15-Day Wildlife Photo Tour Brazil | Pantanal & Atlantic Forest

Jaguar

PANTANAL & ATLANTIC FOREST PHOTO TOUR

Brazil

15 days

Best season from July to October

DATES

Contact us to arrange your preferred travel dates.

OVERVIEW

A photographic journey through two of Brazil’s most iconic biodiversity hotspots—the Pantanal and the Atlantic Rainforest—offering exceptional opportunities to capture colorful birds and diverse wildlife in their natural habitats.

The Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, is the first destinations of this photo tour. These floodplains are home to a fascinating variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Famous for its Jaguars, the Pantanal offers excellent opportunities to photograph this magnificent animal while it is bathing, hunting, or resting along the water’s edge.

Other animals we may encounter in the Pantanal include the Giant Otter, Ocelot, Yacare Caiman, and the impressive Giant Anteater. We will also be able to photograph a wide range of bird species, such as the endangered Hyacinth Macaw, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Jabiru, Plush-crested Jay, Toco Toucan, and Red-legged Seriema.

During the second part of the tour, we will visit the Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica), an ecosystem characterized by high biodiversity. This region is home to many endemic bird species, with well-preserved areas of forest and excellent opportunities for wildlife photography. Our target species include Red-necked Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-breasted Toucan, Saffron Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Brazilian Ruby, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Festive Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, and Golden-chevroned Tanager. We may also encounter other animals, such as the South American Tapir.

More impressions of this tour can be found in the Brazil photo gallery at www.stevesanchezphoto.com.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival at São Paulo airport, where we will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight at a hotel in São Paulo.

Day 2: Early flight to Cuiabá, followed by a road transfer to our lodge in the Pantanal (approximately 4 hours), with photographic stops along the way. Overnight at Aymara Lodge.

Day 3: Full day of photography around Aymara Lodge, searching for wildlife in the gardens, such as Hyacinth Macaw, and along the Transpantaneira Road, a fantastic place for birds like Jabiru, Maguari Stork, and many more. Overnight at Aymara Lodge.

Day 4: Transfer to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge, with photographic stops along the way. Overnight at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge.

Day 5: Full day around our lodge, including a boat trip to photograph birds such as Black-collared Hawk. We also have good chances to photograph the elusive Ocelot at the lodge, where it regularly visits a feeding site at night. Overnight at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge.

Day 6: Transfer to Porto Jofre by road, followed by a boat transfer to our floating hotel. In the afternoon, we will have our first opportunities to photograph Jaguars. Overnight at the floating hotel.

Days 7–8: Two full days searching for Jaguars by boat. Overnight at the floating hotel.

Day 9: Transfer to Cuiabá, flight to Campo Grande, and road transfer to Pequi Lodge. Overnight at Pequi Lodge.

Days 10–11: Two full days at Pequi Lodge, a beautiful location with feeders for Plush-crested Jay and Hyacinth Macaw, and excellent opportunities to photograph Giant Anteater, Red-legged Seriema, and Greater Rhea. Overnight at Pequi Lodge.

Day 12: Transfer to Campo Grande for a flight to São Paulo. If time permits, we will visit the feeders at Sítio Macuquinho. Overnight at a hotel in São Paulo.

Days 13–14: Transfer to Trilha dos Tucanos in the Atlantic Forest, where we will spend two full days. It is an excellent place to photograph many species visiting the feeders, such as the spectacular Yellow-fronted Woodpecker. Overnight at Trilha dos Tucanos.

Day 15: Transfer to São Paulo airport for your flight home, marking the end of the tour.

KEY SPECIES

Endemic species: Azure-shouldered Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Brazilian Ruby, Festive Coquette, Chestnut-bellied Guan

Other species: Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Magpie Tanager, Black-goggled Tanager, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Red-crested Cardinal, Savanna Hawk, Black-collared Hawk, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Rufous Cacholote, Black-capped Donacobius, Bare-faced Curassow, Guira Cuckoo, Black-fronted Piping-Guan, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Red-rumped Cacique, Golden-winged Cacique, Plush-crested Jay, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Red-breasted Toucan, Toco Toucan, Saffron Toucanet, Hyacinth Macaw, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Nanday Parakeet, Greater Rhea, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Screamer, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Anhinga, Sunbittern, Jabiru, Maguari Stork, Capped Heron, Rufescent-Tiger Heron, Buff-necked Ibis, Plumbeous Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Ringed kingfisher, Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Wattled Jacana.

Mammals: South American Tapir, Giant Anteater, Giant Otter, Paca, South American Coati, Tayra, Capybara, Ocelot, Jaguar.

TOUR DETAILS

Group Size: Maximum 6 participants + tour guide

Physical Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Accommodation: 3-star hotels and comfortable lodges in beautiful locations

Transportation: Private vehicle with driver (car or minivan), plane, and boat

Climate: Variable –warm in het Pantanal wetlands, warm and humid in the Atlantic forest, with some cold hours in the mornings.

Guide: Experienced English- and Spanish-speaking wildlife photography guide

Suggested Equipment:
– Digital SLR or mirrorless camera
– Telephoto lens of at least 300 mm
– Wide-angle lens
– Macro lens (for those interested in macro photography)
– Tripod or monopod
– Flash

Possible extensions:
– Amazon Photo Tour