The Mato Grosso Pantanal is considered the largest flood land in the world, encompassing the southwest of Mato Grosso, western Mato Grosso do Sul, and part of Paraguay and Bolivia.
There are over 650 species of birds (herons, stork, spoonbills, punches, saracuras), 80 mammals (capybara, deer, owls, jaguars, monkeys), 260 types of fish (golden, piraputanga, piauçu, bush ) And 50 reptiles (wetland alligator, anavondas), in addition to the great diversity of insects.
As with animal life, the Pantanal has an extensive variety of trees, plants, herbs and other types of vegetation. The flora, with a typical predominance of aquatic plants, has in its constitution species such as buriti, manduvi, carandá, aroeira, ipê, figueira, palmeira and angico .. In this ecosystem it is also possible to observe the characterization intermixed of vegetation of savana, And forests.
The Pantanal is considered a transition area between the Amazon and the Cerrado(savana)
During rain season (October to April), the level of rivers in the Paraguay basin increases and floods the lands, covering up to two-thirds of the Pantanal area. At that time the observations of larger animals such as the jaguar become more difficult to see them.
At the end of the rainy season (between June and September), the waters slowly drying up and return to their natural course. Being the best time to see the jaguars!
Transpantaneira:
The transpantaneira is a dirt road that cuts through the Mato Grosso wetland linking the small town of Poconé to Porto Jofre, and is approximately 150 kilometers long and is one of the great tourist attractions of this region. Through it can be seen several animals and birds. Throughout the course of the transpantaneira are found more than 100 wooden bridges.
The most popular excursions in Pantanal are: hiking, horseback riding, night spotting, animal and bird watching, boat and cart ride, canoeing, recreational fishing, sport fishing and safari photography.