Jaguar Photography Expedition

Mato Grosso, Brazil

2026 TRIP DATE
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September 12 - 18, 2026
- 7 Day Trip / 5 Days of Wildlife -
8 SPOTS AVAILABLE

2025 TRIP DATE
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September 21 - 27, 2025
- 7 Day Trip / 5 Days of Wildlife -
5 of 7 SPOTS AVAILABLE

THE ADVENTURE

Journey with us to the Northern Pantanal, in Brazil where wild jaguars roam free.

The Pantanal River is thick with cats… and we know, we can get you close to these great cats to snap pretty pictures.

But what we really want to show you is a hunting cat.

It's a rush of adrenaline capturing nature's drama unfolding right before your eyes.

The Jaguar action is the primary reason for joining this trip, but the Pantanal promises you so much more… including Maned Wolves!

We will be visiting a camp where maned wolves are regualary seen. This is your chance to encounter one of the rarest predators on the planet.

YOU MAY ALSO ENCOUNTER… giant river otters, yellow anacondas, tapirs, ocelots, crab-eating foxes, howler monkeys, capybaras, Jabiru storks.

With each moment spent in the Pantanal, you'll create memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Trip Cost is $5,988 per person (Dbl Occ.)

With an $800 deposit required to reserve your space.

PRICE INCLUDES

  • 6 night stay at eco-lodge. add $600 for single Occupancy

  • 5 days seeking out jaguars and wildlife along the river

  • One evening safari in search of maned wolves and tapirs

  • All Meals during the trip.

  • Photo Coaching During the trip

    • Airfare

    • Alcoholic beverages

    • Soft drinks

    • Hotel on travel days

    • Crew gratuities

    • Covid tests (if required)

    • Travel insurance

    • Meals on travel days.

🔥 YOUR NEXT MOVE…
- You can book your trip now - Or request more information on the trip.

TRIP REPORTS
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TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1
TRAVEL DAY
We pick you up in a private van at 10AM from the Cuiaba Airport (CGB), and drive (4-5 hours), to our Lodge, on the Northern Pantanal.

During the drive, we enter the Transpantaneira road, which offers some amazing wildlife viewing on the road sides.

Here you might find; peccary, greater rheas, tapirs, caiman, capybaras, marsh deer, giant anteaters, as well as countless bird species.

When we arrive at the hotel - we check you into your hotel room where you can prep gear, and spend the rest of the day walking around the hotel grounds.

DAY 2 -3
WILDLIFE DAYS
 Breakfast begins at 6am. At 7am we will depart for our first day on the river. Before we depart to the river, walk around the hotel grounds, there is a diversity of bird life here in the early mornings to photograph, including the endangered hyacinth macaw.

DAY 4
WOLF LODGE
Today, we’ll pack a small overnight bag for our trip to the river. Breakfast will be served at 6:30 a.m., and we’ll depart for the river at 7:30 a.m. to spend the morning searching for jaguars and other wildlife.

At 11 a.m., we’ll begin our journey to the wolf camp, which is a three-hour boat ride. Along the way, we’ll have excellent opportunities to photograph tapirs and water buffaloes along the riverbanks.

Upon arriving at the lodge, we’ll check into our rooms for the evening, settle in, and patiently wait for the maned wolf to make an appearance. These wolves are habituated to human presence but remain wild animals, so there’s no set time for their arrival.

Other wildlife that can be spotted around the camp includes crab-eating foxes, and in the evenings, tapirs often roam the property, feeding on mangos that have fallen from the trees, thanks to the birds above.

DAY 5
WILDLIFE DAY
In the morning we wake up at 5am for a chance at seeing wolves one more time. Breakfast is served at 6am. After breakfast, we will depart the camp at 7am and head back to the jaguar hotspot to finish up our day on the river. We return to our normal lodge in the evening.

DAY 6
FINAL WILDLIFE DAY
 Breakfast begins at 6am. At 7am we will depart for our final day on the river. We will spend all day out there and will depart the river around 3pm and head back to the lodge to begin packing up gear for our ride home back to Cuiba in the morning.

