9 Unforgettable Rainforest Ecotourism Adventures by Natural Habitat Adventures

9 Unforgettable Rainforest Ecotourism Adventures

A trip to the rain forest is filled with interesting possibilities for adventure, whether through cultural exchange, photography, fishing, hiking, birding or wildlife spotting.

But not all rain forests are the same! Some are hot and humid and filled with colorful orchids, while others are cool and misty and packed with prehistoric ferns. Some are known for their tiny residents, like hummingbirds, frogs and insects, others for their orangutans or mountain gorillas. Many ultra-dense forests are best seen by boat, while others are best explored on land with a highly trained guide.

To start you daydreaming about your next nature getaway, we’ve compiled eight of our favorite rain forest destinations.

Contributing Authors:

Cathy Brown

Emily Goodheart

Megan Brief

Laura Kiniry

Michelle Peters

Wendy Redal

WWF

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What fills you with awe?

You’ve no doubt had moments in nature that have filled you with wonder. Since founding Natural Habitat Adventures, I have had the good fortune to experience my fair share of such moments: Exchanging an intelligent gaze with a mountain gorilla in Rwanda. Crawling inside a vacant polar bear den on the Canadian tundra. Snorkeling with inquisitive sea lions in the Galapagos.

What I felt in each of these instances is an emotion that has captured the recent interest of scientists: awe.

Psychologists have found positive effects when humans experience awe. Awe triggers oxytocin, which calms the nervous system. It makes people feel small, prompting them to redirect concern away from the self and toward the wider world.

Researchers have discovered that people find awe in nature more than any other context. And that’s good news for conservation and the well-being of the Earth!

I would venture that the best thing about traveling with Nat Hab is the chance to experience awe. Where will you find it?

I hope to see you out there,

Ben Bressler

Explorer, Founder, President Natural Habitat Adventures

Rainforests & Lakes of South Island

The “Impenetrable” Forest

Get to Know the Gardeners of the Rainforest

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The largest unbroken stretch of rainforest is found in the Amazon River Basin of South America. Home to one in 10 known species on Earth, this 1.4-billion-acre biome comprises the 3,977-mile-long Amazon River—the second-longest river in the world and half of the planet’s remaining tropical forests.

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The Amazon River Basin covers 40% of the South American continent, including Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Twothirds of the Amazon lies in Brazil, which holds about one-third of the world’s remaining tropical rainforests.

Each year, the Amazon loses forested areas the size of Delaware due to agricultural expansion, ranching, infrastructure projects, energy exploration, natural resource extraction and illegal logging. The Amazon is close to a tipping point past which it will no longer be able to sustainably support itself. Models show that if deforestation exceeds 40% of the original forest area in the Amazon biome, a transition to savanna ecosystems could be triggered.

The Amazon is one of Earth’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles, and pink river dolphins, and home to thousands of birds and butterflies. Tree-dwelling species include southern twotoed sloths, pygmy marmosets, saddleback and emperor tamarins, and Goeldi’s monkeys. The diversity of the region is staggering, with 40,000 plant species, 2,400 freshwater fish species and more than 370 types of reptiles.

On Nat Hab’s Great Amazon River Expedition, journey all the way to the tributary headwaters to explore the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, a 5-million-acre labyrinth of flooded and dry forest, islands and chocolate-colored creeks laden with tannins.

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Ride aboard our chartered riverboat with panoramic windows for private nature viewing; and scout for wildlife like napping sloths, vibrant macaws, mischievous monkeys and rare pink river dolphins alongside our expert guides!

Nat Hab’s Conservation partner, WWF focuses much of their conservation initiatives in tropical rainforests such as the Amazon. To protect these species, WWF works with local communities and partners with nongovernmental organizations, corporations and governments to ensure that deforestation and degradation of rivers are alleviated.

You can contribute to WWF’s goals and protect biodiversity through non-

consumptive forest-based recreation and tourism. The ecotourism industry plays an important role in generating economic and employment opportunities for women, Indigenous communities and other vulnerable groups. Each year an estimated 8 billion visits are made to protected areas— many of which are forest-covered.

Nat Hab’s Great Amazon River Expedition grants travelers an intimate glimpse into the most biodiverse—and one of the most threatened— ecosystems in the world.

