Trans-Pantanal Transpantaneira Highway
Brazil's wildlife highway through jaguar country
The Transpantaneira Highway (MT-060) is Brazil’s most famous wildlife highway, running 89 miles of raised dirt road from Poconé to Porto Jofre through the heart of the Pantanal wetlands. Built in the 1970s as a development project that was never completed, it crosses 122 wooden bridges over channels and wetlands where massive caimans sun themselves just feet from your bumper. The road ends abruptly at the Cuiabá River port, where boat transfers access remote fazendas and fishing camps. During peak dry season (July-September), the roadway becomes a wildlife corridor where jaguars, giant otters, and hyacinth macaws converge around shrinking water sources.
This is an easy to moderate drive suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though flooding during wet season (December-April) can make sections impassable and bridges treacherous. Pack extra fuel since there are no services between Poconé and Porto Jofre. Bring binoculars and a spotlight for night drives — the wildlife density here rivals East Africa. The reward is staying at traditional cattle ranches turned eco-lodges and experiencing the world’s largest tropical wetland ecosystem, where a patient driver might spot all five big cats of the Americas in a single trip.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | Camping, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 89 mi / 143 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 650 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance recommended |
| Nearest town | Poconé, Mato Grosso |
| Land manager | ICMBio Brazil |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock SUV or sedan handle the Transpantaneira?
A stock 4WD with moderate clearance handles it fine in dry season. A 2WD sedan can make it when conditions are good, but high clearance helps at the wooden bridges and any soft shoulders — don't push it with a low-slung rental car after rain.
What happens if you drive it in the wet season?
The Pantanal floods heavily from November through March, and sections of the Transpantaneira can become impassable mud or fully submerged. May through September is the dry season and the only realistic window for most drivers.
Are there permits or fees to drive the Transpantaneira?
No permit is required to drive the highway itself. If you enter any of the private fazendas (ranches) or the Porto Jofre area at the end, some have entrance fees — budget a few hundred Brazilian reais if you plan stops along the route.
What's the hardest part of the drive and what should I expect?
The 122 wooden bridges are the main event — many are narrow, some are deteriorating, and you'll cross them one vehicle at a time with caimans lounging underneath. The road surface itself is straightforward dirt, but bridge crossings require attention and slow speeds.
Is there fuel and water available along the 89-mile route?
Fill up completely in Poconé before you start — there are no fuel stations along the Transpantaneira itself. Bring all your drinking water too; the few lodges along the route sell basics but you can't count on resupply once you're on the road.
Trail track
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