Miranda, Brazil
Caiman, Pantanal
Pantanal safari outpost
Native trackers and naturalists guide open-top jeep safaris across a vast private wetland teeming with wild jaguars and birdlife.
What it’s good at
Gold
Native Pantaneiro trackers and naturalists lead daily wildlife drives across the private 53,000-hectare cattle estancia and wetlands.
Silver
Open-top safari jeeps, nocturnal spotlighting drives, Canadian canoeing on the bay, and horseback riding with ranch hands.
Bronze
Founded in the 1980s by Roberto Klabin on a historic 1912 cattle ranch, pioneering South American conservation ecotourism.
Outside the door
On a private 53,000-hectare Pantanal reserve, surrounded by floodplains, forests, and wild jaguar territory.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
Following a renovation during the pandemic, most guests stay in the 18-suite Casa Caiman, Klabin’s former home.
The rooms
Casa Caiman suites feature private balconies, cowskin rugs, and doorways hung with bridles, framing views of lily-padded waterways.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The spa & gym
Leave the phone upstairs.
Casa Caiman grounds host a swimming pool, a sauna, and a fitness room surrounded by the reserve's open savannah.
At the table
Pantaneiro homestyle meals feature local ingredients, while fairy-lit outdoor decks host traditional open-fire barbecues of farm-raised beef.
How it began
Founded on a 1912 cattle ranch, the estate established the Oncafari project, transforming former hunting grounds into a protected jaguar sanctuary.
Somewhere apart
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Spanning 53,000 hectares of southern Pantanal floodplains, cordillera forests and rivers shelter hyacinth macaws, tapirs, and giant anteaters.
The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
Outside the door
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.