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Tours & Activities

Barra Mansa tours and activities are ideal for families, couples, friends and people with special interests such as wildlife, photography, horseback riding, bird watching and adventure.

Canadian canoes are the best way to get in contact with the Pantanal waters and the surrounding nature. These boats seat 3 people and the driving is easy, the Canadian Canoes require no previous experience and can be done by people of all ages. 

The harmonious sounds of the Pantanal and its vivid life can be heard during canoe trips down the river. The wildlife is even more amazing whilst canoeing at sunrise. 

During the Vazante season, when water from the wetland begins to recede, canoeing can be done in the clear waters of Vazante do Castelo, an invitation to delicious baths, observing fish and aquatic plants, as well as caimans and stingrays swimming quietly under the canoes.

The Rio Negro is widely considered as the best region of the Pantanal because it has no villages on its banks. During the tours, it is just you and nature. 

Calm and slow, the river acts as a refuge for the huge number of wild animals that benefit from the remoteness of this region. Along the beaches and riverbanks, you will find the perfect place to rest and experience the Pantanal's exuberant and incredible nature.

Every day you can visit a different bend of the river or explore the quiet lakes hiding in the surrounding woods. 

While you bathe in the river or relax on one of the beaches, nature unfolds around you: a family of otters can choose the same place to bathe, a kingfisher may catch lunch or hyacinth macaws can display their feathers in a delightful dance. Let the harmony of the Rio Negro inspire you. 

Horse riding

Riding a horse provides you with a more favourable view of the wetland. At Hotel Barra Mansa Pantanal, you experience the activities of cattle management and horse-breeding techniques and calm rides throught fields, savannahs, forests, bays and salt-water lakes that serve as a backdrop for observing birds and animals through the wild wetland. 

If you've never ridden a horse before, this is the perfect place to learn. Our horses are well trained, obedient and fitted with comfortable saddles. We ride on typical Pantanal wetland “arreios” , which are suitable for people of all ages. 

For people who like horse-riding, Barra Mansa Pantanal arranges touring options that maximise contact with the horses and the cowboy lifestyle. The schedule of a day's ride includes a typical lunch in the field, as on cattle drives. 

 

Pantanal Jaguar Barra Mansa Lodge - Sta

Safari

We have a 4x4 vehicle customised especially for outdoor drives and will take you to the beautiful scenery, flora and fauna of the Pantanal in comfort. 

On this tour, you can explore areas that are difficult to access on a walk or by horse. It is a great way for you to explore the area if you come with children or have limited mobility. 

The sunrise is a show that can be admired from different parts of the farm during the safari and you are always guaranteed exclusive photos. 

Barra Mansa Lodge is specialised in guiding services for professional photographers and advanced amateurs, suggesting the best tours according to the time of day and visitors nature interest. 

Bird watching

The Pantanal is one of the best locations on earth for bird-watching because of the openness of the vegetation, making wildlife easier to observe. 

Just a few of our 650 species of birds living in the Pantanal green kingfisher, surucua trogon, roseate spoonbill, great potoo, hyacinth macaw, toucan, blue-crowned motmot, black-hooded parrakeet, chaco chachalaca, rufscent tiger heron, jabiru stork. 

Some of the rarest birds in the world can be observed here or next to ranch. Hotel Barra Mansa Pantanal offers structured tours for bird-watching. Our guides know where the natural nurseries are to help you identify a variety of species and differentiate their bird calls. 

We offer specific programs for bird-watching. The guides search carefully for each species so you can observe and photograph them. 

Barra Mansa library holds a great selection of ornithology literature.
 

Birding Pantanal Barra Mansa Lodge.JPG

Canoeing

Canadian canoes are the best way to get in contact with the Pantanal waters and the surrounding nature. These boats seat 3 people and the driving is easy, the Canadian Canoes require no previous experience and can be done by people of all ages. 

The harmonious sounds of the Pantanal and its vivid life can be heard during canoe trips down the river. The wildlife is even more amazing whilst canoeing at sunrise. 

