PANTANAL TOUR GUIDES / UNRIVALLED KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE OF OPERATIING PANTANAL TOURS / PANTANAL NATURE & WILDLIFE TOURS SPECIALISTS / FAMILY TOURS / JAGUAR TOURS / wildlife River Cruises / Eco Tours / Expeditions / Tailor Made Tours / Small Group Tours / Environmentally Responsible Tours / pantanal camping tours at Pantanal Ecoexplorer Tours.

Meet the Guides - Local Knowledge

At Pantanal Ecoexplorer we know that a great tour guide can make the difference between a vacation that is merely enjoyable and one that is truly exceptional. On all of our tours you will profit from the services of expert naturalists who not only have in-depth knowledge of the area, but the ability to communicate that knowledge in a fun and engaging way. Our guides are passionate about the natural world and this passion, combined with their understanding of regional flora and fauna, is guaranteed to enhance your trip.

We are incredibly proud of our tour guides, all of whom live in or around Cuiaba, MT, Brazil. They are experienced biologists, wildlife experts, skilled naturalists, and ecologists dedicated to ensuring a safe and satisfying experience. Our guides are fluent in English, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Their knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm are an integral part of the Pantanal Ecoexplorer experience. It is the quality of our staff that truly sets us apart from the competition.

All guides employed by Pantanal Ecoexplorer or contracted through associates are qualified and accredited in their particular field. Furthermore, all of them are trained in first-aid. Guides bring along all the equipment necessary for an ideal expedition, including binoculars, spotlights for night viewing, and the appropriate bird, mammal, and reptile field guides. In addition, we offer each of our guests a personal checklist featuring the local Brazilian and common English and Latin names for the wildlife encountered during the trip. We intend to help participants not only enjoy and keep track of all they see, but also to become more fully informed about the animals and their behavior.

All of our team members at Pantanal Ecoexplorer, including our office staff in Cuiabá, are highly skilled and totally committed to giving you the best service possible. Their expertise, commitment and sensitivity to our travelers and to the environments we explore are the reasons we get such great feedback from past clients as well as more than a few repeat customers.

We are very proud to introduce to you:
	Carlos Grandez Founder & President Carlos grew up in the Peruvian Amazon surrounded by beautiful lakes, rivers and virgin rain forest in the process acquiring a healthy respect and admiration for his natural surroundings. His introduction to tourism was working with his parents as a young boy at the Amazon Jungle Lodge near Iquitos, Peru. Carlos’ heritage as a descendant of the Jibaro tribe and his multilingual talents made him indispensable in explaining the customs of his father’s tribe to tourists and scientists. Because of his multilingual abilities and particularly his ability to speak the language of the Jibaros Indians secured a place for him on a National Geographic Expedition in 1982. Brazil and his wife Deborah captured his heart on a visit in 1990. Partnering with his wife in this venture he has been guiding and leading groups in the Amazon and Pantanal regions ever since. For the past 20 years he has been based in the Pantanal running tours throughout this area. In doing so he has acquired a thorough understanding of the region and its people. His fascination with and knowledge of the flora and fauna, combined with his energy and passion for his work, make him a highly sought after guide. He loves sharing his knowledge of Brazil’s local traditions, culture and natural history with visitors. Carlos works with and supports several community and social projects in the Pantanal and Amazon regions. He is a staunch defender of the ecosystems in which he works. Carlos is completely involved in every tour he runs, guiding whenever possible and occasionally bringing his young son Matheus along on family trips to help him with the wildlife spotting. When he is not guiding tours Carlos enjoys taking his entire family out on nature exploration trips.

