The Combined Highlights of Brazil and Argentina

Depart London and fly overnight to Sao Paulo.

Airport assistance to connect with flight to Cuiaba. Met on arrival and transfer to lodge, spotting wildlife down the Transpantaneira Highway en route.

Early morning wildlife spotting at the lodge. Transfer south to the end of the Transpantaneira at Porto Jofre and transfer by boat to the unique flotel lodge for lunch. Spend the afternoon spotting jaguars, giant otters and other wildlife by boat on the Cuiaba River and its tributaries.

Full day of jaguar spotting by boat on the Cuiaba River and its tributaries. The chances of seeing jaguar are excellent, and several families of giant otter are likely to be encountered along with many capybaras, primates such as howler monkey, caiman and various birds including three species of stork.

Another day of wildlife and jaguar spotting along the Cuiaba River and its tributaries.

SouthWild Jaguar Flotel and Suites

After a last morning looking for jaguars, drive northwards up the Transpantaneira to the SouthWild Pantanal Lodge. Enjoy an afternoon excursion; maybe walk a trail or go on a 4x4 safari or boat trip. In the evening there will be an opportunity for a night drive to look for nocturnal wildlife including racoons and Brazilian tapir.

Transfer to Cuiaba airport and fly to Foz do Iguacu. In the afternoon visit the Brazilian side of the magnificent Iguacu Falls, probably the most impressive waterfalls on Earth.

A full day to explore and marvel at the Argentinean side of Iguacu (spelled Iguazu in Argentina) Falls including a boat trip up to the impressive Devil’s Throat cataract. In the late afternoon transfer to Puerto Iguazu airport and fly to Buenos Aires. Met on arrival and transfer to hotel.

Enjoy a half-day city tour and the rest of the day at leisure.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Trelew. Met on arrival and transfer to the Valdes Peninsula. This 1,545 square mile promontory protrudes 62 miles eastwards into the South Atlantic. Wildlife includes the southern right whale which comes to mate and calve between May and December, the most northern colony of elephant seals, large breeding colonies of southern sea lions, and in March and April the Valdes Peninsula is the only location in the world where orcas use beach stranding as a hunting technique. Valdes Peninsula also has a high diversity of birds and is an important staging site for migratory shorebirds. Over 40,000 Magellanic penguins’ nests can be found here, spread over five different colonies, between September and April. There are also abundant terrestrial animals including large herds of guanaco, lesser rhea (similar to an ostrich), Patagonian hare, fox and Patagonian cavy.

Half-day whale watching in the bay to see southern right whales in their nursery grounds. Viewing of the whales is by boat and it is common to have a close encounter with a mother and calf. Explore the peninsula by road in the afternoon.

Full day to explore the Valdes Peninsula including a visit to the haul out beach of huge southern elephant seals. During the breeding season massive males engage in thunderous, bloody battle for highly coveted mating rights.

Transfer to Trelew and fly to Buenos Aires. Met on arrival and transfer to hotel. In the evening have dinner at a local restaurant and observe a traditional tango dance performance.

Transfer to airport and depart to the UK.