BRAZIL - THE AMAZING PANTANAL

The vast Brazilian Pantanal is one of the greatest wetlands anywhere on earth, where incredible number of water birds have to be seen to be believed. Situated close to the border with Bolivia, it astounds everyone who visits by its sheer size (around 55,000 square miles!). From huge Jabiru wading in the shallow marshes, to the truly spectacular Hyacinth Macaw, this region exceeds all the superlatives. The sheer number of birds has to be seen to be believed and many of these offer close views which makes for great photography. It is also considered one of the best places in South America to see a wide variety of tropical animals including the much sought after Jaguar, and one of our three special boat trips will go in search of this elusive species. The Chapada dos Guimaraes will provide a complete contrast, with huge waterfalls, cerrado, and riverine forest, which are home to some of Brazil’s special birds, and a cross-selection of neotropic families including tinamous, macaws, hummingbirds, manakins, antbirds, motmots and tanagers.

We begin the tour at Jardim de Amazonia, a tropical jungle lodge that is the only place to see the newly discovered Cone-billed Tanager. Then we head along the 120km Transpantaniera into the heart of the Pantanal where we look for Greater Rhea, Golden-collared Macaw, Red-legged Seriema, Helmeted Manakin and more. There will be boat trips, feeding stations packed with birds and pools thronging with waterbirds. From our excellently located lodge at Porto Jofre we will see the exquisite Hyacinth Macaw and our boat journey along the Cuiaba River gives us an excellent opportunity to find that most enigmatic of large cats - Jaguar. Other wildlife that makes this region so famous includes Brazilian Tapir, Giant River Otter, Ocelot and plenty of other great animals. Our Pantanal tour offers a superb opportunity to get excellent views of a wide variety of birds and other wildlife in one of the natural world's most amazing settings and will provide many unforgettable memories of a holiday of a lifetime.

Weds 19th June - Monday 1st July 2024

KEY SPECIES

Here are just a few of the key species we will be targetting on this tour:

  • Red-winged Tinamou
  • Southern Screamer
  • Greater Rhea
  • Sungrebe
  • Sunbittern
  • Maguari Stork
  • Chestnut-bellied Guan
  • Harpy Eagle
  • Red-legged Seriema
  • Pheasant Cuckoo
  • Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl
  • Nacunda Nighthawk
  • Great Potoo
  • Long-tailed Ground-Dove
  • Lettered Aracari
  • Gould's Toucanet
  • Blue-cheeked Jacamar
  • Bronzy Jacamar
  • White Woodpecker
  • Pompadour Cotinga
  • White-eared Puffbird
  • Caatinga Puffbird
  • Spotted Puffbird
  • Hyacinth Macaw
  • Golden-collared Macaw
  • Blue-winged Macaw 
  • Horned Sungem
  • Point-tailed Palmcreeper
  • Great Rufous Woodcreeper
  • Red-billed Scythebill
  • Chapada Flycatcher 
  • Collared Crescentchest
  • Amazonian Umbrellabird
  • Curl-crested Jay
  • Helmeted Manakin
  • Band-tailed Manakin
  • Red-crested Cardinal
  • Cone-billed Tanager
  • Shrike-like Tanager
  • Orange-backed Troupial
  • Jaguar
  • Giant Anteater
  • Giant River Otter
  • Brazilian Tapir
Brown Jacamar
Brown Jacamar

Leaders: Miguel Castalino & Zoothera leader 

Ground Price: £4550.00 - Cuiaba/Cuiaba

Airfare: £850.00 - £1050.00(Approx) - UK/UK

Single supplement: £800.00

Deposit: £500.00

Group size: Minimum group size 6, Maximum of 10

Included in cost: Accommodation in twin rooms en-suite, ground transport throughout, boat trip at Rio Pixaim, full day boat trip from Porto Jofre, boat trip at Rio Claro River, all entrance fees to national parks and nature reserves, night drive in truck for mammals, bottled water, transfers, all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 13 and services of leaders.

Not included: International airfare, insurance, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.

Accommodation: All lodges are of a good standard and offer en-suite rooms. 

Tour Code: This tour is a standard birding tours with regular birding walks along roads and well marked trails. There are early morning options and pre-breakfast excursions, followed by morning and afternoon sessions. We have 3 boat trips on 3 different rivers during the main tour including one specifically in search of Jaguar. The weather is generally good to warm, mostly hot, with low possibilities of rain in the afternoons. Be prepared for all eventualities!