And NEW Southern Atlantic Forest Pre-Tour Extension

Superb raptor watching in the heart of South America!

Mato Grosso, in central Brazil, is a top destination to any global hawkwatcher! Sought‑after species such as the Harpy Eagle—the most powerful raptor on the planet—and secretive jungle dwellers such as the White‑browed Hawk or the Cryptic Forest Falcon, along with many open habitat species are readily seen on this expedition to the heart of the Bird Continent.

The mighty Harpy Eagle!

Few raptors inspire admiration and respect as the Harpy Eagle does. Standing nearly 40 inches tall, with a wingspan of over 6.5 ft, and weighing up to 20 pounds (!) it is easy to see why. But it is not its height, or wingspan, not even its impressive weight what earned the Harpy Eagle the seemingly pretentious title of “the most powerful raptor on Earth”, but the thickness of its tarsi, and the size of its talons: a jaw‑dropping 2‑in tarsus diameter at the narrowest point, and a threatening 4‑in long hind talon! A sloth or monkey skull crushing machine perfectly adapted to snatch prey from tree-tops as the bird dashes at staggering speeds thru the thick canopy of the lowland tropical forests of the Neotropics.

On this tour we will visit not one, but two nests of this Queen of all raptors, the mighty Harpy Eagle! We will have lots of time to watch the eagles. If we are lucky, we may even see a prey delivery at the nest!

The Jaguar

The Pantanal is one of the largest wetlands on Earth. Dubbed the Serengeti of South America, it is the most reliable place to see Jaguars!

The Jaguar is the third-largest feline in the world, after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Americas. We saw three of them on a previous tour, including the big tom shown here. It was our first Jaguar on the tour and our local guide estimated it weighed over 260 pounds!

Birds, mammals, and reptiles in big numbers!

Countless birds of all sizes offer such an amazing spectacle it is hard to keep track of it. As we look for raptors we will get close and personal with many species of other birds, mammals—including Black Howler Monkey, Capybara, and Giant River Otter, among others—, and even reptiles, the Caiman being the most notorious of them here.

Expert wildlife photographers on board!

Abundant, tame animals at close range represent a dream combination for any wildlife photographer. The Pantanal will disappoint no one seeking superb images of fauna. We will work from cars, open‑top trucks, elevated platforms, and speedboats to maximize your lenses’ reach. Dependent on number of participants, one or two experienced wildlife photographers—Darío Podestá and José Luis Ojeda—will be available to coach us and help us improve our photographic technique. The rest will be up to you!

Fun and productive boat rides…

If you like watching wildlife from boats this tour is just perfect for you! We will work from speedboats for two days up and down the Cuiabá River and its tributaries looking for Jaguars and raptors. And we will take daily boat rides on the Cristalino and Teles Pires rivers from our base at the Cristalino Jungle Lodge—one of the best eco lodges in the world, according to the National Geographic.

On one of these boat rides we got to sail within 3 m of a Brazilian Tapir on a previous tour, and Red‑throated, and Black Caracaras, and Bat Falcons were seen on a daily basis here.

NEW! Southern Atlantic Forest Pre-Tour Extension

30 July – 3 August

The Southern Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil is a hotspot for endemic species of plants and animals—including birds—and raptors are no exception. This tour extension is targeted at hawkwatchers willing to maximize their 2015 Brazilian raptor‑watching experience targeting Mantled and White‑necked Hawks. Both species look quite similar in the field and this tour extension is a good opportunity to learn about their field identification, habitat use, and behavior first hand. We will concentrate our efforts on the lowland forest south of São Paulo, where over 25 raptor species—including Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle—have been recorded on previous tours.

White-necked Hawk is the target species of this tour extension. It is scarcer and more confined to lowland coastal forest than its larger congener the Mantled Hawk (below). We have observed both perched White‑necked Hawks, and pairs flying together on previous tours in the area.

Make a difference!

®, L.L.C. will make a financial contribution to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us on this tour and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation.

Day-by-Day Itinerary | Main Tour

Day 1

3 August

Arrival at Cuiabá’s Marechal Rondon International Airport (IATA code CGB) and check‑in at our hotel nearby. In the afternoon, Sergio Seipke will give a slide show introducing the raptor species likely to be seen during this trip. Welcome briefing at dinner. Overnight in Cuiabá.

