PANTANAL, BRAZIL

Early morning hike on the first day. We left around 5AM, and we had to trek through waist deep water. A little unexpected, but definitely made for an adventure. Early morning is the best time to spot any of the animals in Pantanal. The trick is not thinking about what is crawling under you when you are walking because you can't see a thing. Our guide, Alex, walks everywhere barefoot. He's a serious Pantanite which is evident in the upcoming pics. Half of the year, during the rainy season, the majority of the Pantanal is covered in water. Most of the mammals flee to the dry spots of the area which look like jungle. This is where we saw the wild pigs, Howler Monkeys, Waterbees, deer, tucans, Savannah Hawks, Emus, and several other bird species. Pantanal has over 800 bird species and is the best place in the world for bird watching. This was a serious adventure hike.

Makaws - the one on the right is the offspring of its mother, on the left. Makaws live in the same tree for their entire lives, and are usually found in pairs or groups.
Pink snails