Pantanal Tour From Campo Grande: Wildlife Adventure
PlanetaEXO
TripsBrazilPantanalSouthern Pantanal

Pantanal Tour From Campo Grande: Wildlife Adventure

Brazil
3 Nights·4 Days
Southern PantanalSafari & WildlifeFamily Adventures

Overview

Departing from Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul and the main gateway to the Southern Pantanal, you’ll dive deep into some of the most fascinating wildlife in the world in thrilling night and photographic safaris.

This 4-day Pantanal tour is packed with adventure, including horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and boat trips. Between activities, you will enjoy the comfort and convenience of a beautiful ecolodge, providing the perfect base to relax while staying deeply connected to the authentic Pantaneiro lifestyle.

  • Full itinerary: night safari, photographic safari, piranha fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and boat trips.
  • Up-close encounters with the Southern Pantanal's wildlife, including hundreds of bird species, capybaras, caimans, and hyacinth macaws.
  • Stay at a comfortable ecolodge with cozy rooms, common areas, and authentic Pantaneiro hospitality (choice of 4 ecolodges across the Aquidauana, Salobra, and Nhecolândia regions).
  • Activities led by highly qualified local guides, with a private English-speaking guide included.
  • All-inclusive experience: round-trip transfer from Campo Grande, accommodation, full board, and guides.

  • Please note: This itinerary is a sample. The actual order and selection of activities may vary with the season, weather, and the lodge’s daily planning (confirmed on arrival).

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in the Pantanal / Night Safari

  • Drive Campo Grande → lodge · 195–320 km · ~2h30–5h (depending on the lodge)
  • Night safari~3 hrs (4x4 vehicle)

This Pantanal tour from Campo Grande begins with PlanetaEXO's local partner picking you up at the airport or your hotel from 9 AM to 2 PM, according to your preferred schedule. Depending on the selected lodge, the drive takes around 3 hours (up to 195 km).

Check in at the lodge, settle in after the journey, and enjoy dinner. When night falls, head out with the guides on an open 4×4 safari to spot nocturnal animals like caimans, owls, ocelots, and crab-eating foxes. Spotlights are used to locate the Pantanal wildlife as they become active after dark.

Meals included: Dinner

A lowland tapir pauses on a red dirt track during a pantanal tour from campo grande, lush green scrubland visible behind it
A vivid purple and pink sunset sky reflected on a calm river, with a dark treeline silhouette along the horizon on a pantanal tour from campo grande

Day 2

Photographic Safari / Piranha Fishing

  • Photographic safari~3 hrs
  • Piranha fishing~3 hrs (boat trip on the Aquidauana River)

The morning starts with a safari across the open fields of the Pantanal, the best time to spot and photograph wildlife while light conditions are ideal. Look for giant anteaters, tapirs, hyacinth macaws, and the many other species that make this one of the world's premier wildlife regions.

After lunch, board a boat on the Aquidauana River for an afternoon of piranha fishing. The activity combines the chance to catch the famously toothy fish with a relaxed boat trip through riparian forest, where you'll often spot more wildlife along the banks.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A giant anteater pushes its long tubular snout low through dry golden grass and sparse shrubs during a pantanal tour from campo grande
A traveller shoots with a telephoto lens from the back of an open 4x4 vehicle on a red dirt road lined with green forest during a pantanal tour from campo grande
Two giant otters with distinctive white throat patches resting together on a fallen log surrounded by lush riverside vegetation on a pantanal tour from campo grande
A hand holds a thin bamboo rod over a calm river surface where concentric ripples spread outward from a small disturbance — piranha fishing on a pantanal tour from campo grande
A jabiru stork stands tall on its large stick nest nestled among vivid magenta blossoms in a flowering tree, a striking sight on a pantanal tour from campo grande
Two hyacinth macaws with vivid yellow eye-rings perch side by side on a weathered log during a pantanal tour from campo grande, against a soft green bokeh background

Day 3

Horseback Riding / Boat Trip

  • Horseback riding~3 hrs
  • Boat trip~3 hrs (Aquidauana River)

Explore the wetlands like a true Pantaneiro: on horseback. If you’re new to riding, the instructors will help you settle in and adjust the pace for a smooth, enjoyable experience. The slow movement of the horses makes wildlife observation surprisingly effective.

In the afternoon, return to the Aquidauana River for another boat trip, this time focused on contemplative wildlife watching. Birds (especially the iconic hyacinth macaw), capybaras, caimans, and giant otters are commonly seen along the banks.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

View from horseback following a guide on horseback through shallow flooded grasslands on a pantanal tour from campo grande, surrounded by lush green sedges and gallery forest under a blue sky
A hyacinth macaw in full flight against a pale blue sky on a pantanal tour from campo grande, its cobalt plumage and yellow eye-ring vivid above blurred palm fronds
A giant otter surfacing from a murky river with its mouth open wide, whiskers splayed and teeth visible — a close-up encounter on a pantanal tour from campo grande
A large caiman rests on a muddy riverbank with its jaws wide open, sharp teeth clearly visible, during a pantanal tour from campo grande, with lush green vegetation reflected in the water behind it

Day 4

Hiking / Back to Campo Grande

  • Morning hike~2h30–3 hrs
  • DriveLodge → Campo Grande · 195–320 km · ~2h30–5h (depending on the lodge)

The final activity of this Pantanal excursion is a hiking trail across the surrounding fields and forest—a last chance to take photos, spot more animals, and absorb the scale of the wetland’s landscape on foot.

