Two Week Brazil Ecotourism Tour

14 Days / 13 Nights

This 2-week Brazil Ecotourism Tour is a shorter idea for those who want to cover a few of our major ecosystems in two weeks; the Atlantic and Amazon Rainforests, the Pantanal Wetlands and the Cerrado Bushlands. All have abundant birdlife and wonderful scenery, with mountains, wetlands, falls and of course rainforest. You can hope to encounter jaguar, ocelot, maned wolf, giant otter, tapir, plus many species of monkeys.

The REGUA Birding Lodge in the Atlantic Rainforest close to Rio de Janeiro has reforestation and conservation projects, including the reintroduction of the tapir to Rio state. The diverse habitat on the lower mountain slopes makes it a wonderful starting point, with sloth and potoo among the highlights.

The Pantanal Wetlands offer the finest wildlife viewing in South America, especially for avians but also for the large felines. The northern Pantanal has the Jaguarland hotspot, plus ocelot and much more. Savannah creatures such as giant anteater, armadillo and crab-eating fox can be found in the vegetation, while giant otter, caiman and tapir are found in the river systems. Hyacinth macaw, jabiru stork and huge flocks of parakeets can be seen in the skies.

Cristalino Lodge is an Amazon Wildlife specialist, with wildlife photography also a possibility. Toucans, macaws and many other colourful Amazon birds are observed here, with peccary, collared anteater and tayra possible mammal sightings. The lodge also has Amazon treefrogs, piranha and many types of monkeys helping to give it that true jungle feel.

The high bushlands of Chapada dos Guimaraes make a quick stopover in the Cerrado for panoramic views and fabulous skies.

Iguazu Falls finishes your trip with the most beautiful falls on the planet. The rainforest in the national parks is also full of wildlife, as well as having the falls themselves to amaze you...

There are also many options for changes to this tour, with more regular tourism possiblities should you wish to combine the ecotourism idea. We can also include more activities in the wilds, such as hiking and kayaking, and adapt the idea to concentrate more on birding perhaps.

Combines With: We can always add in even more destinations if you have the time!

Best Time to Visit: May through to October would usually be the best combination across these destinations and ecosystems, with the seasonal weather patterns working best in this period.

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from $ USD

14 Days / 13 Nights

Destinations Visited

Pantanal Wetlands
Cuiaba & Chapada dos Guimaraes
Alta Floresta

Trip Style

Traditional

Activities Included

Wildlife Observation
Ecotourism

Tailor Made Tours

All our Brazil and South America Tours, are completely flexible with regards to dates, duration or the tours, activities and accommodation that we can include. All the tours featured on our website are our recommendations based on our experience of how to make the very best of your time in South America. We can adjust these details in any way that you wish. We are here to organise a tour that suits you after all!

Itinerary

Day 1

Atlantic Rainforest Lodge Arrival

Destination: Rio de Janeiro to REGUA Atlantic Rainforest Lodge

Your 2-Week Ecotourism Tour of Brazil begins on arrival in Rio de Janeiro, where immediate transfer takes you around Guanabara Bay and below the Serra dos Orgaos mountains. After two hours and 120km you find the Guapi-Açu Atlantic Rainforest Lodge nestling on the lower slopes. The Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA) will be your first stop, with wetlands close to the lodge where caiman and capybara make their home along with many birds such as grebe, heron, ducks, and colourful tropical species such as the Brazilian tanager. The lodge also reintroduced tapir to the state and they may bring their youngsters for a bath. Dusk brings leaf-nosed bats to visit the feeders.

Day 2

Rainforest Trails & Waterfalls

Destination: REGUA Atlantic Rainforest Lodge

The REGUA domain stretches up the lower slopes of the mountains, with trails to take you there, including patches of dense primary Atlantic Rainforest. Your days can be as active or relaxed as you prefer. There are also waterfalls tumbling down rocks, and local or volunteer guides take you there to spot the wildlife in the trees and the undergrowth, while explaining to you the reforestation and conservation work done at REGUA. Over 100 species of bird have been catalogued around the lodge, plus Howler and Capuchin Monkeys. The region is also home to the beautiful Golden Lion Tamarin. Nocturnal observations can include huge moths, beetles, owls and the fabulous potoo.

Day 3

Rainforest Wildlife

Destination: REGUA Atlantic Rainforest Lodge

Possibilities to explore further afield exist too, with colourful species such as Saffron Toucanet, Frilled Coquette, Maroon-Bellied Parrot and Channel-Billed Toucan in the area. As well as the avian life, the REGUA rainforest is also home to many mammals and you may come across some of them during your days at the lodge. Ocelot and Puma have been caught on camera-traps. Sloth, Collared Anteater, Tayra, Possum and Porcupine climb the trees, while Grisson, Paca, Armadillo and the Crab-Eating Fox scuttle beneath. Otters can be found in the lowland rivers too. Colour is added by butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, lizards, snakes and frogs.

Day 4

Into the Pantanal Wetlands

Destination: REGUA to Rio, Cuiaba & SouthWild Pantanal Lodge

After returning to Rio in the morning, you fly to Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso state in Brazil, where you begin the 3-hour drive to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge close to Pocone in the Northern Pantanal, the second major ecosystem of Brazil for you to visit. From the raised dirt roads it is easy to spot wildlife on the surrounding savannah and in the waters. The largest rodent in the world, the capybara, is especially visible, as are caiman, the largest reptile in South America. Before dinner you can visit the Ocelot Hide for the finest viewing of this magnificent medium-sized feline. Evening can bring a trip out around the lodge to look for owls and other nocturnal creatures.

Day 5

The Largest Wetlands on Earth

Destination: SouthWild Pantanal Lodge

SouthWild Pantanal Lodge was set up by expert naturalists from around the world, and your guides are all experts too. The activities at the lodge generally take place early in the morning and then after a break for lunch, avoiding the heat of the Pantanal days. Possibilities usually include boat rides along the rivers, creeks and channels of the area, sometimes in canoes which are poled through the shallow waters, giving closer and quieter access to wildlife. Forest hikes also allow you to feel the Pantanal for yourselves, and viewing towers give you birdseye views across the wetlands and savannah. Horse-riding as well is a popular activity, with four wheels also taking you out at night.

Day 6

Wildlife in the Pantanal

Destination: SouthWild Pantanal Lodge

The Pantanal boasts the highest concentration of fauna on the planet with 698 bird species, 80 mammals, 260 fish species and 50 reptiles catalogued until now. Some are rare, many are numerous. SouthWild Pantanal Lodge offers the best chance to see the Giant Otter, with a whole family living close by as numbers increase in the area. Tapir, Giant and Collared Anteater, Armadillo, Peccary and Coati will all be trying to avoid the predators. Capuchin and Squirrel Monkey, Hyacinth Macaw, Toucans and the fabulous Sloth spend their days high in the trees, as well as thousands of other birds. Sunrise and sunset are special times of every day in the Pantanal, especially for avians.

Day 7

Jaguar Territory

Destination: SouthWild Pantanal Lodge

Observing the Big Cats of the Pantanal such as the Puma and Ocelot need a little more luck, while the chances to see the rare and elusive Jaguar can be increased with a full day trip another 145km down the Transpantaneira to the Tres Irmaos River. SouthWild also have Jaguar Specials in this area, with regular departures from June to November. The jag is an umbrella species, so that when conservation projects preserve the population, many other lesser creatures benefit as a result. This area of the Pantanal is one of the finest to observe other large mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and boats can approach to close distances without disturbing the wildlife.

Day 8

Over the Amazon to Cristalino

Destination: Pantanal Lodge to Cuiaba, Alta Floresta & Cristalino Lodge

After returning to the airport in Cuiaba after breakfast, a quick flight takes you over the southern reaches of the Amazon Jungle to Alta Floresta, where you will be picked up for the short road and boat journey along the Rio Cristalino. This river is named for the clarity of its waters, and from the lodge boat you can see this and perhaps even some riverine wildlife along the way. Caiman and Tapir are possible sightings along the banks, with Kingfisher and Egrets flying above them. On arrival at Cristalino Jungle Lodge you can enjoy the Amazon ambience as you settle in to your accommodation. An introduction to the lodge, its activities and the surrounding area follows.

Day 9

Amazon Views & Hikes

Destination: Cristalino Amazon Lodge

Stays at Cristalino Lodge can be tailored to your specific wishes, with available activities depending on the season, weather and recent wildlife sightings. A morning hike to the 50m high Canopy Tower gives you a view of the Amazon from tree-top level, with monkeys, macaws and other colourful Amazon avians often observed. The Ficus Trail takes you on a jungle hike to a giant fig tree, while the Taboca Trail in the afternoon takes you to observe the seasonally flooded forest (January to July or so) where tree trunks on lower ground remain half-submerged and very photogenic. Possible wildlife sightings include monkeys, the Sloth and the Tayra.

