Pantanal

The Pantanal is a massive tropical wetland that primarily spans across Brazil, but also extends into Bolivia and Paraguay. It covers an estimated area of between 140,000 and 195,000 square kilometers. The majority of this ecosystem, roughly 80%, is located within the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.

The Northern Pantanal, specifically the region around Porto Jofre along the Cuiabá River, is widely considered the best place in the world to spot wild jaguars. Visitors typically hire small motorboat tours during the dry season, which runs from July to October. This is when the water levels recede and the big cats are easier to spot along the riverbanks.

While the Amazon has a higher overall biodiversity, the Pantanal offers much higher visibility for wildlife spotting due to its open, seasonally flooded savanna landscape. You are far more likely to see capybaras, giant otters, and jaguars in the Pantanal than in the dense foliage of the Amazon. It is often described as the best place in the Americas for animal watching.

The wet season in the Pantanal runs from roughly November to March, bringing heavy rains that flood the vast plains and make many roads impassable. During this time, wildlife retreats to higher ground and island forests. The dry season, between April and October, is when the waters recede and animal concentrations around shrinking pools peak.