Cheepers! Birding on a Budget LLC
BRAZIL! Just 4 spots remain!REGISTRATION CLOSES ON JUNE 30, 2010
October 2 - 17, 2010
Cerrado, Amazonia, Pantanal
16 Days/15 Nights $4790
Single supplement $500
Extension: October 17 - 24, 2010
Atlantic Forests
8 Days/7 Nights $2390
Single supplement $250
See all 4 biomes and SAVE!
October 2 - 24, 2010
23 Days/22 Nights $6880 Single supplement $750
Prices are for a group of 7-8; surcharge will apply for smaller groups.
Prices in US dollars will be adjusted if Brazil Reais:United States Dollars falls below 1.65:1 before payment date (Current conversion is 1.72:1)
BRAZIL'S BIRDIEST BIOMES!
Imagine visiting Brazil - a country with varied biomes, including tropical rain forests, massive wetlands, forested mountains, and broad savannas providing refuge to over 1750 species of birds. Brazil is the number one country in the world in bird endemism, with 232 endemics in 30 families!
Our Brazil tour is designed to cover the four "birdiest" biomes of Brazil - Cerrado, Amazonia, Pantanal, and Atlantic Forests. We have included lodging that, while not economical, affords us the best opportunities to see the most species during both the main tour and the extension. Our guide, native Brazilian Fabiano Oliveira, is an experienced biologist / naturalist with many years of experience guiding birders to the very best birding sites in his homeland.
Itinerary in a nutshell (Detailed itinerary follows)
Depending on airline schedules from your departure city, it is likely that you will need to depart on October 1 in order to arrive in Cuiaba on October 2. Please note that many tour companies count this day of travel as part of their tour.
Day 1 (October 02) Arrive Cuiabá, transfer to the town of Chapada dos Guimarães (Cerrado)
2 (Oct 03) Chapada dos Guimarães NP
3 (Oct 04) Chapada dos Guimarães NP
4 (Oct 05) Chapada to Jardim da Amazônia (transfer about 5 hours)
5 (Oct 06) Jardim da Amazônia (Cerrado-Amazon transition)
6 (Oct 07) Jardim da Amazônia
7 (Oct 08) Jardim da Amazônia -transfer to Cuiabá airport (about 4 hours), flight to Alta Floresta (2 hours)
8 (Oct 9) Cristalino Lodge (Amazonia)
9 (Oct 10) Cristalino Lodge
10 (Oct 11) Cristalino Lodge
11 (Oct 12) Cristalino Lodge, flight back to Cuiabá, transfer to Pantanal (Pouso Alegre)
12 (Oct 13) Pouso Alegre Farm
13 (Oct 14) Pouso Alegre Farm to Puma Lodge
14 (Oct 16) Puma Lodge to Pantanal Wildlife Center (Santa Teresa)
15 (Oct 16) Pantanal Wildlife Center
16 (Oct 17) Transfer from Pantanal Wildlife Center to Cuiabá airport for flight to Sao Paulo. Some birders will end their Brazilian adventure here and fly home. Those who choose to participate in the extension will travel to Ubatuba from Sao Paulo Airport . (4 hours)
17 (Oct 18) Ubatuba ( Lowland Atlantic Forest ) (4 hours)
18 (Oct 19) Ubatuba (day in Parati)
19 (Oct 20) Ubatuba to Itaiaia NP (mountainous Atlantic Forest) 4 hrs
20 (Oct 21) Itatiaia NP
21 (Oct 22) Itatiaia
22 (Oct 23) Itatiaia
23 (Oct 24) Itatiaia back to Sao Paulo for international departure
Fees include all lodging, meals, ground and water transportation within Brazil, expert birding guide, special jaguar boat trip
NOT included: international airfare, domestic airfare within Brazil (roundtrip Cuiaba-Alta Floresta), gratuities, items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry, alcoholic beverages, snacks, bottled water,etc.
Click here for more information on travel to Brazil from our guide:
Our Brazil tour is designed to cover the four "birdiest" biomes of Brazil - Cerrado, Amazonia, Pantanal, and Atlantic Forests. We have included lodging that, while not economical, affords us the best opportunities to see the most species during both the main tour and the extension. Our guide, native Brazilian Fabiano Oliveira, is an experienced biologist / naturalist with many years of experience guiding birders to the very best birding sites in his homeland.
