Canoe Expeditions (page 3 - Aquidauana River)
a) Cristalino River - - b) Paraty/Mamanguá Bay- - c) Aquidauana River - - HOME
a) The Aquidauana River (available in 2009)
The Aquidauna River is located in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and runs slowly for about 1000km right in the middle of the Pantanal (largest wetland system in the world). During the dry season we can paddle along this incredible and secluded river in the company of thousands of caymans, many diferent species of birds, fishes and mammals (including groups of capivaras). This is a more "advanced" trip in the sense that camping spots/locations can vary greatly from year to year due to the hydrodinamics of the prior rain/flood season.
Antonio (Tony) Osse (42) will be your guide along this journey; he is a biology professor (with a PhD on Marine Ecology), an ACA (American Canoe Association) Instructor and owner of the Companhia de Canoagem - a canoe shop in Brazil producing many different models of open-canoes and kayaks + paddling gear, as well as organizing paddling trips to a few special groups and destinations, just like this one!
Trip Basic Details:
Groups: of 6 (minimum) to 8 (maximum) + 1 (or 2) guide(s).
Meeting point: Campo Grande City Airport, Brazil
Aerial Transportation: not included, but we will be glad to help you find the best rates to our meeting point.
Ground transportation: on mini-buses with full-time licensed driver + road insurance. OBS: for special small groups of 1 up to 3 participants the ground transportation will be made on a 4x4 SUV and will need one extra logistics-day.
Lodging: IBIS Hotel Campo Grande (at the arrival/departure day) + Pousada Carandá (lodge) at Aquidauana and Passo do Lontra Resort at the last paddling day. All based on double/triple occupancy.
Equipments: 17.6' tandem canoes; bent-shaft wood paddles; Type III Ultra-Comfort PFDs; single or double high-quality self-standing igloo tents (your choice of size); full equipped kitchen; pole-tarps; advanced first-aid kit; communication system (1 radio per canoe), water filtering/treatment for the entire group.
Meals: local restaurants on route/cities + on-trip camp meals. No commercial beverages included (beer, sodas, liquor etc).
Services: full time guiding from/to the Campo Grande Airport. The group must help on some camping chores like wood gathering for the fire, tent pitching, tarp assembling, equipments carrying, etc.
Costs per person: US$ 3.000,00 (minimun 6 pax group) All values on US dollars with a non-refundable reservation fee of 25% (to be paid 60 days before the trip date).
Average paddling distance: 250km, to be covered in 9 to 10 days. The final total distance will vary about 10% according to the degree of exploration made on the river's bays, tributaries, etc
The Chronogram:
Day 1: (leaving your country the day/night before). Arrival at São Paulo International Airport (Cumbica/Guarulhos - GRU) followed by a self-connection to the Campo Grande Airport. Your guide will be waiting you at the Campo Grande arrivals-gate exit, with a? paddle! (yes, you will know that he is the guide!) . Transfer by minibus to the IBIS Campo Grande Hotel. Check-in. Group meeting later at the hotel lobby for quick presentations and welcome drinks/snacks.
Day 2: Breakfast at 7:30am. Road-trip to Pousada Carandá (river entry-point) Total distance: 170km. Lunch at the Pousada with local tipical dishes. Trail within the Carandá Farm with a local guide in order to see some plant and animal species. Prepare yourself to see hundreds of wild toucans, parrots and macaws. Lodging at the Pousada. Equipment's presentation and distribution for the next day. Dinner.
Day 3: Early call + breakfast. Paddling the Aquidauna River. First paddling/camping night. Things will be a little bit out of rhythm yet, the bugs will be more interested on the new blood that just arrived…but let´s try to have a nice dinner under the southern stars! Camping spots vary from year to year (during the rain season the entire region is under water for 6 to 8 months!), so finding them is an interesting subject.
Day 4: Paddling the Aquidauana River. No hurry this first morning! Now we are on the river's rhythm! Let´s have a calm breakfast, talk a little and feel the environment. We have just 5% chance of rain this time of the year, what means that we have 95% chance of bright skies and hot sun. Don´t forget a good hat and a 40spf (or higher) sunscreen lotion. With just 25km ahead to paddle, feel free to explore the beautiful "baías" along the way. Camp by 4:30pm.
Day 5: Paddling the Aquidauana River
Day 6: Paddling the Aquidauana River
Day 7: Paddling the Aquidauana River
Day 8: Paddling the Aquidauana River
Day 9: Paddling the Aquidauana River
Day 10: Paddling the Aquidauana River
Day 11: Paddling the Aquidauana River: the Azeite Mount - the only higher elevation along our trip - is the reference that (unfortunatelly) we are aproaching the end of our trip.
Day 12: Arrival at the exit point. Accomodation at the resort
Day 13: Breakfast at 7:00am. Long Road trip (550km) back to Campo Grande. Lunch stop along the way. Arrival at IBIS Hotel by 6:00pm. Dinner at a local "rodízio" restaurant.
Day 14: Breakfast at 7:30am. Airport by 9:30am, connection to the São Paulo International Airport, and back home flight at night? OR, you can engage into some other local trips. We will be glad to assist you on choosing nice places/tours to discover a little bit more of this incredible country called Brazil! There are thousands of choices!
What to bring: a more detailed list will be sent with your complete trip-information-package. Here are just a few items to start:
a) "adventure" varied clothing (don´t forget that nice hat!) ; b) personal light sleeping bag + self-inflating sleeping pad (ThermaRest e.g.) ; c) personal medicines (it is always hard to find similar drugs abroad) ; d) Sunscreen of 40 (or more) protection factor ; e) good humor!
What NOT to bring: a more detailed list will be sent with your complete trip-information-package...
a) Guns and Drugs: there are NO hunting licenses/reservations in Brazil, and carrying a gun without permission is a serious qualified Federal Crime, no matter what sort/caliber of gun. OBS: if you want to fish, get in contact at least 60 days prior to your arrival, in order to get the necessary permits. Costs (US$ 92,00/person) may be paid on arrival to your guide. Avoid huge and complicated problems by not bringing any sort of drugs too.
b) Stress?. Leave the daily stress in the trunk of your car parked at the airport!! But don´t worry, I´m sure it will not be there by the time you get back!
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General Information for all our destinations:
1) All our International Group Services are based on full outfitting and full guiding services. All you have to bring are your clothes, sleeping bag/mat and personal belongings. We will send you a complete information package (including a list of what to bring!) upon your booking.
2) From the moment you step outside your flight from home to the moment we say goodbye at the airport gate you will be under the care and attention of our guides, including all land transportation, lodging, meals (except beverages), equipments etc.
3) Flights (+ taxes) from/to your home country are not included, but we will be more than pleased to help you find the best services with the lowest rates.
4) Valid passports/Visas are to be self-provided. We have a support agent (hot-line) in São Paulo (where most customers will clear Immigration/Customs), but he will not be able to solve problems with passports/visas.
5) Personal or group travel insurances are not included. A trip-specific full coverage personal insurance with your particular insurance company is advisable.
6) Yellow-fever vaccines are obligatory 20 days prior to departure from your home-country to any tropical country, including Brazil. Bring your certificate inside your passport.
7) Children over 10 years old are more than welcome.
8) As expected, we will be travelling on wild country with no easy exit-rescuing facilities. For your safety, all our expedition groups carry a Satellite Beacon Device that can transmit our position and, under extreme necessity, it can also activate emergency helicopter rescue services. A Term of Liability will have to be filled by each participant prior to the trip, as well as a full medical information chart including personal details on food preferences, allergies, current treatments/medicines etc..
9) Sorry, no pets allowed.
