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BRAZIL - PATANAL & RIO CRISTALINOBirding Focused

Dates: October 18-29, 2009
12 days,Price $4,950; Contact Us, from Cuiaba, Brazil

BRAZIL - CHAPADA EXTENSIONBirding Focused
Dates: October 29-31, 2009
14 days, Price $5,650; Contact Us, from Cuiaba, Brazil

Full Brazil Itinerary (.pdf)

Our itinerary takes us to two of the most spectacular and important ecosystems in South America: the great Pantanal and the Amazon rainforest. At roughly half the size of France, the Pantanal is the largest freshwater wetland in the world, and therefore, a birder’s paradise. We’ll visit this seasonally flooded wetland at the end of the dry season, when the few remaining pools and waterways concentrate birds and wildlife in numbers that must be seen to be believed. We’ll spend 4 nights in the heart of the Pantanal at two eco-lodges. Here we’ll explore by road, trail, and boat in search of the Pantanal’s birds, wildlife, and serenity. The Pantanal is home to one the most spectacular members of the parrot family, the endangered Hyacinth Macaw. This one-meter long, brilliant blue parrot is one of our most sought after targets.

After leaving the Pantanal we’ll return to Cuiaba and catch a flight to the city of Alta Floresta.  Upon arrival we’ll transfer by van and boat to a remote and comfortable lodge on the banks of the Rio Cristalino–one of the richest areas of the entire Brazilian Amazon.  Here we’ll spend 6 carefree nights away from the outside world and immerse ourselves in the sights, smells, and sounds of the Amazon. Macaws, parrots, and toucans chatter constantly around the chalets, and because no hunting is permitted here, large game birds and many primates are commonly seen near the lodge.

This area has it all: miles of clean, well-marked trails through pristine rainforest, abundant bamboo stands, and a 50 meter canopy tower to experience the fantastic canopy birds and the magic of sunrise and sunset over the Amazon.  This site is renown for its staggering 520+ bird species, including many Amazonian specialties and several newly described species.  During our stay we’ll explore the forest trails, hoping for encounters with huge mixed-species bird flocks, the feeding frenzy of an ant swarm, and the many, many special birds of the region.  Afternoon boat trips offer great birding with chances for mammal observations, including: 7 species of primates, Red and Gray Brocket Deer, Brazilian Tapir, Capybara, Neotropical and Giant River Otter, and even a chance for a Jaguar or a Puma!  Avian highlights for this trip are too staggering to list here.  For complete list of bird and mammal targets please see the full trip itinerary.

Optional extension: Chapada dos Guimarães National Park

October 18-31, 2009  (14 days)

Cost: $5,650, from Cuiaba, Brazil

The canyon lands of the Chapada dos Guimarães form part of the Brazilian Planalto Central.  In stark contrast to the Amazon and Pantanal, these magnificent red sandstone formations are reminiscent of the northeastern Arizona landscape. Chapada dos Guimarães National Park protects the specialized cerrado vegetation and its unique fauna and flora.  We’ll explore strange rock formations, patches of rich cerrado and gallery forest, and spectacular waterfalls in search of specialties like: Blue-winged Macaw, Buiscutate and Great Dusky Swifts, Red-legged Seriema, Red-winged Tinamou, Greater Rhea, Aplomado Falcon, White-rumped and White-banded Tanager, Curl-crested Jay, Horned Sungem, White-vented Violetear, White-eared Puffbird, Checkered Woodpecker, Collard Cresentchest, Blue and Coal-crested Finch, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Black-throated Saltator, Plumbeous Seedeater and possibly the rare Rufous-side Pygmy Tyrant.

Our leader, Aaron Lang, spent 4 months at the Cristalino Jungle Lodge in 2002 and 2003 as a resident birding guide where he immersed himself in the diverse avifauna of the area. In 2007, he returned to the lodge for a 2 week stay as part of a 2 month exploration of Brazil that included the rainforests of the Mata Atlantica and the magnificent Pantanal.