Pousada Rio Claro

The river setting is beautiful, and the boat trip for around £100 was a fantastic experience. Beer was cheap, and the rooms were fairly good, clean, and comfortable. But the food was grim. I went hungry, and some of it was practically inedible. We stayed two nights in September 2024. Given the remote location, you can't expect too much, but the meals were still a real letdown.

The private boat trip with Marcus was outstanding. It ran a generous two hours, cost 700 reals, about £100, and we saw capybara, toucan, kingfishers, storks, caiman, and giant otters, among other animals. Marcus used an oar to keep us in the best position for photos. The riverfront setting is a strong point, with a jetty for canoes and motorboats, and your stay includes one trek and two group tours. On site, feeding stations draw a huge variety of birds. Our room was spacious and clean, with a comfortable bed and an adequate shower. The food, though, was awful. Breakfast was stuffed bread, sausage rolls, a jar of Frosties, sliced ham and cheese left uncovered and unrefrigerated, and juice from a jar. I'm not fussy, but I struggled to find anything to eat, and it was poor value. The dining room felt like a village hall, and many staff seemed unenthusiastic. Occupancy was very low despite it being peak season. Management needs to pay attention to maintenance and greatly improve both the food and its presentation. We've since moved to another pousada with a slightly lower daily rate and much better food and presentation. A large beer costs 15 reals, about £2, payable by card at checkout.

A lovely place to stay surrounded by nature. The Pousada is lovely too, and the staff are so friendly. The food is incredible and freshly made every day. A little paradise.

The service was fantastic and we had a great stay. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone heading to the pantanal!