Araras Lodge or Pousa Alegre for 1 night - Plz Help

[kavitachoudhary89]

Hi,
I am in real dilemma if I should book Araras Lodge or Pousa Alegre. I had previously booked Alegre but just now Araras Lodge has confirmed to allow me to stay for 1 night. I believe in terms of Lodge, there is no comparisons and Araras is much better but also it is 2.5 times more the cost. But I was really worried about Alegre because I had heard the accommodation is really basic and there have confirmed only small rooms. They have kept in waiting list for large rooms since months. So I don't think I will get that.
I have already booked a guide and a driver, so they will be with us to either lodges.

But in terms of wildlife which is better? What are chances of seeing Ant-eaters at each lodge? I really wanted to see Ant-Eaters and other land mammals like Tapir, Crab eating Fox and others which I have never heard or seen in my life. So which lodge has better probability of seeing them?

Please help asap, because if I have to book Araras, I have to book it within a day.

Thanks so much.

[Atravelynn]

First, this is not a real encouraging comment. One night gives you a shot at the creatures you are seeking, but far less of a shot than several nights-wherever you choose to stay. You probably know that.

 

I can only comment on Pousa Alegre.

 

Probably the most basic of accommodations I've stayed at in the Pantanal. Certainly adequate, safe, acceptable. But if resort-like, very nice accommodations is important and a priority, then perhaps not PA. I'd return in an instant. It was a working ranch and that was an intriguing aspect of staying there.

 

 

 

On a night drive in that area we saw tapir, giant anteater, and crab eating fox. The hyacinth macaws were very impressive as were the resident coati mundis during daylight hours. While I mentioned 1 night decreases your sighting odds, I stayed at PA only one night, as part of an overall itinerary. Seems you have your own driver. Here is one thing you could do to increase your odds. You could go for a night drive once it gets dark. Come back to eat. Then head out again. I know we did that a couple of times. More time in the field means better chances. You may want to mention this up front. Not sure if there is an extra cost. There was not for me, but we were on a couple week trip with the guide and he did this a few times. I don't remember if it was at PA that we went out 2x. Is going out 2x acceptable at Araras?

 

If the difference in cost is significant to you, that would also sway me toward PA.

 

I know Araras Lodge has a very good reputation. If I am able to return to Pantanal, I would look at staying at Araras Lodge, probably before Pousa Alegre, just because of that rep. But would happily do both lodges.

 

One other thing to consider is cost/logistics of getting to each. I believe PA is much easier to access. That may also have a bearing on what you see--more remote, more animals.

 

What is the rest of your itinerary? You may see these target species, especially the Giant Anteater, at another location you'll be visiting.

 

Good luck and I don't think you can make a bad decision between the two.

Edited May 10, 2016 by Atravelynn

[TonyQ]

@@kavitachoudhary89

We stayed at Pouso Alegre for 3 nights and loved our stay there. (We have not stayed at Aras so I cannot comment) As @@Atravelynn says it (Alegre) is a basic lodge but we thought it was fine - but we were there for the wildlife.

 

We saw Giant Anteater at night (on a drive, and one around the grounds of the lodge), Crab Eating Fox, and Tapir at night and in the day time (afternoon) in a pool a couple of hundered metres from the lodge. Obviously nothing is guaranteed but we found the wildlife to be good there. If you are only there for one night, I don't think you will spend much time in your room

[kavitachoudhary89]

Hi,
Thanks guys for such a quick reply.

@@Atravelynn - I will be staying 2 nights at Pantanal Norte hotel and then 1 night at Alegre or Araras. I have booked a guide and driver for the trip, and she was flexible with all the safari I want. On the trip, I will ask her to take us before dinner and after dinner as per your recommendation. Hope she has no problems. Thanks so much for the pictures, it was really hard to find pics of Alegre. By any chance you have pics of the bathroom? I'm really fine with the room but I'm too fussy about bathrooms. The main problem is Luis is offering me a small room which I think will be half the size than you had.

 

@@tony - Thanks so much for your views.

 

Obviously nothing is guaranteed. I would love to hear from some one who stayed at Araras or maybe both, what was the wildlife there like? Is it comparable to wildlife at Alegre.

If Alegre is the place for Ant-eaters, Tapir, Crab eating Fox and others, then I will just stay there. But if Araras is comparable in wildlife, I would like to stay there for better accommodation.

 

Thanks guy for all yr wonderful trip report and this forum. Without which planning a trip to Pantanal would have been impossible.

 

[Atravelynn]

No bathroom photos. Since I don't recall the bathroom, it must have been ok.

 

Araras = 32 km down Transpantaneira Hwy

Alegre = 35 km down Transpantaneira Hwy but 7 km off the road

 

I was wrong thinking that Araras was further into the Pantanal the Alegre—about the same.

 

Check these reports out

 

http://safaritalk.net/topic/11248-pantanal-august-2013/page-2

 

 

1st time Treepol went to Alegre

http://safaritalk.net/topic/11322-macaws-monkeys-and-moai-6-weeks-in-the-pantanal-peru-and-polynesia/

 

 

2nd time Treepol to Araras

http://safaritalk.net/topic/13855-capybaras-and-cattle-killer-whales-and-cloud-forest-pantanal-galapagos-and-peru-in-2010/

Edited May 10, 2016 by Atravelynn

[kavitachoudhary89]

Thanks so much for all the help.

[pedro maia]

I can´t compare both lodges because I didn´t stay at Pouso Alegre but I really liked Araras Lodge, the best accomodation we had in Pantanal, pity we didn´t stay longer, we arrived in the afternoon and left right after breakfast, we only made a short afternoon walk to the observation towers and on the way back to the lodge we saw one southern tamandua, previously that day one puma was spotted in the area but I can´t say much more about wildlife.

 

It´s great for birds and there are some resident hyacinth macaws.

[kavitachoudhary89]

Finally decided on Araras. Shall post trip report when I'm back .