From the 6th of November to the 14th I had scheduled a trip with Belo Brasil Tours to the largest wetland on earth; Pantanal. Only after the Amazon, Pantanal, as well, is the name of the region with the second largest biodiversity, giving an incredible opportunity to view a large number of different species regarding the fauna and flora.

The group consisted of about 39 exchange students from all over the world including South Africa, Italy, Belgium, Thailand, Norway, Denmark, France, the United States of America, New Zealand, and Australia. The main part, however, was from Germany. People were very friendly and easy to cope with, which transformed the first whole day of driving into a lot of fun. Our guide from Belo Brasil also did his share by telling his interestings stories about earlier trips.

Our adventure was divided in two parts, with the first destination at a local farm, Xaraés, about one hour from Campo Grande, the capital of Pantanal. The first impression that the whole group made together, was to complain about the famous mosquitoes. It was like stepping on the hot sand of Ipanema Beach in the middle of the tourist season;  big swarms of fat, sun-sucking, people glued to the sand doing nothing but sucking sun, sucking sun and sucking sun. I can ensure you that we all did pull repellent out of our bags, initiating a small project of organized skin protection.

Xaraés was very well arranged interior, not to mention exterior. We had a very large space to play football, a pool, and even three guides to take care of us 24 hours a day; one of them nicknamed “Indiana Jones” because of his strange language rooted in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, on top of his energetic appearance just like Harrison Ford with hat. Furthermore, he was the perfect scout; with his help I managed to see arara-Azuis (blue parrots), arara-vermelhos (red parrots), apes, an anteater, snakes (not wilds), fishes, Jacarés (a type of an alligator), deers, boars, lizards, a lot of insects, and a lot of undefined creatures.

We spent two wholes days at Xaraés, exploring the terrain, riding horses, fishing, and relaxing at the pool, before we entered the airconditioned bus and headed for Bonito.

Bonito, was a flat city with a very low grade of urbanization - the word Urbanizationin in this case particular, only founded on behalf of the center’s mainstreet. We were hosted by a very nice hotel, not to fancy, not to grey, but with the necessary needs to fulfil everybody’s taste.

The city of activities, was indeed the proper nickname for Bonito, indicated by to major events: Riverrafting and snorkeling. The riverrafting took place at the river Rio Formoso, beginner level, rafting approximately 8 kilometers in a beautiful scenery with open sky, forests on both sides, living animals, and a burning sun. During the rafting we fought like warriors, excited of the blood rage flushing through our veins. We stole the oars of each other, pulled the enemy’s oarsmen into the water, span the boats around, and, most important, had a great time.

The snorkeling was nothing less, if not more. We floated on the surface of the river Rio de Prata, the Silver River. A name well chosen in the perspective of that it’s possible to see 60 meter sub water. There were many beautiful fishes, among other things, that made the 1:30hour worth it all!

It was a wonderful trip - or adventure - which I definitely will remember for a long time. And hopefully it have given me friends forever. Enjoy the pictures.