THE DAINTREE

The Most Ancient Rainforest on Earth

Many people assume that the Amazon is the oldest rainforest on the planet, but that title actually belongs to the Daintree Rainforest, a 135-million-year-old tropical forest edging the Great Barrier Reef in remote northeast Australia. In the province of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, the long history here is evident. Ancient plant species that date all the way back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, including whisk and tassel ferns, are examples of some of Earth’s earliest land plants.

The surreal scenery and rugged topography here—made up of wild rivers, gorges, refreshing waterfalls and mountains draped in the verdant rainforest— are said to have inspired the film Avatar. Incredibly high in biodiversity, the Daintree is home to 30% of Australia’s frog, reptile and marsupial species and 90% of its bat and butterfly species.

Some 430 bird species live in the canopy, including the locally endemic tooth-billed and golden bowerbird, lovely fairywren, yellow-spotted honeyeater, Victoria’s riflebird, Bower’s shrikethrush and fernwren, and the endangered cassowary (a striking bird that towers up to 6 1/2 feet tall).

Ancient plant species date to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods—remnants of the dinosaur age—with wisk and tassel ferns representing some of Earth’s earliest land plants. Other ancient flora includes plum pines, southern yews and buny pines.

Spend a few days exploring Daintree National Park on Nat Hab’s Ultimate Australia Safari. Hiking past huge fronds of king ferns, Nat Hab travelers explore the rainforest on guided excursions. There’s also an opportunity to visit the Botanical Ark, a conservation-driven ethno-botanical garden, to learn about rainforest plants that indigenous cultures from more than 40 countries use for food, shelter, medicine, cosmetics, fibers, oils and dyes. Scout for

saltwater crocodiles that ply the Daintree River and marsupials such as potoroo, bandicoot and the adorable musky ratkangaroo, one of the smallest members of the kangaroo family. This tiny marsupial is only about 15 inches long, including its tail, and has survived in Australian forests for more than 20 million years.

Enjoy highlights such as a private “Dreamtime” Walk in Mossman Gorge. On this meandering stroll through lush rainforest with a local Indigenous guide, learn about traditional plant use, bush food sources, and cultural practices like ochre painting. Then take a walk after dark with our Expedition Leader in search of nocturnal wildlife. Rise early for a private boat trip on the Daintree River, flanked by dense rainforest and mangroves, to enjoy birdwatching and nature photography in the golden light. Our solar electric boat moves silently through the water as we cruise in search of crocodiles, tree frogs and other wildlife.

Experience the wonders of this ‘Paradise Lost’ on Nat Hab’s Ultimate Australia Safari.

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AUSTRALIA SOUTH

A legacy of wilderness appreciation is intrinsic to Tasmania, the birthplace of the world’s first environmental political party. The island of Tasmania, or lutruwita, is home to the Aboriginal palawa peoples who have lived here for more than 60,000 years, before the British Empire arrived to form a penal colony in 1803.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park— part of the Tasmanian Wilderness UNESCO World Heritage Area—covers 3.7 million acres, one-fifth of Tasmania’s landmass. 5,069-foot Cradle Mountain is surrounded by diverse habitats of grassland, temperate rainforest and ancient plants that date to the supercontinent of Gondwana, including the King Billy pine, deciduous beech and pandani, the world’s tallest heath plant.

The park’s imposing peaks, lakes and glaciersculpted valleys comprise some of Australia’s most stunning landscapes and protects some of the most significant areas of temperate rainforest remaining on Earth. (Temperate rainforests occur in places of high rainfall, where the risk of bushfire is low).

Our lodge is on the edge of Cradle Mountain National Park, where we settle in

before an evening outing to seek out the abundant wildlife around the premises—we often spot wallabies, echidnas, pademelons and wombats that come out around dusk. And while we’re extremely unlikely to see one, Tasmanian devils and quolls also inhabit the forest.

Highlights include a hike around Dove Lake, gleaming sapphire-blue beneath Cradle Mountain’s jagged profile, with a stop at some waterfalls, too. Wildlife abounds in the park, and we seek it out on walks at dawn and dusk. We re-enter the park at night to look for crepuscular and nocturnal wildlife using redlight spotlights. If we are fortunate to have a cloudless night, we’ll be able to see many of the Southern Hemisphere constellations, including the famous Southern Cross.

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You can witness these ancient moss-laden trees and quirky species on two of Nat Hab’s Australian expeditions: Ultimate Australia Safari and Australia South: Tasmania, Kangaroo Island & Beyond.