Day 2

4 August

After breakfast and checkout, we will start off with a bang driving the Transpantaneira road south alongside ponds loaded with alligators, scores of jabirus, egrets, jacanas, and of course many raptors such as Roadside, Savanna, and Black‑collared Hawks! Lunch in Rio Claro. Dinner and overnight in Porto Jofre.

Day 3

5 August

Big, fat breakfast and morning boat ride searching for Jaguars! We will see raptors along the river such as Lesser Yellow-headed and Turkey Vultures, Crane Hawk and Great Black Hawk. We are likely to see Giant River Otters. Lunch at the hotel. Boat ride in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Porto Jofre.

Day 4

6 August

Same plan as Day 3.

Day 5

7 August

Breakfast and checkout. Drive back north on the Transpantaneira. We will stop along the way to watch wildlife and complete our photographers’ checklists. Evening boat ride and optional night drive for those interested in seeing mammals. Dinner and overnight at Rio Claro.

Day 6

8 August

Breakfast and free morning. Great opportunity for a leisure walk in the woods, fish in the river, or go horseback riding. Laughing and Aplomado Falcons are around, among many other raptors. Lunch in the pousada. After lunch we’ll head north and west to Serra das Araras. After checking in we’ll head out to visit an active nest of Harpy Eagles! Dinner at the pousada.

Day 7

9 August

Pre-dawn walk to look for Barred and Collared Forest Falcons. Breakfast at the pousada. Morning visit to the Harpy Eagle nest, then drive around looking for raptors. Lunch in the pousada, and relaxing siesta time. Afternoon visit to the Harpy Eagle nest. Dinner at the pousada. (Tip: repack for domestic flight: 1 checked bag 23 kg + carry‑on bag 5 kg).

Day 8

10 August

Pre-dawn walk (optional) to look for forest falcons. Big breakfast and checkout. Drive to Cuiabá, optional bag drop at our hotel there, and fly to Alta Floresta.

Check in at our hotel and visit another Harpy Eagle nest. Early dinner and overnight in Alta Floresta.

Day 9

11 August

Pre-dawn forest falcon survey (optional). Breakfast, then morning visit to Harpy Eagle nest. Look for soaring raptors by swimming pool, where we expect to see Greater Yellow‑headed Vulture, Swallow‑tailed, and Plumbeous Kites, and Roadside and Short‑tailed Hawks, among others. Lunch in Alta Floresta. Drive and ride a boat to get to Cristalino Jungle Lodge (CJL). Look out for Bat Falcons! Dinner and overnight at CJL.

Day 10

12 August

Super early breakfast! Cryptic Forest Falcon survey at dawn. Then spend the morning up in the observation tower looking for forest raptors such as White‑browed Hawk and Double‑toothed Kite; Ornate Hawk‑Eagles can bee seen too. Lunch at CJL. Boat ride in the afternoon to look for Black and Red-throated Caracaras, and evening hunt for Slaty‑backed Forest Falcon. Overnight at CJL.

Day 11

13 August

Early breakfast, then walk to old tower where we’ll look for White-browed Hawk in early morning, and soaring raptors thru noon. Lunch at CJL. Boat ride in the afternoon and forest interior surveys. (Tip: repack for domestic flight. See Day 7).

Day 12

14 August

Pre-dawn survey of forest falcons or early visit to towers to look for perched raptors. Breakfast and checkout. Boat ride and drive back to Alta Floresta. Catch our flight back to Cuiabá. Dinner and overnight in Cuiabá. (Tip: repack for international travel).

Day 13

15 August

Catch flights home.

Day-by-Day Itinerary | Pre-Tour Extension

Day 1

30 July

Arrive in São Paulo at Guarulhos International Airport (IATA Code: GRU) early in the morning (or late the night before). Drive south to Cananeia, our base for the lowland Atlantic forest. Lunch en route. Check‑in at our hotel, and go for a drive looking for raptors. Dinner and overnight in Cananeia.

Day 2

31 July

Breakfast (7:30 AM), then drive to Ariri looking for White-necked and Mantled Hawks, and other raptors. Picnic lunch. Drive back to Cananeia stopping for raptors. Dinner and overnight in Cananeia.

Day 3

1 August

Same as Day 2.

Day 4

2 August

Breakfast (7:30 AM), then, either check-out and drive on the road to Ariri looking for raptors, or get on a boat to search for Rufous Crab Hawk in the mangroves of the Mar Pequeno channel, and check-out before noon. Lunch. Then drive back to Guarulhos. Dinner and overnight in Guarulhos, north of São Paulo.

