Acre is a federal state located in the north of Brazil (Amazon area). Acre’s capital is called Rio Branco.
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Acre is the birthplace of the famous Brazilian environmental activist and union leader Chico Mendes, he was for the Amazon what Ghandi was for India. Acre is also known for it’s geoglyphs (Pre-Columbian geometric earthworks), indigenous tribes and extractive reserves (reservas extrativistas). Acre is one of the less populated states ( 758.786, according 2009 IBGE data) and it’s state located in the western end of northern Brazil.It is bordered by Amazonas state to the north and northwest,Bolívia to the south and Peru to the south and southeast. It’s the only state with 85% of it’s original rainforest intact and a symbol of preservation.Nearly one-third of the state’s is occupied by indigenous reserves, which makes Acre a mecca for environmentalists, anthropologists and enthusiasts of nature preservation.
One of the many famous and enigmatic geoglyphs found in Acre.
The culture of Acre is very similar to other states in the North region. The local dishes have a strong influence of the indiginous cuisine, northeastern and paulista ( from São Paulo state).Duck and the fish Piracuru are frequent ingredients in the main dishes.
In Rio Branco there is a religious community called Alto Santo (High Saint) aslo known as Centro Universal de Iluminação Cristã (Centre for Universal Christian Light ) who practices the ritual of Santo Daime, which is a syncretic spiritual practice founded in the 1930s by Raimundo Irineu Serra, known as Mestre Irineu.The ritual who uses the Daime (ayahuasca) a natural tea made with leaves and vines,which has several psychoactive compounds is drunk as part of the ceremony.
Flights to/from Rio Branco, state capital (RBR). Connect in Brasilia (BSB) on Gol and Porto Velho (PVH) on Trip. Busses connect Rio Branco to Puerto Maldonado in Peru (9 hours) and with Porto Velho in Rondonia state (6 hours).
Rio Branco International Airport is located in a rural zone of the municipality of Rio Branco, in the state of Acre.
The climate is hot and very humid, the monthly average temperatures vary between 24 °C and 27 °C (75–80 °F), being the lowest average of the North Region. The rainfall reaches an annual total of 2,100 mm (83 inches), with a clear dry season in the months of June, July, and August.
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Gameleira street.
On the right bank of the river Acre you will find a gameleira tree with over 20 feet tall and 2.5 meters in diameter.This tree has a special meaning for the people of Acre because a small settlement around that area called Volta Empreza, that later became Rio Branco.Gameleira was considered a historic monument by the City Hall in 1981. A flagpole of 60 feet tall with the flag of Acre was raised in 2003 and can be seen from various points of the capital.
Address: Rua Cunha Matos, Historical Center, 2nd District.
Mercado Velho Novo (New Old Market)
Mercado Velho Novo
Built in 1929, was one of the main buildings in masonry of that time. It has undergone a revitalization project that rescued the importance of the building and transformed it into a beautiful postcard of the city (and now has the word “new” in its name). The project benefited the local small business,including herbal shops, craft stalls and houses of religious products. Hostels serve a good and cheap food at lunch and snack in the afternoon. The Coffee Market is a great option for a happy hour, it offers a great view, overlooking the river Acre.
Address: Epaminondas Jácome Avenue, Center, Primeiro Distrito (1st District ) in the left bank of Acre river.
The Government Palace was opened in 1930 and had its design inspired by Greek architecture. It was recently restored and now works as a museum It’s worth to visit the exhibition area where they show the geoglyphs , the geometric shapes of the ancient Valley of Acre. Address :Benjamin Constant Street, opposite Eurico Gaspar Dutra square, Center, Primeiro Distrito ( 1st district). Phone: (68) 3223-9240. E-mail: adm.palacio@ ac.gov.br Opening times :Tuesday to Friday from 8 a.m to 6 p.m; Saturday and Sunday, from 4pm to 9pm.
Rio Branco’s Palace
The Pantanal region, whose name derives from the Portuguese word “pântano” (swamp ), is a wetland that covers parts of central-western Brazil (the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul), eastern Bolivia and eastern Paraguay- Pantanal is referred as chaco in Spanish.
Eighty per cent of the wetland’s total area is located in Brazil, where it occupies more than 140,000 km². The place is a ecological paradise and has been compared to the Amazon rainforest in its density and its variety of flora and fauna. There are 1,132 species of butterflies, 656 birds, 122 mammals, 263 fish and 93 reptiles in the Patanal.
Pantanal is divided in private owned farms where raising cattle is the main economic activity. There are few national conversation parks, the main ones are:
The park is not open to the public, however visits can be made – always by boat – with prior authorization from IBAMA-Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, and a tour guide.
Located in the state of Mato Grosso. Chapada is a Brazilian word that means a region of steep cliffs, usually at the edge of a plateau.The park’s visitors center is about 8 kilometers past the park entrance, and is equipped with a restaurant, snack bar and a shop.
Véu da Noiva Waterfall
The birds of the Pantanal is one of its major attractions. They are always gathered in huge flocks. The tuiuiú also known as jabiru ( Mycteria jabiru ), is the wetland bird symbol.
wetland most popular bird: Jabiru
Many species make their nests in areas on certain trees, known as nesting grounds.
