Caiman

A cattle ranch turned ecological reserve and wilderness lodge, Caiman is a 204-square-mile oasis sitting in the heart of the southern Pantanal in southwestern Brazil. Encompassing 75,000 square miles, the Pantanal is the largest wetlands and flooded grasslands on the planet. Home to jaguars, caimans, capybaras, anacondas, and other captivating wildlife, it’s one of the best places in Brazil for wildlife-watching.

Caiman puts you at the center of the action, surrounded by savannahs, rivers, lakes, forests, and wetlands on all sides. At its heart is Casa Caiman, the refuge’s main guest accommodations. Styled after traditional South American estancias with red-tiled roofs and shaded verandas. The Casa has 18 modern guestrooms, which connect to outdoor terraces overlooking the landscapes. Even though you’re deep in the wild, there are still plenty of creature comforts like an outdoor swimming pool, manicured grounds, and fire pits.

Going from creature comforts to actual creatures, expert “Caimaners” guides take you out daily to explore the Pantanal. Go on rugged 4×4 game drives in search of wildlife, stalk jaguars and ocelots at night, canoe caiman-filled waterways, and hike through forests and grasslands. Through the refuge’s wildlife conservation projects, you can also hang out with rare hyacinth macaws and get up close to jaguars.

Initially founded with the aim of preserving the Pantanal’s wildlife, nature, and culture, stays here support its ecotourism mission as well as its wildlife conservation projections. Once endangered, the Hyacinth Macaw has made an astounding recovery in the region thanks to the diligent work of the Hyacinth Macaw Institute, which invites guests along on its monitoring excursions to see these brilliant blue and yellow birds in the wild. Promoting responsible tourism practices with its jaguar-viewing photographic safaris, the Oncafari initiative provides travelers with an unforgettable experience while raising awareness for the species and demonstrating how the Pantanal’s human and animal residents can coexist.