Brazil - Madeira & Tapajós endemics of the Rio Aripuanã 2023 - 08 Sep 2023 - 20 Sep 2023 (13 days)
USD0
Spaces Available
Tour price (Per person): Price to be announced
Overview Tour Facts Top Birds
Nowhere inspires more awe and wonder at the raw beauty of remote nature like the Amazon Basin of South America. Pioneered by Major Candido Rondon de Silva, explorations in this region of Brazil became the stuff of legend, as Rondon enabled the first telegraph line and subsequently the first road, to cross the Brazilian Amazon. He discovered numerous indigenous groups, named several major rivers, and is hailed by many Brazilians as one of the true heroes of Brazil’s native people and lands.
This area of Brazil became most famous with the publication of a biographical work on Theodore Roosevelt’s ill-fated expedition on the Rio de Duvida (River of Doubt). None other than Rondon himself escorted and outfitted the expedition in 1914, that nearly cost the ex-president his life. The mishaps of Roosevelt’s adventure only added to the mystique and draw of the area, which continues to be one of the least-accessible, most remote areas in the World. Luckily for us, the Pousada PiraAçu is a very conveniently located lodge where superb birds and wildlife await, including the near mythical Rondonia Bushbird. We we will focus our efforts on seeking out the numerous special bird species on the lodges many trails and river systems. Fine birding will be had in the Porto Velho and Humaita area, on the West Bank of the Madeira River, where we will have exposure to completely unique habitats, and species, on the other side of the Madeira interfluvium. This will be an unforgettable adventure into the heart of the Amazon!
*2024 Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Rondonia Bushbird, Harpy & Crested Eagles, Cryptic & Slaty-backed Forest Falcons, Brown-banded & Western Striolated Puffbird, Ivory-billed Aracari, Golden-collared & Gould's Toucanet, Bonaparte’s, Crimson-bellied & Santarem Parakeet, Peruvian Warbling, Rondonia Warbling, Humaita, Black, Sooty, White-throated, Banded, Rufous-faced, Ferruginous-backed, White-breasted, Spot-backed, Dot-backed, Scale-backed & Hairy-crested Antbirds, Black-necked Red Cotinga, Crimson Fruitcrow, Purple-breasted, Spangled, Purple-throated & Pompadour Cotingas, Blue-backed, Black, Snow-capped, Flame-crowned, Band-tailed, Red-headed & Fiery-capped Manakins, Black-spotted & Pale-faced Bare-eyes, Variegated, Alta Floresta, & Thrush-like Antpittas, Predicted, Plain-throated, White-eyed, Madeira, Ornate, Sclater’s, Ihering’s, Rusty-backed & Leaden Antwrens, Saturnine, Glossy, Natterer’s Slaty, White-shouldered, Amazonian & Pearly Antshrikes, Masked Crimson, Red-shouldered, Black-faced, Hooded, Red-billed Pied, Flame-crested, Fulvous-crested, White-winged Shrike, Dotted, Masked, Paradise, Opal-rumped, Green-and-gold, Swallow & White-rumped Tanagers, Small-billed, Grey, White-throated, Brazilian, Variegated & Red-winged Tinamous, Spix’s Guan, Nocturnal & Razor-billed Curassows, Campina Jay, Sunbittern, Sungrebe, Dark-winged Trumpeter, Tawny-bellied Screech, Crested, Spectacled, Amazonian Pygmy, Black-banded Owls, Long-tailed, White-winged & Rufous Potoos, Spot-tailed & Little Nightjar, Crimson Topaz, Needle-billed, Great-billed & Reddish Hermits, Black-eared Fairy, Green-tailed Goldenthroat, Black-bellied Thorntail, Long-billed Starthroat, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, Blue-chinned, Rufous-throated & White-chinned Sapphires, Black-girdled Barbet, Curl-crested & Red-necked Aracaris.
Top Mammals Lowland Tapir; Puma; Jaguar.
Habitats Covered varzea forest, Beni savannah, white sand forests, cerrado, small oxbow lakes, seasonally flooded areas, mixed terra firme forest, patches of slender bamboo, wide floodplains, transitional forests, upland terra firme and hilly terra firme forest
Expected Climate warm to hot and humid
Max Group Size 8 with 1 local birding leader
Tour Pace & Walking moderate pace, some longer walks
Accommodation good
Ease of Birding moderate with numerous challenging species
Number of Species Expected 450+
Photographic Opportunities average to good
Tour Route Map 
Client Testimonials
Client Testimonials Dates, Leaders and Pricing
2023 DEPARTURES
2024 DEPARTURES
Brazil - Madeira & Tapajós endemics of the Rio Aripuanã 2024 - 07 Sep 2024 - 19 Sep 2024 (13 days)
USD0
Spaces Available
Can be linked with: Brazil - Acre Extension 2024
Tour price (Per person): Price to be announced
Trip Reports
Tour Enquiry
Guides - in addition to Tuomas we a great local guide - whose bird-finding skills were fully up to Rockjumper standards, so had all the resources needed to get us onto the birds. Highlight of the trip was undoubtedly birding in comfort and style on the river cruise section. Being paddled in a canoe through flooded varzea forest must be the height of birding luxury. Land-based sections of the tour were also rewarding despite the inevitable heat and chiggers (fortunately minimal rain). Overall a very satisfying tour, with more lifers for me than on a longer trip to Colombia in 2019 that also included Amazonian habitat on the Vaupes River. A great bunch of people too.
Rob Williams was helpful above and beyond the call by going out of his way to make it an enjoyable tour.
This was a really wonderful trip, so rich in birds, mammals, scenery and food. I really valued the outstanding knowledge all three guides shared with us, their constant awareness of our needs, and their senses of humor. We covered a lot of ground but there was always plenty of time for birding and we were always well fed. I really loved this trip and would recommend it to everyone who wasn't to see plenty of birds.
I had the very best time on tour with Stephan. He is an excellent leader and a lovely, kind human being. In terms of his technical ability as a birding leader, his eyesight and hearing skills are excellent, which coupled with his first class fieldcraft and ID skills, meant that we saw/heard over 500 species during our tour. He also gelled well with the local guide Caio , so that in terms of finding, IDing and showing the birds to the group, we were treated to splendid views of our target species plus many many 'bonus birds' too. Stephan was also very patient with group members, some of whom for a variety of personal reasons, were less able to see the birds than the majority of the group-so that wherever possible-every group member who wanted to, had the opportunity to see every bird.
Very productive and relaxing tour