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Brazil - Northeast - Classic

© Ruby-topax Hummingbird by Lev Frid
Brazil - Northeast - Classic 2028

09 Jan 2028 - 26 Jan 2028 (18 days)

BRL53,000 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Lev Frid

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Tour Price (Per person): BRL53,000 (USD9,651 * GBP7,430 * AUD14,363)

Single Supplement: BRL4,200 (USD765 * GBP589 * AUD1,138)

This tour pairs with: Brazil - Northeast - Endangered Endemics Extension 2028

Brazil - Northeast - Classic 2029

07 Jan 2029 - 24 Jan 2029 (18 days)

BRL53,000 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
Book Now

Tour Price (Per person): BRL53,000 (USD9,651 * GBP7,430 * AUD14,363)

Single Supplement: BRL4,620 (USD841 * GBP648 * AUD1,252)

This tour pairs with: Brazil - Northeast - Endangered Endemics Extension 2029

Pricing notes : *All prices are estimated, and dates may change*

Northeast Brazil is a region of striking contrasts, where gleaming white-sand beaches give way to arid, cactus-studded landscapes and cool, forested highlands. This diversity of habitats supports one of South America’s most rewarding birding regions, renowned for its exceptional concentration of range-restricted and endemic species. From dry Caatinga to lush Atlantic Forest, this tour samples the finest birding sites across Ceará and Bahia, delivering an outstanding species list in a compact itinerary.

Our journey begins in Sobral before heading inland to the forested slopes of Serra de Baturite, where highlights include Grey-breasted Parakeet, Hooded and Ceará Gnateaters, and Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant. We then continue to the dramatic granite inselbergs of Quixadá, searching for specialties such as Pygmy Nightjar and White-browed Guan. Moving south, we bird the Chapada do Araripe region via Santana do Cariri and Barbalha, positioning ourselves for one of Brazil’s most iconic endemics, the dazzling Araripe Manakin, alongside White-browed Antpitta and Great Xenops. The dry Caatinga around Canudos provides a stark contrast and delivers a major highlight of the tour, the Critically Endangered Lear’s (Indigo) Macaw.

We then transition to the spectacular landscapes of Chapada Diamantina, widely regarded as one of Brazil’s premier birding destinations. This breathtaking plateau hosts several localized endemics including Hooded Visorbearer, Grey-backed Tachuri, Diamantina Tapaculo, and the recently described Sincorá Antwren. From the interior highlands we descend toward the Atlantic Forest foothills at Boa Nova, a biodiversity hotspot where forest and Caatinga meet. With over 430 recorded bird species, the area offers superb birding and chances for Slender Antbird, Narrow-billed Antwren, Bahia Spinetail, and Pin-tailed Manakin. We then spend time in the outstanding Serra Bonita Reserve, home to Pink-legged Graveteiro, Plumbeous Antvireo, Bahia Tyrannulet, and Crescent-chested Puffbird.

The tour concludes along Bahia’s coast, birding the forests and mangroves around Itacaré and Praia do Forte, before finishing in Salvador. This classic itinerary delivers an exceptional cross-section of Northeast Brazil’s most important habitats and endemics in just 18 days.

Combined, the Classic Tour and Endangered Endemics Extension form one of the most comprehensive birding experiences in Northeast Brazil, offering remarkable habitat diversity, scenery, and over 100 endemic bird species.

Top Birds

Lear’s Macaw; Araripe, Kinglet, White-crowned & Blue-backed Manakins; Hooded Visorbearer; Horned Sungem; Brazilian Ruby, Pink-legged Gravateiro; Sincora, Star-throated and Salvadori’s & and Narrow-billed Antwrens; Slender & Scaled Antbirds; Black-cheeked Gnateater; Little Wood Rail; Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant; Grey-breasted Parakeet; Ceara Gnateater; Pygmy Nightjar; Caatinga Cachalote; Great Xenops; White-browed Antpitta; Bahia Tyrannulet; Striated Softtail; Bahia Spinetail.

Habitats Covered

humid and semi-deciduous forests, chapada, cloud forest, lowland forest, dry forest, scrub, caatinga and cerrado

Expected Climate

warm to hot and humid, cooler in the higher lying areas

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader

Tour Pace & Walking

MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.

Moderate. Endemic and target focussed trip. Not suitable for dedicated photographers; inexperienced birders; or anyone with mobility or health challenges.

Accommodation

Mostly comfortable, some lodges are simple, not all lodges have enough rooms for Single rooming.

Ease of Birding

Moderate to demanding. Forest species visuals aren’t always of great quality. Forest edge & caatinga birding is more rewarding. Several low density or difficult target species.

Photographic Opportunities

Reasonable to good. Internal forest photography is challenging, several fruit & hummingbird feeders.

What our clients say about us

Robert Williams
LM & JM, Brazil 2018

Rob Williams was knowledgeable about all kinds of animals, and went out of his way to point out lizards he spotted that I would otherwise have missed. I greatly appreciate that. Some of the best moments on the trip for me included sightings of Jaguars, otters, Crab-eating Fox, agoutis, Guinea Pigs, Capybaras and Tegu Lizards. Iguazú Falls was spectacular.

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.

Bradley Davis
AB, Brazil - Manaus & Rio Negro 2026

Bradley was a great leader, super knowledgeable about all the birds and worked really hard to make our experience a good one. Would recommend him as a leader for sure!

Bradley Davis
GB, Brazil - Manaus & Rio Negro 2026

Brad Davis is one of the very best birding guides with whom I have had the pleasure of birding. I told him that he was the Hank Aaron of birding guides; the only guide I've ever birded with who would deserve an even higher rating was Brian Finch in Kenya. Brad knows the ID of the birds, the vocalizations, the taxonomy, the binomials, and so forth. He also possesses vast knowledge of Brazil's plants and wildlife, beyond just birds, along with geography, culture, and so forth. On top of that, he speaks perfect Portuguese, as best I could tell (being a non-Portuguese speaker myself). Those are rare traits to find all in one guide! This was a very good trip indeed. As I am writing this, I am so tired from the long trip back home, that I am not in my best frame of mind, and have probably overlooked something that might be food for thought in this survey response. I would like to add that the boat portion of the trip was excellent. I was particularly impressed with "Junior" Moasir, who was the rep from the boating company aboard." He was personable, knew the birds and wildlife, and helped make that part of the trip fun and memorable. Oh, and the food was excellent throughout the trip! I don't need a member of the team to contact me regarding my feedback, but if someone does want to contact me, that is fine, also.

xTuomas Seimola
DB & PB, Brazil 2022

Very productive and relaxing tour

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Route Map

Tour Route Map