Departure to Brazil, arrival in vibrant São Paulo – the largest city in South America.
Full-day city tour. We’ll visit the iconic Avenida Paulista, a symbol of modern Brazil, stop at Ibirapuera Park – the green lungs of the city featuring Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture – and walk through the historic center (Sé, Pátio do Colégio).
We’ll also visit the observation deck of the Edifício Itália building or Farol Santander to truly grasp just how endless this city really is.
The program will also include a visit to one of the local favelas with a local guide, where we’ll gain a better understanding of the social contrasts of the Brazilian metropolis.
Flight to Campo Grande followed by transfer to the northern Pantanal, to the Rio Negro river area, where one of the best safaris in the world awaits us.
The journey is an experience in itself – first several hours on paved roads, then after reaching Aquidauana, we’ll continue on unpaved roads toward the Barranco Alto ranch.
Even during the transfer, we’ll need to keep our eyes peeled – a giant anteater or armadillo might cross our path. The more observant among us will spot ibises, toucans, or the first macaws. Perhaps – just like last time – we’ll be greeted by hyacinth macaws and the world’s largest rodents, capybaras.
In the evening, we’ll take a walk to the river. In the darkness, thousands of “little lights” will illuminate the water’s surface – the eyes of caimans reflecting the light of our headlamps.
From early morning, we’ll set out on the water. In boats or kayaks, we’ll navigate the Rio Negro and experience a true safari.
The Pantanal is a bird paradise. We’ll try to find giant otters and carefully observe the behavior of capybaras. Their unusual barking often signals the presence of a jaguar.
While wading through shallow waters, we need to watch out for freshwater stingrays – their sting is among the most unpleasant experiences in Amazonian waters.
In the morning, we’ll set out on the water again. We’ll be accompanied by caimans, neotropical otters, capybaras, several species of herons, jacanas, and majestic collared plovers.
We’ll photograph at least two species of kingfishers, the ringed kingfisher and the Amazon kingfisher, and while hunting, the black skimmers will show us their acrobatics.
Today’s expedition will target the iconic jabiru storks, the smaller wood stork, and with a bit of luck, the magnificent maguari stork with its unmistakable wing pattern.
After a hearty breakfast, we’ll explore the water bodies and savannas around the ranch. We’ll try to find the pampas deer, the marsh deer, tapirs, anteaters, or armadillos.
And yes – the local cuisine is a gourmet experience. Lunches and dinners are worth capturing with a camera. Along the way, we might encounter burrowing owls, and near the blue-flowering trees, golden-green hummingbirds.
Observing leafcutter ants (Atta) is a fascinating detail of Pantanal life – they cultivate fungi on pieces of leaves, which form the foundation of their colonies.
If we haven’t been lucky enough to spot a jaguar yet, we’ll patiently search for one along the river. We might also encounter the curassow, the crested caracara, or the unusual hoatzin in front of our lens.
During the evening safari, in addition to jaguars and caimans, we’ll try to find the common pauraque as well.
We’ll dedicate the morning to final photography of the Pantanal’s rich biodiversity: 152 mammal species, 582 bird species, 127 reptile species, 47 amphibians, and an incredible variety of plants.
We’re planning the stay toward the end of the dry season, when animals are concentrated near the rivers and remaining waterholes. After heavier rains, the journey to Campo Grande can become slightly adrenaline-pumping – reminding us that we’re in the world’s largest wetland ecosystem.
Flight to São Paulo and transfer to Ilhabela island (Ilhabela State Park).
In addition to beautiful beaches like Praia do Curral and Praia de Castelhanos, we’ll also visit areas of the original Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica), one of the world’s most endangered biomes.
Relaxation on the beaches, hikes to waterfalls (e.g., Cachoeira da Toca), views from mountain trails, and another round of birdlife, especially the avian inhabitants of the Atlantic Forest.
Optional boat trip around the island available.
Departure to Europe or option to extend your stay with Rio de Janeiro (Sugarloaf Mountain, Corcovado, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches).
Citizens of the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic do not require a visa for Brazil
This is an exceptional experience in the heart of the world’s largest wetland area. In the Pantanal, it will be more or less just us and the wilderness – without the crowds of tourists, without the noise and bustle. It is this solitude that will enhance the entire experience: not only of the environment itself, but especially of the authentic observation of animals in their natural habitat.
No distractions, no disturbances. There is no risk of crowds of irresponsible tourists arriving by bus just for a mobile phone photo. This is a place where silence, respect, and true contact with nature prevail.
Our mission is to organize unconventional expeditions to less-visited countries around the world, off the main tourist trails.
Mission
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We offer you a distinctive kind of travel experience, tailored precisely to each client’s individual requirements. Your trips will be prepared by Martin Navrátil, a traveller and tour guide with over 20 years of experience from almost every country in the world. Over the course of his travels he has created hundreds of tours, not only to well-known places but also to destinations people don’t normally visit — from the South Pole and Baikonur to countries that require a great many permits and specialist experience.
It is precisely this experience that forms the foundation of our tailor-made trips. This is a distinctive kind of travel experience, adapted down to the very last detail to your wishes. Whether you’re a small group of friends or a company team, we’ll put together an itinerary based on whatever appeals to you most — culture, nature, history, food, adventure, or a combination of everything.
Our job is to turn your travel dreams into reality. We don’t offer “packages,” but experiences tailored precisely to you. Traveling with us isn’t just about the place you visit — it’s about the stories we’ll create together and the memories you’ll always love coming back to.
