Among the six biogeographic regions in the planet, the Neotropical one (South and Central America) stands out because of displaying the highest levels of biodiversity, reason why it has historically been one of the main targets for the naturalists of all the world. Between the high variety of extremely rich ecosystems kept in the Neotropic, the Pantanal is one of the most highlighted. With a larger surface than the Llanos of Venezuela, it constitutes the greatest flooded area in the world, with an extension of approximately 200.000 Km², formed by the eroded sediments of the surrounding highlands, transported by river Paraguay and its affluents. 80 % of this huge wetland is located in Brazilian territory, in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. The rest owns to the contiguous Bolivian and Paraguayan borders.

Ecologically, it is considered a savanna system, where open areas with disperse vegetation predominate, with scattered dense wooded islands. These kind of landscapes are, no room for doubt, the most privileged ones for the observation of wildlife, since in other extremely rich habitats of dense vegetation, such as Amazonian jungle, this becomes a much more difficult objective. Unlike African savannas, neotropical ones are wet, having an almost complete inundation during six months, and a dry scenery with disperse lagoons and rivers during the other six. The great water availability and the tropical climate carry to the extreme the biodiversity levels in any period of the year.

The plain has an average high of 100 m above the sea, and the water level of the wetland depends on the seasonalnesses and rain intensity. With a pluviosity of 1000 to 1400 mm, the year is divided into two different periods: rainy season and dry one. The first one occurs from November to April, with a water level than can increase in 3 m, remaining then the 80 % of the plain flooded. This fact, apart from being a wildlife and landscape spectacle, gives Pantanal the major aquatic vegetation diversity in the world. From May to October, rains stop and water level decrease, remaining always scattered permanent lagoons that suppose, together with the rivers, located drinking and feeding areas where all the wildlife is concentrated, making of some of the most astonishing images of nature, which can hardly be seen in other parts of the world. Specially, aquatic birds turn these feeding areas into indispensable sites to visit by ornithologists and photographers.

Considered as one of the richest ecosystems in the Earth, Pantanal shelters more than 3500 vegetal species, 650 birds, 300 mammals, 480 reptiles and 400 fish. It has been recognized as a Biosphere Reserve and Human Patrimony by UNESCO. In Brazil it is protected as an Ecological Preservation Area and a surface of 1.400 Km² was declared a National Park. The track that crosses Pantanal in its north side, the Tanspantaneira road is in itself protected by the law, as well as its multiple wood bridges, as a Park Road, as it constitutes a hotspot of biodiversity by itself.