Trip Leaders
Adrian Binns
and Local Guide
2011 Dates
August 12 - 25
2012 Dates
August 2 - 15
2011 Cost
$6000* from Cuiaba, Brazil
(Includes internal flights cost)
Prices are per person, double occupancy.
*Cost may fluctuate with the value of the US$ Prices per person, double occupancy.
Limit 4 - 10 participants. Easy walks, and boat trips. Warm to hot tropical days and nights.
Full payment required 120 days prior to departure date.
Price based on double occupancy. If a single room is preferred, a single supplement fee of $550 will be assessed.
BRAZIL:
Pantanal & Atlantic Forests
Day 1 - Arrival at the airport in Cuiabá and transfer to the Pantanal (Lodge 1).
Brazil is home to more than half of all of South America's bird species!
The gateway to the Pantanal is the small village of Pocone where we shall have a lunch stop. Though the rest of our drive from here is but 40 miles, we will take the rest of the afternoon to get there in order to lots of birding! Some target species will be Jabiru, Gray-necked Wood-rail and Scarlet-headed Blackbird; plus some animals such Capybaras and Caimans.
Day 2 - Full day at Pantanal.
Breakfast will be always served half hour before sunrise so we will be ready to enjoy the Pantanal as much as we can. Our first activity today will be an unforgetable boat ride. This particular river has no strong current, so we can go very slowly. All five South American kingfisher species can be found here. Other important birds that will search for on this boat ride are the stunning Sunbittern, Sungrebe, Black-collared and Great Black Hawk.
After the boat ride we will explore the forests for Long-billed Scythbill - A mind blowing woodcreeper, Ondulated Tinamou, Pale-crested Woodpecker, and the lovely Green-backed Becard, just to mention a few... Before lunch you may enjoy the pool or get some extra birds at the feeders - great for photography, too, specially for the Yellow-billed Cardinal.
After lunch we will have a second boat ride, but in the opposite direction, looking for birds we may have missed in the morning. The afternoon ride will improve our chances for spotting Tapir and we will be looking for the Giant River Otters. This river in particular has a group of Giant River Otters, that allow us to approach them, giving us chance of "full frame" pictures. At the end of the day, besides, appreciating the Sunset, we will looking for the Band-tailed Nighthawk (which likes to fly low over the rivers) and also the Nacunda Nighthawk. Return to the lodge. After the nightjars "warm up" we will be ready for a night ride, looking for Great Horned Owl and some of the nocturnal animals such the Crab-eating Fox and Ocellot.
Day 3 - Transfer to other lodge at the Pantanal (Lodge 2)
Early breakfast and transfer to another lodge. This ride, will be a wonderful opportunity for exploring the Pantanal. Birding the way to our new lodge, we will be arrive by lunch time.
This afternoon we will have a combination of a bird walk (Black-bellied Antwren, Sooty-fronted Spinetail) and boat ride, where will have a chance to visit a nesting area (from a safe distance) for Roseate Spoonbills and Wood-Stork. We shall stay long enough to be able to look for the Scissor-tailed Nightjar on our way back.
Day 4 - Transfer to Chapada dos Guimarães (Lodge 3)
Early breakfast and check out. On our way out of the Pantanal, we will enjoy a private reserve, with special permission, to look for Southern Antpipit and Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin. We will arrive at the village of Chapada do Guimarães by lunch time.
After lunch we will search for many new species in this new habitat, such the Black-throated Saltator and Swallow Tanager, but, the highlight will be the beautiful Blue-winged Macaw - its roosting place is by the highest waterfall in the area: The Bridal Veil. A perfect combination of the best place to watch the sunset while Blue-winged Macaw watching!
Day 5 - Full day at Chapada dos Guimarães
Early breakfast. Birding looking for the Cerrado Specialties such the White-rumped & White-banded Tanager, Horned Sungem and Collared Crescent-Chest.
We also shall have a scenic drive to a look out, known as the "Stone City". After lunch we will return to the Cerrado, looking for any species we missed earlier.
Day 6 - Full day at Chapada dos Guimarães
Early breakfast. Birding on the nearby forest, looking for the spetacular Band-tailed Manakin and Pectoral Sparrow. After the forest walk, we will be exploring a region still unknown to most birders, where our chances of seeing the Yellow-faced Parrot will be excellent!
After lunch we will bird in the forest again looking for Fiery-capped Manakin, Streaked Xenops and Sharp-billed Streamcreeper.
Day 7 - Transfer to the airport in Cuiabá and flight to São Paulo (Guarulhos).
Overnight at the hotel, near the airport in Guarulhos.
Day 8 - Transfer to Itatiaia National Park
We will arrive at our lodge by lunch time. After lunch will be spent exploring the gardens and near by areas. It will be a true Hummingbird afternoon with: Brazilian Ruby, Black Jacobin, Scaled-throated Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph, and last but, by no means, the least: Frilled Coquette. Tanagers will be present to: Magpie Tanager, Green-headed Tanager and Ruby-crowned Tanager.
Day 9 - Full day at Itatiaia
Early Breakfast. Departure by car to the higher part of the Park. It will be a full day excursion so, box lunch will be provided. Targets: Itatiaia Spinetail (Thistletail) , Diademed Tanager, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Bay-chested & Red-rumped Warbling-finches.
Day 10 - Full day at Itatiaia
In the morning and in the afternoon we will be birding using the trails that start from our hotel. Returning to the hotel for lunch. Target species include: Star-throated and Ferruginous and White-bibbed Antbirds, Red-breasted Toucan and Spot-billed Toucanet.
Day 11 - Transfer to Ubatuba Reserve.
Throughout this travel day we will make several stops along the route for specific birds such Firewood Gatherer, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Streamer-tailed Tyrant and Rufous-sided Crake. Arrival by the end of the day.
Day 12 - Full day at Ubatuba
This morning we will be visiting the best Bird & Hummer feeders of Ubatuba. The owner, Jonas, lived in USA, when he was working for an American Company. Now he is retired and he will be pleased to offer details of his life with the hummingbirds. We expect to get: Sombre Hummingbird, Saw-billed Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire and the Festive Coquette. From Jonas' house there is a very good trail, where we will search for: Bare-throated Bellbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Streak-capped Antwren, Slaty Bristelfront, White-bearded Manakin, Sharpbill, Mantle Hawk, Gray-hooded Flycatcher and Long-billed Wren. Lunch at a local Barbecue Restaurant.
After lunch we will be birding on a back road near to Jonas' looking for possible missing species from the morning. After sunset, we will be look for the Tawny-browed Owl.
Day 13 - Full day at Ubatuba
This morning we will explore the Angelim and Capricornio Rain Forest Reserves. Here we will have our best chances for the Buff-throated Purpletuft (a very small and rare cotinga), Rufous-bellied Puffbird (a split from the White-necked Puffbird), Squammate Antbird, Long-billed Gnatwren, Spotted Bambo-Wren and Tufted Antshrike. Lunch will be at a restaurant by the beach, with an opportunity for some swimming. AFter lunch, based on both previous days, we will search for possible missing birds, either returning to trails visited previously or going to new areas.
Day 14 - Transfer to the airport São Paulo (Guarulhos) and flight home (or Iguaçu Falls extension)
Early breakfast. Check out. Transfer to Sao Paulo, with birding in route. Which will include a feeder stop for Red-necked Tanager (the only feeder in the area known for having this particular bird), Hooded Berryeater and Crescent-Chest Puffbird. Farwell Lunch. Arrival at the Airport.
Iguaçu Falls extension info coming soon