Black birds (pássaros pretos )Photo by Guto Bertagnolli
Some other birds you’ll find in the area:
In Pantanal deers can be observed as well as tapir ( Tapirus terrestris ) paca ( Agouti paca ), guará wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) giant anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ),capivara or capybara ( Hydrochaerus Hydrochaeris ) and the world’s largest rodent: the otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis ).
The largest predator on the waters is the famous jaguar.
The rivers of the Pantanal have a lush fauna. More than 240 species of fish like dourado, pacu, jaú, among many others.You can check this infographic for more details.
The non-venomous python: anaconda , called sucuri in Brazilian Portuguese is the largest representative of snakes.
Of the approximate 50 species of reptiles the alligator- Caiman ( Caimam yacare crocodilus ) is the most dangerous and predominant in the fauna.
The southern part of the Pantanal is stronger influenced by the wetland and the Atlantic Rainforest while the northern part is covered by the Amazon jungle.
This region became popular among Brazilians, in early 90′s when a TV channel broadcasted a soap opera also called Pantanal. The TV program became the best known ecological soap operas in Brazil.
A famous TV scene of Pantanal Soap Opera.
As long as I know, there is no bad time to come, every season has its own beauty. If you come in the rain season (October – April) the vegetation is exuberant and as well as the mosquitoes. In the dry season, the birds are breeding and caimans join together , so it’s easier to spot those animals.
The Pantanal is accessible through three major gateways: Campo Grande (capital of Mato Grosso do Sul),in the south, Cuiabá (capital of Mato Grosso) in the North, and Corumbá in the west. The first two offer many options. From Campo Grande you can access Bonito and from Cuiabá you can reach the Chapada dos Guimarães.
Madureira Bridge located in Transpantaneira (MT-060),Pantanal’s main highway.
By plane:
There are daily flights from other Brazilian cities such as Campo Grande and Cuiabá to the gateway city of Corumbá, from where tours can be organised.
From Campo Grande you can catch a bus to go into the Pantanal. Depending on where you plan to go it may take between 4 to 5 hours to get into the Pantanal.
By car:
The Transpantaneira, also known as MT-060, is a road that crosses the Pantanal, in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil.
The road is a link between the city of Poconé and the place of Porto Jofre, in the south-west of Cuiabá. It’s 147 km long and crosses no less than 122 wooden bridges.
Activities that you can do in the Brazilian wetland: trekking, birdwatching, horse riding , jeep and boat safari, scuba diving, fishing among others.
Accomodation on Pantanal farms are the best options. Several fazendas (farms) nowadays accommodate guests in their lodges and show them what makes the Pantanal a special place. Many of these lodges take only a few guests. If you want to have the best chances of seeing jaguars, giant otters and other interesting wildlife these places offer tours as well. Have a look at : Fazenda Caiman and Pantanal Jaguar Camp.
There is no malaria and yellow fever in the Pantanal, but the Brazilian government recommends a yellow fever vaccination for all travellers.
Documentary:
My Pantanal’ is a film about a boy named Aerenilso, who lives on a fazenda (ranch) in the Pantanal, the world’s largest and wildest wetland, in Brazil. Aerenilso shows us what it is like to be a Pantaneiro (a cowboy), riding his horse, doing his chores, and exploring this incredible landscape that is teeming with wildlife, including the jaguar. We hear and see the issues through his viewpoint — the pride of being a Pantaneiro, the concern of leaving the place, his love of the landscape, how he’s an explorer, and how he’s mesmerized by the beautiful and almost mythical jaguar. Sadly, jaguars have been hunted by people but Aerenilso’s ranch is different. He lives on a conservation ranch where the cowboys and Panthera’s scientists are working together to show that ranching and jaguars can coexist in this magical place.
My Pantanal is the first film project fully produced by Panthera, and is part of our conservation media efforts. Panthera aims to create cost effective, relevant, and inspired media that is rooted in conservation for local, and for wider, audiences. My Pantanal has been recognized at numerous film festivals, in the US and internationally, and recently won the Best Children’s Natural History Production Award at the Wild Talk Africa Film Festival (where it was also nominated for Best Short). My Pantanal was also the winner of the Best Children’s Program Award from the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. This summer the film was additionally accepted into the Newport Beach Film Festival. My Pantanal is currently being produced in Portuguese so it can target its primary audience, people living in the Pantanal with jaguars.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgXcS7gMRFk
Books:
The Testment by John Grishan, a good part of the book takes place in Pantanal.
Aves do Brasil- Pantanal & Cerrado (In English: Birds of Brazil The Pantanal and Cerrado of Central Brazil) by Argel, Martha; Ridgely, Robert S; Tudor, Guy; John A. Gwynne.
Pantanal, Guia de Aves by Paulo de Tarso Zuquim Antas.
Blogs & Websites:
Eco e Foto
http://www.ecoefoto.blogspot.ie/
Wiki Aves
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Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s best known postcard. Its image is closely linked with the Sugarloaf and Corcovado Mountains, football, samba ,carnival ,famous beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema and favelas.
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