Pantanal, Bonito & Iguazu Adventure — Self-Launched 9-Day Version
9 days · Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu, Pantanal, Bonito)
Bamba Travel charges £1,420
No-markup version: ~£765 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Bamba Travel's 9-day Pantanal, Bonito & Iguazu circuit — same waterfalls, same wetlands wildlife, a fraction of the price. You'll see both the Brazilian and Argentine sides of Iguazu Falls, overnight in the Pantanal at a family-run lodge doing jeep, boat and night safaris, then finish with the crystal-clear rivers and caves of Bonito. Everything is independently bookable: public long-distance buses, shared Pantanal transfers from Campo Grande, and GetYourGuide/direct entry tickets for the parks. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu
Fly or bus into Foz do Iguaçu (Brazilian side of the falls) and settle into a hostel near the city centre or the bus terminal. Spend the afternoon orienting yourself — change money, pick up a Brazilian SIM/eSIM, and buy your Iguaçu park tickets online in advance (Parque Nacional do Iguaçu official site, roughly £16–18 for the Brazilian side). Eat dinner at one of the cheap per-kilo buffets (churrascaria by weight) near Avenida das Cataratas.
🚌Local bus or taxi from Foz do Iguaçu airport to city centre (~£2–4)
🛏Hostel dorm, city centre (~£14/night)
- →Hostel check-in and orientation
- →Buy Iguazu park entry tickets online
- →Local SIM/eSIM setup
- →Per-kilo buffet dinner
Brazilian Iguazu Falls + Parque das Aves
Foz do Iguaçu
Head to Parque Nacional do Iguaçu on the public bus (line 120, ~£1 each way; park entry ~£17). Walk the panoramic trail along the gorge for views of 275 waterfalls, and take the walkway out over the Floriano and Deodoro da Fonseca falls. After the park, cross the road to Parque das Aves bird park (~£12 entry, 16.5 hectares of Atlantic Forest), where you walk through aviaries of macaws and toucans. Back in town by late afternoon.
🚌Public bus line 120 to park and back (~£2 total)
🛏Hostel dorm, city centre (~£14/night)
- →Brazilian Iguazu Falls panoramic trail
- →Parque das Aves bird park immersion
- →Walkway to Floriano & Deodoro da Fonseca falls
Argentine Iguazu Falls — Devil's Throat
Puerto Iguán / Foz do Iguaçu
Cross into Argentina for the day (bring your passport; UK/EU passports get visa-free entry). Take a local bus to the border, then the Argentine park bus or a shared taxi to Parque Nacional Iguazú (~£2–3). Park entry ~£20. Walk the Lower and Upper circuits and ride the ecological train to the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo) catwalk. Budget a full day. Return to Foz do Iguaçu by early evening — stay in Brazil to avoid re-entering Argentina twice.
🚌Local buses Foz ↔ Argentine park via border (~£6 round trip)
🛏Hostel dorm, city centre (~£14/night)
- →Argentine Iguazú National Park lower & upper circuits
- →Ecological train to Devil's Throat catwalk
- →Border crossing by local bus
Long ride to Campo Grande
Foz do Iguaçu → Campo Grande
The operator flies this leg; the cheap version is a long-distance bus. Overnight or daytime buses from Foz do Iguaçu to Campo Grande run roughly 12–14 hours (around £40–55 depending on class — look on ClickBus or Busbud). If your budget allows, a one-way flight on Azul/GOL can be booked direct for roughly £70–110. Either way, arrive Campo Grande and overnight near the rodoviária so you're ready for the Pantanal pickup in the morning.
