Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN CUIABÁ

We start off our Mato Grosso birding tour at Marechal Rondon International Airport (CGB) in Cuiabá. From there we will transfer to our hotel. There will be time to check in and relax before a short orientation and our first dinner together.

DAY 2: CUIABÁ TO PORTO JOFRE

After our breakfast at the hotel, we will start our day on our way to the Pantanal. We will drive through the Transpantaneira throughout the day exploring the exuberant wildlife. Among the birds we hope to find are Greater Rhea, Southern Screamer, Jabiru, Plumbeous Ibis, and Unicolored Blackbird. The Pantanal is also an excellent place to find some iconic Neotropical mammals such as Capybara, Crab-eating Fox, and Collared Peccary. 

DAYS 3 & 4: PORTO JOFRE

Porto Jofre has one of the highest jaguar densities in all of Latin America, with around eight individuals per square 100 kms. Nowadays it is known as one of the best places to photograph Jaguars in the world. To increase our chances of spotting and photographing the largest wild cat in the Neotropics, we will embark on two full days of boat rides. We also expect to find other wildlife such as Giant Otter, Southern River Otter, Lowland Tapir, Capybara, and Black and Spectacled caimans, as well as avian gems including Large-billed Tern, Sunbittern, Capped Heron, Black-backed Water-Tyrant, Black Skimmer, and White-throated Piping-Guan.

DAY 5: PORTO JOFRE TO PIUVAL LODGE

After breakfast at our hotel, we will transfer to Piuval Lodge, stopping along the way and looking for new species for our list. Just as we leave the hotel we will explore the forest that borders the road by species such as Band-tailed Manakin, Large-billed Antwren, and Plain Tyrannulet among many more. Already in the open area we will look Maguari Stork, Nanday Parakeet, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Chotoy Spinetail, and others.

DAY 6: PIUVAL LODGE

This old farm offers many trails and photographic safaris that crosses a variety of Pantanal environment allowing great chances for nice birds. We will seek out some species such as White-fronted Woodpecker, Guira Cuckoo, Pied Lapwing, Red-legged Seriema, Purplish Jay, Helmeted Manakin, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, and Campo Flicker, to name a few. Furthermore, like throughout the Pantanal, there are plenty of opportunities to see other fascinating mammals, and with a lot of luck, a Giant Anteater.

DAY 7: CHAPADA DOS GUIMARÃES

We will take advantage of our last morning at Piuval Lodge, and then start our way to the Brazilian cerrado in Chapada dos Guimarães. This afternoon, we will take advantage of the day to make a visit to the Bridal’s Veil Waterfall. Apart from the stunning beauty of the falls themselves, we will also have good chances to see and photograph some lovely bird species including Red-and-green Macaw, Blue-winged Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Blue Dacnis, and Swallow Tanager, among many others. 

DAY 8: CIDADE DAS PEDRAS

This morning we will visit Cidade das Pedras in the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, where we will take in the superb views from the plateau. Then, we will do some birding along the Vale do Jamacá looking for Band-tailed Manakin, Lettered Aracari, and Pale-crested Woodpecker, to name a few.

DAY 9: TRANSFER TO CUIABÁ & DEPARTURE

After our breakfast at the lodge we will pack our belongings and start our way back to Cuiaba to the Marechal Rondon International Airport, to catch our return/onward flights. Our Pantanal & Chapada Dos Guimarães tour ends in Cuiabá.