Day 1 · Transpantaneira
Cuiabá → Porto Jofre
Depart Cuiabá along the Transpantaneira. The drive is part of the expedition, with opportunities to photograph waterbirds, mammals, reptiles and other Pantanal wildlife.
Brazil · Photography Expedition
Pantanal & Amazonía Photo Expedition
Ten days following jaguars through the rivers of the northern Pantanal, searching for giant anteaters and maned wolves, then entering Mato Grosso’s Amazon transition forest.
The expedition
What this journey is
The route follows the Transpantaneira from Cuiabá to Porto Jofre, navigates rivers with one of the world’s highest jaguar densities, then continues through Pouso Alegre and Portal Paraíso into the Amazon transition at Cunhataí Porã.
This is a private wildlife and photography expedition coordinated by VIVO, with field guidance by naturalist César Moraga and local teams at each lodge and river section.
Early departures, golden light and real time to photograph — with one VIVO contact from planning through your return.
Two full river-safari days focused on jaguars
Giant anteater and maned-wolf field searches
Forest trails, observation tower and Amazon boat work
Cuiabá airport pickup and in-country logistics coordinated
10Days / 9 nights
4Regions and lodge bases
2Jaguar river days
PrivateExpedition format
Subjects
What you photograph
Designed around a realistic set of subjects. Wild species are never guaranteed — we tell you the odds honestly.
Designed around
- Jaguar
- Giant otter
- Giant anteater
- Maned wolf
- Harpy eagle
Also possible — never promised
- Ocelot
- Lowland tapir
- Southern tamandua
- Jabiru
- Toco toucan
- Yacare caiman
Habitats on route
- Northern Pantanal rivers and floodplain
- Transpantaneira wetlands and lodge reserves
- Amazon transition forest at Cunhataí Porã
Photographic opportunities
- River-level jaguar work from small boats
- Early and late light for open-habitat mammals
- Forest trails and observation-tower bird photography
Day by day
The route
Every day is built around light, altitude and the sites that actually deliver photographs.
Day 2 · Porto Jofre
First jaguar river safari
A full day exploring the rivers of the northern Pantanal by boat, focused on finding and observing jaguars alongside the region’s other wildlife.
- Jaguar
Day 3 · Porto Jofre
Jaguars & river wildlife
A second full day on the rivers, with chances to see giant otters, capybaras, caimans, birds and other iconic Pantanal species.
- Jaguar
- Giant otter
- Capybara
Day 4 · Transpantaneira
Porto Jofre → Pouso Alegre
Travel the Transpantaneira with wildlife stops, arrive for lunch, then begin an afternoon photo safari around the property during peak activity.
Day 5 · Pouso Alegre
Full day of photo safaris
Explore different habitats around Pouso Alegre for mammals, birds, reptiles and other representative Pantanal species.
- Lowland tapir
- Toco toucan
- Jabiru
Day 6 · Portal Paraíso
Pouso Alegre → Portal Paraíso
Continue wildlife safaris with giant anteaters and jaguars as the main targets, plus the region’s broad diversity of birds and mammals.
- Giant anteater
- Jaguar
Day 7 · Portal Paraíso → Cunhataí Porã
Safari & transfer toward the Amazon
An early safari focused on giant anteaters and birdlife, followed by the journey to Cunhataí Porã and the start of the Amazon-transition stage.
- Giant anteater
- Birdlife
Day 8 · Cunhataí Porã
Searching for the maned wolf
A very early specialized outing for the maned wolf, followed by trails and strategic wildlife observation sites.
- Maned wolf
Day 9 · Cunhataí Porã
Trails, tower & boat ride
Explore forest trails, an observation tower and a boat route for birds, primates and other Amazonian wildlife.
- Birds
- Primates
Day 10 · Cuiabá
Return to Cuiabá
After breakfast, transfer back to Cuiabá, concluding the expedition through the Pantanal and Brazilian Amazon transition.
Who leads
Your team in the field
A VIVO photography lead plus local specialists who know each site season by season.
Pantanal wildlife · Natural history interpretation
César Moraga Ruiz
Brazil Field Naturalist & Expedition Guide
Costa Rican naturalist and expedition guide with more than 16 years in the Neotropics, including work with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Expeditions. In Brazil he interprets Pantanal, Cerrado and southern Amazon wildlife, from jaguars and giant otters to anteaters, maned wolves and wetland birds.
Expedition planning · Costa Rica field logistics
Elías Peña
Founder · Expedition Planner · Costa Rica Field Lead
Founder of VIVO Expeditions. Designs every workshop route, coordinates hotels, ground transport, permits and local specialists, and leads field sessions in Costa Rica. He is also the person travellers talk to before, during and after each workshop.
Where you sleep
Lodges on route
Private rooms with bathroom and air conditioning, selected around field access and route timing.
Porto Jofre
Used on this route according to departure timing.
Pouso Alegre
Used on this route according to departure timing.
Portal Paraíso
Used on this route according to departure timing.
Cunhataí Porã
Used on this route according to departure timing.
Private rooms include a private bathroom and air conditioning. Standard and superior categories depend on departure dates and lodge availability.
In the field
Wildlife first, with time to photograph
Early starts and patient observation shape the pace.
The river days focus on jaguar behaviour and clean shooting angles from the boat, while the Transpantaneira and lodge reserves broaden the portfolio to wetland birds, tapirs, anteaters and nocturnal wildlife.
At Cunhataí Porã the landscape changes: trails, tower and waterways introduce the Amazon transition, with a dedicated early search for the maned wolf.
César Moraga guides in the field. Elías Peña and VIVO coordinate the trip before, during and after the expedition.
Scope & logistics
What the expedition covers
Included
- Cuiabá airport pickup and all route transfers
- Private lodging with bathroom and air conditioning
- Field guidance by César Moraga and local teams
- Boat safaris, lodge safaris and scheduled activities
- VIVO planning and traveller coordination
Not included
- Flights to and from Cuiabá
- Brazilian visa when required
- Travel and photography-equipment insurance
- Tips and personal expenses
Optional add-ons
- Superior lodging categories where available
On request
- A shorter seven-day Pantanal-only route
- Private dates and pacing for your group
Private proposal
Investment
A shorter seven-day Pantanal-only route is available on request.
10-day expedition
Quoted per departure
The exact cost depends on dates, lodge category and private group size. Send a request with no charge; VIVO reconfirms availability and provides one written proposal before any payment.
Terms
Booking and policies
The written proposal carries the exact deposit, balance and cancellation terms for the confirmed departure. No payment is taken from this request page.
Availability first
VIVO confirms lodges, field guide and route timing before sending the written proposal.
Sightings are never guaranteed
Weather, river conditions and animal behaviour can require operational changes while preserving an equivalent expedition.
Travel insurance
Each traveller must carry suitable medical, interruption and photography-equipment coverage.
Request — no charge
Join Early Access
This is a request, not a booking. Nothing is charged now: we review dates, lodges, guides and group size, then send you a written proposal with the exact route and cost.
- No charge and no card details required
- Written proposal with lodges, guides and inclusions
- Answered directly by Elías, who coordinates the expedition
Is this a booking?
No. The form is a request with no charge. VIVO confirms dates, lodge availability and the exact written proposal first.
Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?
No wild species can be guaranteed. The route and timing are designed around realistic seasonal opportunities.
1 · Your workshop2 · Your details