Wild + Wonderful Brazil

Upon arrival in Manaus, you’ll be warmly greeted and chauffeured to your 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of this lively river town. After time to refresh, your private guide will be waiting to immerse you in the sights and stories of one of South America’s most surprising cities: a Belle Époque jewel in the heart of the Amazon wilderness.
 
During the late 19th century rubber boom, Manaus became fabulously wealthy almost overnight, as rubber barons transformed this remote river port into a cosmopolitan showcase that rivaled the great capitals of Europe. The landmarks of that gilded era are your focus today. At the floating harbor, an engineering marvel designed to rise and fall with the Amazon's dramatic seasonal tides, and the Municipal Market, modeled after the famous Les Halles market halls of Paris, you'll gain a sense of the city's extraordinary ambitions. The elegant Rio Negro Palace rounds out the picture before your visit to the magnificent Teatro Amazonas, the city's crowning achievement. Inaugurated in 1896, it was built entirely with materials imported from Europe, including Italian marble, Scottish steel, French furniture, and 36,000 ceramic tiles to adorn the dome in the colors of the Brazilian flag. Today, this legendary opera house remains one of the most breathtaking buildings in the Americas.

Check out after breakfast and embark on a scenic 3-hour journey that will transport you deeper into the Brazilian Amazon with every passing mile. As the city gradually yields to dense tropical forest and the landscape grows wilder and more remote, the Rio Negro comes into view—its famously dark, almost black waters a striking natural phenomenon caused by dissolved organic matter from the forest.
 
Arriving on the banks of this storied river, you will check in to the exceptional Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge. You’ll have time to get settled in to your rainforest cottage before a welcome lunch at the Lodge’s inviting open-air restaurant.
 
During your unhurried 3-night stay at Anavilhanas, you will enjoy a complete program of guided excursions and activities designed to reveal the rich diversity of Anavilhanas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 1,300 square miles of preserved Amazonian forests and wetlands. This afternoon, a briefing with the Lodge’s nature guides and exploration team will showcase the wide variety of experiences that await, from forest hikes to community visits and canoeing expeditions.  Meals B+L+D
 

The Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge sits at the very edge of one of the great wilderness areas on Earth. Stretching more than 60 miles along the Rio Negro, the Anavilhanas Archipelago encompasses more than 400 islands of pristine Amazonian forest and waterway—part of the World Heritage Central Amazon Conservation Complex. During your stay, the Lodge's expert nature guides will lead a complete program of included excursions designed to reveal the rich biodiversity of this remarkable protected area. Please note that these activities are shared with other Lodge guests and offered based on weather, river levels, and seasonal conditions.
 
The day begins before dawn, when early risers are rewarded with a guided sunrise excursion onto the Rio Negro, one of the most quietly spectacular experiences the Amazon has to offer. As the mist lifts from the dark water and the forest comes alive with birdsong, your guide will help you spot the wide array of wildlife that emerges at first light, from river dolphins breaking the surface to scarlet macaws crossing the river.
 
Later in the morning, you might embark on a guided tour of the Anavilhanas Archipelago by boat, weaving through narrow channels between the islands and gaining insight into the scale and complexity of this unique river landscape. In the afternoon, a hike through the dryland forest with your naturalist guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna of the Amazon, from towering hardwoods and medicinal plants to the amazing variety of insects, birds, and reptiles that inhabit this remarkable ecosystem. Conditions permitting, this evening might offer a further adventure: a guided night tour along the Reserve's forest trails, when the jungle’s nocturnal creatures emerge. Meals B+L+D
 

Another day in this pristine corner of the Amazon brings a fresh set of discoveries. The Lodge's exploration team plans each day's program with care, balancing active exploration with quieter moments to observe, learn and reflect. As with all excursions at Anavilhanas, activities are shared with fellow Lodge guests and are subject to prevailing weather and river conditions.
 
This morning, trade dry land for the flooded forest on a guided canoeing excursion through the igapó, the seasonally inundated woodland that fringes the Rio Negro's islands and channels. Paddling quietly through these still waters, with tree canopies rising overhead and their roots submerged below, is an experience you will never forget. Along the way, your guide will share insights and fascinating facts about the natural adaptations that allow both plants and animals to thrive in this ever-changing amphibious environment.
 
In the afternoon, you might visit a local riverside community for an engaging cultural encounter that offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who call the Amazon home. Later, you'll have the opportunity to try your hand at traditional bow and arrow techniques using artifacts of the Waimiri-Atroari, an indigenous people of the central Amazon; it’s a fun and enriching hands-on introduction to the region's rich indigenous heritage.
 
