Brazil - Pantanal

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Days 1 to 3
After a long journey, arrive at the fazenda, located in the most untouched region of the Pantanal, with an abundance of wildlife and nature. After settling down, meet the horses and the host will match riders and mounts.
The next 3 nights will be spent on this fazenda (a traditional Pantanal farm) with approximately 16,000 acres and 4,000 herd of cattle. Here riders will have the opportunity to become a Pantaneiro for a few days participating in the cattle work at the ranch. At different times of the year there are different tasks to be carried out in the daily routine of a Pantaneiro cowboy. For example, separating calves, treating cattle, lassoing, rounding up the cattle and cattle drives. Nellore cattle are known for their strong temperament and can be unpredictable so a level of awareness and flexibility is needed at all times. There will be an average of 6 hours per day in the saddle.
During this time riders are likely to see many of the different species of birds and animals that inhabit this region as well as experience some Pantanal traditions.
At the end of each day, a good rest will be needed to keep up with the schedule. Luckily this is made possible with comfortable accommodation and tasty food.
In the Pantanal all the activities are carried out in harmony with the local nature which also dictates the pace ensuring long term sustainability.

Day 4
Today is an early start and a full day in the saddle ahead, riding along the banks of Vazante Castelo. Ride for about 6 hours to reach the Fly Camp Refuge Primavera, which as the name implies, is a wooden bush camp in the middle of Pantanal. The nights sleep will be the unique experience of sleeping in a hammock deep in the Pantanal by only the light of lanterns. The refuge has a comfortable infrastructure with a main hall equipped with insect screens, 2 bathrooms and a kitchen. The hammocks are strung under a fixed roof, but for those who prefer, a mattress can be provided (to be requested on booking).

Day 5
Start the day by waking to the sounds of the wild animals and birds around the refuge. After breakfast riders depart to Barranco Farm. Riding along the beautiful landscape of Vazante Castelo enjoying the lush flora of the Pantanal and its incredible and untouched scenery. Today is another great opportunity for bird and wildlife watching.

Arriving at the farm for a late lunch. The afternoon can be spent boating or canoeing, exploring the Rio Negro, getting to know the white beaches and see the caimans warm themselves in the sun. Meet the neotropical and the giant otters who inhabit its intricate twists and turns along with five different species of kingfishers who patrol its margins. Listen for the Chaco chachalacas screaming in duets to draw attention to themselves.

The lack of other boats on this river makes for a private experience and the opportunity to bath in the river’s dark waters. During the silent trip down the river, encounter parrots flying, toucans drinking water, riverbanks covered in holes where rufous-tailed jacamars, swallows and tegus live, capybara families calmly grazing, howler monkeys carrying their infants from branch to branch, and huge groups of white-lipped peccaries hurriedly swimming across the river, and with a little luck and patience, to look into the eyes of the biggest cat of the Americas: the jaguar! As the saying goes, “behind every white-lipped peccary there is a jaguar approaching". Roughly 60% of the sightings in Pantanal are made from boat or canoes in silence.

To bring a perfect end to this great experience, riders spend the next two nights at Barranco farm, another large farm of Pantanal that promotes environmental conservation by supporting a wide variety of research conducted by Brazilian and international Universities. Research is being conducted in geology, entomology, ecology, ethology and includes:

• Jaguar Research Project - started in 2008 in partnership with the Jaguar Conservation Fund.
• The Giant Anteater research Project - has been conducted by Lydia Möcklinghoff for the past 6 years.

Days 6 and 7
While riding is available on these 2 days riders might choose to ride only a few hours each day and concentrate instead on the excellent wildlife viewing from the river.

Boating/canoeing: explore the river from a comfortable boat with swivel seats, perfect for taking pictures on the way. The hosts use silent electric engines and environmentally friendly Yamaha 15hp 4-stroke gas engines. From the dark waters of Rio Negro, the most pristine river in the Pantanal, witness the morning fishing of a giant otter family, the ritual of alligator mating, capybaras and with some luck even jaguars.

There are only a few places on earth which rival the Pantanal for wildlife photography opportunities, especially from the water. There is always something interesting to photograph, from a tiny little velvet ant or the beautiful hyacinth macaw to a roaring jaguar. Several professional photographers have chosen this particular area for their work.

The Rio Negro river is also home to many species of fish, such as piraputanga, dourado, painted, pacu, piranha and stingray. In addition, look out for caimans and the many species of birds (there are more than 360 are catalogued in this region).

Day 8
Depending on your flight time, riders might still be able to do some activity in the morning before returning to Campo Grande, either riding or a boat trip.

The Ranches on this trip have more than 50,000 acres and around 20,000 cattle in total.

The itinerary may be changed due to availability on the farms and weather conditions.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

You ride mostly in Pantaneiro horses (first 5 days) and you ride Pantaneiro cross breeds (last 2 days). The Pantaneiro horses are well mannered, forward going, sure footed and very obedient. You ride at a walk, trot and canter. The horses respond to neck reining and are used to a loose rein wherever possible. There are more than 20 riding horses available to choose from.

