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Pick-up at Campo Grande airport and transfer to the Hotel. After the long journey you have just completed, the rest of the day is free for relaxation. Depending on the time of your arrival, however, if you do still have some energy, you might want to visit a specialized outfitter which we recommend for distinctly Brazilian ranch and horse equipment. They offer whips, hats, boots, saddles, reins, stirrups etc. Sun block and mosquito repellent are also available in the pharmacy next to the hotel. The Vale Verde Hotel is located close to the airport, and to the Federal highway that will take you to the Fazenda Nhecolândia. The hotel is not deluxe but is comfortable, and offers all necessary amenities.
Our guide picks you up at 7:30am with a 4x4 vehicle. Estimated time of arrival at the Fazenda Nhecolândia is around 1:30pm. Alternatively, there is also the possibility of taking a private chartered flight into the Pantanal wilderness. The panoramic flight to our Fazenda takes about 60 minutes and offers spectacular views from the low flying plane. Please ask for details.
The Fazenda has a charming atmosphere and offers comfortable accommodation. Your friendly hosts, Doio and Rita, will welcome you and take you to your rooms. You will then have a light lunch, after which you can relax in a gently swinging hammock in the shade of the porch or, if you prefer, in your air-conditioned room. Later that afternoon you will have a short ride through the ranch to enable you to try out the horse you will be riding for the next days and have your first glimpse of the region’s wildlife. The Pantaneiro horses are gorgeous, calm and fast when demanded, suitable both for experienced and novice riders. They are all well trained, surefooted, calm and yet forward going. The saddles are made for comfort and safety.
Back at the guesthouse, you may want to inspect the ranch’s other facilities and surroundings. Afterwards a delicious dinner will await you which you will eat together with your hosts and possibly a few other guests in the dining room.
Fazenda Nhecolândia encompasses some 16 thousand hectares and about 10,000 Nelore cattle, an Indian Brahma cross, perfectly adapted to the hot and humid climate of the Pantanal and other tropical and sub-tropical regions in Brazil. The Fazenda is located at the edge of the Vazante Castelo, hosting a great variety of wildlife that can easily be observed on the wide and flat savannah bush land. During the stay here we will be riding every day to different locations to observe the wildlife. Nature will release its wonders to us bit by bit, offering fascinating sights every day. The Nhecolândia region offers great riding at all paces on the wide, open land.
These days at Fazenda Nhecolândia start with a Pantaneiro farmers’ breakfast which is so substantial that you may think you are enjoying lunch instead! By the time you finish breakfast the horses are saddled and ready to go. The group will ride out with the peões, the cowboys of the Pantanal, and help rounding up and tending to the calves on the property. The fascinating cattle drives are other activities you will enjoy very much. When riding out with the peões there is a great variety of wildlife to be seen. This includes the American rhea, Nine banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), Peccary (Dicotyles tajacu), Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), and the huge Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus). Your guide will also help you seek out troops of Black and Brown howler monkeys which live in the area. The Pantanal is also known for its extraordinary diversity of birdlife. There are enormous flocks of water birds, such as pink spoonbills (Platalea ajaja); several species of herons; Jabiru giant storks (Jabiru mycteria), which are also referred to as Tuyuyu in this region; Jaçanã (Jacana jacana); Southern screamer (Chauna torquata), Red-legged Seriema (Cariama Cristata), Toucan (Ramphastos Toco), all three big macaws, including the biggest of all the Hyacinth macaw which come right to the porch. Please ask for a wildlife list when making reservations.
At some point in our stay it may be possible to take a relaxing canoe ride and fish for piranha in a nearby lake. We also recommend having a round of teréré Mate tea with the peões. The peões, mostly descendants from Indigenous people of several tribes of the region encompassing Paraguay and Brazil, are the authentic representatives of the Pantanal. Chatting with them, you will get to know the peculiarities and the history of this region.
On the last night at Nhecolândia ranch, a special dinner is on the menu, traditionally consisting of generous chunks of wild boar or lamb grilled on the open fireplace, washed down with some good Brazilian wines (you did not know that Brazil produces wine?) on the house.
You will ride for around 6-7 hours per day.
Today the group is set to depart early for a full day of riding fun. The São Luis camp site is the destination. Riding for miles and miles at the edge of the beautiful Vazante Castelo, one cannot help but marvel at the wide-open spaces covered in places with lush native forest. Observe the animals en route or enjoy having a great canter on these lands blessed by nature.
Lunch is delivered by the 4x4 support vehicle which also carries your belongings to the camp site. We have chosen a shaded place for lunch followed by a much-welcomed siesta, as the riding day is a long one.
Our night break is at the São Luis camp site. The camp site is extremely comfortable, with bathrooms, showers, kitchen, refrigerators, ventilators, window screens and staff who look after the guests’ needs. After refreshing drinks, including cold beers, and a good meal, we can hit our hammocks. However, some might prefer to stay awake for some storytelling around the camp fire. Certainly, subjects will include the not so elusive but dangerous jaguar, the gigantic anacondas and the brave horse men who explore this region. From the nearby lake you will hear caimans making terrifying sounds while hunting fish.
In the saddle: 8-9 hrs.
After leaving the São Luis camp site (located at Fazenda Primavera), we continue our horseback rides across the region until reaching Barranco Alto, where daily riding excursions will take place.
Barranco Alto is one of the most traditional and fascinating cattle ranches in the heart of the Pantanal. Situated along the pristine banks of the Rio Negro, it is renowned for its rich and diverse ecosystem—a stunning mosaic of flooded plains, gallery forests, open savannas, and natural sweet and saline water lakes (baias and salinas).
As a premier destination for horseback riding, Barranco Alto offers endless trails through breathtaking, untouched landscapes. It is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers, providing incredible opportunities to spot iconic Pantanal wildlife such as jaguars, giant otters, tapirs, caimans, and hundreds of bird species in their natural habitat. Daily rides here allow you to fully immerse yourself in the authentic Pantaneiro culture while exploring one of the most remote and pristine corners of Brazil's vast wetland.
Unfortunately, it is time to say goodbye to the Pantanal and all the folks who made this ride unforgettable. On board a 4x4 vehicle we transfer you to Campo Grande Airport, from where you connect to any chosen destination.
The itinerary of our Pantanal riding tours is subject to changes and may be altered in accordance with conditions during the stay and the ride. The decisions taken by the local team must be adhered to.
| US$ (American Dollars) |
| For 9 days / 8 nights | |
| Special Date up to 6 riders only: Oct 11th through Oct 19th 2027 | $ 6,930.00 USD p.person |
Please ask for details
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