	Helder Freitas Biologist, Birder & Naturalist Helder Freitas is a Brazilian naturalist and has been guiding natural history groups in Brazil for over 20 years. Helder is originally from São Paulo, where he studied and gained a deep understanding of the history, culture, and local traditions of his native Brazil. He received his guide license in 1990 and has been working as a tour guide ever since. He started off his career in Florianopolis, on Brazil’s Atlantic coast, but after discovering the Pantanal he has spent the past 15 years working as a tour guide in this region. His love of nature and wildlife led him to earn a degree in Biology at UNIVAG (Centro Univeritario de Várzea Grande). Helder enjoys sharing with our guests his knowledge of the Pantanal’s natural history, ecology, wildlife and culture. He is an expert with bird songs. His detailed knowledge of Brazil economics, politics and history are remarkable and he is an excellent lecturer. His vast knowledge and contagious enthusiasm have kept travelers recommending his guiding services. He also speaks three different languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese. He lives in Cuiabá, but when not leading expeditions, Helder enjoys spending time with his wife Rosie and daughter Doris. (EMBRATUR License No. 1300267496-0).

	Andre Freire Moratelli Biologist & Birding Specialist Andre Freire Moratelli is a professional Brazilian ornithologist and is the newest member of the Pantanal Ecoexplorer Team. He has been guiding since 2007 and comes to us with impeccable credentials as a biologist and guide. Andre has done extensive field work in acquiring his degree from the Federal University of Mato Grosso. In fact, he has co-authored a book on the biodiversity of the southern Amazon entitled “Descobrindo a Amazonia Meridional: Biodiversidade da Fazenda Sao Nicolau (Peugeot). Andre’s field work on that and many other projects has given him expertise in identifying mammals and their foot prints. He has also acquired an extensive knowledge of tree species, and herbs of the Pantanal, Cerrado, and Amazon Forest. His experiences with Professor Dr. Pinho collecting birds for the university collection, direct observation of birds on his own time, an ability to identify birds by song or call and conducting bird watching tours has prepared him to guide the most ardent bird watchers. Andre speaks and writes excellently in English and Portuguese. He is currently living in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, where he lives with his wife and son and baby. His great knowledge and affable nature make him a favorite tour guide. He leads many of our birding trips to the Amazon, and Pantanal regions.

	Leen Biologist - Naturalist & Birding Specialist Lena was born in Belgium where she obtained in 2006 her degree at the Catholic University of Leuven. Afterwards, she has been working as a researcher (searching for sustainable likelihoods through agroforestry sytems) in Indigenous and Maroon communities in the Amazon of Venezuela (Puerto Ayacucho) and Brazil (Vila Bela, MT). Lena is specialist nature guide, she is passionate about the birds, mammals and the flora of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In 2007 she started working as a nature guide in the state of Mato Grosso. Fascinated by the wonderful birds of the region she decided to work with Prof. De Pinhõ at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in a local project in the Pantanal. She managed a place in the master program with the same professor and is currently doing her research on the reproduction of songbirds in the National Park of Chapada dos Guimarães. Lena enjoys sharing with our guests her knowledge of Brazil’s natural history, ecology, wildlife and culture. Her wide knowledge and contagious enthusiasm have kept travelers recommending her guiding services. She speaks fluently English, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Dutch. Lena lives in Cuiaba with her husband, Andre, and their two childrens.

	Toto Jaguar Tracker A local boatmen and expert Jaguar Tracker with a great deal of skill and experience at locating jaguars throughout the Paraguay River region. His knowledge of the Paraguay river, its flora and fauna, and the people of the river and Pantanal is un-matched. Toto accompanies all our Jaguar Tracking Tours. He has a friendly personality and takes good care of everyone on our expeditions and contributes greatly to the quality of the tour.

Office Staff:

Debora Elaine Regino
Director of Administration
Debora, originally from Lagoa da Prata, Minas Gerais, Brazil, has over 18 years of experience in the tourism industry. She has traveled extensively and accompanied her husband, Carlos, on many adventures in the Pantanal and Amazon regions. Here she gained a deep understanding of the history, culture, and local traditions of her native Brazil. She has been on expeditions to Peru and Bolivia. She helps with logistics and tour support while groups are travelling in the field, in order to provide the best quality tour experience possible. Debora speaks Portuguese, Spanish and some English.