Day 1 - Campo Grande - Fazenda Baia das Pedras
Riding: No riding.
The meeting point for this ride is at the airport of Campo Grande where you will be greeted by your guide Paul. You will then transfer from the airport to the Pantanal. Transfer is not included but road or air transfers can be arranged for you at additional cost. Road transfers are approx. 6 hours each way or it is roughly a 1 hour flight if you would prefer this option.
For those who have arrived a night or two early, you will need to make your way back to the airport at Campo Grande in time for the transfer. No city transfers will be organised.
Upon arrival at Fazenda Baia das Pedras, you will receive a welcome drink and be shown to your room before a presentation of the region is given with information about the Pantanal and the programme for the following days. If time allows, you will have your first ride in the afternoon. The Pantaneiro horses are strong, well trained and very agile. Local Pantaneiro saddles are very comfortable to ride in. Dinner and overnight at Fazenda Baia das Pedras.
Day 2 - Fazenda Baia das Pedras
Riding: 6 hours
With approximately 16,000 acres and 4,000 head of cattle, Fazenda Baia das Pedras is a traditional fazenda typical of the Pantanal region. It is located in an immense area on the banks of the Castelo Vazante river, amid a lot of rich nature and wildlife. Here you can spot animals such as capibaras, howler monkeys, crocodiles, wild pigs, peccaries, coatis and tapirs, as well as a vast array of birds, including toucans, jabiru storks, hyacinth macaw, parakeets and many more.
Each day the itinerary will be split between morning and afternoon rides, with a total of around 6 hours spent in the saddle each day. As Fazenda Baia das Pedras is a working Brazilian cattle farm, you will have the opportunity to meet with local cowboys and be introduced to their culture and way of life. You may even be able to roll up your sleeves and help the cowboys round up the cattle on horseback.
Day 3 - Fazenda Baia das Pedras
Riding: 6 hours
Another day exploring the area around Fazenda Baia das Pedras on horseback. This is safari at its best, looking for wildlife both large and small, on land, water or in the air. You should ensure you wear muted colours and are quiet so that you have a better chance of surprising the wildlife. Perhaps you'll spot a Giant Anteater, tapir, anaconda or 90kg giant armadillo - the pantanal is full of surprises.
Day 4 - Fazenda Baia das Pedras - Fazenda Primavera
Riding: 6 hours
After an early breakfast you will ride to the neighbouring property of Fazenda Primavera. You will be spending full days in the saddle over the next two days, riding through the beautiful landscape of Vazante Castelo, where you can observe the abundant wildlife of the Pantanal in a unique and untouched landscape. You will follow an open area surrounded by native bush adjacent to the bed of the river and see the incredible number of birds foraging here. You'll stop for a rest and lunch at Retiro Sao Luis, where you will be met by the back up vehicle with your luggage and a mobile field kitchen.
After lunch, you continue your journey through the wetlands and arrive on the property of Fazenda Primavera. Here you will find your wilderness camp in a beautiful and isolated area far from the fazenda itself. The camp is comprised of a central fixed roof structure with traditional Brazilian hammocks strung up for guests to sleep in and surrounded by mosquito nets for your comfort. The camp has a kitchen and 2 bathrooms with showers. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day 5 - Fazenda Primavera
Riding: 6 hours
The next morning, after breakfast, you will take a walk to the river to have a closer look at the wildlife here. You may have the opportunity to take pictures of alligators, capibara and some of the many bird species near the waters edge. In the afternoon you will be taken on a fascinating excursion on horseback. You will find yourself in the middle of the vast wilderness... just you and the great outdoors. At sunset there will be another chance to take amazing photographs and after dinner you can venture down to the river by torch light to spot the orange eyes of the crocodiles in the water. Another night in camp this evening - you will be surprised how comfortable the Brazilian hammocks are!
Day 6 - Fazenda Primavera - Fazenda El Dorado
Riding: 6 hours
After breakfast at sunrise you will mount your horse and ride through the Pantanal to Fazenda El Dorado. From the saddle you will notice the landscape changing as you get to the area of the Rio Negro. Lunch will be served in the shade of a tree in the middle of the bush. In the afternoon you continue riding until reaching the Rio Negro where you take a boat to El Dorado. The white sand beaches of the shore indicates that you have arrived at the farm where a delicious aperitif awaits you. Listen to stories of the past before overnighting in this authentic fazenda.
Located in a very special and secluded area, the territory of Fazenda El Dorado is considered to be one of the most wild and unspoilt of the Pantanal. The fazenda is situated on the banks of the Rio Negro, where it is possible to go on boat and canoe expeditions to see the natural beauty and wildlife of the region. Alligators, giant otters, capybaras, anacondas and maybe even the jaguar are animals you can see here. You will feel like you are in the middle of a National Geographic documentary!
Day 7 - Fazenda El Dorado
Riding: No riding.
Today you will discover the wildlife from the water - by boat and canoe. It's another fun and quiet way to approach the wildlife. You can bathe and swim in the river and go fishing for piranhas (we can hear you saying "how can we swim where piranhas are?" but your guides will explain what is and is not possible!). After a good aperitif at the fazenda you have a final dinner and overnight in the pantanal.
Day 8 - Fazenda El Dorado - Campo Grande
Riding: No riding.
Time to say a sad farewell and depart the fazenda after breakfast, heading to the city of Campo Grande or the airport (transfer time dependent on mode of transport).
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
