Birding Brazil 2024 (1 Viewer)

[bonxie birder]

Naturetrek’s new brochure has just come out and so it’s got me I’m looking forward to summer 2024 and in particular a trip to Brazil. Looking at three destinations; Iguazu falls, Pantanal and the Amazon. I wanting to do this independently with my wife, so it won’t be roughing it, but will be looking for guide help along the way. I believe Iguazu will take care of itself. As for the Pantanal, many questions.

1. Can it be done independently?
2. Best airport?
3. Do we need to hire a car? (don’t have a problem with that)
4. Should we stay in more than one location?
5. Do most lodges do boat trips?
5. Should we get a guide?
6. Will we see a jaguar? (My wife demands it)

Then for the Amazon, same sort of questions, but where would be best to stay? I‘m sure I’ll need a guide preferably with transport?

We’ve been to Ecuador and Costa Rica so have some, but limited, experience of neotropic birding. My targets are primarily families, Rheas, screamers, sunbittern, hoatzin, seriemas, antthrushes, gnateaters, crescentchests?, donacobius, mitrospingids.

Frankly any advice will be welcome.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[temmie]

Never been in the Pantanal , but:
1. yes. Quite easily, at least if you arrange #3
2. Cuiaba. Reserve a couple of days for Chapada dos Guimaraes North of Cuiaba for a different set of birds / landscape.
3. preferably yes, see #1
4. yes, as this way you will have access to more habitats and have a chance to see more wildlife. Just two places that I have read about: Pousada Piuval and Aymara lodge. Some lodges bait wildlife (there have been many Ocelot pictures in my FB feed lately, it seems to be almost guaranteed, at least for the last could of weeks / months). A quick search for Ocelot produced Fazenda Santa Tereas aka Southwild Pantanal lodge (a few K West of Pixaim / the Transpantaneira) as one of those (or the only? no idea) lodges: SouthWIld Pantanal Lodge
5. Many lodges offer excursions, but I have no idea about the level of guiding and how many compromises you have to make with regards to birding vs. e.g. mammal watching, if you are in a vehicle / boat with other passengers. I would ask the lodges what they can offer in terms of bespoke guiding excursions.
6. Yes, guaranteed, if taking a boat from Porto Jofre.

 

[bonxie birder]

Thank you Temmie. I’m really worried about getting accommodation. Looking ahead the best places seem to be booked up for all next year. I guess the tour companies book them all up in bulk

 

[fbeeldens]

Thank you Temmie. I’m really worried about getting accommodation. Looking ahead the best places seem to be booked up for all next year. I guess the tour companies book them all up in bulk

Hi there,

just back from the Pantanal. Piuval and Aymara are nice (and Aymara has some nice trails). Pantanal is very popular (and not just with birding tour companies) places were already filling up for 2025 apparently ... :-/

Let me know if you' d like some more details on Aymara Lodge or bird observations in Pantanal in general. other place we stayed at was Pouso Alegre (basic, but good for mammals).

KR,

filip

 

[simmojunior]

See my recent trip report: Independent Brazil August 2022: Chapada, Pantanal, Pompeu, Canastra & Campos do Jordao

There are no Antthrushes in the Pantanal. Crescentchest at Chapada dos Guimaraes, easily done with the Pantanal. Your other targets are easy though we missed Sunbittern (didn't try too hard).

My recommendation would be to add another night at Piuval and another night at SouthWild or another lodge like Aymara. Pouso Alegre had best roadside birding.
The answers to your question:

1. Yes. See my report. The only issue is the nicest hotel in Porto Jofre is guided trips only. Santa Rosa Lodge could be a good compromise.
2. Cuiaba.
3. Yes
4. Yes. We did SouthWild, Porto Jofre and Piuval.
5. Yes. Piuval also does safaris.
5. This is not necessary. The boat drivers know where key mammals are and waterbirds are common. I think not having a guide cost us only Black-bellied Antwren. A guide may be useful at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
6. Yes. Very easily found at Porto Jofre August - October.

 

[bonxie birder]

Hi there,

just back from the Pantanal. Piuval and Aymara are nice (and Aymara has some nice trails). Pantanal is very popular (and not just with birding tour companies) places were already filling up for 2025 apparently ... :-/

Let me know if you' d like some more details on Aymara Lodge or bird observations in Pantanal in general. other place we stayed at was Pouso Alegre (basic, but good for mammals).

KR,

filip

Really helpful thank you

 

[bonxie birder]

Having looked into more throughly we have been unable to get accommodation for the Amazon and the pantanal with travel from the Uk for under £6000 each. Add on iqassu and we are up to £7000 each. Phenomenal prices.