About Us

Hello from José Namen Boabaid ...your local connection in North Pantanal. Our online booking system is locally owned and operated by Brazilians who personally know the best way to travel in the Pantanal, their home. This tropical wetland is the largest wetland ecosystem in the entire world and is home to an amazing array of flora and fauna in Brazil. Nature lovers will be spoilt for beautiful things to see and exciting Pantanal tours around this immense conservation area.

Who we are:

José Namen Boabaid spent his childhood summers on his grandfather's farm in North Pantanal and has always had a close relationship to this stunning region of Brazil. José's father was one of eleven children; he left the remote conservation area at the tender age of ten to be the only member of his family to study in the big city. After that, José's family became somewhat disconnected from the lands of Pantanal, until he reconnected with an aunt of his and learned the influential story of his heritage. That was 25 years ago; José was playing as a musician when he realized the importance of the land that he had inherited from his grandfather. He decided to go back to southwest Brazil and return to where his roots spouted, and give back to this extremely unique ecosystem.

He began his plan by building a small hut; he then brought in a company to build a hotel. José is now the manager of the Pousada Refúgio Ilha do Caracará, which is an all inclusive resort in the conservation area. Now that José has decided to join forces with the WHL network to promote tourism in the Pantanal, These new partners are thrilled to come together for the common goal of promoting sustainable tourism in the Pantanal, with such precious resources that need to be protected.

What we bring to North Pantanal

Since José is local to the Mato Grosso state of Brazil, he is devoted to the betterment of the standard of living and way of life for the people who live here. His hotel hires local people and pays them a fair wage. The company also encourages its employees to participate in government-run courses that hone business skills and help them to excel in the tourism industry. A main goal of José's is to preserve the strong culture of the local populace by educating the people about the exceptionality of their customs. Many of the locals are simply unaware of the value of their culture and José would like to help instill a stronger sense of confidence in the community.

José is also an activist in the Brazilian government and is constantly petitioning to strengthen the regulations and funding for the conservation of the flora and fauna in the Pantanal. One personal grievance for many that are native to this ecosystem is the lack of control on the amount of fish that can be removed from the river systems. Many of the pueblos that surround the area subsist on Pantanal fishing, and they have been drastically over fishing the rivers to the point that the numbers of fish have significantly decreased. Help, education and alternative methods of income are necessary, as these fisherman often have no other means of making a living. José remembers the time when he was a child and the rivers were brimming with varieties of fish; he sincerely hopes that his efforts to make the government change their priorities will come to fruition.

The hope is that by coming on board with the WHL family, North Pantanal can increase the type of responsible Pantanal tourism that José would like to see operated here. The ecosystem in the Pantanal is richly diverse and needs an advocate so that Brazil tourism can be utilized to educate visitors and improve the standard of living for the people that live here permanently. As José put it, "I'm sure that the partnership with WHL will help us in our task of improving the practices in North Pantanal." He has certainly devoted his life's work to the people and environment in this special conservation area. José is on the ground in Brazil to fill you in on all his favorite things to see and do, and loves educating foreigners about this region that holds a special place in his heart.

Do not hesitate to contact our local connection in North Pantanal if you have any questions about travelling in Mato Grosso!