Itinerary in a nutshell (Detailed itinerary follows)
Depending on airline schedules from your departure city, it is likely that you will need to depart on October 1 in order to arrive in Cuiaba on October 2. Please note that many tour companies count this day of travel as part of their tour.
Day 1 (October 02) Arrive Cuiabá, transfer to the town of Chapada dos Guimarães (Cerrado)
2 (Oct 03) Chapada dos Guimarães NP
3 (Oct 04) Chapada dos Guimarães NP
4 (Oct 05) Chapada to Jardim da Amazônia (transfer about 5 hours)
5 (Oct 06) Jardim da Amazônia (Cerrado-Amazon transition)
6 (Oct 07) Jardim da Amazônia
7 (Oct 08) Jardim da Amazônia -transfer to Cuiabá airport (about 4 hours), flight to Alta Floresta (2 hours)
8 (Oct 9) Cristalino Lodge (Amazonia)
9 (Oct 10) Cristalino Lodge
10 (Oct 11) Cristalino Lodge
11 (Oct 12) Cristalino Lodge, flight back to Cuiabá, transfer to Pantanal (Pouso Alegre)
12 (Oct 13) Pouso Alegre Farm
13 (Oct 14) Pouso Alegre Farm to Puma Lodge
14 (Oct 16) Puma Lodge to Pantanal Wildlife Center (Santa Teresa)
15 (Oct 16) Pantanal Wildlife Center
16 (Oct 17) Transfer from Pantanal Wildlife Center to Cuiabá airport for flight to Sao Paulo. Some birders will end their Brazilian adventure here and fly home. Those who choose to participate in the extension will travel to Ubatuba from Sao Paulo Airport . (4 hours)
17 (Oct 18) Ubatuba ( Lowland Atlantic Forest ) (4 hours)
18 (Oct 19) Ubatuba (day in Parati)
19 (Oct 20) Ubatuba to Itaiaia NP (mountainous Atlantic Forest) 4 hrs
20 (Oct 21) Itatiaia NP
21 (Oct 22) Itatiaia
22 (Oct 23) Itatiaia
23 (Oct 24) Itatiaia back to Sao Paulo for international departure
Fees include all lodging, meals, ground and water transportation within Brazil, expert birding guide, special jaguar boat trip
NOT included: international airfare, domestic airfare within Brazil (roundtrip Cuiaba-Alta Floresta), gratuities, items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry, alcoholic beverages, snacks, bottled water,etc.
Click here for more information on travel to Brazil from our guide:
| brazil_travelers_info.doc |
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAYS 1, 2, 3 - Chapada dos Guimarães NP and surroundings.
Arrive in Cuiabá, 1.5-hour transfer to Chapada dos Guimarães. Along the way to the town of Chapada we will cruise through the National Park with its stunning 1000-foot tall red sandstone cliffs. We will spend two and a half days birding in open Cerrado habitats and tall valley forests. Along the bird-rich Cerrado roads and trails we’ll look for Blue-winged Macaws (vulnerable), Greater Rhea, Red-legged Seriema, the Cerrado endemic Yellow-faced Parrot, Red-and-Green Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Cliff Flycatcher, Crested Black-Tyrant, Bat Falcon, Curl-crested Jays, Black-faced, White-rumped & White-banded Tanagers, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Rusty-backed Antwren, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Chapada Flycatcher (new species in 2001), Campos Flycatcher, Coal-crested Finch (near-threatened), White-eared Puffbird, Plumbeous Seedeater, Horned Sungem (rare), White-vented Violet-ear, Black-throated Saltator, Gray Monjita, and Yellow-billed Blue-Finch. The forests are also terrific for finding Planalto Tyrannulet, Planalto & Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, White-backed Fire-Eye, Band-tailed & Fiery-capped Manakins, Pectoral & Saffron-billed Sparrows, White-bellied Warbler, Tataupa Tinamou and many more. There are also chances for one of world’s most beautiful raptors, the Ornate Hawk-Eagle.
