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| Brazil: Pantanal (and more) and Rio Cristalino: October 24 to November 2, 2009 with Lelis Navarrete Though Lelis is the premiere guide for Ecuador, he also leads successful trips to other parts of South America. His last several trips to this part of Brazil have found well nearly 480 species in two weeks with around 420 species seen by the group.. This trip builds on Lelis' experience with the help of the Partnership for International Birding's founder Charles Thornton-Kolbe (as host). This trip includes eight days of birding and wildlife watching. The trip starts with three days of birding and wildlife watching in Brazil's Pantanal. Our plans use well these three days, crossing the three key habitats in the area. Another five days will be spent birding and wildlife watching in the top spot for birding in the Amazonian Rainforest (Rio Cristalino). A brief and then nearly full itinerary can be found below. A full bird list is available upon request. Extension Note: A three day extension is available for additional productive birding near Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park. Note: Full trip reports are available upon request, and include lists of bird species seen at these locations. |


| Brief Itinerary Flight In: Fly into Sao Paulo on either Friday (October 23, 2009) or Saturday morning early (October 24, 2009). In the afternoon of October 24, we will catch a flight to Cuiaba from Sao Paolo. No matter your flight plans, you should plan to join us for dinner in Cuiaba on Saturday (October 24) for a chance to meet other participants and for a brief trip orientation. Please call before booking your flight to Brazil to minimize additional lodging and transfers. Also Note: As the trip comes closer, booking internal flights can be difficult, so please contact us soon so that we can get these internal flights booked immediately. October 25 and 26, 2009: On Sunday, we begin our journey into the Pantanal and to the Fazenda Pousa Allegre Reserve for two full days. Our travels will include numerous birding and wildlife stops, as we travel through the Pantanal. We will explore the Pantanal's key habitats of marshes, islands of forests, and grasslands with different routes each day. Wildlife is rich in the area, and Lelis will help us fine many more bird species each day. We will easily find Hyacinth Macaws. Numerous other species of macaws, parrots and parakeets, toucans, trogons, woodpeckers, birds of prey, and hummingbirds are abundant. Water birds are impossible to miss and many species will be seen well. (More details can be found below and a complete bird list for the trip is available.) October 27: On Tuesday, we continue our Pantanal travels in the morning and head towards a nearby ranch with very nice lodging and an opportunity to find Harpy Eagle. The habitat here is a transition between the Pantanal and the foothills, thus new species can more easily be found here. October 28: On Wednesday morning, we will have time for some additional bird watching at the ranch and reserve (Curripira das Araras) before we head back to Cuiaba. From Cuiaba airport we fly to Alta Floresta and begin our exploration of the Amazonian Rainforest. After lunch at the Amazonica Hotel, we will head towards the Rio Cristalino Jungle Lodge. October 29 to November 1: Amazonian Rainforest and Rio Cristalino Jungle Lodge: The Rio Cristalino Lodge is situated along the confluence of the Rio Cristalino and Teles-Pires Rivers at the southern edge of the Amazonian Rain Forest. With 570 bird species found in the are, this is one of the best birding locations in the Neotropical Rain Forest. This famous resort offers superb Brazilian cuisine and a mega diverse array of birds. Over our five day visit to the area, we will be able to select new routes and trails, taking advantage of different microhabitats and locations to maximize our opportunity to find new species each day. (More details can be found below or contact us for a complete bird list.) November 2 and Flights Home: After birding all morning near a productive birding spot in a forested area near the Hotel in Alta Floresta, we will head back to Cuiaba that afternoon. Some participants may choose to finish the main trip here, and fly back to Sao Paolo the next morning (depending on flight plans). Extension Note for November 2 (in the late PM) to November 5: The first four participants signed up for the trip have decided to enjoy a four day extension to Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park. This this opportunity to extend the trip is very affordable, taking advantage of a great opportunity for additional productive birding with Lelis. |


| Itinerary for Brazil in 2009 Saturday, October 24, 2009: Flights to Sao Paulo and Then Cuibaba
Learn more about our three full days in the Pantanal below the Bare-faced Currassow as the itinerary is continued. |
| Itinerary for Brazil in 2009: Pantanal: Three Days Sunday, October 25 to Wednesday, October 28: Brazil's Pantanal
Host Note: Charles Thornton-Kolbe will depart from the group as you all leave for Rio Cristalino. At this point, the group will be well acquainted with Lelis’ leadership. Remember that Lelis leads over twenty birding trips throughout South America each year (and many of these trips are 2 or 3 weeks in length). The vast majority of his clients are English-speaking, and he is well acquainted with the English language. You will be in good hands while in Brazil. See more on our trip as we continue for five days of bird watching in the Amazonian Rainforest. The itinerary is continued at the top of the web page (and to the right) under the Black-girdled Barbet. |
| Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Brazil in 2009: Continued in Amazonian Rainforest for Five Days Wednesday, October 28 to Sunday, November 1: Amazonian Rainforest
See more on our trip as we continue for few more days of bird watching in the Amazonian Rainforest. The itinerary is continued below and under the Black-girdled Barbet. |
| Chapada dos Guimaraes Extension: Three Days with Lelis Navarrete Note: All participants to date have reviewed the trip report from this fantastic area with beautiful water falls and protected Cerrado habitat. With the promise of new species and productive birding with Lelis, all have signed up for this extension opportunity. Monday, November 2: After getting in from Cuiaba, the extension group will depart from the main trip participants for Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park at pleasant local hotel in that area. Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4:
Thursday, November 5: After some early morning birding with Lelis, the group will head to the Cuiaba airport for an 11:30 PM flight to Sao Paolo (arriving at about 4 PM). Nearly all participants should be able to catch a late night flight home that night. |



| Departing Brazil or Better Yet Trip Extension Sunday, November 1 and Monday, November 2: Rio Cristalino, Alta Floresta and Points Home
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