Florida Tech Pantanal Adventure 2026

SOLD OUT - Florida Tech Pantanal Adventure 2026

About the Trip

For more than two decades, Professors Mark Bush and Rich Aronson have been taking Florida Tech students on field courses to the Andes and the Amazon. Now, we are excited to announce a spectacular opportunity for alumni, families, and friends to take part in an 8-day tour of Brazil’s Pantanal, South America’s answer to the Serengeti, led by Mark and Rich.

The trip will begin with your arrival at the airport of Cuiaba, Brazil, on July 8, 2026, and end back at the Cuiaba airport on July 15, 2026. The maximum group size will be 16 guests plus Mark and Rich and will be restricted to ages 18 and over.

The Pantanal (bright green) is the world’s largest wetland and the best place on Earth to see jaguars: seen by 98% of guests!

Brazil’s Pantanal. Photo by Wikipedia.

The Pantanal supports an astonishing abundance and diversity of wildlife. This is a natural experience so we cannot guarantee sightings, but there is an excellent chance of seeing jaguars, giant river otters, giant anteaters, capybaras, black caimans, howler monkeys, and over 100 bird species, including hyacinth macaws.

Trip Details

Cost of the trip per person will be $5,400, double or triple occupancy, plus international airfare and travel insurance that includes medivac coverage. The $5,400 cost includes in-country transportation, accommodation, meals, and tips. It does not include alcohol and personal spending. If you are traveling solo, we will try to match you with a roommate.

To reserve your place on the trip, please make a $2,000 non-refundable deposit no later than September 30^th, 2025. You can use the deposit button below or send a check to Florida Institute of Technology, Attn. Office of Advancement, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901. The non-refundable balance of $3,400 will be due on January 31^st, 2026. If you send a check, please note Alumni Pantanal Trip on the memo line. Itinerary is subject to change based on availability. Payments will be refunded if trip is canceled for reasons internal to Florida Tech or exigencies beyond our control.

For more information on arranging your participation or content of the trip, the physical conditions, and what we can expect to see, contact Mark Bush at mbush@fit.edu or Rich Aronson at raronson@fit.edu.

Our Itinerary

Day 1: At the Cuiabá airport you will be welcomed and transferred to the Fazenda Mato Grosso Hotel. Lunch and dinner will be provided. For those arriving early we will do some wildlife viewing in the grounds and offer photographic tips. Ponds and woodland within the grounds offer a great wildlife-viewing start to our trip. (L,D)

Day 2: Cuiaba – Araras Eco Lodge (85 miles/2.5 hrs)
After breakfast, we will begin a guided transfer that will take you to the Pantanal. On the way there will be opportunities to observe wetland wildlife. Arrive Araras Eco Lodge in time for lunch. Late afternoon, you will be able to hike through the surrounding area to a 12-m observation tower with a spectacular view of the sunset. After dinner, we will do a night walk to observe the Southern Hemisphere sky, and hear and feel the nocturnal environment of the Pantanal. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Araras Eco Lodge
Full day dedicated to observing the Pantanal’s flora and fauna in the lodge’s private reserve. After breakfast, your guide will lead you on a 2 to 3 hour (optional) horseback ride through the pastures, woods and wetlands. Or maybe a driving safari is more your style:your choice. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, you will go on a walk in a different area of the private reserve, allowing you to observe and learn more of the local environment. Dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Araras Eco Lodge
After breakfast, we will travel down private dirt roads to Sentinela Camp on the edge of the Rio Clarinho. Canoe tour to spot aquatic wildlife, birds and flora; possibility of piranha fishing. Brazilian churrasco style picnic lunch along the banks of the river. Return to the lodge. Enjoy sunset from the 25-m high canopy tower. Dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Araras Eco Lodge – Hotel Pantanal Norte
Early morning walk for sunrise to see animals and birds. Breakfast at poolside. After breakfast we drive deeper into the Pantanal, with wildlife stops as we go, to reach Hotel Pantanal Norte in time for lunch. First afternoon boat trip in search of jaguars, giant river otters and other wildlife that live in and around the rivers. Dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Victoria Amazonica water lilies at Hotel Pantanal Norte

Days 6 & 7: Hotel Pantanal Norte
Full day boat rides on the Cuiaba, Piquiri and Tres Irmãos river. Boat trips provide an excellent opportunity to view giant river otters up-close. This is often a highlight of visitors’ trips to Brazil. In the dry season, guests frequently see jaguars on the exposed beaches of the rivers, a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Other wildlife commonly seen on the rivers are capybara and caiman. Birds frequently encountered include kingfishers, egrets, storks, herons and terns. End of the afternoon return to the lodge. Overnight. (B,L,D)

Tours from Pantanal Norte boast a 98% success-rate of showing guests at least one jaguar! Most guests report seeing multiple jaguars each day.

Day 8: Hotel Pantanal Norte - Cuiaba
After breakfast transfer back to Cuiaba Airport in time for your domestic flight out. (B)

End of services

For More Information

Expertise in Amazonian paleoecology and tropical forest ecology. Passions: birds, butterflies, cool plants, and photography.

mbush@fit.edu
(321) 674-7166

Faculty Profile

Head of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences. Expertise in invertebrate biology and tropical ecology. Passions: reptiles, fish, primates, creepy-crawlies, and photography.

raronson@fit.edu
(321) 674-8034