NEW ZEALAND

Situated along the South Island’s west coast, Lake Moeraki is a part of the larger Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site, where rocky coasts, towering cliffs and rumbling waterfalls share space with southern beech and ancient conifer forests. The lake itself boasts calm waters and magnificent views of the Southern Alps in the distance, while the surrounding rainforest is a hub for native wildlife such as alpine keas and endangered takahe.

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Towering ferns, often illuminated by glowworms in the evenings, line the way to the nearby Monro Beach, a remote stretch where Fiordland crested penguins (mid-size penguins endemic to New Zealand), nest in October and November. These penguins are especially unique, being the only species of their kind that breed in temperate rainforests. While here, keep an eye out for New Zealand fur seals, sea lions, and Hector’s dolphins either on the beach or in the waters.

South Island, a land of topographic extremes, from seaside rainforests and sapphire lakes to ice-crowned peaks, active glaciers and frigid fjords. On a dramatic itinerary that winds from alpine heights to Pacific shores, Nat Hab travelers are immersed in nature at its showiest. Explore lush mountains and deep gorges in Fiordland National Park, hike on remote Mou Waho Island in Lake Wanaka, and walk among toering ferns to wild Monro Beach.

We set off through the little-visited Catlins, a rugged coastal region that is one of the most sparsely populated areas of New Zealand. Hemmed by a rockbound shoreline, this windswept region holds lush woodlands, a petrified forest, hidden lakes and cascading waterfalls. Large tracts of rainforest are filled with native flora including tree ferns, rata, kahikatea, miro, kamaha and silver beech, while the coastline is defined by stark cliffs, sea caves, rock stacks and sandy bays. Wildlife is plentiful—keep an eye out for seabirds and forest-dwelling birds including tui, bellbird, fantail, native pigeon and the rare

mohua, plus New Zealand sea lions, fur seals and Hector’s dolphins offshore.

Reaching Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city, board a short flight this afternoon to idyllic Stewart Island, 19 miles offshore. Much of this rugged granite island lies within Rakiura National Park, whose Maori name means “Land of Glowing Skies.” Its rainforests shelter many native plants, which we discover on nature walks through the unique habitat. The island is a haven for birds— listen for the songs of parakeets and bellbirds. And of course we’ll hope to spy the elusive brown kiwi on a guided night walk— Stewart Island is one of the best places in New Zealand to seek them. And if we’re very lucky, we might catch a glimpse of the aurora australis in the southern sky.

Take an intimate nature walk with a local naturalist who works closely with Stewart Island native and birder extraordinaire Ulva Goodwillie, the namesake of the Ulva Island sanctuary. On Ulva, just a short boat ride away from neighboring Stewart Island,

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explore pristine trails and beaches, observing rare bird species that no longer exist on the main islands, such as saddleback and yellowhead. Ulva has been carefully managed to be free of invasive predators and pests since 1997, allowing native wildlife to flourish as it did prior to the arrival of introduced species. The small island has also never been logged, offering visitors an immersion in an untouched rainforest that provides shelter for Ulva’s healthy bird population.

Traverse moss-draped beech forest as we cross Haast Pass into the heart of the West Coast glacier country. We stop to take in the view at the top of the pass, which is one of three main passages across the Southern

Alps and was once an important Maori trading route. The lush scenery is glorious, and trails lead from the road’s edge along turquoise streams into the rainforest to dramatic waterfalls, including Thunder Falls where we stop for a nature walk to view Haast River.

Paralleling the river as we descend the pass, we ultimately reach the ocean, where we stop to walk through Ships Creek Ancient Forest.

Immerse yourself in the scenic splendors of New Zealand’s South Island on Nat Hab’s New Zealand Nature Explorer.

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BWINDI

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda lies on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. Its misty hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, dating back more than 25,000 years. More than 350 bird species call the forest home, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.

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But most visitors come here because of the 450 mountain gorillas (roughly half the world’s population!), including several habituated groups that visitors can spend time with.

Imagine following a highly trained guide as you track a gorilla family deep in the mountains, looking for signs of their presence, such as broken vegetation, stripped tree bark or a mound of dung. Depending on the day, it’s possible to spot young ones playing in the trees, mommas carrying their babies, and, if you’re lucky, an intimidating silverback. The patriarchs of their troops, these enormous males are often twice the size of the females in the group.