PlanetaEXO's local partner will drive you back to the airport or your hotel after lunch. The drive takes 2h30 to 5h (195–320 km), depending on the selected lodge. Flexible departure and arrival according to your preferred schedule.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch

A toco toucan with its iconic orange-and-red bill perched on a bare branch against a soft green background, spotted on a pantanal tour from campo grande
A jabiru stork in full flight over a river on a pantanal tour from campo grande, white wings outstretched and red neck pouch vivid against a lush green canopy
A group of capybaras grazing and wading along a shallow flooded grassland shoreline, bathed in warm golden-hour light on a pantanal tour from campo grande
Two large-macaw silhouettes perched together on a bare tree branch against a glowing golden sunset sky on a pantanal tour from campo grande
A silhouetted figure stands at the edge of a still pond reflecting a vivid orange sunset sky, surrounded by trees and open wetland on a pantanal tour from campo grande

What is Included

  • Private round-trip transfer (Campo Grande ⇌ Pantanal)
  • 3-night stay at your selected lodge (extra nights subject to availability)
  • All meals (full board)
  • Guided, shared activities (during excursions like the jeep safari, boat tours, or horseback riding, there will be other hotel guests participating)
  • English-speaking guides accompanying you all the way from Campo Grande to Aquidauana

Not included

  • Flight tickets
  • Accommodation in Campo Grande
  • Breakfast and lunch on the first day and dinner on the last day
  • Beverages (water, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses (laundry service, phone calls, etc.) & tips
  • Any services not previously mentioned

FAQ

Reviews

“We had fantastic days in the Pantanal. The lodge 'Aguapé' is a lovely place. The local guides are also a welcome addition to the guide, Izabela from planetaexo. She was knowledgeable. She was able to tell us a lot about the Pantanal, both nature and culture. But we also laughed a lot. All the excursions exceeded our expectations. And between the excursions there was also time to cool off in the swimming pool before sitting down at the table. All the meals are delicious and served with care. And made from local ingredients. Served by friendly staff. The cabins are simple, but have every comfort. It is recommended for everyone.”

— Peter Greefkens

“Our guide, Iza, was excellent; she taught us a lot and showed us so much. We really enjoyed her company—we had great conversations and plenty of laughs. The ranch guides and all the other staff were also very kind and ensured we had a fantastic holiday in the Pantanal. It was a truly unforgettable vacation for us. Thank you to the organization and the staff.”

— Susan Greefkens

“Everything was perfectly organized and matched the descriptions exactly, including the accommodation, the food and the tours.”

— Susanne Lobenwein

“Wow! Communication, value for money and quality of service have been exceptional. I cannot recommend PlanetaEXO more highly. Our admin support was superb. Comms were friendly, timely and helpful. Our guide to the Pantanal, Bruno was so knowledgable and friendly whilst never intruding on family time. Whilst away we had a medical emergency and everyone supported us faultlessly. Honestly cannot speak more highly of our experience. Do not hesitate- you are in safe hands and will have the best time!”

— Sally B

“The Pantanal experience was fantastic. We got to see a ton of animals, some of them close. The accommodations were clean, nice and with all the amenities, the service was really good, the different activities kept us occupied without being exhausting. Adding a bilingual guide was very helpful. The communication and organization of the trip was very good. While the setting is not in the jungle, and the south side doesn't have jaguars, there were lots of birds, ant eaters, foxes, deer, capybaras, ostriches and armadillos. I definitely would do it again.”

— Maria Santiago

“Everything was well organized!”

— Remo

“The company staff were very friendly and helpful. I felt safe and comfortable with the transfer. The tours were in line with what the Aguape guesthouse offered, and all the guides were exceptional.”

— Nathane Rezende

“Helpfulness and friendliness of staff; the location of the Posada where we stayed, our guide Alexine, the food at the Posada which was fresh, varied and delicious. Most of the activities we undertook were interesting, informative and fun. This would not have been the case if we had not had a knowledgeable guide who spoke both Portuguese and English.”

— Toity Deave

“Trust PlanetaEXO for a perfect nature adventure. Mine was extra! Our guide, Sean? Knowledgeable, local, educated, competent, fun, enthusiastic, multi-lingual and really nice. The lodge, Posauda Aguape? Healthy food well prepared, simple but comfortable rooms, perfectly staffed with local residents passionate about nature and conservation. The activities were geared to every fitness level and always yielded sightings. We saw an abundance of beautiful birds and animals on the rides, hikes, canoe and kayak experiences. The transfer from town was flawless and we started seeing amazing wild-life right from the pick-up in Campo Grande. Our lodge didn’t have any camp dogs or cats, so local wild animals were very comfortable approaching the lodge, including foxes, armadillos, gigantic, vivid macaws and toucans. PlantaEXO will customize your adventure. I LOVE birding and got 35+ lifers in my 4 days in Posauda Aguapé. Parabéns to me!”

— Ann Levie

“As a group of three, we recently enjoyed three tours with PlanetaEXO. Not only did they help us book a 4-day Lençois Maranhenses trek, a 5-day Amazon Cruise and a 4-day Pantanal, but also transfers between our flights. All the itineraries were very clear, and everyone was very punctual with our meeting spots and activities. A special shout out to Beatriz, who organised all our communications with our guides, and also checked in with us as we were moving very quickly. We had such an amazing experience and would recommend it to anyone looking to experience Brazil off the beaten track.”

— Hannah Vlismas

Check availability for your trip

Free inquiry – no commitment

Who's joining the adventure?

2
0

Your next trip

Travel date*

Tell us about your trip

Contact details

How should we contact you?*

From

$ 1,100/ per person