The Pantanal is an ecologically protected wetlands and is about 2/3 the size of France so its really big. We stayed in accommodation right up close to the river. Winter (now) is the best time to visit as is it the wet season in Summer and so the place is flooded. This time of year the water has receeded and the animals congregate around the water that is left over. Our first day we went for a boat ride up the river and got to see a Water Boar chasing a Heron, ...

We went snorking in the Rio de Prata which is a river that has natural spring feeding into it. We were a bit sceptical about how good the fish would be, but were glad that wed gone when we got there. The springs are protected, and you can´t put your feet down on the bottom, or swim too vigoursly (we doggy paddled with arms only).We were given wetsuits, snorkels and booties to wear, and a truck dropped us near to the river. We had a 30 minute walk through the fo...

We arrived in Sao Paulo on Friday afternoon, after a 6 hour bus trip from Paraty. Another taxi ride from the bus station to the hotel, and what a hotel it is!! Looks like it was very nice when it was built (I´m guessing in the 60s) and nothing has been changed since. The radio on the bedside cabinet is like the one we used to have back in the batch (really old and starts with a whine until the music starts). Sink in the basin is very cracked and the power sh...