Nothing can ever prepare you for an encounter with a massive mountain gorilla, as your gaze momentarily meets its expressive eyes.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site on the edge of the Great Rift Valley is a sanctuary for ten other primates: the eastern chimpanzee, blue monkey, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus monkey, baboon, vervet monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey and the nocturnal potto, Prince Demidoff’s bushbaby and dusky bushbaby. Forest elephants, African golden cats and 77 other mammal species reside here, along with 350 bird species and 310 butterfly species—a hike under the dense canopy is sure to

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reveal glimpses of these flying gems. These mist-shrouded slopes and verdant valleys are among the richest fauna communities in East Africa. The primeval rainforests of this biodiversity hotspot are 25,000 years old—this ancientness can be felt while walking past rare orchids and the ledges of waterfalls adorned with mosses and ferns.

Mountain gorillas, once threatened with extinction from habitat loss and poaching, survived due to sustainable tourism. Viewing and photographing these rare primates brings economic support to local communities surrounding this protected habitat, while villagers are employed as guides and wildlife researchers. Nat Hab Philanthropy is a proud

contributor to Ugandan community initiatives and grassroots efforts, including Ride 4 A Woman, Bwindi Plus Nursery and Primary School and Gorilla Conservation Coffee, a co-op of farmers who grow, process and roast their beans to sell at a premium price that benefits gorilla conservation. Coffee and tea are ideal crops to grow as a buffer between gorilla habitat and lands used for subsistence agriculture, as the great apes turn back into the forest to forage for leaves they favor.

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THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST

The Amazon of the North

Within a 250-mile stretch of British Columbia’s central and northern coast, some of Earth’s oldest and tallest trees reach for the sky. Covering 21 million acres, the expansive Great Bear Rainforest—which stretches from the Knight Inlet of British Columbia’s Inside Passage to the Alaska Panhandle—is home to thousand-year-old red cedars and towering Sitka spruce trees. Grizzlies, wolves, bald eagles and the elusive spirit bear find refuge within thick stands of western hemlock and Douglas fir, sheltered from the rain clouds of the “Amazon of the North.”

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The sodden landscape hosts numerous rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls, mossy mountainsides and glacier-cut fjords. Sea otters, dolphins and whales cavort in the mighty Pacific, while bears amble to the edge of salmon-rich rivers each summer.

A journey into the GBR not only offers a quiet place to soak up silence and the verdant surroundings, but the rare chance—if you’re truly fortunate—to glimpse the white Kermode bear, also known as the “spirit bear.” Nat Hab explorations of the region, like our Spirit Bears, Humpbacks & Wildlife of BC trip, employ local Gitga’at guides, who are intimately connected with this isolated wilderness. These First Nations people, who have lived among the Kermode bears for millennia, know where to look for them and how to best (and most carefully) showcase the unfettered flora and fauna of this precious landscape.

There’s so much “great” about the Great Bear Rainforest, it’s hard to know where to begin. We’ll begin with its great size, similar in range to the country of Ireland and encompassing a quarter of the world’s coastal temperate rainforest (and the largest piece of intact temperate rainforest on the planet). We also think it’s pretty great because it’s the only place in the world where you can hope to see the Kermode bear.

Grizzlies, black bears and the mysterious spirit bear live within this great northern hemisphere wilderness. While no selfrespecting wildlife enthusiast would overlook a great grizzly or a black bear in its natural habitat, the spirit bears have a way of beckoning our souls, as they did the T’simshian people who once shared their ancient homeland with the Kermode bear.

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Local legend states that the raven made one out of every 10 black bears white as a reminder of a time when glaciers covered the territory, reminding those who live there to be grateful for the nature and bounty that surrounds them. They believe the spirit bears have supernatural powers, and they have lived in harmony with them and the other area wildlife since time immemorial. Biologically speaking, the Kermode bear gets it naturally white fur from a recessive white gene carried by approximately 10 percent of the black bears born in the area.

Complex coastal rainforest ecosystems have four common factors: they’re located in cooler climates, they are close to the ocean, there are mountains present within them and the average rainfall is high. It’s a dynamic relationship between terrestrial, marine, freshwater and estuarine systems, each at play in its own symbiotic way. The coastal rainforest is an optimum environment for some of the world’s oldest and largest trees: the Sitka spruce, red cedar, western hemlock, amabilis fir (also known as the Pacific silver fir) and Douglas fir.

These epic trees can grow as tall as 300 feet high and can have a life span of more than 1,500 years. The coastal rainforests of British Columbia are the result of more than 10,000 years of evolution, since the last glaciers of the Pleistocene Epoch melted. Natural disturbances—think wildfires—are rare and small in scale, allowing these coastal paradises to settle in and evolve unhindered.