During the Vazante season, when water from the wetland begins to recede, canoeing can be done in the clear waters of Vazante do Castelo, an invitation to delicious baths, observing fish and aquatic plants, as well as caimans and stingrays swimming quietly under the canoes.

Canoeing Barra mansa Lodge Pantanal Luci

Sport fishing

The Negro River, protected by a special legislation prohibiting sport fishing but permitting fishes to be "caught and released" by visitors to the Pantanal. 

The Negro River is home to dourados, catfishes, piraputangas, piaus, pacus and many more auqatic fishes. 

The fishes are small compared to other rivers from the La Plata Basin, but its abundance ensures excitement to the fisher time. 

The 16 feet boats are equipped for fishing and are fitted with 15 HP motors, electric trolling motors and very knowledgeable guides that will take you to the right place for an unforgettable experience with the fishes of the region. 

Our guides know every curve of the river. They know the sample sizes and the amount of fish that can be brought for tasting at the hotel. 

The limitation of a maximum five boats in the river at the same time guarantees exclusive fishing spots. 

Sport Fishing Pantanal Barra Mansa Lodge
Barra Mansa Lodge Pantanal -walking trai

Hiking trails

Hiking takes place in the vicinity of the farm and in the woods, with typical vegetation of the Pantanal: ridges (cordilleras), woods (capões), flood plains and savannah environments that shelter animals and plants in the region.We have highly specialised field guides to assist you. 

Bird-watching is the walks` strong point: dozens of different species come to Barra Mansa daily. 

In addition to the wide variety of birds that can be spotted here in the Pantanal, hiking is a great opportunity to see capybaras, coatis, deer, peccaries and anteaters, due to the silent approach taken by our experienced Pantanal guides. 

The ranch has several trails with varying distances, suitable for a variety of ages and abilities. 

Pantanal Horse riding Barra Mansa Lodge.

Canadian canoes are the best way to get in contact with the Pantanal waters and the surrounding nature. These boats seat 3 people and the driving is easy, the Canadian Canoes require no previous experience and can be done by people of all ages. 

The harmonious sounds of the Pantanal and its vivid life can be heard during canoe trips down the river. The wildlife is even more amazing whilst canoeing at sunrise. 

During the Vazante season, when water from the wetland begins to recede, canoeing can be done in the clear waters of Vazante do Castelo, an invitation to delicious baths, observing fish and aquatic plants, as well as caimans and stingrays swimming quietly under the canoes.

Boat trips

The Rio Negro is considered the most preserved region in Pantanal because there are no cities or villages on its banks. During the tours, it is basically just you and nature. 

The calm waters of the river act as a refuge for a huge number of wild animals that benefit from the remoteness of this region. Along the beaches and riverbanks, you will find the perfect place to rest and experience the Pantanal's exuberant nature. Every day you can visit a different bend of the river or explore the hidden lagoons in the surrounding woods. 

In the boat trips at Barra Mansa, nature unfolds around you: giant otters fishing or relaxing by the river banks, kingfishers calling and flying above your head, statue-like caimans having a tan... ...there are so many amazing wildlife species displaying around that the boat tours are one of the best ways to explore and photograph the Pantanal at Barra Mansa.

Horse riding

Horse riding in Pantanal gives you a previleged and unique experience of exploring the wetlands. At Barra Mansa Lodge you'll be able to ride well-trained horses throught savannahs, forests, fiends and lagoons that work as a perfect background to watch birds and animals of the Pantanal. 

If you never rode a horse before, this is the perfect place in Pantanal to learn. Our horses are easy to ride and we use only typical Pantanal saddles called “arreios”, which are very comfortable as they have been designed for the long journeys of cowboys on cattle drives. 

For people who already have some experience and love to ride, Barra Mansa organizes longer rides to maximise the contact with the horses and Pantanal's cowboys lifestyle, including the possibility of joining them on traditional cattle ranch work of the Pantanal. 
 

Jeep Safari

We have a 4WD vehicle customised especially for outdoor drives that will take you through the beautiful scenery, flora and fauna of the Pantanal with comfort. 

