​PARROTS OF THE PANTANAL, BRAZIL

August 23 - August 31, 2018
$2,399 per person
Limited to 14 participants
* Does not include airfare to Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU)
* Includes $250 tax deductible donation to support conservation. 

Ever wonder what parrots do all day in the wild? Phoenix Landing invites you to explore the Parrots of the Pantanal. An exciting yet low impact 7 night/8 day adventure that takes you into the Pantanal where we will experience over a dozen different species of parrots in the wild. From the smaller conures to the largest and most graceful Hyacinth macaw, you'll be able to observe wild parrots up close and marvel at their beauty, ingenuity, and social dynamics. If you ever wondered why your parrot was acting a certain way, come to see them in the wild and understand why first hand!

​If you are interested in our 2018 Brazilian ecotour, contact us at phoenixlanding@earthlink.net for more information.
Our next ecotour to Brazil will include some favorites. This 7 night/8 day tour will take us to some exceptional sites. After landing in Sao Paulo, we'll fly on to Campo Grande where we will spend time with Neiva Guedes, the scientist that led the effort to preserve the hyacinth macaw. Next we will head to Posada Aquape for a couple of days where we will see plenty of hyacinth macaws, toucans, Amazons, conures and some quakers and pionus parrots. The next stop will be the San Francisco Lodge  where there are often an abundance of nanday conures, Amazons and a variety of macaws.  The final destination is the magical Buracas das Arara (the "hole of the macaws") where we will see greenwing macaws in great numbers.

Aug 24, Day One
Campo Grande, Brazil

After departing the U.S. on August 23, we will arrive early morning in Sao Paulo and all meet at the airport. Then we’ll hop on another plane to Campo Grande where our Brazilian adventure properly begins. Known as the gateway to the Pantanal, this bustling city features nearly a million inhabitants and is home to a thriving population of macaws. In the afternoon we will meet with Dr. Neiva Guedes, founder of the Hyacinth Macaw Project at her research headquarters. Dr. Guedes is renowned in the world of parrot conservation and is credited with saving the Hyacinth Macaw from extinction. After an informative presentation about the macaws, we will overnight in a western style hotel, the Novotel, in the city of Campo Grande. (Meals Included: None)

Aug 25, Day Two
Campo Grande and Aquape

This morning we will explore the parrots of Campo Grande with Dr. Guedes and her research team. They are currently monitoring the reproduction and nesting success of the blue and gold macaws within the urban environment. We’ll get to visit several macaw nests scattered throughout the city where we’ll get up-close looks at the chicks. After an exciting morning we’ll finish out our Campo Grande visit by eating lunch at an authentic Brazilian steakhouse. After lunch, we will make our way to the Patanal and the San Francisco Lodge. We’ll spend two nights and days exploring the flooded rice fields of this active 37,000 acre farm. The sheer volume of parrots, water fowl, storks (including the 4 foot tall Jabaru Stork) and herons will enthrall you. 
​(Meals B, L, D)

Aug 26-27, ​Days Three & Four
San Francisco Lodge

Awake to the sounds of the Pantanal coming alive all around you. Tours include safari truck, trekking on elevated boardwalks (some a mile long) through the jungle marshes, and boating. We’ll even get in a little piranha fishing and feed our catch to the ever hungry hawks that lurk nearby. Back at the lodge we’ll enjoy the antics of the Amazons and nanday conures that come down to investigate the bustling activity of the lodge. Not to be outdone, blue and gold macaws and peach front conures fly through the canopy around the lodge enjoying the fruits and palm nuts. Keep your eye out for the Giant Anteater, and check it’s back to see if a baby is catching a ride.  After lunch, we'll travel by mini van to the Pousada Aquape Lodge for dinner and a night safari.  (Meals B, L, D)

Aug 28 - 29, Days Five & Six
Pousada Aquape

From parrots chattering to the howler monkeys’ deep thrumming as they move along the river banks of the Aquidauana river, adventure will beacon you at first light. There are plenty of opportunities around this working cattle ranch to sit and watch the wildlife. We have witnessed parent hyacinth macaws teaching their juveniles to fly and forage; blue and gold macaw pairs building nests in palm trees; conures eating from hot cow dung; and pionus enjoying cashew tree flowers. It is also a comfortable environment for just relaxing and getting to know the beauty of Brazil. There will be many toucans too! This delightful lodge attracts many parrot species, as well as opportunities for riding horses, boating, trekking, and safari truck excursions. After lunch on the the 29th, we will travel to Bonito (about 3.5 hours) and the Olho D'aqua Lodge for dinner (Meals B,L,D)

Aug 30 Day Seven
Bonito and Buraco das Araras

After breakfast, we will go to the truly awe inspiring location for parrot lovers, Buraco da Araras (Hole of the Macaws). It is a collapsed sandstone cavern which left a sinkhole a third of a mile across and over 400 feet deep. While perched on platforms overlooking the sheer cliffs you will enjoy a rare and truly magical sight of dozens of greenwing macaws flying below you. You will witness them foraging, playing, building nests in the rock crevices and raising their young. We'll have a hearty lunch nearby.  After lunch, you'll have the optional opportunity to snorkel in the nearby river Rio da Prata where you’ll get to enjoy many great species of fish in the crystal clear water of this jungle river ($83 extra). Or if you prefer, you can return to Buraco das Araras for more parrot watching. Then we'll return to the Olho D'aqua for a pleasant dinner and relaxation.  (Meals B, L, D)

Aug 31, Day Eight
Return to Campo Grande

After breakfast at the Olho D'aqua Lodge in Bonito we will transfer back to Campo Grande for our flights back to Sao Paulo and the United States.  (Meals B).

For those who wish to continue their beautiful Brazilian adventures, we will take small Cessna planes much deeper into the Patanal to a small family ranch where nature takes its course. For more information about this extension, see below. 
August 23 - August 31
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​$2,399 per person,
Based on Double Occupancy
Single occupancy is $2,720
All photos courtesy of Kevin Blaylock

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EXTENSION to BAIA DAS PEDRAS
AUGUST 31st - SEPTEMBER 4th, Limited to 12 Participants
​$1,700 per person, based on double occupancy ($1,810 single occupancy)
After leaving Bonito on the morning of the 31st, the group will head towards Campo Grande for flights back to the U.S. However, if you elect to continue on the extension, we will hop on small Cessna planes to Baia das Pedras. After arriving that afternoon, we will spend 3 more full days at this very small family-run lodge is in the outer reaches of the Patanal. You can rest in a hammock while parrots shear off mangos in the tree above you, or take a hike to watch the hyacinths nest or drink in the marshes. We will have the opportunity for 2 daily tours, and there are several activities available to include riding horses, trekking, or canoe tours. Wildlife in this part of the Patanal has remained completely natural and without human interference - a beautiful sight to see. Watching parrots in a totally natural habitat is unforgettable, and we hope you will join us. Due to lodge limitations, this trip will be limited to 12 people.