10-Nights Brazil: Wildlife of the Amazon, Pantanal & Iguazu Falls - Small Group Journeys

Iguassu Falls (Brazilian Side)

The Iguassu Falls borders the Argentine Province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Parana. The falls divides the river into the upper and lower Iguassu. The thunderous beauty of the falls meaning “big water” has 275 individual drops and was discovered by Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541.

Pantanal

The Pantanal is a massive wetland area largely located in Brazil, extending into Paraguay and Bolivia. It serves as home to a vast array of exotic wildlife, including one of the largest jaguar populations on earth. In the wet season, the region is a largely submerged floodplain that is best explored on canoe; and in the dry season, getting around by land (on foot, vehicle, and even horseback) is easier.

Amazon Jungle

Nature lovers may enjoy a walk “on the high side” along this 656 feet-long walkway, 30 meters above the ground, which links the six tallest treetops of the area; this is the first and largest canopy walkway in America. Also in this area is the Biosphere Reserve of the Amazon, and the Amazonian Center for Environmental Education and Research laboratory. The Reserve protects 818,910 acres of pristine vegetation. Covering 8,106 sq miles Pacaya-Samiria is the largest reserve in Peru. The Reserve was created to preserve the wonderful flora and fauna of the lower jungle. The basin of the Pacaya and Samiria rivers includes eight big lakes and several lagoons. Among the uncommon water species, there are two kinds of cetaceans and a unique sirenid -the large marine cow or manati (thichechus inungis)- not found elsewhere in Peru.

Manaus (Amazon River)