Join us on this fantastic birding adventure in the heart end of South America. Our wildlife adventure begins by exploring the world famous Pantanal, where we’ll spend time exploring its northern section, between Poconé and the Cuiabá River, to then move on to the Cerrado habitat in and around Chapada dos Guimarães.

The Pantanal is considered the easiest place to see and photograph a great variety of tropical animals in the Neotropics. The Pantanal is perhaps the only place on earth where one has reasonable chances to encounter Jaguars in the wild. While mammals are impressive, it is the amazing abundance of birds that gives Pantanal its fame. It is a destination for three major South American migratory routes. The shrinking of vast flooded areas in the beginning of the dry season, concentrate fish for waders such as Jabiru, Maguari and Wood storks, Great and Snowy egrets, numerous herons, five species of ibis and Roseate Spoonbill. Four species of kingfishers, Snail Kite, Black-collared and Roadside hawks and several other raptor species, many parrots, parakeets and macaws and an array of other interesting birds make from this a favorite destination for bird watchers the world over. The ease with which birds can be seen is equally a bonus for the experienced birder and first-time birding tour participant.

The Cerrado, or Campo Cerrado, corresponds to the arboreal savanna of other tropical continents. It spans over more than 2 million square kilometers (770,000 sp. Mi.), covering 23.5% of Brazil’s land area. This ecosystem dominates west-central Brazil, extending all the way south into Paraguay. Sparsely scattered low trees and bushes with twisted branches, thick grooved bark and leathery leaves shape this habitat. Reddish-colored termite nests are prominent on the trunks and they give shelter to nesting Campo Flicker and Peach-fronted Parakeet, who tunnel into their depths. The bird specialties here include Stripe-tailed Yellow-Finch, White-rumped and Shrike-like tanagers, Coal-crested Finch, Red-legged Seriema, Red-winged Tinamou, Yellow-faced Parrot, the secretive Collared Crescentchest and the endemic Rufous-winged Antshrike.

Chapada dos Guimarães: Tataupa Tinamou, Small-billed Tinamou, Bat Falcon, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Pheasant and Pavonine cuckoos, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Blue-winged Macaw, Blue-headed Parrot, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Band-tailed and Fiery-capped manakins, Southern Antpipit, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Chapada Flycatcher, Collared Crescentchest, Swallow Tanager, Shrike-like and White-rumped tanagers, Blue Finch, Coal-crested Finch, Red Pileated Finch, Black-throated Saltator and Pectoral Sparrow.

Pantanal: Red-winged Tinamou, Chestnut-bellied Guan, Agami Heron, Sunbittern, Sungrebe, Red-legged Seriema, Long-tailed Ground-Dove, Buff-bellied Hermit, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Blue-crowned Trogon, Pygmy Kingfisher, White Woodpecker, Blue-fronted Parrot, Hyacinth Macaw, Greater Thornbird, Grey-crested Cacholote, Forest Elaenia, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Mato Grosso Antbird and Orange-backed Troupial.

Jaguar, Maned Wolf, Ocelot, Hyacinth Macaw, Brazilian Tapir, Crab-eating Racoon, Red and Gray Brocket deers, Marsh Deer, Black-and-gold Howler-Monkey, Black-tailed Marmoset, Pantanal Cayman and Yellow Anaconda among many others.