In this tour you will explore larger areas, which are normally difficult to reach on a walk or by horse. It is a great way to see  the Pantanal if you come with children or have limited mobility. 

The sunset in Pantanal is a beautiful show, to be admired from different places and landscapes. During the jepp safaris you always guarantee some scenic pictures and have great chances for watching wildlife. 

Barra Mansa Lodge is specialised in escorting professional photographers around, so we know and will suggest the best areas to visit at each time of day or according to visitors' main interests. 

Bird watching

The Pantanal is one of the best locations on Earth for bird-watching, due the variety of habitats and great amount of species displaying easily around to be observed. 

Among the 550 bird species living in Pantanal, Barra Mansa shelters over 250 hundred, including Pantanal icons -  Hyacinth macaws and Jabirus - and some amazing species as Roseate spoonbill, Surucua trogon, Great potoo, Toco toucan, Blue-crowned motmot, Nanday parrakeet, Great honred owl, and many others. 


Barra Mansa Lodge offers structured tours for bird-watching in Pantanal. Our guides are experienced and will help to find and identify an enourmous number of species during the Pantanal tours. 

Barra Mansa's library holds a great selection of ornithology literature, and the lodge also organizes birding tours together with other lodges and areas in Pantanal. 
 

Canoeing

The tours by canoe are one of the best ways to get in contact with the nature and wildlife in Pantanal. The harmonious sounds of nature and the quality of the wildlife approach are potencialized to its best during canoe trips down the river.


The canoes at Barra Mansa are for 2 people each, and controling is very easy, so no need for previous experience. It can be done by people of all ages and the tours are always escorted by experience native guides. 

During the Vazante season, when waters from the flood season begins to recede, canoeing can be done in the crystal-clear waters of Vazante do Castelo, a fantastic experience to observe fish and aquatic plants, as well as caimans and stingrays swimming quietly in the waters of Pantanal.

Sport fishing

The Negro River in Pantanal is protected by law and only sport fishing "catch and released system" is permitted. It is home to Dourados (the Golden Salmon), Catfishes, Piraputangas, Pacus, Piranhas and many more native species. 

The 16 feet boats for fishing are equipped with 15 HP fuel engines, rotative seats and electric trolling engines. The guides at Barra Mansa are very knowledgeable and will take you to the right place for an unforgettable fishing experiences. 

Barra Mansa Lodge has maximum capacity for 8 fishermen at a time and offers customized attendance to each group - all fishing tours are planned according to the best times of the day and escorted by experienced fishing guides. The Rio Negro is renowned for providing excellent fishing, sheltering a great diversity of species fishermen may hook on their trips. Both spinning and fly fishing are possible, and we will recommend the best lures, flies and live baits to optimize the experience.  

Walking tours

Walking around the different habitats and typical vegetations of the Pantanal is fantastic. Forests, floodplains and savannahs shelter the immense variety of plants and wildlife of the Pantanal, and are better seen by foot.  

The quiet approach of the experienced Pantanal guides at Barra Mansa make the walking tours a very effective and overwhelming adventure to spot birds and wildlife. 

 

During the walks at Barra Mansa it is common to see species as Capybaras, Coatis, Deer, Peccaries, Armadillos and Anteaters, but also dozens of different and colorful bird species at each different tour. 

Ranch activities

Barra Mansa is still a typical working ranch of Pantanal and provides the experience of joining traditional activities of Pantanal's people and way of life.

You can go out with the pantaneiros to round up and drive cattle, learn how to rope (the laço), milk cows and help the cook to make cheese and the delicious milk caramel (doce de leite). 

Barra Mansa is on the route of the authentic "comitivas" (cattle drives) and offers lodging for cowboys leading up to 1,000 head of cattle through the Pantanal. They usually camp and overnight by the river, and cross the cattle through the water on the next day - a great opportunity to see and photograph Pantanal's genuine culture. 
 

The ranch activities are an invitation to interact with Pantanal people and their rural lifestyle. 

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