Jaguar safari pantanal

DAY 7
DEPARTURE DAY
7AM Breakfast. After breakfast, we will pack up our gear and begin our journey back to the airport. We depart at 8AM. It is a 4-5 hour drive back to Cuiba. Please make all return flights after 3PM

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • THE TRIP BEGINS IN CUIBA…

    To reach Cuiabá (CGB), you'll need to fly in from São Paulo International Airport (GRU).

    AIRLINES THAT COMMONLY SERVE CUIBA:

    • LATAM Airlines

    • Gol Transportes Aéreos

    HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS:

    If you arrive a day early to Cuiabá, Brazil, there are several hotels in close proximity to the airport that offer convenience for travelers.

    Here is where we stay in Cuiba:

    • Amazon Aeroporto Hotel: Located just 0.53 miles from the airport, this hotel offers modern rooms and amenities.

  • ARRIVAL DAY:
    In Cuiba, they will be picking us up at 10AM to take us to the lodge. It is a 4- 5 drive to get there.

    We recommend flying in the day before, or an early morning flight from Sao Paulo.

    DEPARTURE DAY:
    The return to Cuiba airport we will depart around 8AM and get to the airport around 12 noon. Return Flights should be made after 3PM.

  • This expedition offers a unique exploration of two distinct ecosystems.

    For four days, our focus will be on wildlife encounters by boat, scouting for jaguars hunting along the Pantanal river's edge, and observing various wildlife and birds.

    As we transition to the final day, we'll relocate to a private ranch for on-land safaris—both during the day and at night. Here, our quest continues for sightings of giant anteaters, foxes, tapirs, and night jaguars.

  • Please note that these expeditions involve wild animal encounters, and while there is never any guarantee of sighting wildlife, we strategically plan our visits during the best times of the year for the greatest chances of success.

    We want to highlight that touching wildlife is strictly NOT permitted.

    Every encounter is unique, and the duration is solely at the discretion of the animals.

    Participants caught manhandling wildlife may be asked to leave the area.

    It's essential to maintain a safe distance and show utmost respect towards wildlife.

    We know there's never a certainty, but during our expeditions, we've had a remarkable record. We've encountered jaguars on 100% of the trips we've run, making this an exceptional opportunity to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

    Please Note: if the animal is not interested in interacting with us or shows signs of stress, we will leave the animal alone and go find other wildlife to encounter. 



    YOUR SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE ANIMALS ARE OUR TOP PRIORITIES.

    We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in preserving the beauty of the wildlife and their environment.

  • Solo Travelers signing up for land-based trips individually will be charged the single occupancy rate.

    To help keep costs down, you have the option to inform us if you would like to share a room with another solo guest of the same sex.

    We'll make every effort to find you a roommate. However, if no one else wishes to share, you will be charged for a single room.

  • A non-refundable deposit of $800 USD is required to reserve a space on SDM adventures.


    50% of the expedition cost (balance) is due 180 days prior to departure.


    100% of the expedition cost (balance) is due 90 days prior to departure.


    A 4% surcharge is applied to payments made via credit card.


    A 3% paypal surcharge is applied to payments made using paypal.


    Payments can also be made via wire transfer. Just let us know and we will send you the bank transfer info. 
Please add $40 to cover bank fees.


    Payments can be made by mailing a U.S. Check, or U.S. Money Order Payable to:


    SDM adventures
332 East 15th St.
San Juan, Texas 78589

  • All cancellations made more than 120 days prior to departure will receive refund (less an administrative fee of $800 USD per person). This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. However, if we manage to fill the trip after you cancel, we will apply the deposit towards any of our trips that you sign up for, during the following 12 months. If you cancel again during that period, you will lose the deposit.


    Cancellations made (91 to 120), calendar days prior to departure, are assessed a cancellation fee of 50% of the entire trip price, (including extensions).


    Cancellations made within 90 days of departure date will not be refunded, therefore we strongly recommend all guest purchase travel insurance.


    All cancellations must be made in writing by mail or by email to sdm@sharkdivermag.com, - received and acknowledged by SDM Adventures.


    We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical or other reasons.


    No fees will be refunded if you withdraw after an expedition begins.


    We are not responsible for any fees associated with non-refundable air travel, we highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance.