BIOMAS
CERRADO
PANTANAL - MT
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The Cerrado is considered one of the world's biological "hotspots". Located between the Amazon, Atlantic Forests and Pantanal, the Cerrado is the largest savanna region in South America.
Is also the most biological rich savannah in the world, represents 30% of Brazil`s biodiversity; which means that it holds about 5% of the world`s biodiversity. There are also over 10,000 species of plants, almost half of which are found nowhere else in the world; 44% of the vascular plants are endemic.
The Cerrado has a high diversity of vertebrates; 150 amphibian species, 120 reptile species, 837 bird species, and 161 mammal species have been recorded.
In the vast Cerrado, some of the target species for ecotourists are Giant Anteaters; the Manned Wolfs ; Pumas; Red-legged Seriemas; Greater Rheas; Blue-winged Macaws; Red-and-green Macaws; Helmeted Manakins; Horned Sungems; Blue Finchs and Brazilian Merganers, amongst others.
Besides been the main link between the other 4 of Brazil`s biomes, Cerrado is also the cradle of Brazil`s fresh water resources.
6 of the 8 largest watersheds in Brazil depend on the Cerrado – including the waters that feed the Pantanal; also supplies 3 gigantic aquifers (one of which, the Guarani aquifer is the second largest [aquifer system] in the world!)
This unique biome is the second largest in South America. Once these wooded grasslands covered an area half the size of Europe. It still covers a quarter of Brazil`s national territory on an area of over two million square kilometers (roughly 10 times the size of Great Britain), across 11 States. Unfortunately, more than half of its original vegetation has been destroyed…
The Cerrado is one of the most threatened and over-exploited regions in Brazil, second only to the Atlantic Forests in vegetation loss and deforestation. The media coverage of the highlights and threats of the neighbouring Amazon Rainforest, overshadows the sad fact that native habitats and rich biodiversity of Cerrado are being destroyed much faster by non sustainable agribusiness… Only 20% of Cerrado still stands in good shape… One of every four species threatened in Brazil belong to Cerrado...
Despite its environmental importance, it is one of the least protected bioregions in Brazil, with less than 3% under legal protection. (Unlike the other biomes, the Cerrado was intentionally left out of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, not recognized as a National Heritage Site…) Also it remains virtually unknown for the majority of the foreign ecotourists. We want to show you the Cerrado`s natural treasures.
Our tours explore several amazing bioregions of the Cerrado, but mainly we take our guests to enjoy the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park (located only 60 Km from our headquarters, in Cuiabá), an astonishing plateau with an abundance of gorges and waterfalls. Despite the proximity of the Pantanal, here we also can find many different species of birds.
We also frequently take our guests to snorkel in the crystal clear waters found around the quiet town of Bom Jardim, where you can also appreciate the Macaw`s Lagoon (mainly Blue-and-yellow Macaws and Red-bellied macaws roost there) ; swim in a bluish pool at the base of a beautiful waterfall (Serra Azul) and float on the river tubes through a cave ( Quebó Cave) .
Located mainly in south-central Brazil, but also extending into northeast Paraguay and southeast Bolivia; contained within the Upper Paraguay River Basin, this immense, seasonally flooded plain can cover as much as 81,000 square miles , or 210,000 square km. (Apparently the whole United Kingdom could fit inside Pantanal !...) Approximately 62% of its areas is located in Brazil – in the States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul – 20% in Bolivia, and 18% in Paraguay.
The landscape found here has a wide variety of vegetation types that form mosaics of different habitats. Here we can find over 600 species of birds! And the sheer concentration of waterbirds it`s mind blowing! The Pantanal provides sanctuary for a rich assortment of wildlife, offering the best wildlife spectacle on the American continent! It`s no wonder that Pantanal , apart from harbouring three Ramsar sites (of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention), the Pantanal was designated a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The region is also the most important stronghold to a number of endangered animals, like the Giant anteater, the Marsh Deer, the Hyacinth Macaw (the world’s largest parrot), the Chestnut-bellied Guan, the Tapir and, of course the Jaguar and the Giant River Otter. Oh, yes, there`s no other place on Earth, not by a long shot, where you can get so close to these top two predators: the Jaguar and the Giant otter. They are incredibly habituated to ecotourists in some areas of Northern Pantanal; and that`s where we want to take you... Join our amazing tour!
The Transpantaneira
Built during the 1970s, this very popular destination – a bonanza for wildlife viewing !– is a 145 Km raised dirt road that cuts across Northern Pantanal, through a vast floodplain with a rich mosaic of vegetation ; heading South almost on a straight line. It begins near the city of Poconé and ends when it meets the Cuiabá river, at Porto Jofre; on the border with the southern State (Mato Grosso do Sul).
It has 126 small bridges!
Even Sir Sir David Attenborough recently considered the Transpantaneira as one of the best roads to watch wildlife in the world!
