Deep in Bolivia’s far southeast, the Pantanal Otuquis is where wetlands, lagoons, and gallery forests create one of South America’s richest wildlife corridors—shared with Brazil and Paraguay. This 3-day adventure is designed for travelers who want a true 4×4 safari + river navigation experience, staying in a traditional pantanera ranch (hacienda) and maximizing time in nature.
From Puerto Quijarro you’ll travel overland to Puerto Busch, Bolivia’s strategic river port on the Paraguay River, and explore the waterway by boat to spot caimans, capybaras, otters, and iconic birdlife like herons and the jabiru stork (tuyuyú)—with an optional night safari for a totally different side of the Pantanal.
Duration
3 Days
Type Trip
Adventure & Nature
Group Size
Private
Languages
Eng. Esp. Fr.
Season
Year Around
Difficulty
Moderate
07:00 Pick-up at Puerto Quijarro Bus Terminal.
You’ll depart in a 4×4 vehicle toward Puerto Busch (Otuquis area). The drive itself feels like a wildlife safari: you’ll cross wetlands, lagoons, and small creeks typical of the Pantanal. With some luck, you may spot caimans, anacondas, parrots/macaws, herons, and the famous tuyuyú (jabiru stork) along the roadside water edges.
12:00 Arrival in Puerto Busch. Lunch and downtime at a traditional pantanera hacienda (ranch-style setting, perfect for unplugging).
15:00 Boat navigation on the Paraguay River for up-close viewing of the Pantanal’s flora and fauna. Common sightings can include caimans, otters, diverse bird species, and capybaras, plus unforgettable river landscapes at golden hour.
18:00 Return to the hacienda cabins.
20:00 Dinner service. Overnight in the hacienda.
Meals Included: Lunch. Dinner
07:30 Breakfast service.
08:00 Horseback riding through the Pantanal (Brazil side experience as scheduled by the operator). This is a classic way to move across open fields and wetland edges—quiet, scenic, and great for photography.
12:00 Lunch and rest.
14:00 Boat navigation to Forte Coimbra – Brazil (approx. 1 hour).
Forte Coimbra (also known as New Coimbra Fort) is a historic fortification on the Paraguay River, founded in 1775, strategically placed near the Bolivia–Paraguay border region and still associated with Brazil’s military heritage. The journey there is often as memorable as the destination, with frequent chances to watch birds, reptiles, and riverside ecosystems.
Late afternoon: return navigation back from Forte Coimbra, enjoying the shifting light over the river and wetlands.
20:00 Dinner service.
21:00 (Optional) Night safari (walking with flashlight) to observe nocturnal wildlife activity across corridors, fields, bays, and wetland edges.
22:00 Overnight in the cabin.
Meals Included: Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner
07:30 Breakfast service.
08:00 Fishing on the Paraguay River (typical species may include piranha, pacú, surubí, sábalo, depending on season and conditions).
11:00 Prepare for return to Puerto Quijarro.
12:30 Lunch service.
14:00 Departure by 4×4.
17:00 Arrival in Puerto Quijarro and transfer to the bus terminal.
Meals Included: Breakfast. Lunch
Puerto Quijarro – Puerto Busch – Pantanal – Forte Coimbra – Puerto Quijarro
[See the Itinerary – Next Tab]
Starts at: Puerto Quijarro
Ends in: Puerto Quijarro
Name of the Tour: Bolivian Pantanal 3-day tour – Otuquis
Pantanal Otuquis (PN-ANMI Otuquis)
Puerto Busch
Paraguay River wildlife navigation
Pantanal lagoons & creeks (en route safari)
Traditional Pantanal Hacienda (ranch stay)
Forte Coimbra (Brazil) – colonial fort founded in 1775
Looking for more inspiration? Visit our gallery: Visit South America Before taking our Bolivian Pantanal 3 day tour – Otuquis, you should take into count the following information:
It starts with pick-up at the Puerto Quijarro Bus Terminal and ends with drop-off at the same terminal after the last day’s return.
Yes—bus tickets Santa Cruz ⇄ Puerto Quijarro are included, but the tour operation (activities) runs 3 days / 2 nights from Puerto Quijarro. You depart Santa Cruz the day before and arrive back in Santa Cruz the day after the tour ends (overnight buses).
Sightings vary, but common possibilities include caimans, capybaras, otters, many bird species (herons, parrots, jabiru/tuyuyú) and sometimes anacondas. Wildlife is never guaranteed—your odds are best in the dry season (May–October) and during boat navigation.
The program operates in the Otuquis/Pantanal zone around Puerto Busch and along the Paraguay River, which is part of the greater protected Pantanal landscape associated with PN-ANMI Otuquis.
Usually yes, because it’s a Brazil-side excursion. Requirements depend on your nationality (passport validity, visas, entry rules). We recommend carrying passport/ID + copies and checking border/river-crossing conditions before travel.
You’ll stay 2 nights in a traditional Pantanal hacienda (ranch-style lodging) in double or triple rooms, depending on your booking and availability.
3 Days
Bolivia
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Best price. Select # travelers w/ preferential discounts
$2,698.00 /person
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Australia
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From the time we arrived in Peru until the last minute that we stayed there, we were taken good care of by the VSA team! Loved how tailor-made their services are, custom-made to the time we had in Peru and the places we most wanted to experience. I look forward to visiting South America again and knowing VSA will be there to take care of absolutely everything makes us more at ease to travel there.
United States
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Honestly, Visit South America is one of the best companies I’ve ever booked a tour through. Awesome driver and guide, they were tons of fun very informative, and oh-so-helpful! The Bolivia trip was incredible... Thank you guys!
Canada
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5 stars all around! Great company, service, and transportation. They really take the anxiety and stress out of traveling as they run extremely smoothly including meals, transportation, translation, etc. Just about everything to make your trip to Cusco special. Highly Recommend!!!
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Price per person for groups of 4+ travelers. Final total depends on travelers & add-ons.
