Fazenda Barranco Alto

The setting is lovely, with a giant mango tree in front of the fazenda with hammocks slung from its branches and beyond that the Rio Negro river where guests can swim from the bank.

There are just four en suite bedrooms in total, and although they are sparsely decorated, they are perfectly comfortable. The real attractions here, however, are the activities on offer. Guests can live for the day like an authentic Pantanal cowboy looking after the Nelore cattle (originally from India); ride through the famous grassy plains and water meadows of the Pantanal; trek through riverine forests and along the riverbank; take boat rides on the river or canoe - the best way to spot giant otters and the elusive jaguar. Less strenuous activities include astronomy with the fazenda's telescope and chilling out on the river's sand banks.

Best of all, you can enjoy all this in the knowledge that the fazenda has an admirable attitude towards sustainability and methods to conserve the wildlife and traditional way of life in this beautiful part of Brazil.