• Home to the Pantanal.south america image by NataV from Fotolia.com
  
  The Pantanal, a central South American freshwater wetland system, attracts many tourists. Located in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, this diversely landscaped area offers various activities for nature lovers. To discover and enjoy the Pantanal wildlife, visitors can explore the Pantanal lagoons, forests, savannas, bays and more.
  
  

Tours

• Going on professional tours give visitors the opportunity to explore the Pantanal under the direction of experienced guides. Informed guides can tell visitors about the diverse flowers, plants and trees. They can take tourists to areas where they may have greater success spotting wildlife. Walking and boat tours are just a few ways to explore the Pantanal. Some tours include horseback riding and piranha fishing. Sunrise tours and night excursions are possibilities, too.
  
  

Bird Watching

• A trip to the Pantanal, where over 650 bird species have been reported, can be exciting for birdwatchers. According to the Pantanal Wildlife Center, large wading birds can be spotted on river banks. Agami Herons, Black-collared Hawks, Sunbitterns, Sungrebes, hummingbirds, Hyacinth Macaws, parrots and burrowing owls are just a few of the birds a watcher may observe. The Brazil Travel Blog cites June through August as the best time in the Pantanal for bird watching since the land is drier and it is the mating season.
  
  

Animal Observations

• The Pantanal offers the opportunity to observe animals in diverse habitats. Some of the animals that live in the Pantanal are jaguars, Capuchin monkeys, caimans, capybaras, anteaters, giant river otters, marsh deer and collared peccaries. The Caiman Ecological Refuge and Jaguar Ecological Reserve are two locations where tourists can see various animals in their natural habitats. Tours and safaris can be arranged around the Pantanal to safely view its diverse animals.