© Jonathan Rossouw
jacare caimans
TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Reservations: 25% of the expedition fare, along
with a completed and signed Reservation Form, will reserve
a place for you on this Zegrahm Holdings LLC, d/b/a
Eco-Expeditions (ECO), program. The balance of the expedi-
tion fare is due 120 days prior to departure. Air fare is also due
at this time. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be
paid in U.S. dollars. Credit cards accepted for deposit only.
2. Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Notification of cancellation of this program and any indepen-
dent travel arrangements must be received in writing by ECO.
At the time we receive your written cancellation, the following
penalties will apply:
• 120 or more days prior to departure: $500 per person
• 60 through 119 days prior to departure:
50% of expedition fare
• 59 days prior to departure through day of departure:
100% of expedition fare
Some air fare may be nonrefundable. Once an expedition
has departed, there will be no refunds from ECO for any
unused portions of the trip. The above policy also applies to
all extensions and independent travel arrangements made in
conjunction with this program.
3. Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Insurance: We strongly advise that all travelers purchase
trip cancellation and interruption insurance as protection
against an emergency that may force you to cancel or leave
from an expedition while it is in progress. A brochure
describing coverage will be sent to you upon receipt of
your reservation.
4. Share Policy: Accommodations on all ECO
programs are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling
alone and wish to share accommodations, a roommate will be
assigned to you whenever possible. When pairing roommates,
we will always pair participants of the same sex. All shared
accommodations are nonsmoking. Upon booking you will
be required to pay a Single Supplement, if we are able to pair
you with a roommate the supplement will be refunded. Please
note that single accommodations are limited and cannot be
guaranteed throughout.
5. Medical Information: Participation on an
ECO program requires that you be in generally good health.
It is essential that persons with any medical problems and
related dietary restrictions make them known to us well before
departure. We can counsel you on whether the expedition you
have selected is appropriate for you.
The tour leader has the right to disqualify any participant at
any time during the tour if he/she feels the participant is physi-
cally incapable and/or if a participant’s continued participation
will jeopardize either the individual involved or the group.
There will be no refund given under these circumstances.
6. Luggage Restrictions: Luggage size and weight
limitations for both checked and carry-on luggage, imposed
by the airlines or as an operational requirement due to type
of aircraft, will apply for flights to/from/within this program.
Specifications will be provided with pre-departure materials.
7. Fuel Cost Increases and Currency
Fluctuation: In order to keep rates as low as possible,
we do not build into the trip fare an allowance to cover
Jabiru storks
possible increases from fuel costs or currency fluctuations.
Therefore, as fuel-cost increases may occur and currencies
do fluctuate around the world, it may be necessary for us
to initiate a rate surcharge at any time before departure if
there are exceptional cost increases beyond our control.
8. Itinerary Changes & Trip Delay:
Itineraries are based on information available at the time
of printing and are subject to change. ECO reserves the
right to change a program’s dates, staff, itineraries, or accom-
modations as conditions warrant. If a trip must be delayed,
or the itinerary changed due to bad weather, road conditions,
transportation delays, airline schedules, government interven-
tion, sickness, or any other contingency for which ECO or its
agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays or changes is
not included.
9. Itinerary Cancellation: ECO reserves the
right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason
whatsoever, including too few participants or logistical
problems such as strikes, wars, acts of God, or any other
circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvis-
able. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded,
and this refund will be the limit of ECO’s liability. ECO is
not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in
preparing for the trip, including nonrefundable or penalty-
carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees,
or other trip-related expenses.
10. Participation: ECO reserves the right to decline
to accept any individual as an expedition member for any
reason whatsoever.
11. Limitations of Liabilit y: This section
defines ECO’s responsibility with respect to all of our trips,
including extensions and independent arrangements. Please
read it carefully.
ECO, its Owners, Agents, and Employees give notice that
they act only as the agent for the owners, contractors, and
suppliers providing means of transportation and/or all other
related travel services and assume no responsibility howsoever
caused for injury, loss, or damage to person or property in
connection with any service resulting directly from: acts of
God, detention, annoyance, delays, expenses arising from
quarantine, strikes, thefts, pilferage, force majeure, failure
of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled,
civil disturbances, terrorism, government restrictions or
