We left Araras lodge yesterday after breakfast -but not before watching two hyacinth macaws sitting squawking - then going absolutely silent and preening each other - one even had its wing around the other - convincing me even more that the trade in these birds is nothing but cruel - they were clearly very content and as happy as birds can be! We set off up the Transpantaneira for the last time stopping and watching the array of birds and caymen at some of the d...

At 0630am we left our hotel in Belo Horizante and headed for the airport to catch our flight to Cuiaba - the gateway to the Pantanal. Interestingly the taxi we had from the airport booked at a taxi counter cost 54 Reals whereas the taxi hailed by the hotel cost the standard rate, we now know, of 35 Reals! Nobody would have made out of the first deal - except the company as we paid by credit card - so I put the 19 Real difference down to a misunderstanding and my ...