Overnight Days 1-3: Hotel Turismo
www.hotelturismo.com.br
DAYS 4,5,6 – Jardim da Amazonia (Amazon Garden) Lodge
We leave Chapada after breakfast on Day 4 to travel toward the Jardim da Amazonia (Amazon Garden) Lodge, a beautiful family-run Pousada located at the edge of the pristine Claro River. After passing acres of monoculture farmland of soy beans, cotton and sugar cane, we reach our comfortable lodge in the Cerrado-Amazon transition region. The birds are mostly “Amazonian”, mixed with some open country species. The forest itself is not as tall as typical Amazon. The Jardim da Amazonia offers excellent food and pleasant rooms with the added advantage of Point-tailed Palmcreepers on Moriche Palm fronds in front of our breakfast table. We will enjoy birding the trails and roads of the property for two and a half days. To gain access to more birding areas, we will do some traveing by boat. The area is very good for Black-girdled Barbet, Yellow-crowned Parrots, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, the Brazilian endemic Red-necked Aracari, Blue-necked and Yellow-backed Tanager, Black-faced Dacnis, Blue-cheeked Jacamar, White-collared and Flame-crowned Manakins, Blue-tufted Starthroat, Collared Trogon, Pompadour Cotinga, among many more. This is a relatively new place for birding, so every tour adds new birds for the lodge's list. The Jardim da Amazonia is becoming more famous, most notably due to the newly-located and most reliable population of the Cone-billed Tanager, a species rediscovered in 2004 after 68 years with no sightings. This is our chance to visit a top birding site before it is discovered by the masses!
Overnight Days 4 - 6: Pousada Jardim da Amazonia www.jdamazonia.com.br
Day 7, 8, 9, 10 – The Amazon sanctuary - Cristalino Jungle Lodge
After breakfast on Day 7, we will drive back to Cuiabá to catch our flight to Alta Floresta. We leave “Amazon edges” in the Amazon Garden to go to the core of the southern Amazon in Cristalino, a private reserve. This is in one of the best birding destinations in all of the Amazon, with a bird population of about 600 species. For three full days we will explore the beautiful Cristalino Region. A complex of 19 miles of trails wind through this sanctuary, providing unrivaled opportunities to see many regional (Southern Amazonian) endemics. Most of the trails are flat going through different habitats such as the typical very tall “terra firme” forest, the seasonally flooded “varzea” forests, and bamboo. The only trail with a change in elevation is the “Sierra Trail” that takes us to a unique and much drier habitat with a great view of the forest canopy. There we will climb a 150-foot tall tower, where birding will be breathtaking. We will take several short boat trips to explore the Cristalino River and islands of the Teles River. Along the trails we should see Noble Antthrush, Snow-capped Manakin, Dark-winged Trumpeter, Collared Puffbird, Crimson-crested Parakeet, Black-spotted Bare Eye, Bare-eyed Antbird, Xingu Striated Antwren, Emilia's Antbird, Dusky-tailed and Large-headed Flatbill, Amazonian Antshrike, Amazonian Antpitta, and the endemic Cryptic Forest Falcon, which was first scientifically described 2001. From the tower we can scan the near canopy for White-bellied, Red-fan and Kawall's Parrots, Spangled Cotinga, Curl-crested Aracari, White-browed Purpletuft, Brow-banded and Pied Puffbirds, Paradise Jacamar, White-browed Hawk, and Harpy and Crested Eagles.
Overnight Days 7 - 10: Cristalino Lodge, standard rooms www.cristalinolodge.com.br
DAYS 11,12,13 Pantanal – Pouso Alegre Farm
On Day 11 we will fly back to Cuiabá and from there drive three hours south to the Pantanal. We should arrive at the beautiful 10,000 ha Pouso Alegre Farm by dinner time. For the next two days we will explore this beautiful farm that has 20 of the world largest Macaws, the Hyacinths, nesting just outside our rooms. Pantanal day lists are very extensive with at least 110 species expected to be seen daily. Birding from trails and vehicles, we should expect to see hundreds of Pantanal species, including Buff-necked and Plumbeous Ibis, Whistling Heron, Toco Toucan, Jabirus and Wood Storks, Golden-collared Macaw, Blue-crowned, Monk & Golden-chevroned Parakeets, Turquoise-fronted & Orange-winged Parrots, Black-fronted Nunbird, Undulated Tinamou, Chaco Chachalaca, the Brazilian endemics Chestnut-bellied Guan and Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Savanna, Black-collared & Great Black Hawks, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Red-crested Finch, and Lineated Wodpecker, just to name a few. At night our drives might produce Common and Great Potoo, Great Horned and Mottled Owl, Pauraques and some mammals too, including good chances for the Brazilian Tapir and Giant Anteater.
