Jaguar Ecological Reserve

Download PDF for Jaguar Ecological Reserve

About Jaguar Ecological Reserve

Close Panel

The Jaguar Ecological Reserve is a 1200-hectare federally registered reserve (R.P.P.N. - Reserva Particular de Patrimonio Natural) in the heart of the Pantanal. The Jaguar Reserve is owned by a local Pantaneiro family who has pledged to preserve it. The land has been passed from father to son, and the owner-manager Eduardo was brought up in the region and knows the land and its people and wildlife intimately. Profits from the Reserve's lodge are re-invested to purchase more land for the Reserve with the intention of significantly expanding the conservation area, and the lodge has funded the construction of a school for local children on its land.

For over a decade guests have enjoyed the comforts of a family-run lodge, the expertise of local guides, and the spectacular setting; taking in some of Brazil's most beautiful scenery and some of The Pantanal's finest wildlife habitat, while supporting a community-based ecotourism project. The Reserve and the surrounding ranches are one of the best places in Latin America to see a jaguar, with an excellent chance of seeing jaguars on the cuiaba river or on the land around the lodge. While we can't promise that you will see a jaguar or puma, we know that you will see other breathtaking wildlife during your stay. Smaller cats such as the ocelot, as well as tapir, giant anteater, peccary, howler monkey, caiman and hundreds of bird species, are regularly seen here.

The lodge does not set out to offer luxury accommodation but Eduardo is proud to offer a comfortable lodge in a remote yet accessible setting.

The main activities offered from the lodge are boat trips along the Cuiaba River, about a 45 minute drive from the lodge on a bumpy road with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The boat trips offer the best chance of seeing jaguars in the wild, and also allow sightings of giant otters and numerous bird species. The lodge also offers guided walks through the Pantanal which are an excellent way of seeing the local wildlife, culture and scenery of the region as well as night drives to see nocturnal wildlife.

The Jaguar Ecological Reserve is one of the southernmost ecotourism lodges along the Transpantaneira, and the extra driving time is well worth the effort. The remote location offers the opportunity to enjoy the Pantanal at its most pristine. Wildlife tends to be more abundant near the Reserve than at other lodges closer to Poconé and Cuiabá and without doubt the jaguar sightings along the Cuiaba River are better than anywhere else in the world.

Read about Tribes' eco-rating system

Gallery and information

Open Panel

Highlights

Small family-run lodge
Remote area
Good biodiversity and wildlife density
High chance of seeing a jaguar
Excellent guides

Situation

The Jaguar Ecological Reserve is located in the northern Pantanal along the Transpantaneira Highway. The lodge is at Kilometer 110 of the Transpantaneira - about a four-hour drive from Cuiabá in the dry season.

Activities

They offer a full range of activities, from birdwatching tours, nature hikes through the forest, nighttime wildlife-viewing drives and fishing. Most guests stay at the Reserve for at least two nights to make the most of their trip. The average stay is three nights.

Facilities

11 guest rooms. Of these 9 are standard rooms and 2 are individual forest-facing 'VIP rooms'. All rooms have air conditioning. Each room is fully furnished and has a private bath, mosquito nets, fan, and porch with hammocks. They use a generator and solar panels for electricity. Hot water is available daily.

Open

Jaguar Ecological Reserve is open all year round.

Best time

The dry season is May-November. This is the best time to see jaguars by the river with about a 75% chance of seeing one. Wet season is December-April. In the wet season there is a good chance of seeing jaguars on the road.Throughout the year there are good sightings of a wide variety of animals.

Meals

Guests enjoy family-style dining in the newly remodeled dining room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as afternoon tea are included. They specialize in local dishes prepared from local ingredients. Fresh fruits and vegetables from the gardens, fish caught in nearby rivers and streams, and beef and poultry from their ranch provide the basis for delicious meals.

Pricing guidelines for Brazil

Open Panel

We hope the following will give you a rough idea of costs. These are quoted per person based on twin share for two people, without international flights but including internal flights. We’ve used good standard accommodation throughout. There are nearly always ways to spend more money than we’ve suggested (!), but these prices show a good and realistic range for each type of trip.

International flights will add from about £700 to £900 depending on the season and route (unless the airlines have special offers). Brazil combines with Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands due to scheduled flights, so, for example, it makes a good beach stop after Peru or Ecuador.

For a specific personal quote based on any tailor made itinerary you have in mind, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you.

Example tripPrice per person
2 weeks nature & wildlife and/or beach trip, including such highlights such as rainforest, Pantanal and Iguassu Falls, plus Rio and the coastBetween £2500 and £4000
1 week Rio and Costa Verde beach holidayBetween £1500 and £2000
2½ weeks highlights of BrazilAround £3500 +

Tribes Advisor

Open Panel

Jaguar Lodge as it is commonly known is not a luxury lodge, but it is a great option for seeing a wide range of wildlife in the Pantanal. The river trips along the Cuiaba are the real highlight - you do have to be prepared for a long day with lots of driving and time spent on the river, but there is a good chance of seeing a jaguar. I spent a couple of unforgettable hours watching a jaguar snoozing and prowling up and down the riverbank it what is locally called the "catwalk" on a trip organised from here. There land around the lodge is also rich in wildlife, and the guides here are very good. The lodge is one of the very few which is owned and managed by a local Panteneria. Eduardo built the lodge on his father's property, and knows everyone and everything about the area. Going on a walking trip with Eduardo I learnt not just about the wildlife of the region, of which there was plenty to be seen, but I also visited a traditional ranch and met Eduardo’s relatives. Jaguar Lodge is not as professionally run as some of the alternatives owned and managed by westerners. It can be a bit rough around the edges, but Eduardo is constantly improving the accommodation and is also doing his best to make sure that staying here does benefits the local community - employing and training local Panteneria to work in the lodge and building a school to provide education for local children.

Paul Cook - Visited June 2011

Brazil