Brazil Jaguar Photo Tour – Pantanal & Atlantic Forest
JAGUAR SAFARI, BIRDS AND MORE (Atlantic Forest )
13 nights & 14 days tour
Tour Information
Brazil has one of the richest bird diversities in the world. The avifauna of Brazil include a total of 1822 confirmed species of which 238 are endemic. Brazil's biodiversity and ease of access to wildlife make it a very popular destination for bird photographers from around the world. Join us in a quest to see some of the most vibrant fauna that the country has to offer from the Atlantic rainforests to the coasts of Rio De Janeiro.
Brazil hosts such extraordinarily different areas, from the vast Amazon Basin to the largest natural wetland area on Earth, the Pantanal, to the unique Atlantic Forests, which are home to some of the most threatened animals on the planet. On top of that you have a myriad other habitats including wet montane forest, salt lagoons, and coastal scrub, to name but a few, and our tours are designed to give you a good insight into the rich variety of Brazilian birding sites.
Our Brazil bird photo tour has two parts –
4 days in the Atlantic Forest region of Southeast Brazil which is is jam packed full of amazingly colorful and confiding endemic birds species. The Atlantic Forest stretches for 1,500 square miles along the coast of Brazil, teeming with a vast array of plants, birds, and other wildlife.
8 days venturing into the wetlands of the Northern Pantanal, which is the world’s largest tropical wetland, covering over 70,000 square miles—an area the size of Washington State—in the smack-dab center of South America. Stretching across the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul (also spilling into Bolivia and Paraguay) the Pantanal is the world's largest inland wetland area. While the Amazon gets more credit, the Pantanal's open spaces offer the best opportunities for spotting animals in their natural habitats in Brazil
Our all-inclusive itinerary ensures the photography is done at safer locations and provides a lifetime experience of the wetlands of northern Brazil and Atlantic Rainforests. We work closely with the local expert guides and our team with technical ability ensure you enhance your photography techniques as you capture these diverse species.
BASIC INFORMATION
Medical
Please consult with your doctor regarding general travel vaccinations and check the CDC website for more information.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.
Internet Access
Most lodges have free WIFI in the reception/dining area.
Electricity
Electrical outlets are US-style. Those coming from Europe or Asia may need travel adapters. We will send more info after signup.
Airport
You should arrive to and depart from Brazil's Guarulhos-Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport. Our representative will be waiting to provide your private transfer to a hotel near the capital city of Sao Paulo.
Certified
All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional travel experience.
Cost (In USD)
1. $6000 per person in sharing accommodations/ $6500 in single supplement (2021)
2. $6400 per person in sharing accommodations/ $6900 in single supplement (2022)
Tour Dates
Main Tour – Maximum 6 - 8 people per group.
1. July 10 - 23, 2021 (Now Open)
2. July 10 - 23, 2022 (Now Open)
Tour Specifics
1. Easy/Moderate walking/Most activity is at the feeders
2. Intermediate Photographers
3. Land and Water Photography
4. Non-Photographers / Birdwatchers: Accepted, discounted costs. Save $1000
Our well planned bird photography tour in Brazil Atlantic forest will focus on the beautiful and diverse tropical birds the country has to offer. The itinerary offers photographers abundant opportunites to capture birds on feeders as well in their natural habitat. Our North Pantanal tour focuses on spotting the mighty Jaguar along with other local avifauna. Well guided boat safaris with local expert guidance to ensure we get good photographs during the tour.
Our tour starts in Sao Paulo and ends in Cuiaba.
- Opportunity to photograph the Atlantic specialities like the Saffron Toucanet, Green-headed tanager, Olive-green tanager and more!
- Northern Pantanal tour highlights include Jaguars, Toucans, Macaws, Ocelots, Tapirs and many more!
- Bird photography at feeders and experience to stay and enjoy the world’s largest tropical wetland, featuring an abundance of bird and wildlife species
- Guided photography with expert guidance to make the best images of the target species and more.
