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Jaguar resting in a tree, Pantanal, Brazil, By Paul Goldstein
Home Group Tours Pantanal Safari with Paul Goldstein

Americas - South

Pantanal Safari with Paul Goldstein

A journey offering specialist photographic guidance paired with front-row access to one of the world’s great natural spectacles…

  • EXPERT-LED GROUP TOUR
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Start date End date Days
Prices from
ex. flights
Single Supplement Tour Expert Group Size Status
18/09/26 27/09/26 10 days £9,495 pp £1,595 Paul Goldstein 13 Max AVAILABLE Reserve place
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Join award-winning photographer Paul Goldstein on this small-group journey into Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland and unrivalled for wild jaguar encounters.

With Paul alongside throughout, you’ll benefit from hands-on tuition in the field and evening sessions that cover everything from mastering composition and adapting to light, to capturing fast-moving wildlife on a DSLR or smartphone. An expert naturalist will also be at your side, revealing the subtleties of the Pantanal’s extraordinary ecosystem, from bird calls to hidden flora and fauna.

Spend six immersive days exploring the waterways of the Cuiaba River by boat, in search of jaguar, giant river otter, capybara and prolific birdlife. With small-group seating arranged for maximum visibility, conditions are ideal for both observation and photography. Flexibility is at the heart of the experience: if a jaguar is spotted, the schedule adapts, allowing unhurried time to watch and photograph behaviour. This is front-row expertise in one of the world’s great natural spectacles.

Introducing your expert

Paul Goldstein

Paul Goldstein

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Paul is a fierce conservationist, award-winning photographer and guide with a huge following eager for his particular brand of leading. What he always gets are results for his clientele.

The Sunday Times described him as ‘preposterously vivacious, a guide of psychotic gusto’ and they also added ‘no-one will drag you up the wildlife photography ladder quicker.’ The Independent remarked ‘think Gordon Ramsay with cameras, not pots and pans’. A trip with Paul is never dull and always fun, busy and fulfilling.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Paul Goldstein 1

Expert Tuition

Accompanied throughout by award-winning photographer Paul Goldstein, offering expert tuition and in-the-field guidance.

Southern Pantanal, Brazil 2

Pantanal Wetlands

Explore the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland and one of South America’s most rewarding wildlife regions.

Two jaguar on rivers edge, Pantanal, Brazil, by Paul Goldstein 3

Exceptional Sightings

Track and photograph jaguars from small boats on the Cuiaba River, where sightings are among the best on Earth.

Rufous tailed jacamar, Pantanal, Brazil, by Paul Goldstein 4

Front Row Seats

Stay at riverside accommodation in prime jaguar territory – simple, comfortable and close to the action.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Map View List View

  • Day 1

    Cuiaba - The Pantanal (Araras Eco Lodge)

  • Day 2

    Journey to Porto Jofre (Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte)

  • Days 3–8

    The Pantanal (Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte)

  • Day 9

    Return to Araras Lodge

  • Day 10

    Depart Cuiaba

Day 1

Cuiaba - The Pantanal (Araras Eco Lodge)

Arrive in Cuiaba where you will meet with Paul and transfer by road to your accommodation, set within a preserved natural area of the Pantanal.

Day 2

Journey to Porto Jofre (Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte)

Travel down the wildlife-rich Transpantaneira road, where caiman, capybara and colourful birdlife abound. Arrive in Porto Jofre and embark on your first boat safari on the Cuiaba River.

Days 3–8

The Pantanal (Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte)

Spend six full days exploring by small boat, navigating tributaries in search of jaguar, giant river otter and countless bird species. Flexible outings maximise time with wildlife, while evenings are dedicated to reviewing images and honing techniques under Paul’s expert tuition.

Day 9

Return to Araras Lodge

Enjoy a final morning on the river before retracing your route along the Transpantaneira. Return to Araras Lodge for lunch and a relaxed final evening immersed in the landscapes of the Pantanal.

Day 10

Depart Cuiaba

Take a final wildlife walk or early morning viewing session before transferring back to Cuiaba for your onward travel.

Tapir swimming, Pantanal, Brazil, by Paul Goldstein
Tapir swimming, by Paul Goldstein
Jaguar stalking in river, Pantanal, Brazil, by Paul Goldstein
Jaguar stalking, by Paul Goldstein
A Moving Safari

The Transpantaneira Road

The Transpantaneira is a raised dirt road that cuts through the northern Pantanal. Dotted with wooden bridges, it offers a moving safari in its own right. Capybara graze at the verges, caimans crowd the pools and striking birdlife fills the air. On day two, your journey along this road is not simply about getting from A to B, but about easing into the rhythm of the wetlands. Every stop and pause will bring the chance for another sighting, giving an immediate sense of the extraordinary abundance that makes the Pantanal so rewarding to explore.

Two jaguar bathing, Pantanal, Brazil, By Paul Goldstein
Jaguar bathing, by Paul Goldstein
River safari at sunset, Pantanal, Brazil, by Paul Goldstein
River safari at sunset, by Paul Goldstein
Riverside Lodge Life

Porto Jofre Lodge

Accommodation in the Pantanal is simple yet welcoming, designed to place you close to nature without distraction. Set at the very end of the Transpantaneira, life at Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte is shaped by its riverside setting and the shared excitement of daily encounters on the water. The lodge has a relaxed atmosphere, with space to relax in shady gardens or by the pool between outings. Evenings bring a convivial spirit, with hearty meals and the chance to swap stories of the day’s sightings. Staff know the rhythms of the river well and create a sense of ease, allowing you to focus fully on the experience. It is a place where comfort meets community, right in the heart of jaguar country.

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Araras Eco Lodge £££££

  • Brazil
  • Safari and Wildlife 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 encouraging hyacinth macaws to nest in the Northern Pantanal. The 19 rooms are simple and furnished in a rustic regional style with ceiling fans and screened windows.

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Includes / Excludes

Important Information

Activity Level
Low Activity
Single Supplement

Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.

Flexibility

To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.

What is included

  • Paul Goldstein as your photographic guide throughout
  • Local naturalist guide throughout
  • Daily excursions as detailed, including 3 jaguar boat tours
  • All transfers
  • Accommodation as detailed
  • Four meals per day unless specified

What is excluded

  • International flights
  • Visas (if required)
  • Drinks with meals
  • Gratuities for guides and staff at hotels
  • Lunch on Day 1 (payable locally at Araras Lodge)
  • Travel insurance

Other available dates

For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980

Start date End date Days
Prices from
ex. flights
Tour Expert Group Size Status
18/09/26 27/09/26 10 days £9,495 pp Paul Goldstein 13 Max AVAILABLE Reserve place

Reserve your place on this group tour

Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.

01285 880 980

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