2026 Pantanal Jaguars & Iguazu Falls
Photography Adventure

Workshop Information Packet

Contents:

I. General Information

II. To Do Checklist

III. Daily Itinerary

2026 Pantanal & Iguazu Falls
General Information

Welcome!
Thanks again for joining our 2026 Pantanal Jaguars & (optional) Iguazu Falls Photography Adventure. We know you are as excited as we are to begin our adventure, but first a little planning is required to make sure everything goes smoothly! This document contains important information to help you prepare for your travels. Please take some time to review it carefully.

Workshop Dates:  

Aug 15 - Aug 26, 2026 Pantanal Jaguars Wildlife Adventure
Aug 26 - 28, 2026 Iguazu Falls by Moonlight Extension (optional)

Instructors/Leaders: Ken Lee & Leighton Lum

Balance of Fees:

The balance of your workshop fees are due as follows:

Payment #2: $3000 due Nov 15, 2025
Final Payment: balance of all fees due April 15, 2026

You will receive an invoice by email after registration that contains all charges and payments related to this workshop. Clicking the link in the invoice will take you to your Customer Portal where you can make payments, view or download  statements/receipts and more at your convenience.  Your on-time payments are greatly appreciated.

Health/Medical

Prescription Medications – remember to pack an adequate supply of any prescription medications (also supplements, sleep aids, non-prescription pain relievers, etc.) you take, as they may not be available in the areas we will be traveling.

Allergies – please let us know about any allergies you have AND the severity of your reactions. It is your responsibility to carry appropriate medications (e.g. Epi Pen) in case of accidental exposure.

Vaccinations – no specific vaccinations are required to enter Brazil, but you should consult your physician or travel clinic for their recommendations. While we cannot offer medical advice, typical suggestions include malaria prophylaxis and vaccinations for yellow fever and typhoid.

Travel Logistics & Documents

Passport/Visas – starting in April 2025, American and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa to enter Brazil. The easiest way to obtain a visa is via  Brazil’s official e-visa portal.

You will need a scan/photo of your passport and a passport photo to complete your application as well as a credit card to pay the $82 application fee.  

International Flights –

Arrival
Book your flights to arrive at Cuiaba International Airport (Airport code: CGB, aka Marechal Rondon International Airport) no later than ~1pm on August 15 (our first group activity is at 3pm).  

Important Connections Note: You will most likely transit through Sao Paolo airport (GRU) on your way to Cuiaba. We suggest allowing 2.5 hrs minimum to make your connecting flight as you will have to go through Brazilian Immigration/Passport Control in Sao Paolo, claim your luggage and re-check-in for your flight to Cuiaba.

Departure:

Pantanal Jaguars Only Participants
If you are participating in the Pantanal portion only, book your homeward flight to depart from Cuiaba airport (CGB) anytime on Aug 26.

Iguazu Falls Extension Participants
The workshop ends upon our arrival at Sao Paulo airport (GRU) on Aug 28 around noon. Book your homeward flight to depart GRU after 5pm on Aug 28 (most flights to the US depart in the evening).

Internal Flights – two internal flights, Cuiaba–Iguazu and Iguazu–Sao Paulo are included in the workshop fee and will be booked on your behalf.

Let us know if you need assistance with your travel arrangements.

Extra hotel nights – if you plan to arrive early or depart after the workshop end date, let us know your plans and we can assist with booking your rooms (additional fee applies).

Travel Insurance – a policy that covers medical evacuation is a requirement for participation in this workshop. Most policies also cover many other things like trip cancellation, lost luggage, theft/loss, etc. Please send us a copy of the summary page of your policy.

Notify Banks & Credit Cards – notify your financial institutions about your travel plans to prevent problems using credit cards or ATM’s while traveling.

Mobile Phone Carrier – look into your phone carrier’s international roaming policies and rates BEFORE leaving home or you may return to an extremely expensive bill. You may want to pre-purchase a data plan from your carrier or limit your mobile phone data usage to Wi-Fi only.

WhatsApp – a free communications app used widely in Brazil. We will be using WhatsApp for internal group communications. Please download & install WhatsApp and create an account before arriving in Brazil.

What to Pack

Weather Note – below are historical averages for August in the areas we will be. Rain is possible but not likely.

Location                Avg High/Low               Avg Humidity

Porto Jofre (Pantanal)          94˚ F /65˚F        39%

Iguazu Falls                   77˚F /56˚F

Clothing & Personal Items – thin, cool and quick-drying are the order of the day for this trip. Long sleeves and pants are recommended for protection from the sun and insects. In addition, you should also bring:

• Rain jacket

• Brimmed hat

• Sunglasses

• Spare eyeglasses/reading glasses or contacts

• Safety glasses – we sometimes drive through a cloud of bugs around dusk

• Bandanna, buff or face mask – for dust protection

• Sports Bra – the roads can be quite bumpy (a top suggestion from past female participants).

• Swimsuit (optional)

• Sneakers - there is no real hiking on this trip, but you want comfortable shoes with good traction.