- Technical photography experience like Multi-flash Hummingbird Photography.
- An overview of photography techniques in tropical habitat, what settings to use etc
Expert guidance during photographys sessions on using fill-flash in overcast conditions - Our all-inclusive tours help you enjoy a stress-free, photography focussed days coupled with local lodging and culinary experience.
- A digital SLR and your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more
- A macro lens
- A sturdy tripod or monopod
- You may also bring your flash with a flash bracket
- Pack a ton of memory cards
- Release cable
Tour Pace
Easy to Moderate
Much of the Atlantic tour will be spent near feeders which are accessed by only a short walk. There will also be optional short walks on to get to the hide and access the farms with feeders and manakin leks.
North Pantanal photography sessions will mostly be done in safari vans and boats. Some sessions may involve walking around gardens and feeders.
ITINERARY
Upon arrival you will meet our representative at the Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport and transfer to your hotel near the capital city of Sao Paulo. The hotel is situated near the airport for easy access.
- Overnight at hotel in Sao Paulo, meals are not included this day
- Elevation: 760m
We meet at 7 am for an early breakfast and head to our first rainforest lodge which is well known for its regular avian visitors.
We spend 3 nights at this lodge, which is touted as one of the most amazing birding locations in all of South America to start this exotic tour. Green headed tanagers, saffron toucanets, red-breasted toucans are some of the species lined up for the next few days.
- Overnight at eco-lodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 875m
Today we spend the entire day at the lodge feeders and trails and focus on making amazing images of birds on nice perches.
Our targets today will include yellow-fronted woodpecker, maroon-bellied parrot, roadside hawk, white-tipped dove, pale breasted thrush, golden crowned warbler, blue dacnis, azure shouldered tanager
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 875m
This morning we indulge in some Multi-flash photography to capture the stunning hummingbirds visiting the lodge feeders. The specialties include Brazilian ruby, Saw-billed hummingbird, scale-throated hummingbird, violet-crowned woodnymph and more.
Today we also look for more species like the magpie tanager, black-goggled tanager, ruby crowned tanager, half-collared sparrow, sharp-tailed streamer among the many different species planned today.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 875m
We will spend the morning at lodge feeders and our evening session we head back to Sao Paulo where we spend the night before flying out for our North Pantanal part of tour next morning.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 905m
We take an early morning flight from Sao Paulo to Cuiaba this morning. Upon arrival we will meet our representative at the Marechal Rondon International Airport in Cuiaba and transfer to our first lodge this night.
Our travel to the 1st lodge inludes travel through the Transpantaneira Highway after an early breakfast, a dirt road that transects the Northern Pantanal. Being extremely biodiverse this road offers us many different opportunities to shoot unique wildlife. We shall try and reach the lodge by afternoon to get lunch and some rest before heading out for our 1st Jaguar boat ride.
At night, we go out for a night safari in search of nocturnal wildlife such as Ocelot, Puma, Giant Anteater, Tamandua, Crab-eating, Raccoon, Potoos, and Owls.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 120m
This entire day we will explore the forest to photograph the variety of bird species the area has to offer.
We shall use a full morning to explore the many opportunities at this place. Our targets for this morning will include the Toucans, Aracaris, small mammals, just by the lodge, or caimans on the small lake, and the Jabirus in their nest along the lodge’s 7km private road.
After lunch, we go on an overland safari to remote areas of this vast ranch, which stands as the best place to photograph Tapirs and Anteaters in the Northern Giant Anteater in the Northern Pantanal.
After dinner we go out for a night safari in search of mammals and other wildlife such as nocturnal mammals, Great Horned Owl, Nightjar, Potoo and many other species. Dinner and overnight.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 120 m
This morning we have an early breakfast and checkout of the lodge.
We drive further into the Pantanal, as we cover the Transpantaneira road to reach Porto Jofre and check in at our lodge, situated at the riverbanks of the Cuiabá river. We come back to the lodge for rest and then head for our 1st of many boat safaris to look for the mighty Jaguar often found on the riverbanks.
