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The 4 days at Sao Joao for our unruly family of 5 surpassed all expectations. From the warm smile and constant rehydration of Valdecir at reception, to the incredible cooking of Maria (Nina) who kept a somewhat fussy group of 2.5 vegetarians happy throughout with the best food in a 3+ week trip, we were royally looked after by all staff. However what is a very personal 10 rating with some caveats (see above), is down primarily to 2 things. Firstly Alex our guide across all 7 tours - on foot, four wheels, horseback, on water and with rod in hand - was the perfect host. Having lived all his life in the area, his passion and knowledge for all things Pantanal was tangible. At the same time, his understated style, humility and the way he didn't always feel the need to fill every silence, allowed us to enjoy the tours in a way that suited us. A true gentleman. And finally of course the Pantanal itself, in a difficult moment with record forest fires and drought, the lack of water in a wetland could have been a disappointment. However the epic landscapes, incredible variety of wildlife and world class sunsets still marked it out as a place apart. More than one of us left with a tear in the eye and none of us will forget waking up to a crazy audio soup of birdsong, horses munching outside our door with the farm dogs and cats ready to adopt us. A huge thanks to everyone at Sao Joao for an unforgettable experience.

The location, surrounded by the Pantanal! The food provided was excellent!