Birdwatching

This is the most comprehensive journey we offer through Northeastern Brazil—a deep, meticulously planned expedition across some of the country's most diverse, challenging, and rewarding birdwatching regions. Over the course of 25 days, we traverse six states, covering the Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, *campos rupestres* (rocky grasslands), coastal plains, and isolated forest refuges that harbor some of the rarest birds on the planet.
The itinerary begins in the transition zones between Maranhão and Piauí, where the legendary Kaempfer's Woodpecker still survives, and unfolds gradually through a series of iconic locations: "islands" of humid forest like Guaramiranga; the dramatic Caatinga landscapes of Quixadá and Canudos—global stronghold of Lear's Macaw; and the extraordinary Chapada do Araripe, the only place on Earth where one can observe the Araripe Manakin.
From there, we enter the most threatened section of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: the Pernambuco Endemism Center. Here, fragments such as Serra do Urubu harbor an impressive concentration of globally threatened species, including the Seven-colored Tanager, Orange-bellied Antwren, Alagoas Tyrannulet, Willis's Antbird, and the stunning Green-tailed Goldenthroat. It is one of the most intense and significant stages of the trip, where birdwatching and conservation go hand in hand.
As the route heads south toward Bahia, the landscape and avifauna transform once again. Chapada Diamantina offers sweeping vistas and high-altitude endemic species, such as the Hooded Visorbearer and the Diamantina Tapaculo; Meanwhile, Boa Nova, Serra Bonita, Serra das Lontras, and the lowland forests of Itacaré represent the very best of birdwatching in the Atlantic Forest—ranging from liana-rich woodlands and hummingbird gardens to some of the last refuges for species such as the Scaled Antbird, Banded Cotinga, Boa Nova Tapaculo, and Bahia Tapaculo.
This is not a rushed trip designed merely to "tick off" species on a list. It is a demanding yet rewarding expedition, crafted for birders who wish to gain a deep understanding of Northeastern Brazil: its birds, its landscapes, and the people and projects working to keep these places alive. If there is any birdwatching expedition in Brazil that can truly be called a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, this is it.