In between excursions, the spacious thatched-roof lounge is the perfect spot to relax with a beverage, sharing stories and experiences with your fellow Lodge guests. As the afternoon light softens over the Rio Negro, there may be time for a final foray, perhaps trying your luck at piranha fishing, a classic Amazon experience and a favorite among guests of all ages. Back at the Lodge, your final evening concludes with dinner at the open-air restaurant, a wonderful conclusion to your time in the Amazon.  Meals B+L+D
 

Depart early this morning from Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge and join a shared transfer back to Manaus, where you'll board your included flight to Campo Grande, connecting via São Paulo. As your aircraft climbs above the forest canopy and the vast green expanse of the Amazon stretches to every horizon, it's a moment to reflect on the extraordinary natural world you're leaving behind—and to anticipate the very different wilderness that awaits.
 
Arriving in Campo Grande in the late afternoon, you'll be warmly greeted and chauffeured to your hotel for an overnight stay. Settle in and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening as you prepare for tomorrow's journey into Brazil's remarkable Pantanal. Meals B+D
 

After breakfast, your personal driver will be waiting to transport you deep into the heart of the Brazilian Pantanal, arriving at the exclusive Caiman Lodge around midday. After settling in to your suite, sit down to a welcome lunch before meeting the Lodge's naturalist guides and exploration team, who will review the remarkable range of experiences that await during your stay.
 
The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland. Stretching across more than 66,000 square miles of central South America, roughly ten times the size of Florida's Everglades, it is widely regarded as the continent's most wildlife-rich ecosystem. Home to more than 4,700 plant and animal species, including the jaguar, giant river otter, hyacinth macaw, and yacare caiman, the Pantanal offers wildlife encounters of a density and intimacy that rival even the great game reserves of Africa. Unlike the dense Amazon rainforest to the north, the Pantanal's open landscape of flooded grasslands, lagoons, and forest galleries makes wildlife remarkably easy to spot. Caiman Lodge sits within the Caiman Ecological Refuge, a private protected reserve encompassing more than 130,000 acres in the southern Pantanal—one of the most biodiverse and carefully managed corners of this extraordinary wilderness.
 
Throughout your stay, the Lodge's expert guides will lead a variety of included excursions, allowing you to tailor your explorations to your interests and taste for adventure. For guests seeking specific experiences, horseback riding and specialized birdwatching excursions are also available. Please note that all Lodge activities and excursions are shared with other guests. For your first afternoon, you might choose to begin your Pantanal adventures with a gentle walk:
 
Guided Nature Walk: Exploring on foot and at a slower pace, the Pantanal reveals details that a safari drive cannot access. Guided walks along the Refuge's trails offer close encounters with the ecosystem's remarkable flora including medicinal plants, towering hardwoods, and the dense gallery forests that line the waterways. Along the way, insects, reptiles, and smaller mammals can be encountered along the forest floor. Meals B+L+D

Each day at Caiman Lodge unfolds according to the rhythms of the wilderness—shaped by the seasons and the wildlife. Today, choose from the Lodge's program of included excursions, each designed to reveal a different dimension of this remarkable ecosystem. Between adventures, the Lodge's comfortable lounge, swimming pool, and dining area provide a welcoming retreat to relax, compare notes with fellow guests, and watch the abundant birdlife that frequents the grounds.
 
Here are some of the excursions that are included during your stay at the Lodge:
 
Wildlife Safari by Open Vehicle: The Lodge's open 4x4 safaris are the cornerstone of the Caiman experience. Accompanied by your expert safari guide, you'll venture deep into the Refuge's vast protected landscape in search of the Pantanal's iconic wildlife: jaguars, giant anteaters, tapirs, capybaras, marsh deer, and the spectacularly abundant birdlife that populates every waterway and tree line. The open vehicle allows for unobstructed sightings and unhurried observation, and the guides' deep knowledge of the terrain and animal behavior maximizes every encounter.
 
Nocturnal Adventure: After dark, the Pantanal reveals an entirely different cast of characters. Guided spotlight tours venture out along the Refuge's trails and waterways in search of the ecosystem's fascinating nocturnal species including ocelot, giant anteater, and, with a bit of luck, the elusive jaguar! Experiencing the Pantanal at night, alive with sound and shadow, is truly unforgettable.
 