We spend 4 nights here.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 2000m
We devote three full days to personal boat safaris on the riverbanks of the Amazon and its tributaries to maximize our chances to watch and photograph Jaguars, Giant Otters and other wildlife in the Meeting of the Waters State Park.
Our expert local guides almost assure us of a 100% Jaguar sighting during this season so word of advice –carry memory cards with large storage capacity and maybe 1 backup camera body as well. This way we ensure that we don’t have to return to the lodge to pick up gear if needed.
Once the light gets harsh, we return to the lodge and relax, before we prepare to be back in the boat for our evening boat trip.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 100m
This morning we do another full morning of boat safaris after breakfast and then we checkout and head to out to next lodge post lunch.
We proceed to our next destination lodge with stops for wildlife/bird spotting and photographing.
We arrive in the early evening and check in the night
After dinner we go out for a night drive in search for night animals.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 110m
Breakfast, followed by a full morning of wildlife activities & photography on the huge private reserve.
We check out for our transfer back to Cuiabá for next day departures.
- Overnight at a hotel in Cuiabá, B-L-Dinner not included
- Elevation: 165m
This morning our transport partners will drop you for your respective international departures from the Cuiabá airport.
End of tour.
Day 1:
Upon arrival you will meet our representative at the Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport and transfer to your hotel near the capital city of Sao Paulo. The hotel is situated near the airport for easy access.
- Overnight at hotel in Sao Paulo, meals are not included this day
- Elevation: 760m
Day 2:
We meet at 7 am for an early breakfast and head to our first rainforest lodge which is well known for its regular avian visitors.
We spend 3 nights at this lodge, which is touted as one of the most amazing birding locations in all of South America to start this exotic tour. Green headed tanagers, saffron toucanets, red-breasted toucans are some of the species lined up for the next few days.
- Overnight at eco-lodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 875m
Day 3:
Today we spend the entire day at the lodge feeders and trails and focus on making amazing images of birds on nice perches.
Our targets today will include yellow-fronted woodpecker, maroon-bellied parrot, roadside hawk, white-tipped dove, pale breasted thrush, golden crowned warbler, blue dacnis, azure shouldered tanager
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 875m
Day 4:
This morning we indulge in some Multi-flash photography to capture the stunning hummingbirds visiting the lodge feeders. The specialties include Brazilian ruby, Saw-billed hummingbird, scale-throated hummingbird, violet-crowned woodnymph and more.
Today we also look for more species like the magpie tanager, black-goggled tanager, ruby crowned tanager, half-collared sparrow, sharp-tailed streamer among the many different species planned today.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 875m
Day 5:
We will spend the morning at lodge feeders and our evening session we head back to Sao Paulo where we spend the night before flying out for our North Pantanal part of tour next morning.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 905m
Day 6:
We take an early morning flight from Sao Paulo to Cuiaba this morning. Upon arrival we will meet our representative at the Marechal Rondon International Airport in Cuiaba and transfer to our first lodge this night.
Our travel to the 1st lodge inludes travel through the Transpantaneira Highway after an early breakfast, a dirt road that transects the Northern Pantanal. Being extremely biodiverse this road offers us many different opportunities to shoot unique wildlife. We shall try and reach the lodge by afternoon to get lunch and some rest before heading out for our 1st Jaguar boat ride.
At night, we go out for a night safari in search of nocturnal wildlife such as Ocelot, Puma, Giant Anteater, Tamandua, Crab-eating, Raccoon, Potoos, and Owls.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 120m
Day 7:
This entire day we will explore the forest to photograph the variety of bird species the area has to offer.
We shall use a full morning to explore the many opportunities at this place. Our targets for this morning will include the Toucans, Aracaris, small mammals, just by the lodge, or caimans on the small lake, and the Jabirus in their nest along the lodge’s 7km private road.
