SouthWild Jaguar Retreat

Pantanal

Rating: Mid-range

highlights

This is prime jaguar-spotting territory
Excellent for birding and sightings of giant otters
Just nine comfortable air-conditioned rooms
Experienced naturalist guides
Riverside setting

SouthWild Jaguar Retreat overview

Jaguar Retreat is the newest offering from SouthWild. It has a superb riverside location further upstream from the flotels, so you will have a more secluded experience. It takes about 90 minutes by boat on the Cuiaba River from Port Jofre to reach Jaguar Retreat. You'll travel at a steady pace with eyes peeled for wildlife along the way.

There are just nine air-conditioned rooms right on the banks of the Three Brothers River which is renowned for jaguar sightings. Whilst simply furnished, the rooms are comfortable with en-suite hot showers. Jaguar Retreats is not as luxurious as Jaguar Suites, but it has everything you need for a good night's rest after a day on the river. There are two dining areas; one fully enclosed, air-conditioned dining room and one open, with screens to keep insects at bay, looking out onto the river.

The river setting means you can be out on the water early, jaguar spotting, and you should be among the first boats at a sighting. The nearest accommodation is 35kms downriver, so it will take them a while to get upstream.

Directly behind the lodge is a 1km birding trail. You should be able to tick off quite a few species in this small area alone, from capped heron, barred antshrike, sungrebe, sunbittern, jaribu stork, toco toucan, green kingfisher and bare-faced curassow to name a few. After dinner scientific lectures are also a feature of your stay at Jaguar Retreat, a nice way to end the day.

details

Open: Jaguar Retreats is open from June to November.

Location: The lodge is located in the northern Pantanal on the banks of the 3 Brothers River in the centre of the Jaguar Zone. To reach the you take a small boat from Porto Jofre, and travel along the Cuiaba River for about 90 minutes when you reach your riverside accommodation, on bend 57 of the Three Brothers River, right at the border of the state park.

Activities: There are morning and afternoon motor boat excursions, to view not only jaguars but also giant otters, howler monkeys, caimans, capybaras and birds such as kingfishers and herons. These excursions are led by experienced naturalist guides.

Facilities: There are two dining rooms in the grounds and this is where you will take your meals, tasty dishes feature local cuisine. One dining room is fully enclosed with air-conditioning and a large banquet table, the other has mesh screens and overlooks the riverbank.

Dining: Meals are taken at individual tables and communally at the banquet table.

Children: Please check with us.

Health: Malaria prophylactics are recommended for the Pantanal.

Communication: There is satellite internet access at the lodge.