3 Top Brazil Pantanal Jungle Lodges
Once the colonial holdings of the Portuguese crown, Brazil is the largest country in South America, and much of it is pristine jungle wilderness. The Amazon basin is the largest and most famous Brazilian jungle, but there is another jungle, the Pantanal, in the southwest of Brazil, which is just as beautiful and exotic, if not more so. Diverse birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians live in the wetlands and jungles of this region, one of the world's best wildlife spotting areas.
There are two major cities in the Pantanal area, which is located in the Mato Grosso state near the border of Bolivia and Paraguay. Cuiabá is the capital of the state, and is the largest and most popular destination for travelers to the Pantanal, as there are many pousadas, or lodges, nearby. Another destination is Campo Grande, to the south. These Pantanal jungle lodges offer everything a traveler might need, including all meals, lodging, and guided excursions to see wildlife, go piranha fishing, ride horseback, take 4x4 safari tours, and canoe river rides.
The Pousada Aguape Lodge is 160km from Campo Grande in a lush wetland by the Aquidauana River. The lodge is open all year round, and its 13 rustic rooms have views of the Ibera Lagoon, are equipped with air-conditioning and ceiling fans, and come with private decks. All meals - all excellent cuisine, especially the lamb and homemade pasta - are served in the lodge dining hall. The lodge also has a swimming pool, beach volleyball court, and soccer field. From the lodge, visitors can go on horseback ride, lagoon boat rides, 4x4 safaris, nature treks, piranha fishing, and nighttime excursions to see caimans.
The Baia Grande Lodge is another excellent lodge located on a farm about 20km from Campo Grande. The lodge, or farm, is dedicated to promoting local culture and preserving the environment. Nearby is the Great Bay, where visitors can take boat tours to search for caimans, fish for piranhas, or take horseback rides through the marshes. The lodge offers a charming and relaxing environment, complete with hammocks, a swimming pool, and home-cooking. Each room is air-conditioned, and the living room has a TV and DVD player.
At Pousada do Rio Mutum Lodge, located near Cuiabá, visitors can spend just three days or five if they would like, relaxing in the comfortable lodge completely removed from the busyness of the city, or enjoying the exotic wildlife teeming in the jungle on numerous activities. On a boat ride along the Mutum River, giant otters, stingrays, and tropical fish are often spotted, and there are tons of birds at the conjunction of Bahia Sia Mariana and the Bahia de Chacorore. One of the most spectacular activities offered at this jungle is an early morning canoe ride, where visitors can witness the sunrise as the birds and wildlife wake to the new day.
Image via Wikipedia
Image by Renata F. Oliveira via Flickr