After lunch, we go on an overland safari to remote areas of this vast ranch, which stands as the best place to photograph Tapirs and Anteaters in the Northern Giant Anteater in the Northern Pantanal.
After dinner we go out for a night safari in search of mammals and other wildlife such as nocturnal mammals, Great Horned Owl, Nightjar, Potoo and many other species. Dinner and overnight.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 120 m
Day 8:
This morning we have an early breakfast and checkout of the lodge.
We drive further into the Pantanal, as we cover the Transpantaneira road to reach Porto Jofre and check in at our lodge, situated at the riverbanks of the Cuiabá river. We come back to the lodge for rest and then head for our 1st of many boat safaris to look for the mighty Jaguar often found on the riverbanks.
We spend 4 nights here.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 2000m
Day 9, 10 & 11:
We devote three full days to personal boat safaris on the riverbanks of the Amazon and its tributaries to maximize our chances to watch and photograph Jaguars, Giant Otters and other wildlife in the Meeting of the Waters State Park.
Our expert local guides almost assure us of a 100% Jaguar sighting during this season so word of advice –carry memory cards with large storage capacity and maybe 1 backup camera body as well. This way we ensure that we don’t have to return to the lodge to pick up gear if needed.
Once the light gets harsh, we return to the lodge and relax, before we prepare to be back in the boat for our evening boat trip.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 100m
Day 12:
This morning we do another full morning of boat safaris after breakfast and then we checkout and head to out to next lodge post lunch.
We proceed to our next destination lodge with stops for wildlife/bird spotting and photographing.
We arrive in the early evening and check in the night
After dinner we go out for a night drive in search for night animals.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 110m
Day 13:
Breakfast, followed by a full morning of wildlife activities & photography on the huge private reserve.
We check out for our transfer back to Cuiabá for next day departures.
- Overnight at a hotel in Cuiabá, B-L-Dinner not included
- Elevation: 165m
Day 14:
This morning our transport partners will drop you for your respective international departures from the Cuiabá airport.
End of tour.
Tour Motive
Our well planned bird photography tour in Brazil Atlantic forest will focus on the beautiful and diverse tropical birds the country has to offer. The itinerary offers photographers abundant opportunites to capture birds on feeders as well in their natural habitat. Our North Pantanal tour focuses on spotting the mighty Jaguar along with other local avifauna. Well guided boat safaris with local expert guidance to ensure we get good photographs during the tour.
Our tour starts in Sao Paulo and ends in Cuiaba.
Photo Opportunities
- Opportunity to photograph the Atlantic specialities like the Saffron Toucanet, Green-headed tanager, Olive-green tanager and more!
- Northern Pantanal tour highlights include Jaguars, Toucans, Macaws, Ocelots, Tapirs and many more!
- Bird photography at feeders and experience to stay and enjoy the world’s largest tropical wetland, featuring an abundance of bird and wildlife species
- Guided photography with expert guidance to make the best images of the target species and more.
- Technical photography experience like Multi-flash Hummingbird Photography.
- An overview of photography techniques in tropical habitat, what settings to use etc
Expert guidance during photographys sessions on using fill-flash in overcast conditions - Our all-inclusive tours help you enjoy a stress-free, photography focussed days coupled with local lodging and culinary experience.
Cost (In USD)
1. $6000 per person in sharing accommodations/ $6500 in single supplement (2021)
2. $6400 per person in sharing accommodations/ $6900 in single supplement (2022)
Tour Dates
Main Tour – Maximum 6 - 8 people per group.
1. July 10 - 23, 2021 (Now Open)
2. July 10 - 23, 2022 (Now Open)
Tour Specifics:
1. Easy/Moderate walking/Most activity is at the feeders
2. Intermediate Photographers
3. Land and Water Photography
4. Non-Photographers/Birdwatchers: Accepted, discounted costs. Save $1000
Tour Pace
Easy to moderate
Much of the Atlantic tour will be spent near feeders which are accessed by only a short walk. There will also be optional short walks on to get to the hide and access the farms with feeders and manakin leks.
