Ecotour:

A Pantanal of emotions!

“Stop, contemplate, observe : it is not a mirage
of an old world or of a dream, (…)
It is the trees, the animals,
The watercourses
The evening twilights
Of the Pantanal.”

The immortal poem “Last look”, of Carlos Drummond de Andrade gives an idea of the itinerary of the trip by the ecologic sanctuary, the Pantanal, on board of the Hotel Boat Ieie. Just a sailing by the paradise. Full quietness and safety to contemplate the masterpieces of the nature. The Pantanal (at Mato Grosso, Brazil), is the world largest flooded area, crossed by several rivers that flow into the Paraguay River and presents a flora full of life and a diversified fauna.

Within this ecologic paradise we find about 230 kind of fishes, 650 kind of birds, 80 kind of mammal animals and 50 kind of reptiles. On board of a Hotel Boat you will enjoy the comfort of a small town inside the boat and facing outside the serenity and the beauty of the nature.

ECOLOGIC PANTANAL
(sailing along 320 km of the Paraguay River)

• Embarkation at Cáceres City, Mato Grosso
• Flexible departures on Saturday, on Sunday and on Monday at 06:00 am and return respectively on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at 06:00 pm.
• Embarkation from 06:00 pm of preceding departure day and disembarkation up to 09:00 am of next day of return, both with no extra cost.

Activities:

• Visit to the border of Paraguay River in areas with a big concentration of Vitoria Regia
• Visit to the mouth of Jauru River and exploration on its border to have a close view of its fauna and flora
• Visit to the Barranco Vermelho Farm : antique farm that still keeps the original structure of the past: production of jerked beef. Also has an untouched archaeologic site (Indians’ cemetery);
• Photographic safari at the Eguas Bay; in groups of 3 people per 6 meters boat, will have a close contact with the nature very proper to take pictures in a place with a big concentration of birds nests.
• Visit to Descalvados Farm : important commercial center for this region when the connection with the rest of the country was possible only through the river. This farm was one of the biggest of the region (extension of 50,000 square miles) and in 1885 had a herd of cattle of 175,000 heads, and slaughtered 25,000 heads per year. Still has a chapel with three live size saint sculptures. This farm produced jerked beef and extract of beet packed in bottles and exported to Europe for the troops of the 1st and 2nd World War.
• Visit to Jatobá Farm : archaeologic site
• Bay of Sucuri : visit to close up the fauna and the flora of Pantanal and to be astonished with the open fields that are flooded during the raining season.
• Ecologic Reserve of Taiama : area of environmental preservation, that fishing into it prohibited by law. Region of unique beauty where explorations and close searches will be done to close up the fauna and the flora of the region.
• At night:
  • every day, from 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm the 6 meters boat will be available to exploration on the border of Paraguay River to appreciate and to take pictures of the Pantanal sunset
  • focus of alligators with spotlights in groups of 3 Guests per 6 meters boat
  • games and plays on board of the Boat and several activities conducted by specialized Entertainer Guide.
  • assortment of gifts offered by the Boat to the guests using the “bingo” play
• During the day the Guest will have free time for explorations and close searches on the border of Paraguay River in groups of 3 Guests per 6 meters boat

“ALL INCLUSIVE SYSTEM” - ITEMS AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

• Double rooms (bunk beds) with air conditioning (10,500 btu) piped music and mini refrigerator;
• Complete crew team : captain, sailor, cabin boy, cooker, and mechanic
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, appetizers, and desserts;
• Diesel fuel for motors and generators;
• Gas and oil for outboard motors;
• Beer;
• Fruit juices;
• Soft drinks;
• Natural Mineral Water;
• Gas Mineral Water;
• Campari;
• Vodka;
• Rum;
• Jurubeba (tropical fruit flavored wine);
• Sugar Cane Liquor (regional drink with tropical root flavor);
• 01 Tourist Guide fluent in English;
• 01 Entertainer Guide fluent in English;
• 01 Bilogist fluent in English;
• Bed linen and bath and face towels.
• 1 aluminum boat (6 meters long) with 15 HP outboard motors, rod compartments, sun-shade awnings, revolving chairs and cool-box with beverages and snacks and crewed by experienced guides for each 3 people;
• Pick-up and escort from CUIABA AIRPORT to CACERES and from CACERES to CUIABA AIRPORT in air-conditioned vehicle.

HOTEL BOAT SPECIFICATIONS AND FACILITIES

The Hotel Boat was built at 2000 and her hull uses ¼” navy steel plates and her structure uses 3/16” carbon steel plates. She is considered the most safety and the most comfortable of the region. She presents the following infrastructure:

• She is 22 meters (72 feet) long and 6 meters (20 feet) wide with 2 marine engines (6 cylinders) and 2 sets of electric generators of 36 KVA each, guaranteeing electric power 24 hours a day;
• Pressurized water system (hot and cold);
• Filtered water system
• Parabolic antenna (satellite dish), 29 inch TV set, videocassette recorder, linen and bar service;
• Piped surround sound music system throughout the boat;
• VHS and SSB radio communication system connected to the national telecommunication network;
• 8 aluminum boats 6 meters (20 feet) long with 15 hp outboard motors;
• Modern sewerage treatment system;
• Complete fire safety equipment installed;
• Experienced crew trained for emergencies and first aid assistance.
• 8 double rooms (bunk bed) with air conditioning (10,500 btu) piped music and mini refrigerator and private bathroom; capacity for 16 Guests;
• 2 fully fitted bathrooms for crew;
• 2 crew cabins;
• 1 outside shower;
• 1 gangway for aluminum boat tie up.
• Captain’s cabin with VHS and SSB communication system connected to the national telecommunication network;
  Fully equipped kitchen with commercial stove, refrigerator and freezer;
• Social/dinning area with 42 square meters (45 square yards) for meals, with 29 inch TV set, videocassette recorder, piped music system, air conditioning and freezer;
• 1 lavatory;
• Solar deck with 27 square meters (29 square yards) with freezer, shower, piped music system, and, barbecue facilities.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE GUESTS

• Caceres is a small town of about 90,000 inhabitants; it is 210 km from Cuiaba, the capital of Mato Grosso State. They are connected by a well paved highway and takes about 2 hours and a half by car;
• The excursion is done in a very informal atmosphere; just sport and light clothes. We suggest to bring a jeans trousers and a long sleeve shirt to protect from the sun. Sun blocker and insect repellent must be brought. No need to bring bath and face towels, since these items are provided by the Hotel Boat. Please bring binoculars, photo camera and video camera (just in case to need to recharge batteries, the electric current provided on board is 110 volts);
• To smokers, please bring your cigarettes packs for the whole excursion; along the river there is no vending machine, no convenience store to buy cigarettes or anything else;
• Regarding the menu, we offer (lunch and dinner) barbecue or typical regional dishes; if within the Group there is someone with food restriction, please inform in advance so we will be able to provide special diet or special dish. Also allergic problem must be informed in advance; the breakfast is similar to that provided by hotels: fruit juices (mainly tropical fruit), fresh fruit, cheese, ham, eggs, bread, cake, milk, coffee, tea, and chocolate milk;
• To those bringing mobile telephones, please be informed that after 2 hours of navigation they lost the contact. But, the communication is still available. The Hotel Boat has a GLOBAL STAR telephone set that allows national and international communication 24 hours a day; The cost of phone calls from the Hotel Boat Ieie is EUR 3,50 for the first minute of conversation plus EUR 1,75 for each 30 additional seconds; to contact the Barco Hotel Ieie please dial 00 21 88187 1123048.