Nature
Pantanal
Located in South America, the Pantanal is the largest continuous
inland marsh (delta) on the planet, and from the air is often
(during the rainy season) seen as an immense, flooded plain. The
climate is very hot and rainy in the summer, and cool and dry
in the winter (but quite variable in both seasons). Plant and
animal diversity in the Pantanal is unrivaled elsewhere in the
world. The Pantanal may be divided into ten different regions,
based on soil, vegetation and drainage characteristics. More than
200 species of birds are found here, including the Toco Toucan
(Ramphastos toco), the magnificent Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus
hyacinthinus), the Solitary Tinamou (Tinamus solitarius), the
American Snake Darter, or Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), the Rufescent
Tiger-Heron (Tigrisona lineatum), the fascinating Boat-billed
Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius), three diferent species of storks,
the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), dozens
of hawks, harriers, and falcons, moorhens, coots, terns and sandpipers,
many different hummingbirds, woodpeckers and hundreds of passerines,
such as the troupial (Icterus croconotus) and the magnificent
Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) are all very
easily found in the Pantanal. The openness of the Pantanal insures
the birdwatcher a successful visit with a significant increase
in their life-list!
Foz do Iguaçu
One of the most famous natural wonders of the world, Foz do Iguaçu
(Iguassu Falls) is the unforgettable destination of most people
who visit Brazil. Less than a 2 hour flight from São Paulo
to the city of Foz do Iguaçu; the falls are quickly and
easily accessible. At 10 km from the city, on the border between
Brazil and Argentina, the falls has a wonderful tourist bus, and
well-kept walkways that afford spectacular views of the immense
waterfalls that extends nearly 3 km, beautiful from both the Brazilian
and Argentinean sides. Within Iguaçu National Park, the
falls and the surrounding area is important for conservation with
185,262 ha of well-preserved continuous Atlantic forest, with
its great diversity of birds (> 300 bird species have been
sighted in the park). On the trails, several quite interesting
species are easily seen, including Aratinga leucophthalmus, Ramphastos
toco, Pteroglossus castanotis, Cyanocorax chrysops, and Cacicus
haemorrhous.
Amazonian Rain Forest
The Amazonian Rain Forest is the largest tropical forest on the
planet. Nowhere in the world are so many bird species found, with
approximately 1,300 species found in a variety of Amazonian habitats.
Large macaws (Scarlet Macaw Ara macao and Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Ara ararauna), cotingas (Crimson Fruitcrow Haematoderus militaris and Spangled Cotinga Cotinga cayana) and tanagers (Paradise Tanager
Tangara chilensis) can be heard and seen in the canopy. In the
undestory, a variety of antbirds (Black-spotted Bare-eye Phlegopsis
nigromaculata and White-plumed Antbird Pithys albifrons) and colorful
manakins (Wire-tailed Manakin Pipra filicauda and White-fronted
Manakin Pipra serena) may be seen following antswarms or dancing
in leks. Along the rivers, the exotic Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin is surprisingly easy to find! Your visit to the Amazonian Forests
will be an unforgettable experience.
Fernando de Noronha Arquipelago
The Fernando de Noronha Arquipelago, with its rocky islands, is
another of the spectacular places in Brazil. At 345 km from the
northeasternmost point of South America (in the state of Rio Grande
do Norte) its blue, tropical waters has excellent visibility and
natural pools, and is a favorite among Brazilian and international
scuba divers. Many seabirds may be seen here, including Anous
minutus, A. stolidus, Sterna fuscata, Gygis alba, Sula dactylatra,
S. leucogaster, S. sula, Fregata magnificens, and Phaeton lepturus;
some with large breeding colonies on the arquipelago. Also, an
endemic vireo (Vireo gracilirostris) is found in the forests of
the main island.
Campos rupestres (states
of Minas Gerais and Bahia)
Campos rupestres is the biome associated with the rocky terrain
unique in Brazil. These shrubby, rocky savannas occur between
700 and 2000 m elevation. This biome is noteworthy as an area
with a very high degree of endemism at both the genus and species
levels, especially for plants and birds. Some examples of these
endemic birds include hummingbirds (Augastes lumachellus, A. scutatus),
the Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma chrysolophum in the
family Pipridae), the endangered Cipo Canastero (Asthenes luizae,
in the Furnariidae), and the vulnerable Brasilia Tapaculo (Scytalopus
novacapitalis, in the Rhinocryptidae).
Rio de Janeiro
Rio is Brazil´s most famous and cosmopolitan metropolis,
known worldwide for its scenic beauty. Several "must-see"
attractions include Corcovado (with the famous statue of Jesus
on its peak), Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain),
and 90 km of beautiful beaches. Bird watchers will find many excellent
places for birding in the heart of the city, with species from
the Atlantic Forest, such as the Tijuca National Park and the
Botanical Gardens. Another excellent place to birdwatch near the
city of Rio de Janeiro is Teresópolis.
Culture
Historical cities in
Minas Gerais
Towns in this region were founded in the early 18th century. The
mining wealth of the region brought gold, Baroque art, and fine
architecture. Well preserved and carefully maintained, here you
will find one of the most impressive colonial remains in the Americas.
It was in these cities that Brazil’s first attempts to become
independent from Portugal were inspired.
Parque Nacional da Serra
da Capivara (São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí)
The National Park of Serra da Capivara is considered a Human Culture
Heritage by the United Nations. It preserves very important archeological
treasures – thousands of pre-historic (up to 12,000 ybp)
inscriptions on rock walls. Drawings show the daily routine and
ceremonies of the communities and include animal figures (some
extinct). More than 500 archaeological sites may be visited.
Parati (Rio de Janeiro)
The small coastal village of Parati is 200 km southeast of Rio
de Janeiro and has one of the finest collections of 18th century
Portuguese colonial buildings. In the early 1700’s, it was
a major gold shipping port. Many beautiful beaches with very good
snorkeling and scuba diving sites are found here in Parati.
