Boats in Poconé

Ling Yi United States

Totally exceeded our expectations! Hosts Francisco and Margarida made our trip memorable for a lifetime. Margarida's amazing meals made us feel at home, so much attention given to preparing delicious meals customized to all our diet preferences. She has decorated the boat to feel homey and welcoming, with lots of attention to detail. I enjoyed her antique glassware and dishes, cute teacups and even the pretty beaded netting used to protect milk pitchers from insects. Francisco had a vast knowledge of the Pantanal and showed us so many animals and birds, told us all about the ecology, environment, history of the Pantanal and the lifestyle of the indigenous people. He knows the place so well -- he can detect animals from the slightest change in color or movement along the shore. Both of them are dedicated environmentalists who "walk the talk" and are committed to preserving the special natural qualities of the Pantanal. Together they told us so many interesting stories about their experiences in the Pantanal. We came with our sons, ages 18 and 10, and we all enjoyed our time there. Francisco and Margarida taught them to fish, and one of my boys caught 11 piranhas in an afternoon! My older son dropped his phone in the water next to the boat, and Francisco jumped right in and spent more than half an hour helping him look for his phone (they did find it!). They treated us so well, everything was done with great love and care, and we couldn't ask for better hosts. We went to four cities during our trip to Brazil, and this visit was definitely the highlight.