The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas and the third-largest in the world, after the tiger and lion. It ranges from northern Mexico to Argentina, but it is elusive, mostly nocturnal and lives in dense habitats. For most of its range, sightings are rare. But in one place, the northern Pantanal of Brazil, jaguars can be seen almost daily in the dry season. See our jaguar profile.
The best places to see jaguars
1. The northern Pantanal, Brazil (Porto Jofre)
The rivers around Porto Jofre, at the end of the Transpantaneira road, are the best place on Earth to see wild jaguars. Boats search the riverbanks, where jaguars hunt caimans and capybaras. From July to October, sightings are very likely. See our Pantanal jaguar guide.
2. The southern Pantanal, Brazil
Private ranches such as those near Aquidauana and Miranda have habituated jaguars that are tracked on land, sometimes in vehicles at night.
3. The Amazon
Jaguars live throughout the Amazon, but dense forest makes them hard to see. Lodges in Peru’s Tambopata and Manu, Brazil’s Mamirauá Reserve (where jaguars live in trees during the flood season) and Ecuador’s Yasuní occasionally report sightings. See our Tambopata guide.
4. Guyana
The Iwokrama forest road and the Rupununi offer a chance of jaguars crossing, with few other visitors. See our Guyana guide.
5. Belize
The Cockscomb Basin, the world’s first jaguar reserve, protects a healthy population, although sightings are rare. See our Belize guide.
6. Costa Rica
Jaguars live in Corcovado and Tortuguero, where they have been seen hunting sea turtles on the beach. Sightings are uncommon. See our Corcovado guide.
7. Iberá, Argentina
Jaguars were reintroduced to Iberá from 2021 and are breeding. Sightings are rare but possible. See our Iberá guide.
8. Mexico
The Yucatán’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and Sian Ka’an have jaguars, though sightings are very rare.
Tips for seeing jaguars
- Go to the northern Pantanal from July to October for the best chance.
- Spend at least three or four days searching.
- Use experienced local guides who share sightings by radio.
- Be patient: jaguars often rest in shade for hours.
- Respect them: boats should keep a distance and not block their movement.
Threats
Jaguars have lost about half their original range. Deforestation, cattle ranching, conflict with ranchers, road construction and wildfires, such as the huge Pantanal fires of 2020 and 2024, threaten them. The illegal trade in jaguar parts has also grown.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to see jaguars? The northern Pantanal of Brazil, around Porto Jofre, from July to October.
Can I see jaguars in the Amazon? Possibly, but they are hard to see in dense forest.
Are jaguars endangered? The jaguar is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, with populations declining.
What is the difference between a jaguar and a leopard? Jaguars are stockier, with larger heads and rosettes that often contain spots. They live in the Americas; leopards live in Africa and Asia.
Related guides
- Pantanal jaguar safari guide
- Where to see leopards in Africa
- Puma tracking in Torres del Paine
- Animal profiles: Jaguar, Capybara, Ocelot
Cover photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons