  The Pantanal is one of the last virgin areas on the face of this earth. Located in a remote corner of southwestern Brazil, the world's largest wetlands covering over 75,000 square miles is home to the greatest concentration of fauna in South America. It's a secret that until very recently was known only to film crews: the best place in South America to see wildlife is not the Amazon but the Pantanal. Unlike in the Amazon, where the dense green foliage makes the creatures harder to see, the Pantanal is an exceptional place for wildlife observation, often linked to the plains of Africa. Each year, heavy tropical rains cause the main rivers to overflow, flooding an area approximately the size of the state of Colorado or half the size of France. During the dry season, the floodwaters draws back, resulting in a rich and compound mixture of grasslands and forests with countless lagoons and everglades. This annual cycle makes the swamp to one of the world's most productive wildlife environment. More than 650 species of birds have been identified, as many species as in the whole United States and Canada combined. The wildlife encountered in Pantanal also reflects that of neighboring Amazonas. Giant Anteaters, howler monkeys and river otters make their homes here. Even the elusive Jaguar still thrives in the Pantanal. Toco Toucan and colorful parrots, including the beautiful Hyacinth Macaw, are among the long list of spectacular birds protected in the region. Along the riverbanks, Paraguayan Caiman congregate at water's edge by the hundreds, and large wading birds, such as Jabiru Stork, are observed in equally impressive numbers.With fascinating sights and sounds of the wildlife, no experience is more rewarding than a photographic safari in this natural paradise. We explore the Pantanal wilderness by safari vehicles and riverboat, or on horseback. During our adventures we share the countryside with pantaneiro cowboys, who live in natural balance with the prolific wildlife of Brazil's wild west, the Pantanal! Find Adventures in Pantanal
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