Streams rich in salmon provide sustenance for the orcas, eagles, bears, wolves and more. In fact, wild salmon is one of the most important keystone species for coastal rainforest ecosystems, because the grizzlies depend on the healthy fish for their survival. Bears then drag off the salmon carcasses into the forest, which ultimately feeds the forest soil.

Our adventure introduces you to this magnificent, ancient ecosystem, where mystical Kermode bears roam, eagles soar and charismatic orcas cavort in the sea. We join local Gitga’at Indigenous guides within the protected bounds of the Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy, relying on their intimate knowledge as we search for the pale bears along the creeks and estuaries. The Gitga’at people spend hours in the forest as part of their lifestyle and are familiar with the bears’ behavior and where they’ve recently been spotted. Listen and learn as you hear about experiences and stories of these secretive creatures, an oral history that has lived on through more than two dozen First Nations who have long made their home here.

Our Nat Hab expedition to the Great Bear Rainforest, Spirit Bears, Humpbacks & Wildlife of BC, connects you with the land and inspires its protection.

COSTA RICA

Cloud to Coastal Forests

Flanked by miles of empty beaches on the Pacific and the Caribbean, Costa Rica’s interior is a lush tangle of rainforest, mist-veiled mountains, rushing rivers, active volcanoes and habitat for some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth. Within the layers of green upon green, thousands of species thrive: gigantic ferns, magenta orchids, neon-bright parrots, iridescent hummingbirds, three-toed sloths, monkeys, peccaries, agoutis, crocodiles, sea turtles, iguanas and frogs...and that’s just for starters! Amid the colors and cacophony of the tropical jungle, our senses have never been so engaged.

Search for cloud forest wildlife, including rare quetzals and sloths, on a canopy skybridge walk and guided hikes in a private nature sanctuary

Discover the hidden beauty of the littlevisited Osa Peninsula as we explore pristine coastal rainforest and wild Pacific beaches—a rare inclusion!

According to the United Nations Global Forest Resources Assessment, a mindboggling 51% of Costa Rica is rainforest. Of this, 23.9% is primary rainforest (old-growth forest that has existed since ancient times

without significant disturbance). Many areas of Costa Rica have rainforests, but the climates of each forest can vary greatly depending on elevation. For example, highaltitude cloud forests often have refreshingly lower temperatures. Other locations can receive between 80 and 260 inches of rain every year.

On our Costa Rica Wilderness Explorer trip, we show you as many different ecosystems as possible. We start at an 800-acre private rainforest reserve on Costa Rica’s remote southern Pacific coast, where we keep an eye out for squirrel monkeys, howler

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monkeys and white-faced capuchin, sloths clinging to high branches, and agouti in the underbrush. More than 275 bird species live here, including brilliant scarlet macaws. From the river, we might see crocodiles, rainbow boas, green iguanas, long-nosed bats, roseate spoonbills, ospreys, kingfishers, frigatebirds and egrets.

Next, we head to Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge, which protects large tracts of lowland rainforest, mangroves, wetlands and secondary growth. The refuge is home to wooly opossum, anteater, sloth, armadillo, ghost bat and a variety of monkeys.

Birdwatchers will be ecstatic to know that there are nearly 400 recorded species here.

Finally, we travel to the high-altitude ecosystem of Los Quetzales National Park for a glimpse of the resplendent quetzal, with its emerald-green head, blood-red breast and long, iridescent turquoise tail. Following their deep, melodious calls through the forest is a experience almost as rewarding as visually spotting one.

Visit Costa Rica’s rainforests on Nat Hab’s Costa Rica Wilderness Explorer.

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BORNEO

Borneo, the world’s third-largest island with a size roughly that of Texas, is home to the tallest rainforests on the planet. Sheltered beneath their dense canopies are wild jungle rivers, rushing waterfalls and so much more wildlife than just the endangered orangutans these forests are internationally known for. There are leaf monkeys, wild gibbons, flying lemurs, proboscis monkeys, sun bears, clouded leopards, Bornean pygmy elephants and more than 300 vibrant bird species.

