Pantanal
The Pantanal biome, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the largest wetland on Earth, covering an area of around 140.00 km2 in central western Brazil. It is home to dozens of species of mammals including the jaguar, South America’s elusive “King”, and the giant otter, a highly social creature often observed in noisy family groups. Howler monkeys and coatis share the forests with birds of all colours and shapes. In places where water accumulates, countless numbers of caimans bathe side by side, feeding on piranhas and pacus. Here, the abundance of life is so rich that it can only be compared to the endless starry sky. (picture sky with Barranco Alto sign).
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The Barranco Alto Farm
Located on the banks of the Rio Negro, a river free from the navigation of large boats and with very little human influence, Fazenda Barranco Alto follows nature’s rhythm, which is defined by the seasonal flooding.
During the flooded season, from December to March, access to the farm becomes more difficult, and the vegetation, in full growth, hides the fauna which finds plenty of food in the forest. It is a season of contemplation and abundance, of health, of vividly-coloured landscapes, and of mango and bacupari juice.
During the early dry season months (vazante), from April to July, the daylight hours decrease, and nature gets ready to discharge its accumulated energy. This is the season for building nests, for making dens, and for finding the right breeding partner. The hyacinth macaw and other species of birds which mate for life, gather in large, young groups, socializing and living together to facilitate the important decision of “marriage.” With the arrival of the first cold days, the pink trumpet tree sweetens the landscape with its bright, pink flowers, as couples find a quiet place to mate.
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At the peak of the dry season, from August to November, the search for food which has become more sparse, brings animals out of the forests and into the fields. Also, many trees lose their leaves, making the wildlife more visible to human eyes. It is possible to see a lot of animal babies at this time, so providing opportunities to observe different procreation strategies. A male greater rhea looks after its 35 chicks which, over the weeks ahead, will get whittled down to just 5 tenacious survivors. A female tapir teaches her only calf where to find the best fruits of the cerrado, and how to heal wounds in brackish water.
The infinite abundance and diversity of animal species reflects a balanced ecosystem. At Fazenda Barranco Alto, we find apex predators such as jaguars and pumas, living together with their prey, capybaras and pampas deer as they graze peacefully beside a lake. We see young jabirus and parakeets all feeding at the same, huge, “shared nest,” and we ask ourselves if the residents don’t sometimes miss having a front door to their homes. We watch a giant anteater eating fire ants, and we have an impulse to scratch our faces as we observe the tiny, red warriors defending themselves on this strange animal’s long snout.
At Fazenda Barranco Alto, the force of nature is transmitted to us through observation, knowledge and conversations about the fauna and the flora. In this magical place, we experience the law of survival, and we learn about life and its constant changes.
Our mission is to transmit this energy to you, our guests, through first-hand experiences and adventures, to awaken your senses for perceiving sounds and smells, to show to you the most beautiful, natural landscapes, and to enrich your knowledge with facts, and your imagination with stories.
Come and discover with us this paradise on Earth.
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