Wildlife Of Brazil: Iguassu - Amazon - Pantanal - Rio Tour

You will be met at Foz do Iguassu Airport and transferred to your hotel near one of the greatest waterfalls in the world and regarded as one of Latin America's most awe-inspiring sights.

The mighty Iguassu Falls, whose name means "Great Waters", straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil - although almost 80% of the falls are on the Argentinian side. It is situated in a huge tropical rainforest that has been declared a World Heritage site, with countless flora and fauna species.

Today enjoy a half day tour of the Brazilian side of the incredible Iguassu Falls, with panoramic views of the nearly 2-mile (3 km) cliff edge. We take an elevator down to the base of the waterfalls and stop at different viewing points.

The volume of water flowing over the falls varies greatly by season, depending on the rainfall. The heaviest rains are from December to February, when the flow of water is at its greatest, but many trails are closed then due to the rains. The shoulder seasons of March/April and August/September are generally regarded as the best time to visit, but the falls are a spectacular sight at any time of year.

Today enjoy a half day tour of the Argentinian side of the incredible Iguassu Falls.

Comprising approximately 275 separate cascades, the falls form a curtain of foaming water that crashes over a vast granite amphitheatre and into the jungle below. Resembling a reversed letter "J", most of the Iguazu River plunges down through an area known as The Devil’s Throat, with the rest spreading out over a wide shelf that splits into hundreds of different waterfalls.

There are a series of walkways that lead above, below and behind the falls, with breath-taking views. You can also hope to see monkeys, toucans, parakeets and other wildlife in the rainforest.

Transfer to Foz do Iguassu Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Manaus Airport and transferred from 1 to 3.5-hours by road and boat to the Amazon Basin (depending on the situation of your jungle lodge).

Check in and relax in your warm tropical rainforest surroundings, before visiting the home of a local Amazonian resident. In the evening board we a motorised canoe to search for caiman (small alligators) by spotlight.

Today is devoted to explore the birds and wildlife of the amazing Amazon Basin - a 2,7-million sq. mile (6.7 million sq. km) conservation area that is the largest in the world, spreading across eight countries - Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

Your guide will accompany you along the many trails that wind through the rainforest and navigate the waterways by motorised canoe. As you walk through woods and past waterfalls, you can marvel at the magnificent trees and the extraordinary variety of orchids, bromeliads, ferns, begonias, lichens and mosses that grow here.

You may see caimans (related to alligators), turtles, woolly monkeys, tufted brown capuchin monkeys, a variety of frogs and many other forest reptiles and insects. You may also be fortunate enough to see some of the colourful birds of the rainforest such as the brilliant golden-headed quetzal, grey-breasted mountain toucan, blue-crowned motmot, umbrella bird, blue-banded toucanet, fruit-eating tanager, red-crested cotinga, banded-tail fruit-eater and a variety of flycatchers.

Activities vary by lodge but can include climbing an observation tower for treetop views of the primary rainforest, visiting a parrotclay lick to see these colourful birds or a peccary clay lick frequented by forest pigs, canoe rides in search of hoatzin (stinkbird), otters, macaws and other lakeside wildlife, piranha fishing, learning about traditional and medicinal plants, visiting a local village, observing pink dolphins or a night walk in the jungle.

If you are staying for three or more nights, on one day travel to see the famous Meeting of the Waters - where the dark (almost black) waters of the Rio Negro run alongside the sandy coloured waters of the Rio Solimões (Amazon River) without mixing. This strange natural phenomenon is due to differences in the temperature, speed and water density of the two rivers.

Note: A headlamp is essential in the Amazon.

Today is devoted to explore the birds and wildlife of the amazing Amazon Basin - a 2,7-million sq. mile (6.7 million sq. km) conservation area that is the largest in the world, spreading across eight countries - Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

Your guide will accompany you along the many trails that wind through the rainforest and navigate the waterways by motorised canoe. As you walk through woods and past waterfalls, you can marvel at the magnificent trees and the extraordinary variety of orchids, bromeliads, ferns, begonias, lichens and mosses that grow here.

You may see caimans (related to alligators), turtles, woolly monkeys, tufted brown capuchin monkeys, a variety of frogs and many other forest reptiles and insects. You may also be fortunate enough to see some of the colourful birds of the rainforest such as the brilliant golden-headed quetzal, grey-breasted mountain toucan, blue-crowned motmot, umbrella bird, blue-banded toucanet, fruit-eating tanager, red-crested cotinga, banded-tail fruit-eater and a variety of flycatchers.

Activities vary by lodge but can include climbing an observation tower for treetop views of the primary rainforest, visiting a parrotclay lick to see these colourful birds or a peccary clay lick frequented by forest pigs, canoe rides in search of hoatzin (stinkbird), otters, macaws and other lakeside wildlife, piranha fishing, learning about traditional and medicinal plants, visiting a local village, observing pink dolphins or a night walk in the jungle.

If you are staying for three or more nights, on one day travel to see the famous Meeting of the Waters - where the dark (almost black) waters of the Rio Negro run alongside the sandy coloured waters of the Rio Solimões (Amazon River) without mixing. This strange natural phenomenon is due to differences in the temperature, speed and water density of the two rivers.

Note: A headlamp is essential in the Amazon.

Today transfer from the Amazon Basin to Manaus Airport for your flight to Porto Velho and connecting flight to Cuiaba.