North Pantanal photography sessions will mostly be done in safari vans and boats. Some sessions may involve walking around gardens and feeders.
Photo Gallery
Suggested Equipments
It is recommended that each participant bring the following equipment:
- A digital SLR and your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more
- A macro lens
- A sturdy tripod or monopod
- You may also bring your flash with a flash bracket
- Pack a ton of memory cards
- Release cable
Click on the link below for some questions you may have:
Testimonials
Tour Leader
Supreet Sahoo An avid birdwatcher and photographer from Austin, U.S.
Supreet's work has been featured in reputed publications like the BBC Earth, National Geographic Spain and Sanctuary Asia.
Click on the link below for some questions you may have:
- A 'non-refundable' deposit of USD 1000 of the Tour fee as booking amount
- The remaining balance is due in full 90 days before the start of the tour
- All figures per person
- Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in tour cancellation
- Lodging as specified.
- Meals as specified
- Stainless steel flask for water.
- Private transfers to and from hotels on first and last days.
- Land/Domestic air transportation during the tour
- Professional driver/photo/nature guide and private transportation in spacious tour bus.
- Guide and Photography Skipper services
- Entrance fees for all described activities.
- Taxes on all services listed above.
- Non-mealtime snacks or meals not included.
- Non-mealtime soft drinks and bottled water.
- Visa fees
- International/personal airfare
- Insurance
- Phone calls
- Laundry
- Tips
- Cost of hospitalization and evacuation, if necessary
Photo Gallery
Registration
- To register for the tour, fill out and submit the form below. A 'NON-REFUNDABLE' deposit of USD 1000 per person of the tour cost is required to confirm your spot.
- The remaining balance is due in full 90 days before the start of the tour
- All figures per person. Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in TOUR CANCELLATION
Payment can be completed by credit card/PayPal or bank transfer. If you would like to mail a check, that option is available as well
Please read all the Terms & Conditions for cancellation/refund policies and other important information.
Book Your Tour With Us In 6 Easy Steps
1. Confirm your spot for the tour by paying the advance using the registration form.
2. Receive an acknowledgement email from us confirming your booking along with a welcome package and forms.
3. Book your international travel
4. Send us your travel details along with the signed package.
5. We will send you a final invoice along with some more important pre-travel details.
6. Make your full payment and pack your bags for the best Tropical experience.
1. Confirm your spot for the tour by paying the advance using the registration form.
2. Receive an acknowledgement email from us confirming your booking along with a welcome package and forms.
3. Book your international travel.
4. Send us your travel details along with the signed package.
5. We will send you a final invoice along with some more important pre-travel details.
6. Make your full payment and pack your bags for the best Tropical experience.
FAQs
Important Note
- Travel insurance is mandatory for all travelers
- Tropical Photo Tours holds the rights to modify a reservation at any time during a workshop. As a company, we always try to comply with what we have promised but due to several unforeseeable circumstances such as weather, natural calamity, political, environmental, cultural we may have to make changes to our reservations.
- All amounts are in USD unless specifically mentioned otherwise
Email us at info@tropicalphototours.com or call us at +1-512-803-8049/512-806-6469 if you’d like to talk first.
Tour Leader
Supreet Sahoo An avid birdwatcher and photographer from Austin, U.S.
Supreet's work has been featured in reputed publications like the BBC Earth, National Geographic Spain and Sanctuary Asia.
Testimonials
Bird Photography And Beyond
About Us
Since our inception, we have curated unique Bird Photography tours, customized Photography Travel Tours and fun-filled photography sessions in over 5 countries!
Tropical Photo Tours LLC is a US Based photography tour company helping birders from all over the world visit and experience the rainforest birding and photography.
Reach Us
Address:
2414 Elkhorn Ranch Rd, Leander, Texas – USA 78641
Email:
info@tropicalphototours.com
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