Day 10

Amazon Flora & Fauna

Destination: Cristalino Amazon Lodge

A morning hike takes you to the Saleiro Tree-House in the middle of a forest reserve that boasts mineral-rich soil. This attracts many mammals - Tapir, Collared and White-Lipped Pecary and the wonderful Anteaters, both Giant and Collared can all be observed in the area. An afternoon boat trip upriver and a hike along the Brazil Nut Trail takes you through an area of these Amazon giants, with many creatures that like to feed on their produce. The return journey downriver can be done by boat and also by canoe if you prefer. Paddling for yourselves gives you the chance to observe the animals and birds that use the riverbanks and trees for shelter.

Day 11

From the Forest to the Bushlands

Destination: Cristalino Lodge to Cuiaba & Chapada dos Guimaraes

You have the morning to enjoy one final spectacular Pantanal dawn chorus. The skies are alive with colourful flocks of parakeets, swirling macaws and flitting toucans, all of which are wonderful to observe against the clear blue skies. After breakfast you travel back to Cuiaba and the continue past the city another hour or so to the Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park. This area of flat-topped mountains and waterfalls is part of the Brazilian Cerrado, the bushlands which make up much of the interior of the country. You can spend the afternoon walking the trails around the lodge and enjoying more birdsong and with the chance of seeing cerrado creatures such as the Giant Anteater.

Day 12

Iguazu Falls Views

Destination: Chapada dos Guimaraes to Cuiaba & Iguazu Falls

After transferring back to the airport in Cuiaba, the morning flight takes you to Iguazu Falls, and your first chance to see the 275 separate falls of the Rio Iguazu comes as you land. On arrival you will be met for an immediate tour of the Brazil National Park, where you can enjoy the majestic panoramic views of Iguazu from across the gorge. Options include viewing the falls from above with helicopter rides above them. In the late afternoon you transfer to your hotel on the Argentina side of the river with the evening free. Please be sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for Iguazu Falls, as walkways, paths and yourselves become wet from the spray. Camera protection is also a good idea.

Day 13

Mesmeric Iguazu

Destination: Iguazu Falls

After breakfast you cross to the Argentinean national park, where walkways allow you to experience the majesty of Iguazu from very close quarters. The undoubted highlight is the mesmeric experience of looking down into The Devil's Throat as the falling water pounds the bottom, creating the roar and mist that mean Iguazu Falls can be seen and heard for miles around. The afternoon finishes with the adventure boat ride which takes you right under the falling curtains of water. In the evening you may like to take in the Rafain Latin American Dance Show with Dinner, or in the period around Full Moon, you can visit the falls to view Iguazu By Moonlight.

Day 14

Final Encounters in Brazil!

Destination: Iguazu Falls to Rio de Janeiro & Away

Your two-week Ecotourism Tour of Brazil finishes with a morning visit to the Bird Park, which allows you close contact with toucans, macaws, humming-birds and butterflies flying around the huge aviaries. Your transfer to the airport will be arranged in time to connect with your flight back to Rio (with Sao Paulo or an extension to visit Buenos Aires also possible). This tour is aimed at those who want to concentrate purely on the Ecotourism side of Brazil, although we can adapt it to your requirements if you would prefer a mix of regular tourism too. We can also extend it and include different destinations to make it ideal for your requirements!

Prices

* Domestic Flights Estimated Price
$1,050 USD

** Prices Per Adult based on two people travelling and sharing accommodation
Simple B&B
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3 Stars
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4 Stars
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5 Stars
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* Prices vary depending on travel dates and flight availability. Peak periods in Brazil including Carnaval, public holidays and Christmas/New Year usually require a minimum number of nights, so in these cases itineraries may need to be changed. ** Domestic flight prices are estimated on typical values when reserved six months before travel. Prices can never be guaranteed until reservations are made, and do usually become more expensive closer to the travel period.

* Domestic Flights Estimated Price ** Prices Per Adult based on two people travelling and sharing accommodation

$1,050 USD

Simple

3 Stars

4 Stars

Luxury

On Request

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On Request

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On Request

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On Request

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* Prices vary depending on travel dates and flight availability. Peak periods in Brazil including Carnaval, public holidays and Christmas/New Year usually require a minimum number of nights, so in these cases itineraries may need to be changed.

** Domestic flight prices are estimated on typical values when reserved six months before travel. Prices can never be guaranteed until reservations are made, and do usually become more expensive closer to the travel period.