Travel with Wild Latitudes to experience some of the richest birding in the world as we explore two of Brazil’s top natural areas, the Pantanal and the Atlantic Forest.

The Pantanal is the single largest fresh-water wetland on Earth, and it’s truly a birders paradise. Over 4oo species of birds can be seen here, including the Hyacinth Macaw, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Sungrebe, Jabiru Stork, Buff-necked Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, and the Sunbittern, to name just a few of the avian highlights. This area is a known haunt of the Harpy Eagle, so we’ll also keep our eyes to the sky for this majestic species. Along the way we’ll also be searching for reptiles like the Yacare Cayman and mammals such as the Capybara, Giant Otter and the Black Howler Monkey, and we’ll make a special effort to find one of the region’s most elusive inhabitants, the Jaguar, the largest cat in the New World.

Next it’s off to the coast, where a dizzying array of hummingbirds await. We’ll visit local feeders to see the Violet-capped Woodnymph, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Saw-billed Hermit, and White-chinned Sapphire buzzing the feeders in a blur of activity. Then we travel into the mountains of the Atlantic Forest, where a plethora of tanagers, toucans and trogons can be found. Birds we’ll look for here include the Flame-crested Tanager, Surucua Trogon, White-eared Puffbird, Golden-winged Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, and the Saffron Toucanet.

While in Brazil, we’ll be sure to experience much of the cuisine & culture of this amazing country, and learn about current conservation issues challenging it. Finally we head to Rio de Janeiro, to enjoy the sights and sounds of this vibrant city, and stay right on the coast, overlooking the beautiful beaches of Ipanema.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1

We arrive in São Paulo, Brazil and make our way to our first hotel. There will be time to rest or do some optional birding around the hotel, before enjoying our first dinner together.

Day 2

Today, we will catch a flight to Cuiabá. Here we will begin our travels into the Pantanal to our first lodge. We will bird the lodge grounds in the afternoon to get our first taste of the Pantanal bird-life.

Day 3

An early morning safari ride by open-air truck will give us a chance to observe Giant Anteaters. Later in the day, we will continue to explore the varied habitats around the lodge by open-air truck.

Day 4

We’ll travel deeper into the Pantanal, stopping along the way to appreciate the vast scenery and bird-life. After settling into our new lodge, we’ll take our first boat ride in the hopes of encountering a Jaguar along the riverbanks.

Day 5

Today, we will continue experiencing the Pantanal by boat, searching for birds and other wildlife in the morning and late afternoon.

Day 6

After some optional morning birding around the lodge, we will travel up the road, birding as we go, to our final lodging in the Pantanal. Located along a different river, we will enjoy a boat ride there before dinner.

Day 7

The focus today will be exploring the river that runs right by the lodge, while also enjoying some downtime to explore the lodge’s grounds on your own.

Day 8

We will offer some early morning optional birding around the lodge before preparing for our departure. We will make our way out of the Pantanal and fly back to São Paulo. Here we will relax in preparation for tomorrow’s travels.

Day 9

Today will primarily be one of travel, as we head east to the Atlantic Forest, making a few birding stops along the way. We will settle into our lodge within Itatiaia National Park and enjoy the hummingbird feeders before dinner.

Day 10-12

Over the next 3 days we will bird the expansive Itatiaia National Park, offering us an entirely new slate of bird species. Our travels will take us to waterfalls in lush forests, overlooks above the canopy, and the impressive peaks of the plateau region.

Day 13

Today we will depart the Atlantic Forest and travel to the city of Rio de Janeiro. We will check into our hotel along the famous Ipanema Beach, before visiting the Christ the Redeemer statue and enjoying a final group dinner together.

Day 14

Today we will take in the sights of the city. We will visit the beautiful Botanical Gardens of Rio de Janeiro for some morning birding and give everyone time in the afternoon to explore the city shops on your own. We will meet back at the hotel for farewells before catching our evening flights home.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1,200

START DATE: Sep 25, 2026

DURATION: 14 days

GROUP SIZE: Up to 14

TRIP FOCUS: Birding and Wildlife

ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Double-occupancy lodging
• Ground transportation
• Breakfasts, lunches, and most dinners
• Excursions and park fees
• Guiding services

YOUR GUIDES

Chris Payne grew up in rural Pennsylvania with two naturalists for parents, so he has been immersed in the natural world his entire life. Once he discovered the world of birds, he was hooked. After graduating with a degree in biology, he pieced together bird-related field work for several years before returning to school to work on an M.S. in biology. Leading nature tours is the best of both worlds for Chris: getting to work in nature surrounded by birds, but more importantly, getting to share that passion with others.

Rebecca Payne has always been avidly curious about the natural world. What started out as exploring the backyard of her childhood home led to an interest in exotic animals. While completing her B.A. in Zoo and Wildlife Biology, she was surrounded by teachers and mentors who nurtured her love for all things birds and birding. For several years, Rebecca worked in zoos across the country as an aviculturist, participating in breeding programs for endangered species, bird shows, and public outreach. Through these experiences, she discovered that her true passion lies in teaching others and fostering meaningful connections between people and wildlife. Rebecca has enjoyed many fulfilling teaching roles, from New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, to Pennsylvania State Parks. All the while, she has had her binoculars in hand, using birds and avian ecology to bring people closer to nature.