Overnight Days 11 - 12: Pouso Alegre
www.pousalegre.com.br
DAYS 13,14 To Puma Lodge – Boat trip looking for the Jaguar
After lunch on day 13 we leave Pouso Alegre and drive approximately 70 km to Puma Lodge. Puma Lodge is quite close to the Fields of Jofre, an area that retains water longer than surrounding areas, so its very good for water birds like Maguari Storks, Southern Screamer, Black-bellied and White-faced Whistling Ducks, South American Snipes, Little Cuckoo, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail and many more. On day 14, we switch the main focus of the trip for a short time to search by boat for jaguar along the banks of the Cuiabá River and its tributaries. Our guide estimates that we have a 50% chance of spotting one of these elusive cats, a probability that is higher than just about anywhere on Earth. Black Skimmers, Large and Yellow-billed Terns, Collared and Pied Plovers, Red-throated and Blue-throated Piping Guan and Bare-faced Curassow will eventually interrupt our searching for the cat, but they are welcome.
Overnight Day 13: Puma Lodge
www.pumalodge.com.br
DAYS 14,15,16 - Pantanal Wildlife Center
On the evening of Day 14, we will drive toward the Pantanal Wildlife Center, spotlighting as we go. The Pantanal Wildlife Center (PWC) is located at the edge of the Pixaim River. One of the best forest trails of the whole Pantanal is located here. Helmeted Manakin, Green-backed Becard, Mato Grosso Antbird, White-lored & Chotoy Spinetail, Gilded Saphire, White–tailed Goldenthroat, Red-billed Scythebill, Cream-colored and Pale-crested Woodpeckers, Black-hooded Parakeets and many more could be found on our last day in the Pantanal. Here, the very calm Pixaim River gives us the opportunity to look for the Agami Heron, Green-and-rufous and Pigmy King Fishers and the sunny duo: Sunbittern and Sungrebe. There’s also a nice tower placed in front of a Jabiru Stork nest.
Overnight Days 14 - 15: Pantanal Wildlife Center www.panatanalwildlifecenter.com
DAY 16 - Travel to Cuiabá for flight to Sao Paulo - end of the tour or extension to Atlantic Forest.
Atlantic Forest Extension:
This is the 4th Biome of this tour, where most of the Brazilian endemic species can be found. Brazil is the number one country in bird endemism, with 234 endemics!
DAYS 16,17,18, 19 - Ubatuba – Lowland Atlantic Forest
We will arrive in Sao Paulo on Day 16 and transfer to Ubatuba, located on the very green northern coast of the state of Sao Paulo. Ubatuba is well known for beautiful scenery where preserved Atlantic Forest covers the mountains and comes right down almost to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. We have two and a half days to bird for the lowland Atlantic forest specialties. We’ll bird near the town on trails and forested roads and among bird-rich Cocoa plantations. Among our targets are the Saw-billed Hermit, Black-hooded Antwren, Slaty Bristlefront, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Long-billed Wren, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Festive Coquette, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Tufted Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Red-eyed Thornbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Pin-tailed Manakin, Brazilian and Red-necked Tanager, Spotted Bamboo Wren and Kinglet Kalyptura (aka the phantom). One day we’ll drive about an hour to go to the colonial town of Parati in the state of Rio de Janeiro to search for the highly localized Black-hooded Antwren.
Overnight Days 16 - 18: Hotel Solar das Águas Cantantes www.solardasaguascantantes.com.br
DAYS 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 – Itatiaia National Park
On the afternoon of Day 19, we move toward Itatiaia NP, the first national park created in Brazil in 1937. Our lodging will be in a comfortable hotel located inside the park, surrounded by Atlantic Forest. During the day hummingbirds, toucanets, tanagers and woodpeckers visit the feeders on the verandas of the hotel. We will enjoy three full days exploring the trails and roads around the Hotel Ypê, at altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 4,600 feet. We hope to observe Atlantic Forest specialities such as Black Jacobin, Rufous-capped Motmot, Tawny-browed Owl, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Scaled Woodcreeper, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pallid Spinetail, Bertoni's Antbird, Ferruginous Antbird, Star-throated Antwren, Brazilian Ruby, Rufous Gnateater, Cryptic Anthrush, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Point-tailed Palm-creeper, Blue Manakin, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Giant Antshrike (difficult), Gray-hooded Attila, Green-headed Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and many others. On one of our days in Itatiaia NP we will go to Agulhas Negras (Black needles) Road in the higher reaches of the park at altitudes of up to 8,000 ft. Here we will see endemic birds which are not normally found in the lower park, such as Purple-breasted Plovercrest, Itatiaia Spinetail, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Brown-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Shear-tailed Gray-Tyrant, Red-rumped Warbling-Finch and others.
