8 independent reviews for Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls
Reviews for Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls
Paul Mahoney review 23 Jul 2026
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Jaguars sitting 5 feet from where we were sat! If you want to experience Jaguars in their own environment, this is definitely the place to be. Among many beautiful experiences with these majestic animals, a female presented us with her two cubs and there they sat and played; this is the heart-warming magnificence you will never forget. Then there are the Caiman, Capybaras, Giant Otters, Iguanas and even a sighting of an Anaconda basking in the sun. If you are a birder, you are also in for a treat – Toucans, Macaws, Parrots, Parakeets and many, many more. And talking of magnificence, the theme continued through to the end of our trip with the breath-taking Iguacu Falls. There are no superlatives to cover these falls other than to say seeing is believing. The sight makes both Niagara and Vic Falls look like toy town. Not to mention that you can get very close!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
As a wheelchair user this trip has definitely pushed my limits. You really have to be able to leave the chair and walk small distances, be it with crutches or other help. Brazil’s cities do cater for wheelchair users but the remote areas only do by token that they are catering for an older generation with ramps and grab bars. But it does feel all a bit hit and miss. That said negotiating all the airports was supremely easy, helped greatly by the tour operator giving us plenty of time with any connections.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
If you want to see Jaguars up close and personal then the Pantanal is most definitely the place to go. From the detailed itinerary we knew where we were meant to be and when (even when there were changes during our trip, with the time differences, their team were on it). We were met and chauffeured from airports/hotels throughout very smoothly and reliably. Our guides and drivers were without exception wonderful, knowledgeable and ready to go that extra mile.Valerie Balban review 29 Jun 2026
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The sighting of the jaguars in their natural environment.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you enjoy wildlife go for it.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
There was definitely an awareness of the need for conservation and the all the employees were local.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The trip was amazing.Simon Hutchins review 29 Oct 2025
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
In short, all the wildlife. We managed to see 15 jaguars, plus multiple giant anteaters, tapirs, anacondas, river otters and toucans. Excellent guide as well.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Prepare for the heat. It got to 43 degrees at one point, but this is good for jaguar spotting as they like to be nearer the river.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The lodges and houseboat we stayed on were locally owned and very conscious of sustainability.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
10/10Read the operator's response here:
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review, Simon. We're delighted you had such a fantastic time, and it was a pleasure to have you and your wife travel with us. The Pantanal can get rather hot during the peak months. Temperatures are a bit cooler earlier in the season, particularly in June, and it’s a little less crowded, while still offering excellent chances to see multiple jaguars (though perhaps not quite 15!).
Matthew Lapointe review 18 Oct 2025
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our time in the Pantanal will stay with me forever. Although the entire trip was amazing, as a wildlife enthusiast, the Pantanal was a special experience for me.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Arrive in Rio de Janeiro ahead of time for a couple additional days in this amazing city. The "big ticket items" such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are included in the tour, but there are other things to experience there that you only have time for because the tour itinerary is already so full.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel the Pantanal portion supported conservation, since tourists wanting to see Jaguars and other wildlife is a big part of the reason the government saw fit to protect them. I don't feel there was any special benefits to local people, however. Beyond supporting the tourism sector in general, of which many local people are apart, of course.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I give this holiday perfect marks. It delivered everything it promised and everything I was looking for. The operator is a great company to work with.Wendy Williams review 22 Nov 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We went end of season yet we still saw loads of Jaguar and other wildlife. Iguacu Falls was simply breath-taking and all our guides were fantastic2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't hesitate to book - it is a fabulous holiday.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Local guides, drivers and boat pilots were used throughout the trip. Their knowledge of the area made every difference to the success of the wildlife sightings.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely brilliant! Superbly organised from start to finish. The detail in the final itinerary was the best we've ever been given. All the guides went out of their way to make the trip special and the accommodation was of a very high standard. Loved every minute!Ana Amarawansa review 25 Jul 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our recent adventure to Brazil literally took our breath away. We could not believe the variety of mammals, birds and reptiles we had close encounters with. I can’t even begin to agree on a single highlight, there were so many; seeing four jaguars (including cubs) in one spot, unexpected encounters with a puma and an ocelot and spending an hour watching a tapir mooch about our lodge grounds. the operators were also fab in helping Theresa with her photography skills and accommodating our request to see a sloth The trip was very well organised and everything ran very smoothly on the ground. Our guides were fabulous, especially Tito! We’ve been on similar private tours with ‘luxury’ agents that have turned into an absolute farce and this could not have been further from those experiences. Besides the SPECTACULAR wildlife we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Rio, with its picture postcard landscapes, unique street art and fabulous food. This holiday was worth every penny and more. If you are contemplating whether its right for you, sit back, have a Caipirinha and get it booked. You won’t regret it!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take lots of insect repellant! Please note our itinerary was altered to remove the waterfalls and add the Amazon but 98% of the wildlife we saw was in the Pantanal.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely! It really help promote conservation and we could see the employment benefits for local people.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
SPECTACULARAlan Holmwood review 29 Oct 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Having so many decent sightings of jaguars not just fleeting glimpses so taking good photos of them was easy.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go to the end of the transpanitaria to Porte Jofre this seemed the best place for jaguar spotting and for giant otters. Although we saw a couple of jaguars at Rio Claro I think we were extremely lucky as sightings here are not as common even our guide was surprised & pleased.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes as it used local guides, drives & independant accomodations hopefully the money brought in by tourists will help with conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent especially the Pantanal. Only dissapointment was the day we visited Sugar loaf mountain & Corcovado as it rained and visibility was zero, not the tour companies fault but would have been better if they were more flexible with the itinerary enabeling it to be swapped with another day we were in Rio.Robert Phillips review 28 Aug 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The wildlife viewing is wonderful. The highlight is definitely seeing the jaguars on the riverbanks in the Pantanal from about 20m.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a good camera, insect repellent and knock down spray. Expect to pay for drinking water.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - jaguar viewing in the Panatanal is relatively new and helps contribute to wildlife conservation in this area. Similarly, Iguazu Falls has a large conservation area which benefits from the visitors to the Falls on both sides of the border.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent!Holiday Reviews
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