Birding in Brazil's Pantanal Wetlands 5 days

Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle Torquata) © Bruno Maia

* Price per person in double occupancy
* Land only

The Pantanal is one of the best places on Earth for birdwatching. The official list counts for 467 bird species, but what makes this place especially attractive for birding is the high visibility and easy observations. All sorts of exotic birds display in an extraordinary natural environment replete with rich wildlife and fabulous landscapes. This amazing trip provides customized attendance for birders, supported by specialized leaders and experienced native guides, but also comfortable accommodations, well-coordinated operations and excellent food to complement a terrific birding tour in Pantanal.

BIRDWATCHING TRIP PROGRAM: several tours were carefully designed and will be scheduled according to the best time for birdwatching and wildlife viewing (early in the morning and late afternoon): Hiking/Walking in trails, forests and a great variety of habitats; Motorboat excursions (equipped with quiet electric trolling engines); Canoe explorations; Safaris on 4WD vehicle.

LODGING/ACCOMMODATION
RECANTO BARRA MANSA LODGE: the lodge’s philosophy is based on private tours, hospitality, customized attendance and great food. Located in very special and protected area, on the shores of the Negro River, Recanto Barra Mansa shelters fabulous birds and extraordinary wildlife like capybaras, caimans, howler monkeys, tapirs, peccaries, marsh and pampas deer, armadillos, giant anteater, giant otters, and even the puma and jaguar walking around; birdlife displays everywhere: storks, herons, egrets, ibis, hawks, kites, toucans, jabirus, kingfishers, macaws, parrots, parakeets, thrushes, lapwings, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, woodcreepers, cuckoos, ducks, owls, nightjars, flycatchers, seedeaters, antwrens, tanagers, spinetails, tyrants and much more.

What differentiates Barra Mansa from other Pantanal lodges:

1) Private tours – Barra Mansa offers customized private tours to each group of guests, so that you get to see what most interests you.

2) Native landowners – Barra Mansa is owned by the Rondon family, which originally settled in the Rio Negro river region of the Pantanal over 200 years ago. Family members run the pousada (lodge) and personally receive visitors whenever possible. You may even have a chance to meet the grandson of Marshall Rondon, who led President Theodore Roosevelt on a scientific expedition of the Amazon rainforest almost a hundred years ago.

3) Local bilingual guides - Barra Mansa has a team of highly qualified bilingual guides who are native to the region to lead bird-watching excursions and activities.

4) Flexibility & personal attention – Aiming to please, Barra Mansa has achieved top ratings among bird-watchers. Many return again to see more.

5) Environmental care & protection – Barra Mansa has been a pioneer in protecting the environment of the Pantanal and is a member of several environmental groups. It played a key role in getting approval of the law prohibiting commercial fishing on the Rio Negro.

6) Unique setting – Barra Mansa is uniquely situated at the meeting of the waters of the Rio Negro with the Castelo, one of the most important waterways of the Pantanal plain, where there is remarkable biodiversity, providing a complete experience of the varied habitats and wildlife of the Pantanal.


ITINERARY:(Land Only)

Day 01 (Campo Grande/MS – Recanto Barra Mansa Lodge/Pantanal)
Arrival at Campo Grande International Airport (please confirm flight number and arrival time). Our staff will be waiting to pick you up at the airport and start the trip to the Pantanal area, according to your transfer option’s choice.
Arrival at Recanto Barra Mansa Lodge. Short presentation of the facilities and general information before the first birding tour on the trip: a short walk around the five-lakes complex which surrounds the lodge to experience Pantanal‘s atmosphere and fantastic birdlife. Every evening your guide will join you for discussing and refresh the birds check list. Dinner. Overnight.
Key species: Hyacinth Macaw, Red-shouldered Macaw, Nanday Parakeet, Monk Parakeet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Jabiru, Southern Screamer, Buff-necked Ibis, Guira Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, White Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Rufous Hornero, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Sayaca Tanager, Yellow-billed and Red-crested Cardinals, Giant Cowbird, Southern Caracara, Southern Lapwing;

Day 02 (Recanto Barra Mansa/Pantanal):
Birding tours are scheduled according to the best times of the day: early morning and late afternoon. Leave for a motorboat excursion on the Negro River. Boats are equipped with silent electric trolling engines, which offer a perfect atmosphere for birding.
Key species: Bare-faced Curassow, Chaco Chachalaca, Red-throated Piping Guan, Ringed, Amazon, Green Green-and-rufous and Pigmy Kingfishers, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Anhinga, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Striated, Cocoi and Capped Herons, Greater Ani, Mato Grosso Antbird, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Silver-beaked Tanager, Campo Troupial, Green Ibis, Limpkin, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Pied Lapwing, Yellow-billed Tern, Black Skimmer;
Afternoon, we go birding walking through an exclusive trail covering a seasonally flooded area and non-flooded forests.
Key species: Red-and-green Macaw, Great Horned Owl, Squirrel Cuckoo, Blue-crowned Motmot, White-barred Piculet, Green-barred, Blond-crested and Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Palm Tanager, Crested Oropendola, Hook-billed and Plumbeous Kites, Laughing and Bat Falcons;

Day 03 (Recanto Barra Mansa/Pantanal):
Morning tour: a safari by 4WD vehicle. It will cover an extensive area of scenic lakes, typical vegetation and a great variety of habitats of the Pantanal wetlands.
Key species: Blue-and-yellow Macaw, White-eared Puffbird, Toco Toucan, Rusty-backed Antwren, Chotoy Spinetail, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Suiriri Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher, White-rumped Monjita, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Black-capped Donacobius, Capped Seedeater, Whistling Heron, White-faced and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Muscovy Duck, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Snail Kite, Black-collared Hawk, Red-legged Seriema;
In the afternoon we’ll get back to the river for a canoe exploration through some very special protected areas and lakes of the lodge.
Key species: Blue-fronted Parrot, White-eyed Parakeet, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Blue-crowned Trogon, Great Antshrike, Barred Antshrike, Roseate Spoonbill, Maguari Stork, Wood Stork, Wattled Jacana;

Day 04 (Recanto Barra Mansa/Pantanal):
We’ll leave for a longer hike during the morning, until a brackish water lake, searching for some migratory birds.
Key species: Least Grebe, Black-necked Stilt, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Plumbeous Ibis, Yellow-headed Caracara, Undulated Tinamou, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Rufous Casiornis, Great Egret;
Afternoon will be on a combined walk + 4WD vehicle tour, covering different areas and coming back only in the evening.
Key species: Grey-crested Cacholote, Sirystes, Black-crowned Tityra, Purplish Jay, Plush-crested Jay, Grayish Saltator, Chopi Blackbird, Shiny Cowbird, Spectacled Owl, Common Potoo, Nacunda Nighthawk, Pauraque, Scissor-tailed Nightjar,

Day 05 (Recanto Barra Mansa/Pantanal – Campo Grande/MS):
You’ll probably have time to enjoy one more bird tour early in the morning before your departure from Recanto Barra Mansa to Campo Grande Airport, according to your transfer option’s choice, in time for your flight back (please confirm flight number).

General Information

Capacity:	Minimum of 2 / Maximum of 12
Guide Language:	English. Other language upon request
Level:	Easy Level Program
Included:	Transfer in/out; Tours and meals mentioned in the description; English speaking guide
Not Included:	Medical expenses and hospitalization. Beverages. Any type of insurance. Drinks, tours not mentioned above, and extras expenses
Personal Gear:	T-shirts, cap, shorts, hiking shoes, jeans or tracksuit, swimsuit, sunscreen and mosquito repellent and binoculars.