Overnight Days 19 - 22: Hotel Ype
www.hoteldoype.com.br
DAY 23 - Transfer to Sao Paulo for international departure
Lodging is subject to change. To better serve all clients, Cheepers! reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of any group.
Terms and Conditions
~ Reservations for this tour require a deposit of $600.00 for Part 1, $300 for part 2, or $800 for the combined trip. Payment in full is due by July 1, 2010. ~ All cancellations must be notified in writing.
~ If notice of cancellation is received before March 1, 2010, your deposit is fully refundable less a 15% service charge.
~ If notice of cancellation is received between March 1 and May 1, 50% of your deposit will be refunded less a 15% service charge.
~ Cancellations received after May 1 will not be entitled to any refund of deposits.
~ If cancellation occurs after full payment is made, a refund will be given only if the vacant spot is filled.
Trip Cancellation Insurance is strongly recommended.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO ACCESS REGISTRATION FORM
DAYS 1, 2, 3 - Chapada dos Guimarães NP and surroundings.
Arrive in Cuiabá, 1.5-hour transfer to Chapada dos Guimarães. Along the way to the town of Chapada we will cruise through the National Park with its stunning 1000-foot tall red sandstone cliffs. We will spend two and a half days birding in open Cerrado habitats and tall valley forests. Along the bird-rich Cerrado roads and trails we’ll look for Blue-winged Macaws (vulnerable), Greater Rhea, Red-legged Seriema, the Cerrado endemic Yellow-faced Parrot, Red-and-Green Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Cliff Flycatcher, Crested Black-Tyrant, Bat Falcon, Curl-crested Jays, Black-faced, White-rumped & White-banded Tanagers, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Rusty-backed Antwren, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Chapada Flycatcher (new species in 2001), Campos Flycatcher, Coal-crested Finch (near-threatened), White-eared Puffbird, Plumbeous Seedeater, Horned Sungem (rare), White-vented Violet-ear, Black-throated Saltator, Gray Monjita, and Yellow-billed Blue-Finch. The forests are also terrific for finding Planalto Tyrannulet, Planalto & Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, White-backed Fire-Eye, Band-tailed & Fiery-capped Manakins, Pectoral & Saffron-billed Sparrows, White-bellied Warbler, Tataupa Tinamou and many more. There are also chances for one of world’s most beautiful raptors, the Ornate Hawk-Eagle.
Overnight Days 1-3: Hotel Turismo
www.hotelturismo.com.br
DAYS 4,5,6 – Jardim da Amazonia (Amazon Garden) Lodge
We leave Chapada after breakfast on Day 4 to travel toward the Jardim da Amazonia (Amazon Garden) Lodge, a beautiful family-run Pousada located at the edge of the pristine Claro River. After passing acres of monoculture farmland of soy beans, cotton and sugar cane, we reach our comfortable lodge in the Cerrado-Amazon transition region. The birds are mostly “Amazonian”, mixed with some open country species. The forest itself is not as tall as typical Amazon. The Jardim da Amazonia offers excellent food and pleasant rooms with the added advantage of Point-tailed Palmcreepers on Moriche Palm fronds in front of our breakfast table. We will enjoy birding the trails and roads of the property for two and a half days. To gain access to more birding areas, we will do some traveing by boat. The area is very good for Black-girdled Barbet, Yellow-crowned Parrots, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, the Brazilian endemic Red-necked Aracari, Blue-necked and Yellow-backed Tanager, Black-faced Dacnis, Blue-cheeked Jacamar, White-collared and Flame-crowned Manakins, Blue-tufted Starthroat, Collared Trogon, Pompadour Cotinga, among many more. This is a relatively new place for birding, so every tour adds new birds for the lodge's list. The Jardim da Amazonia is becoming more famous, most notably due to the newly-located and most reliable population of the Cone-billed Tanager, a species rediscovered in 2004 after 68 years with no sightings. This is our chance to visit a top birding site before it is discovered by the masses!