The riding style is the relaxed Pantaneiro style, similar to western riding and trail riding. Saddles are typical Pantaneiro (same as the Gaucho) saddles with sheep skin on top. They are very comfortable.

You will be accompanied by an English speaking guide and a local guide. Both guides have good knowledge of the local area.

The ride is suitable for intermediate to experienced riders. You should be confident on a horse at all paces and to try different styles of riding. The pace is varied to include walk, trot and canter. The terrain on the ride is varied and you should be comfortable riding in open spaces. Riders are not required to help with grooming and saddling.
The maximum weight for this ride is 100kg/15.7stone. There might be an option for one rider weighing up to 110kg to join the ride, this is limited to one person per trip (please enquire).
Minimum age: 12yrs

The weight limit for this ride is 220 lb/100 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

The main accommodation on this ride is at traditional working farms (fazendas) with cattle. You will spend 6 nights in double, twin or triple rooms with private bathrooms. The night on Day 4 will be spent at Fly Camp Refuge Primavera, a wooden bush camp in the middle of Pantanal. The refuge has a main hall equipped with insect screens, 2 shared bathrooms and a kitchen. You will sleep on hammocks under a fixed roof, a truly unique experience. For those who do not wish to sleep on hammocks, mattresses can be provided with advanced notice (upon booking).

Food on this trail is full-board. Below some examples of what you can expect to be served:

Breakfast - bread, yoghurt, jams, cakes, many types of fruit and other treats are all made at the farm.

Lunch and dinner - typical Brazilian dishes (both regional and national). There is a lot of variety and vegetarian dishes are always included.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. Oct 2023 - Brazil reintroduces visa requirements for tourists from US, Australia, Canada, and Japan Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Brazil. You can travel to Brazil without a visa as a tourist for up to 90 days; however Visa requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Brazil.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/brazil

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

The Pantanal is a tropical climate. Hence, there are only two noticeable seasons – the wet season (October to March) and the dry season (April-September).

The wet season loosely corresponds with summer, so has higher temperatures and humidity.

The dry season is cooler and is generally better for travellers – since the unpaved roads going into the Pantanal are less boggy, wildlife is more visible gathered around rivers and lakes, and there are significantly fewer mosquitos. Most of the rainfall occurs in the months from November to March.

At Unicorn Trails, the health and safety of our customers is of paramount importance.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

Tap water is heavily treated giving it an unpleasant chemical taste but is safe to drink in most urban areas providing it has been passed through a charcoal filter system; you should check with your hotel/restaurant management before drinking tap water. Tap water in remote areas can be unsafe even if filtered; stick to bottled mineral water, which is available virtually everywhere.

UK health authorities have classified Brazil as having a risk of Zika virus transmission and chikungunya, yellow fever and dengue are present.
Cases of dengue fever have increased, especially in the north, south-east and central-west of Brazil.
You should take steps to avoid mosquito bites.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Brazil and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

Brazil is one of the very few countries that do not have a standard mains voltage, but at the same time it has only one official type of socket. In other words, you cannot tell the difference between a 220 V and a 127 V socket. Most states use 127V electricity, but a couple of them are on 220 V. Make sure to check with your hotel or hosts when checking in.

We recommend that you bring all required equipment, including batteries with you when you arrive. You should contact your network provider to check mobile phone coverage in South America for your particular phone model. There is no mobile reception at the Fazendas but wifi is available. There will be a chance to charge your electronic devices at the farms. If you want to bring a GoPro please be advised that you will have to have permission from all other guests and guides that they are willing to be filmed.

Pack as you usually would for a holiday, for e.g. sunglasses, toiletries, casual clothes, and then these are your Horse Riding holiday essentials. If you are unsure, please speak with your Travel Consultant:

ESSENTIALS FOR ALL RIDING HOLIDAYS

- Riding helmet – complying with current EU & British standards (some locations can provide them but if possible bring your own for comfort and correct fit)
- Riding boots designed for riding and walking
- Riding gloves
- Chaps
- At least 2 pairs of riding trousers – jodhpur’s/breeches are best for anything, except western riding (Jeans)
- Long sleeved shirts
- Lightweight waterproof
- Water bottle
- Mobile phone

Specific to this trip:
- Torch
- Insect Repellent - we recommend at least 50% DEET

*Medical Travel Insurance is mandatory

8d / 7n programme with 6 riding days, available on request between April and November.

2025: Groups of 4 on request between May and October

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A Death in Brazil by Peter Robb

The Violent Land by Jorge Amado 

For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible onhorseback visit  www.thelongridersguild.com. 

An excellent source of equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com  

Wildlife viewing, boating/canoeing, fishing, photography.

Black howler monkeys, water birds, pink spoonbills, several species of herons, jabiru giant storks, macaws, toucans (there are more than 360 species of bird catalogued in this region), pecarry, giant and lesser ant eaters, marsh deer, capybaras, nine-banded armadillo, caiman, jaguar, maned wolf, bush dog, giant otter, coatimundi, Brazilian Tapir, many species of fish (e.g. piraputanga, dourado, painted, pacu, piranha and stingray),

Around 156,000 British nationals visit Brazil each year.