Know Before You Go: Brazil Tours

Naturalist guide Cassiano "Zapa" Zaniboni rarely saw jaguars when he first began leading wildlife trips through Brazil's Pantanal wetlands decades ago. Now, these iconic big cats are making a comeback. Discover why this Expedition Leader is passionate about protecting threatened jaguars in the world’s largest seasonal floodplain.

Journey in search of wild jaguars—the largest cats in the Americas—on a sustainable safari through the shimmering wetlands of Brazil's Pantanal.

The Pantanal is the best place on the planet to see jaguars—but what we see is only part of the picture. Join Abbie Martin, founder of the Jaguar Identification Project, for an inside look at Project GRID, a large-scale camera trap initiative uncovering a hidden side of the region’s jaguar population. Learn how scientists identify individual cats, estimate population density and document animals rarely seen by travelers. Abbie shares surprising discoveries from the field and explains how this research is shaping conservation strategies to better protect jaguars across the Pantanal.

With their prehistoric lineage and specialized adaptations, giant anteaters are among South America’s most fascinating—and vulnerable—mammals. Expedition Leader Helder Brandao and Jorge Gallo of the nonprofit Anteater Institute share insights from two decades of research and conservation across Brazil. Learn how anteaters and their relatives, including sloths and armadillos, evolved to fill unique ecological roles, and discover how science-driven initiatives in the Pantanal are helping safeguard these remarkable creatures.

An emblem of the Pantanal, jaguars symbolize both the beauty and fragility of Brazil’s wetlands. Expedition Leader Helder Brandao and Lilian Rampim, Pantanal Operations Coordinator at the Oncafari Jaguar Project, share how research, rewilding and ecotourism are helping protect these apex predators. Hear the latest news from the field and learn how Oncafari’s science-driven, community-based model is shaping a brighter future for jaguars.