the Pantanal is paradise. For trade or simply for pleasure, fishing is an important part of the local milieu. There are some caveats of course - only fishing cords with hooks are permitted and the maximum catch per individual is limited to 30 kilograms. The fun is in the variety, since catches include fish like the dorado, fresh-water rays, pacu, pintado and even the piranha: all excellent fish to eat.

A serious bird-lover will have a lot of opportunity for birdwatching in the Pantanal, as the wetlands contain over 700 species of birds, both native species and migratory birds from all over the Americas. One of the most striking sights is the rookeries or the ‘breeding grounds' on nesting trees (called ninhais locally). There are also the dormitórios; the night roosting sites provide a home for large varieties of birds and a spectacle for visitors. Did you know that if you cannot go to Australia, then the next best place to observe parrots in the wild is in Pantanal Norte? The vast open landscape - a habitat for 15 different species of parrots - allows for an unhindered view of these colourful and intelligent birds. Birds of prey like the caracara, falcons, savanna and black-collared hawks, eagles and kites are also plentiful.

Nearly 70 species of mammals also cohabitate in this avian home: capybara, armadillo, porcupine, jaguar, ocelot, otters, tapir and peccary. There are also many species of reptiles such as the anaconda, iguana and, of course, the usual alligators.

The Pantanal's mosaic of natural wetlands and wildlife is truly unique. The unspoilt and open green expanses make it an unmatched place to travel in Brazil. The beauty of the land, combined with the wildlife, is sure to pique the interest of any traveler in South America; hurry up and book one of our hotels in the North Pantanal today!