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Wildlife tour and river cruise not to miss in Brazil

Few will argue that when it comes to cityscape few places on earth will rival Rio de Janiero. The setting is incredible. Certainly a poster, postcard and calendar cliché, with Copacabana, the loaf of Corcovado and the towering skyscrapers to frame the setting, the ambiance is magic. And since Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Olympic Games, travel to Rio will abound year by year as we get closer.

Most Brazil tours focus on Rio, but there is more to Brazil than Rio. For the serious wildlife enthusiast there is Pantanal, Brazil’s amazing wetlands and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Covering over 200,000 square kilometers, Pantanal is one of the largest wetlands in the world and an incredible wildlife conservation area. It is located in southwestern part of Brazil, in part projecting into Bolivia and Paraguay. Biologically it is very similar to the Everglades in Florida, though the Pantanal is actually elevated whereas the Everglades are at the sea level. Pantanal is essentially a seasonal flood plain with an average annual precipitation of 1500mm, most of which falls between the months of November and March. During the seasonal flooding Pantanal teems in fish and especially in bird life, including bluebell-tinted macaw and toucans, as well as other variety of mammals and reptiles, namely Pantanal Caymans and giant otters.

Needless to say, once in Pantanal you could add an extension to your Brazil trip and come to Argentina and taste the magic of Iguazu Falls.

For the cruise type that relishes smaller boats, there are river cruises and small barge trips. If you should search for a perfect small ship river cruise holiday, Brazil offers a wonderful cruise on the Sao Francisco River out of Pirapora, north of Belo Horizonte. Fueled by reforested wood the river cruise ship sails at a leisurely pace of little more than ten miles per hour. With only two dozen passengers this is indeed no ocean monster ship but a perfect setting for a romantic voyage into the back-country of Brazil.

Then there is the Amazon, and here too the cruise vessel to opt for is a small craft. Fitted with beautiful woodwork including decks finished in deep brown natural wood, the river barge Tucano can accommodate only 18 passengers. With trained naturalist guides aboard, a cruise on the Tucano provides a wonderful experience through the Amazon rain forest.

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