regulations, and discrepancies or changes in transit or hotel
services over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in
the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the
comfort and well-being of the passengers.
As described in item 7 above, all prices are subject to change.
As described in item 9 above, in the event that an expedition
must be cancelled, ECO is not responsible for any personal
expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the
program.
On advancement of deposit to ECO, the depositor acknowl-
edges that he/she has read and understands the above recited
terms and conditions, and agrees to be bound by them.
California Seller of Travel Program Registration #
2031043-40
Meet our leader
MARK BRAZIL developed his fascination
with the natural world, especially birds, during
his boyhood in the landlocked English county of
Worcestershire. He then pursued his academic
interests in biology during studies in England and
Scotland, while exploring the coasts and moun-
tains of Britain in search of birds. Mark earned his
Ph.D. from Stirling University, Scotland, for his
work on avian ecology and behavior in Iceland and
since then ornithological research, natural history
Cover: top: Hyacinth McCaw; bottom, from top left clockwise: Common marmoset, Violet-capped woodnymph, © Mark Brazil; Toco Toucan © Jonathan Rossouw and Holly Faithfull; Capybara © Mark Brazil
consultancy for TV companies, and guiding naturalists and wildlife photographers have
taken him to all continents. Fascinated by island biology, he is a leading authority on
the natural history of Japan. He has traveled extensively in South America from Peru to
Patagonia and has now made seven trips to Brazil. Mark considers Brazil to be his favorite
Eco-Expedition destination. In addition to being a field naturalist, he is a columnist,
The Pantanal
author, and editor. His books include Wild Asia: Spirit of a Continent; The Birds of Japan;
The Whooper Swan; and, most recently, A Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia.
For adventurers, naturalists, and travelers, few places can match the verdant vistas and
biological diversity of the Pantanal, the planet’s largest wetland area. It is one of the most
© Jonathan Rossouw
immense, pristine, and biologically rich environments in the world. Lying in a seasonally
flooded basin of the Paraguay River, it covers over 60,000 square miles, an area larger than
Greece, and extends to areas in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. With its extraordinarily
concentrated and diverse flora and fauna, plus a landscape spanning a variety of ecological
subregions, the Pantanal remains one of the world’s great natural wonders.
The word “pantanal” is Portuguese for “swamp.” Each year, fed by rains from October
through March, the area experiences heavy and massive flooding. By June, the waters begin
to recede, resulting in even denser concentrations of wildlife in a green and shimmering
waterscape. By September and October, spectacled caiman can be seen in the hundreds and
waterbirds abound. At this time, the numbers of birds, mammals, and reptiles are often
staggering, a wildlife extravaganza that rivals scenes from the plains of Africa. Indeed, the
Best of Brazil
Pantanal holds the largest concentrations of megafauna in the whole of South America;
yet, even today, it is a remote and largely unknown watery wilderness in the very heart of
South America.
Diverse and unique, the Pantanal is like no other region on Earth. It is an unparalleled
WITH THE PANTANAL
wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty, representing one of the last intact ecological areas
in the world. It is home to the highest concentration of jaguars on the planet; a refuge for
the continent’s largest land mammal, the tapir; a sanctuary for over 400 species of birds;
and the habitat for over 10 million caiman, the highest concentration of crocodilians in
the world. It is little wonder, then, that this rich, bio-diverse region is regarded as South
America’s most important wildlife sanctuary.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Travelers on our Best of Brazil program should be aware that although the tour is not
overly strenuous, all participants should be reasonably fit and capable of moderate
exercise while searching for primates and birds. On several occasions there will be jungle
hikes that will entail being able to walk, unaided, along rugged trails with occasional
inclines. All accommodations are the best available in the area for a group of our size
and will range from simple to luxurious. Please note that in most of Brazil’s hotels, twin
beds are standard. Let us know if you prefer a double bed and we will request it wherever
possible. Nonsmoking rooms are rarely available in South America. Participants should
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
also be aware that several days of our itinerary require lengthy bus journeys along rough
roads to transport us to the areas that are diverse and rich in wildlife. We will mail a
complete list of recommended clothing and a suggested reading list to you approximately
192 Nickerson Street #200 Seattle, WA 98109 USA
five months prior to departure. For travelers who delight in natural history, possess a sense
of humor, flexibility, and a true spirit of adventure, your adventures in Brazil will be Tel: 206-285-4000 or 1-800-628-8747
remembered for many years to come.
®
Fax: 206-285-5037 E-mail: info@zeco.com
Giving You the World Web site: www.zeco.com
©Jonathan Rossouw
VICTORIA AMAZONICA WATERLILY iguaÇu falls