• Flip flops/sandals for around the lodges/houseboat

• Sunscreen & Bug Spray

• Lip balm

• An extra layer in case of cold weather – unlikely, but possible.

Don’t overpack, laundry is available at our lodges for a reasonable fee and there are no ‘dress up’ occasions on this trip.

Photo Gear – it’s tempting to bring everything you own, but that usually works against you. If you decide to bring the kitchen sink, we strongly recommend bringing a smaller camera bag/backpack that holds just the items you need for the day. We are happy to provide brand/model recommendations for specific items. Just ask.

• Camera Body – 1 or 2 camera bodies. Mirrorless cameras, especially models that have animal eye tracking are truly game changers for wildlife photography – highly recommended.

Also, bring a paper or electronic copy of your camera’s operating manual.

Lastly, your smartphone is also a great camera – don’t forget it.

• Lenses:

  • Your longest telephoto will be the workhorse of this trip. We recommend a lens that reaches 400mm minimum (300mm for crop sensor cameras) before adding teleconverters.

  • A medium telephoto like a 70-200mm zoom will also be useful

  • A wide-angle will be your go-to at Iguazu Falls, optional for those not participating in the extension.  

• Filters – a polarizer and/or neutral density filters for Iguazu Falls, optional for Pantanal

• Extra Batteries and Memory cards – you will be shooting a lot, maybe more than you ever have, easily in the thousands of images and hundreds of gigabytes (quite possibly >1TB) total. Bring PLENTY of memory cards and batteries. You should NOT erase/overwrite any memory cards until you get home, even if you have downloaded the images to your laptop or hard drive.

• Battery Charger – do not forget! As a backup, you might consider purchasing USB powered camera battery charger. They are inexpensive and let you charge your camera batteries without a wall outlet. Google “(your camera model) + USB charger”

• Cleaning kit - nothing fancy, just a lens cloth, lens cleaning fluid and perhaps a small brush or travel toothbrush

• Microfiber cloth  - handy to wipe away mist/spray at Iguazu

• Monopod (optional) – those long lenses can get quite heavy after a while,

• Tripod – essential if you are going to Iguazu Falls (don’t forget your quick release plate). Not necessary in the Pantanal.

Flying with Camera Gear – Nobody even wants to think about being forced to check precious photo equipment, so here is the lowdown on how to avoid any issues:

Size is more important than weight. All airlines have an official policy for carry-on weight limit, but carry-ons are rarely weighed during check-in. As long as your camera bag is reasonable in size, meaning it will fit into the overhead bins or under the seats, you should not have a problem. DO NOT bring an enormous bag that won’t fit where it should.

Other Things to Pack

• Laptop or tablet – highly recommended. Your photography will improve if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home. We will also have several sessions on post processing and image management

• Portable hard drive - for image storage and/or backup. If you are considering purchasing one, the newer SSD (solid state drive) models are faster and more reliable than traditional spinning disk types.  Most SSD’s are also “bus powered” – a drive that gets its power from the computer and does not require a separate power cord.

• Chargers and cables for your mobile phone and other electronics

• Power bank – extremely handy for traveling

• Travel Plug Converter(s)– Brazil electricity can be 120 or 220 volts with Type N electrical outlets. Type C (aka Euro plug) plug adapters will also work. A small power strip is handy for charging multiple devices simultaneously but make sure it is rated for at least 220 volts. Here’s one we like that also has USB ports

• Sunscreen & Insect Repellent – the bugginess is surprisingly mild in both the Pantanal and Iguazu, but it’s a good idea to have some repellent on hand.

• Instant Coffee packets (optional)– Brazilian coffee is served thick, strong and in small quantities. At oh-dark-thirty I want my coffee the way I want it. I’ll be culturally flexible after I wake up.

A Word About Gratuities - Like many service businesses, our local guides rely on gratuities for a substantial portion of their total income. I think you will find our guides & drivers to be outstanding at what they do. If you feel you received good service, a token of your appreciation is greatly appreciated. The amount you choose to give is entirely up to you, but we are always asked for guidance so typical ranges are listed below. Tipping at restaurants & hotels is not expected, but small gratuities ($1-$2) are appreciated:

If we’ve missed anything or you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by phone, text or email. Thanks again, we (Leighton & I) look forward to seeing you in Cuiaba!

Ken Lee                                                                                     
949-282-9660
ken@artofseeing.com                              

Pantanal 2026 Workshop
To Do Checklist

___     Book Inbound/Outbound flights to Cuiaba (CBG)/from Sao Paulo and forward a copy of your flight itinerary to us.

___     Let us know if you need extra hotel nights before or after the workshop

___     Purchase Travel Insurance

___     Notify Banks & Credit Cards of your travel plans

___     Check mobile phone carrier’s international roaming policies and plans

___     Make a personal packing checklist. Click here for a generic Photo Trip Packing List template you can download and customize to your own needs

Pantanal 2026 Workshop
Daily Itinerary

Note: this itinerary represents our general plan but is subject to change without notice for weather, logistical considerations or other reasons.