The Pantanal is one of the best places in the world to see wildlife in its natural habitat – from jaguars and giant otters to capybaras and hyacinth macaws. If you’re planning your firs safari here, this 9-day itinerary gives you a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect, including travel logistics and your daily safari rhythm, and the best season to go.
Best Time to Visit the Pantanal
The dry season (July-October) is the best time to plan your safari. As the waters recede, wildlife is drawn to the shrinking rivers and lagoons, making sightings far more frequent.
- July-August: Cooler mornings, plenty of birdlife, excellent for photography.
- September-October: Peak wildlife activity, especially jaguars and giant otters, as animals gather along the riverbanks.
We visited in September, and the lower water levels meant multiple jaguar encounters in a single day.
9-Day Pantanal Safari Itinerary
Day 1 – Fly to Brazil
- Overnight flight to Sao Paolo (GRU)
Day 2 – Sao Paolo Stopover
- Morning arrival in Sao Paolo
- Check into hotel, recover from flight, explore lightly (Ibirapuera Park, Avenida Paulista, or dinner out).
- Overnight in Sao Paolo.
Day 3 – Arrival in the Pantanal
- Morning flight Sao Paolo to Cuiaba.
- Transfer (5-6 hours) by road to Porto Joffre in the northern Pantanal.
- Arrive at lodge, explore the grounds, dinner & orientation.
We stayed at Hotel Porto Jofre – Pantanal Norte, right on the river in Porto Jofre. Waking up to capybaras grazing by the water and giant otters sliding past our dock made it the perfect base camp for safari days ahead.
Day 4-9 – Safari Rhythm
Daily schedule repeats to maximize sightings:
- 5:00 AM – Breakfast
- 5:30-11:00 AM – Morning safari (best chance for jaguars, otters, birdlife)
- 12:00 PM – Lunch & Downtime
- 2:30-5:30 PM – Afternoon safari (golden-hour photography, riverbank wildlife)
- Evening: Dinner at lodge & relax
- Beyond jaguars, the Pantanal is alive with giant otters, caimans, storks, and the world’s largest parrot – the hyacinth macaw.
Tip: September’s lower water levels mean predators like jaguars are often seen patrolling riverbanks in daylight.
Note: Safari schedules can very depending on the lodge and guides you book with. Some may offer full-day outing, while others keep to the classic morning/afternoon split.
Our trip was curated and led by one of the photographers who planned our Africa safari. After years of planning in Kenya, he began offering Pantanal expeditions, using his experience to build a schedule that maximizes sightings and photography opportunities.
Choosing Ethical Guides: It’s just as important to ensure your guide respects the animals. Ethical operators maintain distance, avoid crowding, and prioritize the wellbeing of the ecosystem. This makes sightings more natural and keeps the Pantanal a sanctuary not a spectacle. We highly recommend Pantanal Jaguar Safaris.
Day 10 – Return to Cuiaba
- Morning departure, drive back to Cuiaba.
- Flight to Sao Paolo; overnight or connect to international flight.
Day 11 – Home Arrival
- Land back home in the morning
What to Pack
Packing properly made all the difference for us – from long sleeves to a good zoom lens. I’ll be sharing a detailed Pantanal Packing Guide soon.
Closing Note
This itinerary balances immersive safari time with built-in recovery days for the long-haul travel to Brazil. By the end of your stay, expect to have witnessed jaguars, giant otters, caimans, capybaras, and hundreds of bird species in their natural habitat. The Pantanal isn’t just a trip – its an immersion into the rhythms of the wild.