brazil
Cuiaba
Canastra National Park takes us through the Day 14
Chestnut-eared Aracari central part of the state of Minas Gerais. The Santa Teresa /

Riv iver
aba im R
rocky, hilly landscape is dotted with farms Vitória / Iguaçu

a
er
Pix
Lombardia Forest
and pastures and the occasional dark Porto Jofre
Caraça Natural Park
Falls

Cui
green patch of remnant forest is lit by Santa Teresa After breakfast we drive to
bolivia Pantanal
bright yellow and purple flowering trees. Muriqui Project Vitória and enjoy lunch in
Dinner and overnight at our hotel. town before boarding our
flight to Iguaçu via Rio de

© Holly Faithfull
Day 4 SOUTH AMERICA Serra da Canastra NP Janeiro. Dinner and overnight
Serra da Canastra Ouro Preto Vitória
Belo Horizonte at our hotel in Iguaçu.
National Park
A vast area of rugged mountains and Rio de Janeiro

© Jonathan Rossouw
Area of Detail
termite-mound-studded grasslands, Serra da
Canastra National Park presents a spectac-
ular backdrop to our full day excursion. The
wooded gullies and rolling savannas support
best of brazil unusual birds, including the comical-looking
toco toucan and cock-tailed tyrant, as well
17 tour days
afternoon, which gives us time to watch the Day 15
Pa hordes of birds at the feeders, to seek out
ra Iguaçu Falls
gu local mammals, including coati, or to simply
ay Iguaçu Falls Atlantic Ocean We have a full day to explore Iguaçu, one
relax. After dinner another fascinating night
of the world’s most dramatic, and South
argentina
map not to scale
drive takes us in search of crab-eating fox,
great potoo, and perhaps even the ocelots
America’s most celebrated waterfall. The falls
are located on the Rio Iguaçu, just above

