Venture through the Pantanal, a sprawling wilderness of beguiling flora and fauna to spot capybaras, howler monkeys and tapirs, as well as the elusive jaguar, the region's most sought-after creature. Scour the riverbanks on a boat to spot them in the wild, with picnic in tow so you don't miss a thing. Expert guides will help you identify their majestic bodies and take you to prime viewing spots.

For a spot of off-beat snorkelling, try swimming in the Sucuri River, considered a natural aquarium. After a brief hike through lush native forest, you'll arrive at the headwaters where you'll sport a mask and flippers to drift along 1,800m of intense blue crystal-clear water, floating over subaquatic gardens and shoals of piraputangas, pacus and golden dorado.

Take a quiet ride through the Pantanal's marshland accompanied by a gaucho (South American cowboy). Roam through the wide savannahs, lagoons and winding rivers that make up the largest freshwater wetland in the world. As you ride, you'll see exotic animals such as anteaters, capybaras or even the endangered blue hyacinth macaw. Later you could try herding Pantanal cattle with the cowboys.