Our Team
Our Tour Experts
Heroes and Heroines
Where to Stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
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![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Pantanal Holidays
The Pantanal is one of nature’s last frontiers and the largest freshwater wetland area in the world. Set along the far western tip of Brazil towards the Bolivian border, the Pantanal is an enormous region, encompassing an array of ecosystems including swamp, savannah grasslands and forest.
The wildlife on offer is incredible, with hundreds of bird species such as the purple/blue hyacinth macaw, the lanky jabiru stork and the rare pygmy kingfisher. Not forgetting the mammals and reptiles that include herds of the guinea pig-like capybara, giant otter, monkeys, ocelot, jaguar, the maned wolf and millions of caiman. Combine the three ecosystems of Mato Grosso, the Pantanal, the southern Amazon (Cristalino Lodge) and the Chapada dos Guimaraes tablelands for an interesting and varied wildlife holiday.
A little more about the Pantanal
The Pantanal is roughly split into north and south, with Cuiaba and Campo Grande as the respective gateways to each area. Trips to the north are usually based along the Transpantaneira Highway, a dirt road which dissects the region from Pocone to Porto Joffre on the banks of the Cuiaba River.
Experiences
Whatever your interests we can help you get the most from your Pantanal holiday.
Staying in the Pantanal
Stay at simple yet comfortable lodges, time permitting we suggest stays at two or more lodges to experience the different landscapes and habitats as some are based on the rivers whilst others offer lakes, forest and savannah and hopefully different species too. Visits to the southern Pantanal are usually based at one of the small, excellently run lodges reached by car, 4×4 or small plane. We feel that these lodges offer a more safari-like experience to those in the north.
Brazil
Caiman Ecological Refuge
Caiman Ecological Refuge, located on 53,000 hectares in the southern Pantanal, is a cattle ranch and private reserve with a strong focus on conservation. It consists of two independent lodges, 13 miles apart, each with a…
Brazil
Casa da Quineira
Casa da Quineira is really centrally located, just five minutes walk from the centre of Chapada dos Guimaraes. The hotel was opened in 2014, having been converted from a beautiful, high-end private house. Casa da Quineira…
Brazil
Pousada Rio Mutum
Pousada do Rio Mutum is located in the northern Pantanal. It offers a wonderful base from which to explore the region’s biodiverse ecosystem.
Brazil
Araras Eco Lodge
Nestled amongst vast, lush wetlands, Araras Eco Lodge was constructed to blend in with its natural surroundings and is committed to local environmental initiatives such as inhibiting deforestation along the banks of the Rio Clarinho and…
Idea
Brazil
Brazilian Amazon & the Pantanal
Designed to appeal to wildlife enthusiasts and keen ornithologists, this itinerary takes in the fresh wetlands of the Pantanal, the world’s largest protected tropical rainforest corridor in the Amazon and the dazzling coastline of Rio. Utilising carefully selected properties as bases for…
Idea
Brazil
Flying Safari in the Brazilian Pantanal
Utilising small charter flights and nimble motorboats to travel around one of nature’s last frontiers, this beyond the ordinary adventure offers an in-depth insight (not to mention a remarkable birds’ eye view) of one of the Americas’ most iconic landscapes. A remarkable…
Idea
Brazil
Family Adventures in Brazil
This family-focused adventure journeys between the thrilling Pantanal, overflowing with enchanting mammals and camouflaged critters, to the thundering Iguacu Falls and coastal retreat of Praia do Forte, considering everything from soccer games to sea turtle hatching.
Idea
Brazil
Highlights of Brazil
Unveiling some of the most visually stunning landscapes in Brazil, this adventure journeys from the dazzling cityscapes of Rio to the cascading dual-nation treasure of Iguacu Falls, and from the wildlife-dense ecosystem of the Pantanal to the turquoise beaches of Paraty.
Idea
Brazil
Brazilian Amazon & the Pantanal
Designed to appeal to wildlife enthusiasts and keen ornithologists, this itinerary takes in the fresh wetlands of the Pantanal, the world’s largest protected tropical rainforest corridor in the Amazon and the dazzling coastline of Rio. Utilising carefully selected properties as…
Idea
Brazil
Flying Safari in the Brazilian Pantanal
Utilising small charter flights and nimble motorboats to travel around one of nature’s last frontiers, this beyond the ordinary adventure offers an in-depth insight (not to mention a remarkable birds’ eye view) of one of the Americas’ most iconic landscapes.…
Idea
Brazil
Family Adventures in Brazil
This family-focused adventure journeys between the thrilling Pantanal, overflowing with enchanting mammals and camouflaged critters, to the thundering Iguacu Falls and coastal retreat of Praia do Forte, considering everything from soccer games to sea turtle hatching.
Idea
Brazil
Highlights of Brazil
Unveiling some of the most visually stunning landscapes in Brazil, this adventure journeys from the dazzling cityscapes of Rio to the cascading dual-nation treasure of Iguacu Falls, and from the wildlife-dense ecosystem of the Pantanal to the turquoise beaches of…
Meet our experts
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
Roxy Dukes
Roxy loves to delve into South American culture, so Brazil is always at the top of her hit list. From eating tapioca served from local food carts to the art of capoeira dancing, she loves to find new experiences to share with her wayfaring clients.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
Start planning your trip
Explore other regions in Brazil
Brazilian Amazon
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Iguacu
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North East Brazil
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Paraty
Driving south of Rio along the stunning Costa Verde, come across colonial Paraty with its cobbled streets and pretty whitewashed colonial buildings…
Salvador
Salvador is the vibrant and historically rich capital of Bahia, overlooking the magnificent Bahia de Todos los Santos (All Saints Bay) on…
Southern Brazil
Florianopolis with its cobbled streets and colonial architecture is one of the main cities in southern Brazil and the state capital of…
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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