Pantanal

The Pantanal is the largest continental wetland ecosystem on the planet and one of Brazil’s most impressive natural landscapes. Its vast floodplains, nourished by rivers such as the Cuiabá, Paraguay, and São Lourenço, form a mosaic of fields, forests, and lagoons that renew themselves with each cycle of floods and droughts. During the rainy season, from November to April, up to 80% of the Pantanal plain can be submerged, creating refuges for fish, birds, and aquatic mammals. In the dry season, from May to October, the waters recede and wildlife gathers along the riverbanks — the ideal time to observe jaguars, hyacinth macaws, caimans, capybaras, marsh deer, and jabirus, the region’s iconic bird. UNESCO recognizes the Pantanal as a World Natural Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve, sheltering around 3,500 plant species, more than 460 bird species, 124 mammals, 325 fish, and nearly 100 reptiles — one of the richest biodiversities on Earth.

More than a natural sanctuary, the Pantanal is also the cultural heart of Brazil’s Central-West region. There, riverside and pantaneiro communities maintain a way of life in harmony with nature — raising cattle in floodplain areas, navigating through narrow waterways, and keeping traditions alive through fish-based cuisine, tereré, and regional handicrafts. This balance between people and the environment makes the Pantanal a living example of sustainability, but also a territory in need of care: wildfires, deforestation along the plain’s edges, and climate change threaten its delicate water cycle. For this reason, responsible ecotourism and support for conservation initiatives are essential paths to ensure that the Pantanal remains a refuge of life, beauty, and culture for future generations.

Pantanal

Best time to visit

Timeline (month by month)