You will be met at Cuiaba Airport and transferred to your hotel in this capital city of Mato Grosso state, situated in the exact centre of South America.

Today you will be transferred 3.5-hours from Cuiaba to your lodge in the northern Pantanal Wetlands.

This is the world's largest tropical wetland located mainly in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, but also extending into Bolivia and Paraguay. Check into your lodge and enjoy a late afternoon walk to an observation tower and a spectacular sunset, before relaxing under the clear night skies of the southern hemisphere.

Today is devoted to exploring the wildlife of the Pantanal Wetlands - one of the last untouched wildlife sanctuaries in the world, stretching over 75,000 square miles (195.000 sq km).

These vast seasonal tropical flood plains and their surrounding eco-system, which varies from Amazonian rainforest to semi-arid woodland and savanna, are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife. This includes the Brazilian tapir, one of the largest mammals in South America with a strange trunk-like nose, the crab-eating raccoon and the South American coati (nicknamed the hog-nosed raccoon because of its pig-like snout). You can also hope to see the crab-eating fox, giant otter, collared anteater, giant anteater, black-striped capuchin monkey and ocelot - a spectacular wild cat also known as the dwarf leopard.

On the waterways you can hope to see many caiman (similar to alligators), capybara (a very large rodent) and, if you are fortunate, an anaconda or a group of giant otters - as well as many other mammals and birds. If you are very fortunate, you may even see a jaguar, one of the most powerful of the big cats and the third largest after the tiger and lion. June to October are the best months to see jaguars, but sightings of these magnificent creatures in the wild are rare and never guaranteed.

Bird watching is also outstanding and you can hope to see the Jabiru stork, Roseate spoonbill, Southern screamer as well as several species of ibis, egret and heron. Also many hawks and other birds of prey. The flora is also astonishing, with over 3,500 different species including many aquatic plants, as over 80% of the wetlands are submerged during the wet season. In the evening enjoy star gazing in the clear night skies of the Southern Hemisphere.

Note: All regular wildlife activities, boating and walking trails are included. Many lodges also offer included horse riding.

Today is devoted to exploring the wildlife of the Pantanal Wetlands - one of the last untouched wildlife sanctuaries in the world, stretching over 75,000 square miles (195.000 sq km).

These vast seasonal tropical flood plains and their surrounding eco-system, which varies from Amazonian rainforest to semi-arid woodland and savanna, are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife. This includes the Brazilian tapir, one of the largest mammals in South America with a strange trunk-like nose, the crab-eating raccoon and the South American coati (nicknamed the hog-nosed raccoon because of its pig-like snout). You can also hope to see the crab-eating fox, giant otter, collared anteater, giant anteater, black-striped capuchin monkey and ocelot - a spectacular wild cat also known as the dwarf leopard.

On the waterways you can hope to see many caiman (similar to alligators), capybara (a very large rodent) and, if you are fortunate, an anaconda or a group of giant otters - as well as many other mammals and birds. If you are very fortunate, you may even see a jaguar, one of the most powerful of the big cats and the third largest after the tiger and lion. June to October are the best months to see jaguars, but sightings of these magnificent creatures in the wild are rare and never guaranteed.

Bird watching is also outstanding and you can hope to see the Jabiru stork, Roseate spoonbill, Southern screamer as well as several species of ibis, egret and heron. Also many hawks and other birds of prey. The flora is also astonishing, with over 3,500 different species including many aquatic plants, as over 80% of the wetlands are submerged during the wet season. In the evening enjoy star gazing in the clear night skies of the Southern Hemisphere.

Note: All regular wildlife activities, boating and walking trails are included. Many lodges also offer included horse riding.

Transfer 3-hours to Cuiaba Airport for your flight to Sao Paulo and connecting flight to Rio de Janeiro.

You will be met at your Rio airport and transferred to your hotel in this exciting city.

Today we suggest an optional half day shared tour of the exciting city of Rio de Janiero.

After a tour of the downtown area, we stop at the huge Metropolitan Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Sebastian), built in the form of an ancient Mayan pyramid. We then continue driving past Flamengo Park, the largest public park in Rio, to one of the most famous symbols of the city - Sugarloaf Mountain.

Here we travel all the way to the top, in two cable cars. The first cable car takes us to Urca Hill, a vantage point with beautiful views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niterói Bridge and Corcovado Mountain. The second cable car takes us all the way to the top, with wonderful views of Copacabana beach, Santa Cruz fortress and the beaches of Niterói.

We return by cable car and transfer back to your hotel, with afternoon at leisure.

Today we suggest an optional half day tour to visit one of the world’s most famous landmarks.

We start by boarding the cog train from Cosme Velho Station to Corcovado Mountain. Enjoy the steep 20-minutes train journey through the dense Atlantic rainforest of Tijuca, with wonderful views of the lush tropical vegetation, and scenic landscapes of the city and its beaches below. Disembark and climb the steps or take the escalators to the base of the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer - one of the 7 wonders of the modern world - and enjoy its spectacular 360 degree panoramas.

After descending by cog train, you will drive past some of Rio's most famous beaches - Leblon, Ipanema & Copacabana - before you are dropped off at your hotel, with afternoon at leisure.

At leisure to relax on famous Copacabana Beach or explore more of the city independently.

Transfer to Rio de Janiero Airport for your flight home.