Overnight Days 4 - 6: Pousada Jardim da Amazonia www.jdamazonia.com.br
Day 7, 8, 9, 10 – The Amazon sanctuary - Cristalino Jungle Lodge
After breakfast on Day 7, we will drive back to Cuiabá to catch our flight to Alta Floresta. We leave “Amazon edges” in the Amazon Garden to go to the core of the southern Amazon in Cristalino, a private reserve. This is in one of the best birding destinations in all of the Amazon, with a bird population of about 600 species. For three full days we will explore the beautiful Cristalino Region. A complex of 19 miles of trails wind through this sanctuary, providing unrivaled opportunities to see many regional (Southern Amazonian) endemics. Most of the trails are flat going through different habitats such as the typical very tall “terra firme” forest, the seasonally flooded “varzea” forests, and bamboo. The only trail with a change in elevation is the “Sierra Trail” that takes us to a unique and much drier habitat with a great view of the forest canopy. There we will climb a 150-foot tall tower, where birding will be breathtaking. We will take several short boat trips to explore the Cristalino River and islands of the Teles River. Along the trails we should see Noble Antthrush, Snow-capped Manakin, Dark-winged Trumpeter, Collared Puffbird, Crimson-crested Parakeet, Black-spotted Bare Eye, Bare-eyed Antbird, Xingu Striated Antwren, Emilia's Antbird, Dusky-tailed and Large-headed Flatbill, Amazonian Antshrike, Amazonian Antpitta, and the endemic Cryptic Forest Falcon, which was first scientifically described 2001. From the tower we can scan the near canopy for White-bellied, Red-fan and Kawall's Parrots, Spangled Cotinga, Curl-crested Aracari, White-browed Purpletuft, Brow-banded and Pied Puffbirds, Paradise Jacamar, White-browed Hawk, and Harpy and Crested Eagles.
Overnight Days 7 - 10: Cristalino Lodge, standard rooms www.cristalinolodge.com.br
DAYS 11,12,13 Pantanal – Pouso Alegre Farm
On Day 11 we will fly back to Cuiabá and from there drive three hours south to the Pantanal. We should arrive at the beautiful 10,000 ha Pouso Alegre Farm by dinner time. For the next two days we will explore this beautiful farm that has 20 of the world largest Macaws, the Hyacinths, nesting just outside our rooms. Pantanal day lists are very extensive with at least 110 species expected to be seen daily. Birding from trails and vehicles, we should expect to see hundreds of Pantanal species, including Buff-necked and Plumbeous Ibis, Whistling Heron, Toco Toucan, Jabirus and Wood Storks, Golden-collared Macaw, Blue-crowned, Monk & Golden-chevroned Parakeets, Turquoise-fronted & Orange-winged Parrots, Black-fronted Nunbird, Undulated Tinamou, Chaco Chachalaca, the Brazilian endemics Chestnut-bellied Guan and Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Savanna, Black-collared & Great Black Hawks, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Red-crested Finch, and Lineated Wodpecker, just to name a few. At night our drives might produce Common and Great Potoo, Great Horned and Mottled Owl, Pauraques and some mammals too, including good chances for the Brazilian Tapir and Giant Anteater.
Overnight Days 11 - 12: Pouso Alegre
www.pousalegre.com.br
DAYS 13,14 To Puma Lodge – Boat trip looking for the Jaguar
After lunch on day 13 we leave Pouso Alegre and drive approximately 70 km to Puma Lodge. Puma Lodge is quite close to the Fields of Jofre, an area that retains water longer than surrounding areas, so its very good for water birds like Maguari Storks, Southern Screamer, Black-bellied and White-faced Whistling Ducks, South American Snipes, Little Cuckoo, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail and many more. On day 14, we switch the main focus of the trip for a short time to search by boat for jaguar along the banks of the Cuiabá River and its tributaries. Our guide estimates that we have a 50% chance of spotting one of these elusive cats, a probability that is higher than just about anywhere on Earth. Black Skimmers, Large and Yellow-billed Terns, Collared and Pied Plovers, Red-throated and Blue-throated Piping Guan and Bare-faced Curassow will eventually interrupt our searching for the cat, but they are welcome.