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Orangutan translates to “person of the forest” in the Malay language; an apt description for a mammal that shares approximately 97% of our DNA. Land converted to agriculture and deforestation for the timber trade threaten critical orangutan habitat. An estimated 300 million trees have been cut down since 1994 in Borneo alone. Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammal and spend the majority of their lives in trees. With their long, powerful arms and grasping hands and feet, they swiftly swing through a maze of branches and seek refuge under the canopies. Using a combination of vegetation and brush, they construct nests to sleep at night and rest during the day.

Orangutan population and distribution have declined rapidly since the middle of the 20th century, due to road construction, agricultural conversion, mining, logging, hunting and energy infrastructure development. Habitat in north Sumatra is primarily destroyed by the conversion of forests to oil palm plantations and widespread forest fires.

WWF partners with governments, plantation owners and local communities like Borneo’s Dayak people to ensure that agricultural areas are developed as far away from orangutan habitat as possible. WWF also establish ecotourism, which generates financial support for orangutan conservation, brings economic benefits to those living nearby and increases the commitment of residents to protect the animals.

Join Natural Habitat Adventures in Borneo, the world’s third-largest island, and observe wild orangutans share vines with leaf monkeys, wild gibbons, flying lemurs and rare proboscis monkeys in the tallest and most ancient rainforests on Earth. Learn about crucial efforts to conserve them at two rehabilitation centers!

The island is home to an impressive 15,000 known plants, including about 3,000 tree species, more than 1,700 types of orchids, and more than 50 carnivorous plant species. Since 1995, more than 600 species have been identified on the islands, some of which are completely new to science.

An unknown mammal species—for now vaguely named the Bornean red carnivore was even captured by one of WWF’s camera traps as recently as 2003. Palm oil plantations surround the rainforests here and are the biggest threat to critical habitat loss.

On our Wilds of Borneo adventure, we support only the most sustainable on-the-ground partners who are working tirelessly to protect these important rainforests. Visit Borneo’s rainforests on Nat Hab’s Wilds of Borneo: Orangutans & Beyond adventure.

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BRAZIL’S PANTANAL

Wildlife & Wetlands

While the Amazon may be better known, the Pantanal offers South America’s greatest wildlife extravaganza. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is the world’s largest seasonal floodplain, sprawling over 75,000 square miles in the heart of the continent and containing its densest concentration of wildlife. The vast mosaic of marsh and islands is home to 10 million caiman, 650 bird species and 100 different mammals, including capybara, maned wolf and giant river otter.

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The Pantanal’s freshwater wetlands support a profusion of aquatic fauna that attracts a host of predators, creating a huge, intricate food chain. At the top is the elegant and elusive jaguar—and our in-depth Pantanal adventure offers the world’s best chance to see them! On foot, by boat and 4x4, explore the verdant recesses of South America’s largest wildlife sanctuary—you’ll find no more epic Pantanal safari!

More than 1,200 rivers converge to feed the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland. That’s 42 million acres of aquatic habitat spread across three countries: Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. More than 4,700 plant and animal species reside here,

including the world’s largest parrot—the blue-and-yellow hyacinth macaw—the brilliant blue morpho butterfly, the Victoria giant waterlily, and the largest canine in South America—the maned wolf.

It’s also in the Pantanal that you’ll find the biggest of big cats in Central and South America: the jaguar (Panthera onca).

As the third-largest cat in the world (after lions and tigers), you’d think spotting a jaguar would be a breeze. But here in the Pantanal, even the largest and most ferocious of predators is dwarfed beneath towering palms and roaring waters.

Jaguars prey on more than 85 species, including monkeys, birds, peccaries, agoutis, deer, tapirs, capybaras and cattle. Their appetite for underwater fare is most remarkable. Using up to 1,500 pounds of force, jaguars can pierce through bones, skulls and hard-shelled reptiles like turtles and tortoises.

Even caimans (order: Crocodilia) are on the menu. Jaguars often lounge and hunt terrestrial animals from the branches of trees, but they are equally adept fishers These ingenious cats use their tails to lure prey to the water’s surface and then scoop them up with their massive paws.

Alongside our travel partner, World Wildlife Fund, Nat Hab offers the most in-depth foray into South America’s grandest wildlife realm. Nat Hab’s Expedition Leaders average 10 years of experience, with additional training and resources from WWF scientists. We’re also joined by local guides at each lodge who are resident experts in their region’s flora and fauna.

Nat Hab’s Jaguars & Wildlife

of Brazil’s Pantanal ensures exclusive access to jaguar habitat, with multiple opportunities to see these magnificent cats in the wild.

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