🚌Foz do Iguaçu → Campo Grande long-distance bus (~£48)
🛏Budget hotel or hostel near Campo Grande bus station (~£16/night)
- →Long-distance bus or budget flight booking
- →Overnight in Campo Grande
Into the Pantanal via Buraco das Piranhas
Pantanal (Nhecolândia)
Book a 2- or 3-night Pantanal package direct with a lodge (e.g. a family-run fazenda in the Nhecolândia area); these routinely include the Campo Grande transfer, all meals and activities, typically £220–300 for 3 nights. Depart Campo Grande in the morning in a shared 4x4 van, stopping at Buraco das Piranhas (a sinkhole with a small café and lookout). Arrive at the lodge for lunch, then head out on a late-afternoon boat trip to spot capybara, caiman and birds, and a night safari by spotlight after dinner.
🚌Shared 4x4 lodge transfer from Campo Grande (included in package)
🛏Pantanal lodge, shared bunk room with full board (part of ~£260 package)
- →Shared transfer Campo Grande → lodge via Buraco das Piranhas
- →Afternoon boat safari
- →Night safari by boat/vehicle
Full day in the wetlands
Pantanal (Nhecolândia)
Classic Pantanal day: sunrise jeep safari across the flooded grasslands, piranha fishing on the river, a float down the river in life jackets with caiman drifting past, alligator spotting, and an afternoon ecological walk with your guide. Lunch and dinner at the lodge. Bring insect repellent, long sleeves for dawn and dusk, and cash for tips.
🚌Lodge 4x4 and boat transport included
🛏Pantanal lodge, shared bunk room with full board (package continues)
- →Jeep safari
- →Piranha fishing
- →River float / canoeing
- →Alligator & wildlife spotting on foot
Pantanal to Bonito
Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)
Morning wildlife walk or boat trip, then transfer back to Campo Grande (included in most lodge packages). From Campo Grande, take the afternoon or evening bus to Bonito — around 4.5–5.5 hours on the viação Cruzeiro do Sul / Viazul route (~£12–16). Arrive Bonito, check into a pousada or hostel and pre-book your Bonito activities for the next day (Gruta do Lago Azul fills up fast — book through the official Bonito ticket portal or a local agency).
🚌Lodge transfer to Campo Grande (included) + bus to Bonito (~£14)
🛏Bonito hostel or pousada dorm (~£16/night)
- →Morning walk or boat trip at lodge
- →Bus Campo Grande → Bonito
- →Book Bonito tours for next day
Bonito rivers & caves
Bonito
Bonito's rivers are famous because they filter through limestone and stay crystal clear. Pick two big-hitters: Gruta do Lago Azul (blue lake cave, ~£14), Rio da Prata snorkelling float (~£40–50 including gear and transport) or Rio Sucuri float (~£35). Every site charges a visitor entry fee plus transport, so book a package through your pousada or an agency the night before. Return in the late afternoon for a cheap dinner and early night.
🚌Shared van to and from Bonito sites (included in activity price)
🛏Bonito hostel or pousada dorm (~£16/night)
- →Gruta do Lago Azul cave visit
- →Rio da Prata or Rio Sucuri snorkel float
- →Local agency booking
Bonito → Campo Grande / onward
Bonito → Campo Grande
Morning bus back to Campo Grande (around 5 hours, ~£14) — the same leg the operator's tour ends with. From Campo Grande you can fly out to São Paulo, Rio or Brasília, or take an onward night bus toward the coast. If time allows, spend the afternoon in Campo Grande's Feira Central for cheap regional food (sopa paraguaia, sobá) before you leave.
🚌Bonito → Campo Grande bus (~£14)
🛏Onward travel or one last Campo Grande hostel night (~£16)
- →Bus Bonito → Campo Grande
- →Feira Central food stop (optional)
- →Onward flight or bus
Self-launched vs. Bamba Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bamba Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£765 | £1,420 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £655 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bamba Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£765
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Pantanal, Bonito & Iguazu Adventure — Self-Launched 9-Day Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £765 per person for 9 days in Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu, Pantanal, Bonito). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bamba Travel?+
Yes — Bamba Travel charges around £1,420 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £765 — a saving of roughly £655 (46%) per person.
How long is the Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu, Pantanal, Bonito) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu, Pantanal, Bonito).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, backpacker trip through Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu, Pantanal, Bonito), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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