Other Websites
Below are links to other websites of interest for travellers to the Pantanal, and for people wanting to learn more about the places they are visiting.
Bird Watching
WikiAves
If you're travelling into the Pantanal to find wildlife (and especially birds), check this site which allows you to search for birds by their English name and check the regions in which they've been sighted. Contributors have also uploaded a huge number of photographs to assist identification. The species data is in Portuguese - but that becomes less of an issue if using Google Translate
www.wikiaves.com.brTransport Services
The companies below provide passenger services in the Pantanal region. In many cases you can view scheduled services and make bookings online.
Busca Onibus (Bus Search)
This site offers an easy way to find scheduled bus services and prices for most locations within Brazil. The site contains details from multiple companies.
www.buscaonibus.com.brAndorinha Bus Lines
This is one of the major bus companies in the Southern Pantanal (Mato Grosso do Sul) region. They provide services between most cities and towns - and even to the gate of several fazendas. You can book and pay online.
www.andorinha.comViação Motta Bus Lines
This is another of the major bus companies operating in the region. It also has online bookings.
www.motta.com.brVanzella Transportes
Tourist Bus services between Campo Grande airport and Bonito.
www.vanzellatransportes.com.brLocaliza Car Hire
The biggest care hire company in Latin America - with branches in many small cities and towns within the Pantanal region.
www.localiza.comTour Companies and Accommodation
Trip Advisor
Useful site offering reviews and comments about tours and accommodation in the Pantanal region. Search on the name of the town or region you're travelling to.
www.tripadvisor.com Refúgio Ecológico Caiman
Located near Miranda in Mato Grosso do Sul, this is one of the best known Fazendas for Pantanal tours, and has played host to several conservation programs.
caiman.com.brBonitoWay
Tour and transport services for the Bonito region.
www.bonitoway.com.brHI Bonito
Popular hostel for backpackers in Bonito. This site also contains a wealth of other information for transport and activities. HI Bonito operates its own daily transport services between Campo Grande and Bonito.
www.ajbonito.com.br/ingles/Conservation in the Pantanal
Waterland Research Institute
Summary of research and findings presented at the World Conference on Preservation and Sustainable Development in the Pantanal in 1999. This site contains is a wealth of technical and conservation information about the Pantanal.
www.pantanal.org/pantanal.htmConservation International
CI is leading many global conservation projects, including some in the Cerrado which provides much of the water into the Pantanal.
www.conservation.orgWorld Wildlife Fund
WWF have been active in conservation within the Pantanal for decades. This includes programs to raise environmental awareness, sustainability and reduce habitat destruction.
www.panda.orgPantanal Jaguar Project
Although aimed primarily at Jaguars, this project aims to reduce the fragmentation of the Pantanal (currently about 2,500 farms with fences). The project is working with local ranchers to build safe corridors which still allow wildlife to roam and migrate freely through the region.
www.panthera.orgProjeto Arara Azul
This is one of the great conservation successes of the Pantanal. The Blue Hyacinth macaw (Arara Azul) is the largest and (in our opinion) the most spectacular of all parrot species. Sadly, by the 1980s, habitat destruction and smuggling for the pet trade meant that were only about 1500 birds left. However, by protecting habitat and increasing nesting locations, this project has increased the population to more than 5,000 birds.
www.projetoararaazul.org.brReport on Impact of Hidrovia Project to the Pantanal
Text of a report summarizing the negative impacts of the Hidrovia project on the environment and wildlife of the Pantanal.
www.bluemacaws.org/pantart2.htm
Photo Credits: Spectacled Caiman (Shutterstock/Dirk Ercken)
Pantanal Escapes