Overnight Day 13: Puma Lodge
www.pumalodge.com.br
DAYS 14,15,16 - Pantanal Wildlife Center
On the evening of Day 14, we will drive toward the Pantanal Wildlife Center, spotlighting as we go. The Pantanal Wildlife Center (PWC) is located at the edge of the Pixaim River. One of the best forest trails of the whole Pantanal is located here. Helmeted Manakin, Green-backed Becard, Mato Grosso Antbird, White-lored & Chotoy Spinetail, Gilded Saphire, White–tailed Goldenthroat, Red-billed Scythebill, Cream-colored and Pale-crested Woodpeckers, Black-hooded Parakeets and many more could be found on our last day in the Pantanal. Here, the very calm Pixaim River gives us the opportunity to look for the Agami Heron, Green-and-rufous and Pigmy King Fishers and the sunny duo: Sunbittern and Sungrebe. There’s also a nice tower placed in front of a Jabiru Stork nest.
Overnight Days 14 - 15: Pantanal Wildlife Center www.panatanalwildlifecenter.com
DAY 16 - Travel to Cuiabá for flight to Sao Paulo - end of the tour or extension to Atlantic Forest.
Atlantic Forest Extension:
This is the 4th Biome of this tour, where most of the Brazilian endemic species can be found. Brazil is the number one country in bird endemism, with 234 endemics!
DAYS 16,17,18, 19 - Ubatuba – Lowland Atlantic Forest
We will arrive in Sao Paulo on Day 16 and transfer to Ubatuba, located on the very green northern coast of the state of Sao Paulo. Ubatuba is well known for beautiful scenery where preserved Atlantic Forest covers the mountains and comes right down almost to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. We have two and a half days to bird for the lowland Atlantic forest specialties. We’ll bird near the town on trails and forested roads and among bird-rich Cocoa plantations. Among our targets are the Saw-billed Hermit, Black-hooded Antwren, Slaty Bristlefront, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Long-billed Wren, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Festive Coquette, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Tufted Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Red-eyed Thornbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Pin-tailed Manakin, Brazilian and Red-necked Tanager, Spotted Bamboo Wren and Kinglet Kalyptura (aka the phantom). One day we’ll drive about an hour to go to the colonial town of Parati in the state of Rio de Janeiro to search for the highly localized Black-hooded Antwren.
Overnight Days 16 - 18: Hotel Solar das Águas Cantantes www.solardasaguascantantes.com.br
DAYS 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 – Itatiaia National Park
On the afternoon of Day 19, we move toward Itatiaia NP, the first national park created in Brazil in 1937. Our lodging will be in a comfortable hotel located inside the park, surrounded by Atlantic Forest. During the day hummingbirds, toucanets, tanagers and woodpeckers visit the feeders on the verandas of the hotel. We will enjoy three full days exploring the trails and roads around the Hotel Ypê, at altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 4,600 feet. We hope to observe Atlantic Forest specialities such as Black Jacobin, Rufous-capped Motmot, Tawny-browed Owl, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Scaled Woodcreeper, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pallid Spinetail, Bertoni's Antbird, Ferruginous Antbird, Star-throated Antwren, Brazilian Ruby, Rufous Gnateater, Cryptic Anthrush, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Point-tailed Palm-creeper, Blue Manakin, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Giant Antshrike (difficult), Gray-hooded Attila, Green-headed Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and many others. On one of our days in Itatiaia NP we will go to Agulhas Negras (Black needles) Road in the higher reaches of the park at altitudes of up to 8,000 ft. Here we will see endemic birds which are not normally found in the lower park, such as Purple-breasted Plovercrest, Itatiaia Spinetail, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Brown-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Shear-tailed Gray-Tyrant, Red-rumped Warbling-Finch and others.
Overnight Days 19 - 22: Hotel Ype
www.hoteldoype.com.br
DAY 23 - Transfer to Sao Paulo for international departure
Lodging is subject to change. To better serve all clients, Cheepers! reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of any group.
Terms and Conditions
~ Reservations for this tour require a deposit of $600.00 for Part 1, $300 for part 2, or $800 for the combined trip. Payment in full is due by July 1, 2010. ~ All cancellations must be notified in writing.
~ If notice of cancellation is received before March 1, 2010, your deposit is fully refundable less a 15% service charge.
~ If notice of cancellation is received between March 1 and May 1, 50% of your deposit will be refunded less a 15% service charge.
~ Cancellations received after May 1 will not be entitled to any refund of deposits.
~ If cancellation occurs after full payment is made, a refund will be given only if the vacant spot is filled.
Trip Cancellation Insurance is strongly recommended.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO ACCESS REGISTRATION FORM
| brazil_registration_form.docx |