Dear Adventurer
as the world’s highest concentration of giant occasionally seen in the area. Overnight at
we drive to Belo Horizonte for dinner at a local of the northern Pantanal, the sight of hundreds the meeting point of Brazil, Paraguay, and
Day 1 anteaters. We hope to have good photographic Araras Eco-Lodge.
restaurant and overnight at our hotel. of jacaré caimans, dozens of capybaras, and a Argentina, and surrounded by luxuriant
USA opportunities of these and other fascinating subtropical rain forest. Today we visit the
Our popular Best of Brazil adventure is an immersion into this huge country’s stunning multitude of water birds will have presented a Day 12
Depart from the USA this evening on your animals as they roam the grasslands. Dinner Day 8 Argentinean side of the two-and-a-half-mile-
biodiversity and a wildlife safari that presents unparalleled eye-witness opportunities. We unique and memorable spectacle. Dinner and Cuiaba / Vitória /
independent overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. and overnight at our hotel. Belo Horizonte / Cuiaba / wide falls to enjoy a glorious combination of
traverse several different biomes, encounter some of the planet’s rarest and most endan- overnight at the Porto Jofre Hotel. Santa Teresa
Pantanal furious whitewater, rain forest, and diverse
gered primates, see as many as 25 species of indigenous mammals, and study ten times as Day 2 Day 5 We return to Cuiaba, transfer to the airport
We depart Belo Horizonte very early this Day 10 birdlife, including caciques, toucans, and
many birds. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Serra da Canastra National for our flight to Vitória, the capital of Espírito
morning and fly to Cuiaba. We set out for Porto Jofre / Pantanal / woodpeckers. Of special interest are the
Arrive Rio de Janeiro and transfer to our Park / Caraça Natural Park Santo, then drive to Santa Teresa, a charming
We begin in Serra da Canastra National Park, a vast area of rugged mountains and termite- the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland Cuiaba River kettles of great dusky swifts as they swirl
hotel. After lunch depart for an afternoon Today we set out overland to Caraça Natural city whose tiled-roof farmhouses reveal its
mound-studded grasslands. If we are fortunate the brilliant yellow tabebuia (trumpet) trees area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a To fully explore this rich wetland area, we spend and dart through the rising clouds of spray
at the Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, a Park with stops for photos, birding, and 19th-century Italian roots. The town is laid
may be in bloom and we hope to encounter the greater rhea and the red-legged seriema, a Biosphere Reserve. The first 60 miles is through much of today in boats on the Cuiaba River to and cling to the cliffs behind the falls;
botanical microcosm of Brazil, showcasing lunch en route. Set among tall mountains and out in the shape of a cross; flowers and trees
secretary bird look-alike. Photographic opportunities abound, from wonderful landscapes a disturbed cerrado transition ecosystem that watch some of the area’s innumerable riverine among them we may find white-collared and
Victoria Amazonica lilies and more than 700 lush montane forest, this beautiful park was decorate its square. We visit the botanical
to giant anteaters—the world’s highest concentration is found here—in search of their leads to the raised-dirt highway known as the birds, including kingfishers, terns, and skimmers, biscutate swifts. The endangered tegu lizard
species of orchid, and supporting many of the originally a seminary retreat. Our accommoda- garden of the Mello Leitao Museum, where
favorite foods, ants and termites. Transpantaneira. Suddenly, wildlife abounds; as well as keep a lookout for capybaras, caimans, is relatively common here, and the number
region’s common birds. We also ride the cable tions for the next two nights are in renovated flowers and feeders attract multiple species and colors of butterflies is astounding.
car to the top of Sugar Loaf, Rio’s iconic peak, rooms in a wing of the original 17th-century this is one of the finest birding regions on Earth. howler and capuchin monkeys and, if we are of iridescent hummingbirds, including the
Our four-day exploration of the Pantanal is the centerpiece of this exciting and varied The astonishing biodiversity here includes extremely lucky, perhaps even a jaguar. Dinner Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
for marvelous views of the city and its famous seminary, surrounded by park lands among stunning swallow-tailed hummingbird,
program. Encompassing more than 60,000 square miles, this is the planet’s largest seasonal an incredible array of mammals, birds, and and overnight at our hotel.
beaches. Dinner at a local restaurant and high mountains and lush forest. Tonight we and perhaps even the scarce frilled coquette. Day 16
wetland area, eclipsing even Africa’s Okavango Delta in size and diversity. It extends to reptiles. Fish concentrate in the few seasonal
overnight at the Caesar Park Hotel. gather outside the church, hoping to witness a Day 11
Dinner at a local restaurant; overnight at our Iguaçu Falls /
include areas of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay and supports over 400 species of birds; huge pools, which in turn are crowded with storks,
maned wolf coming to take meat, a tradition Pantanal / Pixaim River hotel in Santa Teresa. Rio de Janeiro / USA
numbers of capybara, the world’s largest rodent; and such acclaimed megafauna as jaguar, Day 3 herons, spoonbills, ibises, and limpkins, not
that began more than 15 years ago. Dinner and During today’s drive northward we search for This morning we take a leisurely walking
ocelot, tapir, giant river otter, three species of primates, plus crab-eating raccoons and crab- Rio de Janeiro / Belo to mention ever-watchful jacaré caimans that Day 13
overnight at the seminary. the region’s rare and beautiful hyacinth macaw excursion to admire the Brazilian side of the
eating foxes. Our visit is timed to coincide with the Pantanal’s lowest water levels, giving Horizonte / Serra da Canastra search the ponds for easy prey. We continue
and stop for lunch along the Pixaim River. We Santa Teresa / falls and to enjoy the most spectacular of all
us excellent chances to witness high concentrations of water birds and caiman, and exciting National Park Day 6 through a diverse blend of cattle country, forest,
continue to Araras Eco-Lodge arriving in the late Muriqui Project / the views—the grand panorama. After lunch
opportunities to seek out the many nocturnal mammals of the area. A short morning flight brings us to Belo Caraça Natural Park and swamps, with repeated stops for observation lombardia forest fly to Rio de Janeiro, then connect to your
Horizonte where an overland drive to Serra da We have a full day to explore the Caraça and photography. Our journey continues after After breakfast we drive to Santa Maria de
Next we visit Brazil’s highly endangered Atlantic rain forest, which dates back 20 million independent flight back to the USA.
wilderness on various walks with special dusk with an evening spotlighting excursion to Jetibá to visit the Muriqui Project whose
years earlier than the Amazon. As in Madagascar and New Zealand, extreme isolation and giant river otter
a vast span of time have facilitated the evolution of an incredibly rich fauna and flora here, focus on the endangered masked titi monkey, look for crab-eating foxes, crab-eating raccoons, mission is to study and conserve the popula- Day 17
giant anteater
many of the species are unique to this area. From our base in Santa Teresa, renowned for often located early in the morning by its and other mammals of the area. Dinner and tions and habitats of the northern muriqui. USA
its numerous hummingbird species, we explore the biodiversity of this fascinating region, strange laughing call. We will also look for overnight at our hotel in the Pantanal. One of the world’s 25 most critically endan- Arrive in the USA and connect with your
seeking out endemic birds and several of the 18 primates endemic to these forests. At the the uncommon black-tufted-ear marmoset. gered primates, and South America’s largest flights homeward.
The many birds of the area include such gems Day 9
renowned Muriqui Project we search for South America’s largest primate—the critically primate, the muriqui is endemic to Brazil’s
as the elusive swallow-tailed cotinga and the Pantanal / Porto Jofre Atlantic rain forest region. Only a few hundred
endangered northern muriqui; nearby we look for maned sloth, marmosets, masked titi

