Southern Brazil
Mammals and Birds of the Pantanal and Atlantic Forests

Sunday 25 September - Sunday 9 October 2011 (15 days)

From the fabulous Pantanal wetlands to the lush forested hills of south-east Brazil, we visit some of the best wildlife areas in South America, for some of the finest birdwatching in the world, and a superb array of mammals, from Giant Otters to Maned Wolves and even Jaguars! On our previous trips we have seen twenty one species of mammals, including eleven species of monkeys. At this time of the year the flowers and butterflies are also quite breathtaking.

download a report of one of our previous trips to Brazil Mention a wildlife trip to Brazil, and most people start imagining long journeys through the endless, continent-sized tracts of Amazonian rainforest in the northern part of this vast land. But Brazil is much more than the Amazon - to the south of the country can be found coastal mountains that rise above the forests and a huge inland swamp that many believe to be the world's finest wetland for birds, the renowned Pantanal.

First, we fly to Belo Horizonte and the inland forests. The Atlantic forest is considered one of the world's most endangered tropical forest ecosystems, a close second to Madagascar. We visit two of these areas, one where Maned Wolves are attracted to feed at night, and with a wonderful array of birdlife, and one famed for its number and variety of primates.

Located in the south of Brazil right on the border with Bolivia, the Pantanal astounds by its sheer size. At around 91,000 square kilometres, it becomes, seasonally, the largest wetland in the world. Habitats range from semi-deciduous and evergreen forests to palm woodlands and true Pantanal, the seasonally flooded grasslands with scattered clumps of "cerrado" scrub. This is the home of a vast array of birds, with wonders including the massive Jabiru stork, and the spectacular Hyacinth Macaw, as well as some impressive mammals, from Giant Otters to the rarely-seen Jaguar. Here we will spend the early mornings and late afternoons exploring in our air conditioned vehicle, on foot and in river boats. There is often time to relax in the middle of the day.

This year, we'll make two longer boat trips in the heart of the Pantanal especially to search for Jaguars!

Price: £ 4,595
Single supp.: £ 495
Deposit: £ 500 per person

The price includes scheduled return flights London/Sao Paulo, internal flights as described, airport taxes, ground transportation as outlined above, accommodation on a full-board basis, admissions, local taxes, tips and the services of the leaders.

The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to the local guides and drivers, and other personal expenses.

Brazil map

These will be our fourth and fifth visits to Brazil and the Pantanal. Previous tours have been highly successful with wonderful views of an Ocelot, Tapirs in abundance, Giant Otters, two Maned Wolves and several Muriqui, plus many more mammal species and a wonderful variety of exotic birds, butterflies and plants.

Accommodation will be in hotels and lodges, with en suite rooms throughout.

Principal Leader: Miguel Castelino

Numbers: Max. 14 clients

Outline Itinerary
Day 1We take an evening flight from London to Sao Paulo, arriving early on Day 2.
Day 2We connect with a morning flight to fly to Belo Horizonte. From here we drive to Ouro Preto where we stay in a well appointed hotel in the middle of the city. Overnight Ouro Preto
Day 3In the early morning we'll walk through the town. We'll then drive to the village of Caratinga. Overnight Caratinga
Days 4-5Each day we leave our hotel after an early breakfast to drive to the Caratinga National Park where we spend the day in search of the Muriqui, formerly known as the Woolly Spider Monkey. Two nights Caratinga
Days 6-7After breakfast we leave Caratinga to drive to Caraça Natural Park. Accommodation for the next two nights is at the newly completed rooms in a wing of the seminary building. In the evening, we'll join the priests when they go feeding the wild, elegant and very rare Maned Wolves that sometimes come to the sanctuary at night. Two nights Caraça
Day 8We drive back to Belo Horizonte for our flight to Cuiaba in the Mato Grosso, from where we head for the Pantanal. Overnight Pouço Alegre
Days 9-10We then head into the Pantanal proper. Late September is one of the best times to visit the area, when it is at its driest and most accessible. Giant River Otters can be found in the area, and we will take at least two boat trips in search of them. Two nights Pixaim, Pantanal
Days 11-12Next day we drive through the Pantanal, stopping at any pools which at this dry time of year are a magnet for birds. The Pantanal is a superb place to see a wide variety of neotropical mammals including possibly the mighty and secretive Jaguar: we will have two boat trips on and around the Cuiaba River especially to search for these elusive but superb forest predators. Two nights Porto Jofre, Pantanal
Day 13We return to the Pousada Pouço Alegre, on the edge of the Pantanal, where we stay for the final night. Overnight Pouço Alegre
Day 14After a final morning in the Panatanal, we drive back to Cuiaba from where we fly to Sao Paulo to connect with the international flight back home, arriving on Day 15.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary