While spending a couple of weeks supporting an art project in RecifeI I decided to take the opportunity to visit a few other spots in Brazil to make the trip even more memorable - And oh boy, did I book the right place with this Fazenda to get an idea of the beautiful nature of Mato Grosso do Sul, the wildlife and a sense of spending days on the back of a horse! I felt right on spot from the first moment I arrived. The accommodation was splendid (beautiful view on the lake from my private terrace) and the provision, I was aware that, due to the fact being in such a remote place, all meals during the day were included, but never would I have had expected meals that were rather 5 Star cuisine than something served in the wild! Not to mention the best Caipirinha I had in all Brazil and excellent fresh lemonade whenever I felt the need to cool down and chill. All the tours were well selected and unique, though I must admit that I was already well served spending my days on a horse day-in and day-out :) Still there was time for a beautiful sunrise picknick while cute otters feasting on the plenty fish floating along, as well as tours in kayak, boat and Jeep. I don’t want to brag, but of course I saw a jaguar in his natural habitat along other rather rare and beautiful species! Loved the spontaneous barbecue at that magnificent spot, where Jorge Schweizer observed and documented the life of the otters of the Pantanal for more than a decade. Big thanks to Camilla, her staff, the guides and the cowboys, you made my stay a blast.

Seldomly have I enjoyed staying in any one place as much as I enjoyed visiting and staying at Corinnes and Ben's lodge / fazenda in the middle of Pantanal, where no roads goes in or out. You either hirw a pilot or, as we did, hire an experienced 4x4 driver to take you there. 40 kilometers through a mix of farmland and flooded wilderness in whic at best you drive on two dirt tracks, but often you have to find your own route, due to massive floodings of the area during the summer. It took three hours to drive those 40 km through the rough terrain, but it was exciting and you get to see lots of wildlife on the way. Going in and out, we had the pleasure of seeing the Giant Ant Eater, an Armadillo, Pampas Deer, Blue Macows, Vultures, Emas, Caimans and many, many different kinds of other birds. Arriving at the lodge, we recieved a warm and friendly welcome from the owners, who were waiting for us with a delicious and well-appreciated lunch. Having a full Brasilian style lunch and dinner every night, accompanied by both the owners and the other guest, is part of the package and makes you feel like visiting old friends. Quickly you find yourself chatting about everyones experiences throughout the day and Ben, Corrinne and Carol (one of the tour guides) are all very knowledgable about the wildlife out there and are happy to share that knowledge. Every morning they will arrange a tour for you to join, ranging from boat trips or canoing on the river, horseback riding on the farmland, fishing, hiking or even a jeep safari, should you not have enough of that during the afternoon safaris. All with the aim of observing wildlife as the main purpose. Much of the wildlife is basically walking around you at the lodge area (like the Blue Macows, Capivaras, Emas and Caimans), but some of it is better spottet during the tours - like the many birds (Red Aras, Yellow Aras, Toucans, King Fishers etc.), the Giant Ant Eaters, Coatis, Giant Otters, Tapirs or the Jaguar. We saw it all although what we saw of the Jaguar was only its foot prints and the legend of a ghost - a witness of its presence right there on the farm! My wife and I loved to be there and hated that we had to leave at the end of our holidays. Of course, when you leave, they are all there to say goodbye and to give you a hug, brasilian style, making you feel like saying goodbye to old friends.

This is the place to go to see the Pantanal! Lucas is an great host and the excursions are filled with wildlife. And all of the food is prepared on site throughout the day and fantastic!

Amazing place and staff! Unforgettable experience... Thanks for the super hospitality, Corina and Ben!

My wife and I spent five wonderful days here in May of 2014. The website and blog do not overstate the experience. The accommodations were first rate and the food--all traditional fare, home cooked (on a wood stove!)--would put most restaurants to shame. From the moment we arrived until we left we were treated to new and amazing sightings of birds and animals and plants we had never seen before. Eight hours of personally guided wildlife spotting each day satisfied our urge to experience it all in a short time. The unexpected bonus was the pleasant company of the four guides and the various guests from all over the world--mainly from Europe in our case, we are American. English was the main language spoken, but all seem to be multilingual. Definitely one our top trips of all time.

A little slice of heaven on earth. My wife and I spent 5 days here soaking in the Pantanal. Lucas was a gracious host, and the assortment of visitors from scientists to fishing enthusiasts made good company. The food was some of the best we had in Brazil, and I am glad we took the time to come see the Pantanal. From horseback riding, canoeing, and our favorite wildlife spotting, Fazenda Barranco Alto was an amazing experience.

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One of the best places on the planet.

Nice hosts and beautiful nature