Day 1: Arrive at Cuiaba - Marechal Rondon International Airport

The tour begins in Cuiaba. International flights to Sao Paulo are typically overnight, arriving in the early morning. Several flights from Sao Paulo to Cuiaba are scheduled each day. We recommend the 2:55 pm flight on Gol Airlines to allow for flight delays on the international flight. The tour begins in Cuiaba. Night in Mato Grosso/Cuiaba.

Day 2-3: Chapada do Guimaraes National Park

Depart early for the 1½ hour drive to the arid canyon lands of Chapado dos Guimaraes. Upon arrival bird the arid cerrado (savanna) around the canyon rim. Notable birds likely there include White-eared Puffbird, Chapada Flycatcher, Curl-crested Jay, White-banded Tanager, White-rumped Tanager, Coal-crested Finch, and Black-throated Saltator. Also, try for the difficult but possible Collared Crescentchest. The lovely Horned Sungem may be present if suitable plants are flowering. As it becomes hotter, bird the trail leading down the canyon and into the gallery forest. Possibilities there are quite different and include Black-fronted Nunbird, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Band-tailed Manakin, Moustached Wren, and Saffron-billed Sparrow. During the day soaring birds such as King Vulture, Gray-headed Kite, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, and White Hawk. A late afternoon visit to the cliffs above the waterfall is likely to reveal Blue-winged Macaw and Red-and-green Macaw. Nights at Pousada do Parque.

Day 4: Birding and back to Cuiaba - Pantanal

A morning boat transfer back to Alta Floresta with some birding en route. Early afternoon flight to Cuiaba followed by land transfer to the start of the Pantanal Highway, referred to locally as the Transpantaneira. Night at Pousada Piuval.

Day 5: Full-day birding at Piuval

Today we will have a Full day birding this section of the Pantanal. The rivers. wetlands, flooded pastures, gallery forest, and open scrub are home to astonishing numbers of birds. On everyone, list of most wanted birds is the beautiful blue Hyacinth Macaw, seen in this area every day. The open cerrado is home to Greater Rhea and Red-legged Seriema. Other possibilities include Southern Screamer, Maguari Stork, Jabiru, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Large-billed Antwren, Mato Grosso Antbird, Rufous Cacholote, White-lored Spinetail, the stunning Helmeted Manakin, and Red-crested Cardinal. At sunset, Nacunda Nighthawks commonly appear. Night at Pousada Piuval.

Day 6: Birding to Pixaim River

Morning birding an area near the lodge looking for Long-tailed Ground-Dove, Yellow-collared Macaw, Chotoy Spinetail, Suiriri Flycatcher, Rusty-collared Seedeater, and Scarlet-headed Blackbird. After lunch, drive farther into the Pantanal, birding en route. After arrival at the lodge along the Pixaim River, an Afternoon boat trip along the Pixaim River where possibilities include Blue-throated Piping-Guan, Boat-billed Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Sungrebe, and the rare Agami Heron. Dusk brings out Nacunda Nighthawks and the more numerous Band-tailed Nighthawks. Night at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge.

Day 7: Birding Pixaim area

Early morning will be spent birding the dry forest near the lodge. Birding is easy along flat trails through open woodland. Possibilities include Tataupa Tinamou, White-wedged Piculet, Golden-green Woodpecker, Pale-crested Woodpecker, Band-tailed Antbird, Red-billed Scythebill, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Fuscous Flycatcher, Rufous Casiornis, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Purplish Jay, and Masked Gnatcatcher. Open brushland around the lodge offers additional species such as Variable Oriole, Pileated Finch, and Orange-backed Troupial. Feeders around the lodge attract Chestnut-eared Aracari, Yellow-billed Cardinal, Silver-beaked Tanager, Grayish Saltator, and Grayish Baywing. After lunch another boat trip along the Pixaim River. Night at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge.

Day 8: Transpantaneira road to Porto Jofre/Cuiaba River

After breakfast drive south along the Transpantaneira with birding stops en route. Large numbers of caimans densely congregate around permanent pools as temporary ponds in the Pantanal dry up. Numerous water birds including herons, egrets, Jabirus, Wood Storks, four species of ibis, and five species of kingfishers along with raptors, parrots, and macaws are everywhere. Arrive at Porto Jofre, marking the end of the Transpantaneira, by lunch. Porto Jofre is a fishing town on the Cuiaba River. That afternoon we will be cruising the river by motorboat looking for our main target species, the Jaguar. Numerous boats are on the river searching for jaguars and are all in radio contact. When a Jaguar is spotted, everyone is alerted and descends upon the spot in hopes this magnificent mammal will still be there. The chances of seeing one or more of these magnificent animals during our stay are very high. Night at Pousada Porto Jofre.

Day 9: Jaguar Searching

Jaguar is the main target here, and we’ll spend the day cruising various rivers in a fast motorboat looking for this magnificent animal. Our boatmen are in radio contact, so if there is a jaguar seen we can head for the location, often at high speed! Jaguars here are not very shy and will often stay in view for extended periods. We will not ignore other birds and wildlife during our search, but Jaguar does take priority over everything. Some birds we may see from the boat include Sungrebe, Pied Lapwing, Yellow-billed and Large-billed Terns, Black Skimmer, Greater Ani, Anhinga, Great Black Hawk, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, and more. Families of Giant Otters are fairly common, and it is not too unusual to see a Tapir. Night in Porto Jofre

Day 10: Jaguar Searching and Birding Drive to Rio Claro

The plan for the morning will depend largely on how well we did with Jaguars during the previous outings. If we are still trying for a better view of Jaguar, we will spend most of the morning cruising the rivers, and leave the hotel after an early lunch. If we had great Jaguar sightings, We might start our birding along Transpantaneira. Night in Rio Claro Lodge

Day 11: Birding & Drive to Cuiaba

Today we will be spending the morning birding the lodge grounds. Chestnut-bellied Guan and Razor-billed Curassow often appear during the early morning. Several species of parrots including the scarce Black-hooded Parrot are usually also present. Birding the wooded entrance road may produce Undulated Tinamou, Pale-crested Woodpecker, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, and Planalto Woodcreeper. After lunch, transfer to Cuiaba for a late afternoon flight back to Sao Paulo. The tour ends at the airport in Cuiaba. Most international flights from Sao Paulo depart late at night. If desired, we can arrange for an overnight stay in Sao Paulo if your international flight is the next morning.

Have a wonderful birding time in Brazil!