hyacinth visorbearer. Dinner and overnight at
monkeys and rare and endemic birds. A visit to celebrated Iguaçu Falls, a two-and-a-half-
the seminary.
mile-wide cataract surrounded by luxuriant rain forest linking Brazil, Argentina, and
Paraguay, provides us with a stunning finale to our journey.
Day 7
Join me for an experience that reveals the neotropics at their very best—where biodiversity Caraça Natural Park / Ouro
has had free rein to assemble one of the greatest collections of wildlife on the planet. Preto / Belo Horizonte
We depart Caraça early this morning, driving
Warmest regards, south to visit the World Heritage Site of Ouro
Preto, a charming colonial city built from the
© Mark Brazil
We spend our first morning in the Pantanal on individuals remain and our visit to the project
the Pixaim River, searching for the family of will help support this species.
giant otters that makes its home in this area.
After lunch we continue southward towards This afternoon we visit the Lombardia Forest,
Porto Jofre, making frequent stops for birds, which shares parkland with the Augusto
nature-viewing, and photography as we head ever Ruschi Reserve, home to the buffy-headed
deeper into the Pantanal. We scan any wetland marmoset, maned sloth, brown capuchin,
areas along the way for capybara and marsh and masked titi monkeys. Birding here is rich
deer, and we stop to admire the immense treetop and rewarding and we hope to find antbirds,

© Jonathan Rossouw
fabulous wealth acquired from what were then nests of the jabiru stork, an iconic bird of the manakins, puffbirds, toucanets, and many
Mark Brazil some of the richest gold mines in the Western region. By the time we reach Porto Jofre, at the more rare and endemic species. Dinner and
© Mark Brazil

Hemisphere. After a lunch and a tour here, very end of the Transpantaneira, in the heart overnight at our hotel.
northern muriqui
©Jonathan Rossouw
VICTORIA AMAZONICA WATERLILY iguaÇu falls

brazil
Cuiaba
Canastra National Park takes us through the Day 14
Chestnut-eared Aracari central part of the state of Minas Gerais. The Santa Teresa /

Riv iver
aba im R
rocky, hilly landscape is dotted with farms Vitória / Iguaçu

a
er
Pix
Lombardia Forest
and pastures and the occasional dark Porto Jofre
Caraça Natural Park
Falls

Cui
green patch of remnant forest is lit by Santa Teresa After breakfast we drive to
bolivia Pantanal
bright yellow and purple flowering trees. Muriqui Project Vitória and enjoy lunch in
Dinner and overnight at our hotel. town before boarding our
flight to Iguaçu via Rio de

© Holly Faithfull
Day 4 SOUTH AMERICA Serra da Canastra NP Janeiro. Dinner and overnight
Serra da Canastra Ouro Preto Vitória
Belo Horizonte at our hotel in Iguaçu.
National Park
A vast area of rugged mountains and Rio de Janeiro

© Jonathan Rossouw
Area of Detail
termite-mound-studded grasslands, Serra da
Canastra National Park presents a spectac-
ular backdrop to our full day excursion. The
wooded gullies and rolling savannas support
best of brazil unusual birds, including the comical-looking
toco toucan and cock-tailed tyrant, as well
17 tour days
afternoon, which gives us time to watch the Day 15
Pa hordes of birds at the feeders, to seek out
ra Iguaçu Falls
gu local mammals, including coati, or to simply
ay Iguaçu Falls Atlantic Ocean We have a full day to explore Iguaçu, one
relax. After dinner another fascinating night
of the world’s most dramatic, and South
argentina
map not to scale
drive takes us in search of crab-eating fox,
great potoo, and perhaps even the ocelots
America’s most celebrated waterfall. The falls
are located on the Rio Iguaçu, just above

