One of the best ways to experience the Pantanal is by gently drifting down one of its many waterways. These waterways are the life veins of the Pantanal. The Rio Negro (which our lodge sits beside) is one such waterway, and we love to use our flat-bottomed boats and our 2-person canoes to navigate its calm waters. The boats, which are made of aluminium, have a four stroke power engine and an electric engine. They are very stable and have comfortable seats, easily seating 4 passengers and a guide.

		  We try as much as possible to use our electric engines when going by boat, as this is an ideal way to get close to the wildlife of the river. We might see a family of giant otters playfully darting around in a deep pool, or a tiger heron poised like a statue in the shallows as it prepares to spear a tiny fish with its sharp beak. Kingfishers abound on this river, and it is not uncommon to glimpse one crashing into the water below its perch as it tries to secure a meal. The river is also the best place to see the Pantanal's most majestic yet elusive creature - the jaguar.

 

The flooding season sparks the reproductive cycle of fish in the Pantanal. During this period, the Rio Negro floods its banks and spreads into the surrounding area. This area includes a huge drainage field, which fills with water and becomes like a nursery for all of the newly born fish.