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Brazil - Madeira & Tapajós endemics of the Rio Aripuanã

© Red-billed Pied Tanager by Forrest Rowland

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!

Top Birds

Rondonia Bushbird; Harpy & Crested Eagles; Cryptic & Slaty-backed Forest Falcons; Brown-banded & Western Striolated Puffbirds; Ivory-billed Aracari; Golden-collared & Gould's Toucanets; Bonaparte’s, Crimson-bellied & Santarem Parakeets; 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 Nightjars; 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; Tucuxi; Golden-backed Squirrel Monkey; Black-horned Capuchin; Golden-and-white Tassel-ear & Golden-and-white Bare-ear Marmosets; Emperor Tamarin; Red-nosed Bearded Saki; Prince Bernhard's & Chestnut-bellied Titis; Black-faced Spider Monkey; Common Woolly Monkey.

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, small biting insects

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

What our clients say about us

Stephan Lorenz
EA - Brazil

The trip was excellent, and there is no praise too high for Stephan Lorenz!

Dušan Brinkhuizen
PE, Brazil 2023

This was my second trip with Dusan and like the first trip, he made sure everyone was looked after to the best of his abilities and was always attentive to peoples differing needs. He worked extremely well with our local guide, who himself was attentive to everyone, and they both tried hard to get everyone onto the birds. No complaints to them whatsoever. I would be very happy to bird with Dusan again and probably will.

Tuomas Seimola
RB - Manaus 2022

Overall we were very pleased with the trip. We have been to the tropics in various places in SA but hadn’t really experienced the heat of the Amazon. At first I was concerned about the siesta in early afternoon and the loss of bird time but by the third day I looked forward to it!! The lack of ant swarms, foliage-gleaners and mixed foraging flocks was disappointing. Some of the key target species had not been seen by local guides for several months to over a year. We hope it is not an on-going trend due to climate change but it may be. We felt fortunate to have had the opportunity and hope that others can continue to have this experience. We were pleased with the “tag-team effort” by Tuomas and Bradley. They worked well together with making sure the logistics flowed, everyone had their needs met as much as possible, and kept the pace moving. We were fortunate to have 8 people that had all travelled in groups before and were tolerant of various personalities and their strengths and weaknesses. Both Tuomas and Bradley were patient and talented in getting everyone (usually) in the group to see the target species. I will be giving a presentation to the local Audubon Chapter in November and will be recommending Rockjumper and their various trips to the group.

Tuomas Seimola
DB & PB, Brazil 2022

Very productive and relaxing tour

Carlos Sanchez
JK - Pantanal 2022

"The whole tour was perfectly organised: the transportation to the lodge, the accommodation itself, and of course the different trips incl the local guide. Our tour guide Carlos was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Everything went perfect. As this was my first experience with Rockjumper, I was pleasantly surprised about how effortless the whole trip was. I will for sure travel with you again!"

Brazil - Madeira & Tapajós endemics of the Rio Aripuanã 2025

25 Jun 2025 - 07 Jul 2025 (13 days)

USD5,895 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

Tour price (Per person): GBP4,695 * EUR5,501 * AUD8,985 * USD5,895

Single Supplement: GBP653 * EUR765 * AUD1,250 * USD820

Can be linked with: Brazil - Acre Extension 2025

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