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ABOUT US

Your Pantanal, your way

We're a private tour company from Mato Grosso. We plan every detail so you can see the jaguar and the Pantanal's wildlife in comfort, safely and at your own pace.

OUR STORY

Real quality, fair price

Jaguar Experience was born from something we saw up close: many people paid a lot to visit the Pantanal and didn't get the service they deserved. We decided to do things differently and build an agency that brings together quality, safety and a fair price.

We are three partners, and each of us brought part of the experience. Vitor brought his background in transfers and his training as a guide. César brought his time in the Pantanal, on the trails and in field operations. And Luiz brought the idea of taking travelers on boat trips along the rivers, where the chances of seeing a jaguar are best.

Combining these experiences, we built an agency that takes care of everything: lodging, transfers, guides and boat trips. Our commitment is the same as on day one: quality service at a fair price.

And when the Pantanal ends, the trip can go on: we also take you to Chapada dos Guimarães, Bom Jardim, the Mato Grosso Amazon and the Cerrado, home of the harpy eagle.

100%
of our trips are private, built for you
11
partner hotels and lodges in the Pantanal
4
destinations in Mato Grosso
8
people maximum per group
THE PARTNERS

Who will take care of your trip

Vitor Mendes

Partner · Customer service, logistics and marketing
Cuiabá and Chapada dos Guimarães Portuguese · learning English Tour guide in training Business administration technician

I was born in Cuiabá and today I split my days between the state capital and Chapada dos Guimarães. In 2023 I had the chance to work in the Pantanal and it was love at first sight: I haven't been able to stay away since. At Jaguar Experience I handle customer service, logistics, finance and social media, and I'm training as a tour guide so I can spend more and more time in the field with our travelers.

The harpy eagle day

“We went to a harpy eagle nest without high expectations. Right as we arrived, a giant anteater crossed our path. At the nest, the chick was feeding on a coati, and then we heard the mother call. We searched for dozens of minutes until we found her high in a tree, majestic, looking straight at us. On the way back we also saw a red brocket deer and two more anteaters. It was so much more than I imagined.”

Favorite animal
The harpy eagle, no doubt. One of the most powerful birds of prey in the world, free to fly wherever it wants.
Favorite place
My heart is split between the Pantanal and Chapada. They're different, but each needs the other: in the Pantanal, the wildlife; in Chapada, viewpoints, waterfalls and lots of birds.

César Moraga Ruiz

Partner · Naturalist and expedition guide
Costa Rica Over 16 years of experience Spanish, English and Portuguese Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Expeditions

I was born and raised in Costa Rica, and nature has been part of my life since childhood. For more than 16 years I've worked as a naturalist and expedition guide, with field experience in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay, and today I also guide trips for Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Expeditions. In Brazil, my work is in the Pantanal, the Cerrado and the southern Amazon, following jaguars, giant otters, tapirs, giant anteaters and the huge variety of birds of the largest tropical wetland on the planet.

My way of guiding

“Guiding goes far beyond showing animals. Seeing a jaguar is a chance to understand how a large predator lives, how it defends its territory and why it needs a preserved Pantanal. A single bird can explain migration, pollination and how the forest works. Every traveler arrives with a different interest, whether photography, science, birds or pure curiosity, and I adapt the experience to each one.”

Where he has guided
Costa Rica (Osa Peninsula, Corcovado, Guanacaste, Arenal), Panama, Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay.
Specialties
Tropical ecology, animal behavior, birds, large predators, wetlands and conservation.

Luiz Henrique

Partner · Management, finance and operations
Várzea Grande and Cuiabá Portuguese Son of a Pantanal native In tourism since 2024

I was born in Várzea Grande and live in Cuiabá. My bond with the Pantanal runs in the family: my mother was born and raised in the region, surrounded by its nature, culture and traditions. Those roots gave me a special admiration for the Pantanal and all its natural wealth. At Jaguar Experience I take care of operations, finance and paperwork, and I help plan every expedition so that everything runs efficiently, safely and to a high standard.

Favorite animal
The jaguar, no doubt. Imposing, strong and elegant, it stands for the grandeur and wild essence of the Pantanal.
Favorite places
The Pantanal and Lago do Manso. The Pantanal wins me over with its biodiversity and wildlife; Lago do Manso, with its scenery, peace and closeness to nature.
The partners of Jaguar Experience at the Transpantaneira gateway, where the Mato Grosso Pantanal begins.
The partners of Jaguar Experience at the Transpantaneira gateway, where the Mato Grosso Pantanal begins.
HOW WE WORK

What you can expect from us

Truly private travel
Your group, your schedule and your interests. Photography, birds or jaguars: the itinerary adapts to you.
Experienced local guides
The people leading the tours know the river, the animals and the best viewing spots.
Hand-picked hotels
We only work with lodges we know, from simple comfort to luxury.
Respect for nature
Responsible wildlife watching, without disturbing the animals, and support for tourism that helps conserve the Pantanal.
Care for every person
Dietary restrictions, allergies and special needs are noted and passed on to hotels and guides.
Direct contact
You talk to our team on WhatsApp before, during and after the trip.
Registered, fully licensed company
Jaguar Experience Private Tours · CNPJ 62.712.853/0001-03 · Registered with Cadastur, the official registry of tourism providers of Brazil's Ministry of Tourism.
View on Cadastur

Shall we plan your trip?

Tell us when you'd like to come, how many people and what you most want to see. We'll reply with an itinerary made for you.

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