Canoeing at Sunset: Trade the open vehicle for a Canadian canoe and explore the Lodge's serene waterways as the day draws to a close. Paddling quietly through mirror-still lagoons and narrow channels fringed with aquatic vegetation, your guide will point out caimans basking along the banks, river birds fishing the shallows, and the extraordinary play of evening light across the water; it’s a peaceful and deeply memorable counterpoint to the day's adventures. Meals B+L+D
 

The jaguar is the Americas' largest big cat and one of the most powerful predators on Earth; yet for much of the 20th century, this magnificent animal was hunted to the edge of extinction across its range. Today, the Pantanal supports one of the jaguar's last significant strongholds, and nowhere is the effort to protect and study this species more pioneering than at the Caiman Ecological Refuge, home to the groundbreaking Onçafari Project.
 
Founded in 2011 by conservationist and former racing driver Mario Haberfeld in partnership with Caiman owner Roberto Klabin, Onçafari is the first jaguar habituation program in Latin America, inspired by the model long proven with leopards in the great African game reserves. The project's approach is to gradually accustom wild jaguars to the presence of safari vehicles, without altering their natural behavior, so that they can be observed and studied at close range. The results have been remarkable: between 2022 and 2024, 100% of visitors at Caiman Pantanal saw at least one jaguar, and as of 2025, 269 individual jaguars have been identified through GPS collars, camera traps, and daily monitoring.
 
Today, you'll spend a full day alongside the Onçafari habituation team, accompanying expert conservationists and biologists into the field. Track footprints, review camera trap data, and monitor satellite and VHF signals as the team works to locate the Refuge's resident jaguars. The day combines the excitement of a classic big-cat safari with the rare privilege of witnessing cutting-edge conservation science in action. Meals B+L+D

After a final breakfast at Caiman Lodge, a privately chauffeured transfer will take you to Campo Grande Airport to board your included flight to Rio de Janeiro, connecting through São Paulo. It’s an exciting day as you journey from the wild, open landscapes of the Pantanal to Brazil's most celebrated city.
 
Arriving in Rio late this afternoon, you'll be warmly welcomed and escorted by private vehicle to your luxury hotel, ideally situated to experience the city’s legendary energy and allure.
 
Rio de Janeiro is dramatically set between the Atlantic Ocean and a series of granite peaks, its famous neighborhoods cascading down to some 50 miles of coastline in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty. First settled by the Portuguese in 1565, the city served as the capital of the Portuguese Empire's vast American holdings and later of independent Brazil—leaving behind a rich legacy of colonial architecture, grand boulevards, and cultural institutions. Today Rio captivates visitors with its iconic landmarks, the rhythms of samba and bossa nova born on its streets, and a dining and nightlife scene that attracts sophisticated travelers from around the world. Meals B
 

After breakfast, your private guide will be waiting to share with you the extraordinary beauty and storied character of Rio de Janeiro. Your first destination is Corcovado Mountain, reached by a scenic train journey through the dense Atlantic rainforest of Tijuca National Park, one of the largest urban forests in the world. At the summit, the towering figure of Christ the Redeemer spreads its arms over the city below. Completed in 1931 and standing 98 feet tall atop its pedestal, this magnificent Art Deco statue is one of the most recognized landmarks on Earth—and the panoramic views from its base are unforgettable, encompassing the city, bay, beaches, and surrounding peaks.
 
From Corcovado, continue to Sugarloaf Mountain, the iconic granite peak that rises 1,299 feet above the entrance to Guanabara Bay. With fast-track access to the cable cars, you'll ascend in two stages: first to Urca Hill, then to the summit of Sugarloaf itself. Each step promises progressively more breathtaking vistas across Rio's famous beaches, the sparkling waters of the bay, and the dramatic coastal peaks that give this city its singular beauty.
 
Lunch is included at one of your guide's favorite churrascarias, where the Brazilian tradition of slow-roasted meats carved tableside offers a thoroughly satisfying and convivial midday pause before returning to your hotel. Meals B+L
 

After breakfast, your private car and driver will transfer you to the airport for your onward journey. Or why not extend your South American adventure with our easy-to-add post-tour extensions?
 
If you're not quite ready to leave Brazil, we offer two options that include all on-tour transportation, hotel accommodations, and comprehensive privately guided sightseeing. Discover the majesty of Iguassu from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Or travel on to beautiful Angra dos Reis, situated along Brazil's Costa Verde and an idyllic base for discovering the colonial town of Paraty.  Meals B