Day 5

3 August

Breakfast and check-out. Catch our flights* to Cuiabá to meet the rest of the group and begin the Raptors & Jaguars of Brazil tour!

* Flights to and from Cuiabá are not included in extension tour price.

Target Species

Common Name

1. Osprey
2. Turkey Vulture
3. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
4. Greater Yellow-headed Vulture
5. Black Vulture
6. King Vulture
7. White-tailed Kite
8. Gray-headed Kite
9. Swallow-tailed Kite
10. Plumbeous Kite
11. Double-toothed Kite
12. Snail Kite
13. Hook-billed Kite
14. Black-collared Hawk
15. Crane Hawk
16. Black-faced Hawk
17. White-browed Hawk
18. Mantled Hawk*
19. White Hawk
20. Rufous Crab Hawk*
21. Savanna Hawk
22. White-necked Hawk*
23. Great Black Hawk
24. Roadside Hawk
25. White-tailed Hawk
26. Short-tailed Hawk
27. Harpy Eagle
28. Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle
29. Black Hawk-Eagle
30. Ornate Hawk-Eagle
31. Black Caracara
32. Red-throated Caracara
33. Southern Crested Caracara
34. Yellow-headed Caracara
35. Laughing Falcon
36. Barred Forest Falcon
37. Cryptic Forest Falcon
38. Slaty-backed Forest Falcon
39. Collared Forest-Falcon
40. American Kestrel
41. Bat Falcon
42. Aplomado Falcon

*Tour Extension only

​Mammals

1. Jaguar
2. Jaguarundi
3. Giant River Otter
4. Giant Anteater
5. Brazilian Tapir
6. Capybara
7. Black Howler Monkey

Latin Name

1. Pandion haliaetus
2. Cathartes aura
3. Cathartes burrovianus
4. Cathartes melambrotus
5. Coragyps atratus
6. Sarcoramphus papa
7. Elanus leucurus
8. Leptodon cayanensis
9. Elanoides forficatus
10. Ictinia plumbea
11. Harpagus bidentatus
12. Rostrhamus sociabilis
13. Chondrohierax uncinatus
14. Busarellus nigricollis
15. Geranospiza caerulescens
16. Leucopternis melanops
17. Leucopternis kuhli
18. Pseudastur polionotus*
19. Pseudastur albicollis
20. Buteogallus aequinoctialis*
21. Heterospizias meridionalis
22. Buteogallus lacernulatus*
23. Buteogallus urubitinga
24. Rupornis magnirostris
25. Geranoaetus albicaudatus
26. Buteo brachyurus
27. Harpia harpyja
28. Spizaetus melanoleucus
29. Spizaetus tyrannus
30. Spizaetus ornatus
31. Daptrius ater
32. Ibycter americanus
33. Caracara plancus
34. Milvago chimachima
35. Herpetotheres cachinnans
36. Micrastur ruficollis
37. Micrastur mintoni
38. Micrastur mirandollei
39. Micrastur semitorquatus
40. Falco sparverius
41. Falco rufigularis
42. Falco femoralis

*Tour Extension only

​mammals

1. Panthera onca
2. Puma yagouaroundi
3. Pteronura brasiliensis
4. Myrmecophaga tridactyla
5. Tapirus terrestris
6. Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
7. Alouatta caraya

Suggested Field Guides

Erize, F., J.R. Rodriguez Mata, and M. Rumboll. 2006. Birds of South America. Non‑passerines: Rheas to Woodpeckers. Princeton Illustrated Checklists. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

Ferguson-Lees, J., and D.A. Christie. 2005. Raptors of the World. Paperback Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

Gwyne, J.A., R.S. Ridgely, G. Tudor, and M. Argel. 2010. Birds of Brazil. Pantanal & Cerrado of Central Brazil. Cornell University Press, Ithaca.

Main Tour Map

Tour Guide

Photography Coach

Photography coach is Darío Podestá. Darío is a wildlife photographer, active for the past 28 years. He is very persistent and methodical, and a most reliable driver too. Darío is very personable and has an exquisite sense of aesthetics, which he applies to his nature photography.

Tour Showcase

Terms

, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.

, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.

No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.

Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.

All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Cuiabá.

No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.

Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)