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Early morning arrival by train, 3 hour wait in line to pass Bolivian immigration office, short walk across the border, brief stop in the Brazilian immigration office = viola! Welcome to Brazil!
We spent 3 days on a tour in the Pantanal. The Pantanal is a wetland/swamp the size of France. It is home to an amazing array of wildlife. There are indigenous tribes that still live deep in the wetlands. There are also cattle farms, called fazendas. They clear land and habitat to make way for grazing. There is a constant struggle of ecological preservation and economic interest. Thanks in part to the sustainable ecotourism that is growing, it seems that most people are interested in working together to preserve the environment.
During our trip we stayed at a fazenda inside the Pantanal. An hour and a half on one of the only year-round drivable roads into the Pantanal in a Jeep. The fazenda was great, surrounded by natures beauty, named Arara Azul for the blue macaws that hung around, served tasty buffet meals, and comfortable rooms complete with air conditioning unit (which felt like cheating but it was much appreciated, soooo hot and humid!).
We spent the days, touring by boat, fishing and subsequently eating piranha, horseback riding, night touring, and lots of down time to read, practice our new instrument etc. Wildlife included macaws, parakeets, toucans, storks, vultures, giant otters, kayman(look like small alligators), howler monkeys, tarantulas, snakes, and less exciting - cows, horses, and many mosquitos. The horseback ride was a definite highlight, Will's first time on a horse, the week of butt and leg soreness afterwards was a surprise, uffda! We really enjoyed our time in the Pantanal. Next, van to nearest city Campo Grande then fly from there to Belo Horizante.
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