Everyone who has spent some time in remote corners of South America has dreamed of seeing a Jaguar in the wild. But the very reason we dream of seeing this magnificent animal is what makes it so special to spot one. Jaguars are rare, secretive, and mostly nocturnal; they have been hunted for hundreds of years by farmers and poachers, and thus the chances of actually coming across one are very low. However, in recent years as we’ve managed to venture farther into the Pantanal, and as the human pressure has significantly decreased in certain areas, we’ve had more frequent encounters with this great cat, and we finally feel that we can put together a tour that offers a good chance of seeing Jaguar.

Our tour will begin north of the Pantanal at Garden of the Amazon, a delightful little family-run lodge that sits at the ecotone between the Cerrado and Amazon. There we’ll search for the ultra-rare and only recently rediscovered Cone-billed Tanager (yes, we have its address!) as well as a great variety of Amazonian specialties such as Gould's Toucanet, Black-girdled Barbet, Blue-cheeked Jacamar, Tooth-billed Wren, six species of manakins, and much more! We will reach the Pantanal just as water levels are receding and hundreds of Jabirus, Wood Storks, Limpkins, Roseate Spoonbills and thousands of other waders, Paraguayan Caiman ('gators), and Capybaras congregate around the shrinking ponds—and the few remaining bodies of water become popular hangouts for Jaguars stalking their prey. We will keep our eyes peeled for these massive cats on quiet, relaxing boat trips packed with kingfishers, curassows, Agami Herons, Sungrebes, and Sunbitterns, and we’ll take walks through the forest to see everything from Hyacinth Macaws to woodcreepers, antbirds, and spinetails. On drives along the Transpantaneira park road, which we will cover from beginning to end, we'll have the birding time of our lives as we immerse ourselves in one of the richest places for wildlife on Earth.

Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.

Client comment
"This was an excellent birding experience. The tour was well-planned, the logistics worked smoothly, our guide, Marcelo Padua, was outstanding, and the birds and mammals gave us amazing experiences. Marcelo Padua is so knowledgeable about the birds, and he accompanies that with great attention to the details of logistics and personalities. Plus, his expertise and perspective on the ecology and environmental issues is extremely strong and very helpful. Lastly, he's a great travel companion. What more could you want?" K.W., JAGUAR SPOTTING participant

"This was one of the best led trips I have ever been on. Marcelo Padua is not only a great bird guide, he is a truly fun guy to have on a trip. He made everything more enjoyable. He found great birds, guided us all on to difficult-to-see species and made everyone laugh. The Field Guides office staff was outstanding. When I was stranded in Atlanta [due to an airline issue], Karen Turner took care of everything." L.S., JAGUAR SPOTTING