Rent a Car to Visit the Pantanal in West Brazil
Car Rentals Agencies For the Pantanal in Cuiabá and Campo Grande
Oct 7, 2009
Some prefer independent over organised travelling. Fortunately, the Pantanal wetlands offer good opportunities to be discovered independently, without a guided tour. Car rental is possible in Campo Grande and Cuiabá, whereas lodgings at pousadas or fazendas can be arranged along the way.
Rent a Car in Cuiabá – the Northside of the Pantanal
Cuiabá is the northern gateway to the Pantanal. A 150 kilometres long paved road south leads straight into the wetlands, where it turns into a 90 kilometres long unpaved road [with 118 woorden bridges] called the Transpantaneira. This road crosses endless grasslands, home to cattle ranches called "fazendas". Along the grasslands are many depressions, called "baías", or streams. They offer a home "jacarés", caimans, as well as to hundreds of species of birds, anaconda snakes and giant otters.
At the northern end most birds are waterfowl, like herons, kingfishers and the 1.6 metres tall "tuiuiu" – the Jabiro stork and symbol of the Pantanal. Further south, near Porto Jofre, there is a greater chance of seeing macaws, such as the incredibly beautiful but endangered bluebell-tinted macaw. Other animals that may be spotted are capybaras [large rodent similar to a guinea pig], snakes and armadillos. The lucky few spot a puma or jaguar.
Nights can be spent at one of the pousadas [hotels] that are situated along the Transpantaneira, where it is possible to book excursions. This may offer the perfect mixture of independent travelling with an additional wildlife trip under the guidance of a Pantanal expert. Excursions may include hiking, horseback riding, fishing or a boat trip.
Rent a Car in Campo Grande – the Southside of the Pantanal
A beautiful road to drive by rented car leads from Campo Grande to Corumbá, with the emphasis on the Estrada Parque. The latter is a 120 kilometres long unpaved stretch west of Miranda to Corumbá and a perfect area to watch jacarés, giant otters, deer, capybaras and countless birds. Many pousadas and fazendas are located along the Estrada Parque. All of them offer similar activities like hiking, horseback riding, boat trips and fishing trips.
Requirements to Rent a Car in Brazil
- Minimum age to drive a rented car is 21. Some car rental agencies demand a driving experience of two years.
- A regular as well as an international driver's license is required. Note that Brazil demands a different international driver's license from the one needed for other countries in South America. The Automobile Association should be able to provide one.
Aspects to Consider Before Renting a car
- To drive the Transpantaneira as well as the stretch Campo Grande – Corumbá [via Estrada Parque], a regular car suffices. Four-wheel drives are only a necessity during the wet season [Nov-March] and for those who venture deep inside the Pantanal. The latter demands a serious form of preparation and should not be undertaken lightly.
- Some car rental agencies allow the car to be taken into Bolivia or Paraguay, others don't. Even if it is allowed, there is no insurance coverage outside Brazil.
- Check if the car rental price includes insurance [and how much], and emergency service [called "seguro" and "assistencia"].
- Make sure the rental car is equipped with a spare tyre and the tools to change one. Also check for the presence of a first-aid kit.
- Some car rental agencies offer the rental of a GPS as well.
- Are free kilometres included in the car rental price and is payment made cash or by visa / master?
Whether a car is rented in Cuiabá or Campo Grande, take the time to visit several car rental agencies. Prices differ widely, as do the services. Both cities have small, local car rental agencies as well as international ones like Localiza.
Discovering the Pantanal by rented car has the great advantage of independence: the freedom to stay at any spot as long as one wants, without being pushed on by others to continue driving, and the time to admire colourful birds or to observe a giant otter devouring a one-metre "pintado" fish. Having this freedom brings an additional element to the wonderful Pantanal experience.
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