Jaguars of the Pantanal

Happy Friday!

This is Adventure Fix, the weekly email for people who want to push past the backpacker routes into wilder realms.

Today we’re heading to Brazil to see the Jaguars of the Pantanal.

Jaguars of the Pantanal

Jaguars are known for being elusive, solitary creatures. In most parts of the world, you would be lucky even to get a glimpse as fast as a flash of an eye of these big cats.

But if you’ve dreamt of seeing jaguars in the wild, not all hope is lost.

The best place to spot these animals is deep in the tropical wetlands of Brazil’s Pantanal region.

What makes it the best?

Here, these cats don’t prey on land animals like in other parts of the world, instead, their diet is made up mostly of aquatic animals.

Lucky for them, the Pantanal has an abundance of caimans and fish which allows the jaguars to thrive.

Along with the relatively large population and the fact that they come to the rivers to hunt, makes the chances of seeing jaguars are much higher than in places like Belize or Guyana where you have to bushwack through dense jungle.

The abundance of food also makes these cats highly social, something uncommon in this species.

Since there’s plenty to eat they’re not territorial and are often seen playing and hunting together.

There’s no question that the jaguar is the star of the show but there’s also plenty of other wildlife that make journeying to the Pantanal worthwhile.

Giant anteaters, toucans, river otters, and the maned wolf are just a few of the incredible animals that call this place home.

Explore More

• Pantanal: The Aquatic Heart of South America (video)

• Pantanal Jagaur Safari (article)

How to Visit the Jaguars of the Pantanal

The best time to visit the Pantanal is in the dry season, between the months of July and October.

To see jaguars in the Pantanal, you need to either book an organised tour or self-drive.

Local tour operators like Wildlife Pantanal Tours offer 4 to 6 days Jaguar tours departing from Cuiabá, where everything will be taken care of for you, including transport, meals and lodging. Most importantly, you’ll have a wildlife guide who can spot the jaguars for you.

Those willing to self drive will need to have experience driving off road. Rental cars are available at Cuiabá airport.

We hope your travels take you in this direction very soon.

Until then - keep exploring!

- Amanda