Dear Adventurer
as the world’s highest concentration of giant occasionally seen in the area. Overnight at
we drive to Belo Horizonte for dinner at a local of the northern Pantanal, the sight of hundreds the meeting point of Brazil, Paraguay, and
Day 1 anteaters. We hope to have good photographic Araras Eco-Lodge.
restaurant and overnight at our hotel. of jacaré caimans, dozens of capybaras, and a Argentina, and surrounded by luxuriant
USA opportunities of these and other fascinating subtropical rain forest. Today we visit the
Our popular Best of Brazil adventure is an immersion into this huge country’s stunning multitude of water birds will have presented a Day 12
Depart from the USA this evening on your animals as they roam the grasslands. Dinner Day 8 Argentinean side of the two-and-a-half-mile-
biodiversity and a wildlife safari that presents unparalleled eye-witness opportunities. We unique and memorable spectacle. Dinner and Cuiaba / Vitória /
independent overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. and overnight at our hotel. Belo Horizonte / Cuiaba / wide falls to enjoy a glorious combination of
traverse several different biomes, encounter some of the planet’s rarest and most endan- overnight at the Porto Jofre Hotel. Santa Teresa
Pantanal furious whitewater, rain forest, and diverse
gered primates, see as many as 25 species of indigenous mammals, and study ten times as Day 2 Day 5 We return to Cuiaba, transfer to the airport
We depart Belo Horizonte very early this Day 10 birdlife, including caciques, toucans, and
many birds. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Serra da Canastra National for our flight to Vitória, the capital of Espírito
morning and fly to Cuiaba. We set out for Porto Jofre / Pantanal / woodpeckers. Of special interest are the
Arrive Rio de Janeiro and transfer to our Park / Caraça Natural Park Santo, then drive to Santa Teresa, a charming
We begin in Serra da Canastra National Park, a vast area of rugged mountains and termite- the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland Cuiaba River kettles of great dusky swifts as they swirl
hotel. After lunch depart for an afternoon Today we set out overland to Caraça Natural city whose tiled-roof farmhouses reveal its
mound-studded grasslands. If we are fortunate the brilliant yellow tabebuia (trumpet) trees area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a To fully explore this rich wetland area, we spend and dart through the rising clouds of spray
at the Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, a Park with stops for photos, birding, and 19th-century Italian roots. The town is laid
may be in bloom and we hope to encounter the greater rhea and the red-legged seriema, a Biosphere Reserve. The first 60 miles is through much of today in boats on the Cuiaba River to and cling to the cliffs behind the falls;
botanical microcosm of Brazil, showcasing lunch en route. Set among tall mountains and out in the shape of a cross; flowers and trees
secretary bird look-alike. Photographic opportunities abound, from wonderful landscapes a disturbed cerrado transition ecosystem that watch some of the area’s innumerable riverine among them we may find white-collared and
Victoria Amazonica lilies and more than 700 lush montane forest, this beautiful park was decorate its square. We visit the botanical
to giant anteaters—the world’s highest concentration is found here—in search of their leads to the raised-dirt highway known as the birds, including kingfishers, terns, and skimmers, biscutate swifts. The endangered tegu lizard
species of orchid, and supporting many of the originally a seminary retreat. Our accommoda- garden of the Mello Leitao Museum, where
favorite foods, ants and termites. Transpantaneira. Suddenly, wildlife abounds; as well as keep a lookout for capybaras, caimans, is relatively common here, and the number
region’s common birds. We also ride the cable tions for the next two nights are in renovated flowers and feeders attract multiple species and colors of butterflies is astounding.
car to the top of Sugar Loaf, Rio’s iconic peak, rooms in a wing of the original 17th-century this is one of the finest birding regions on Earth. howler and capuchin monkeys and, if we are of iridescent hummingbirds, including the
Our four-day exploration of the Pantanal is the centerpiece of this exciting and varied The astonishing biodiversity here includes extremely lucky, perhaps even a jaguar. Dinner Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
for marvelous views of the city and its famous seminary, surrounded by park lands among stunning swallow-tailed hummingbird,
program. Encompassing more than 60,000 square miles, this is the planet’s largest seasonal an incredible array of mammals, birds, and and overnight at our hotel.
beaches. Dinner at a local restaurant and high mountains and lush forest. Tonight we and perhaps even the scarce frilled coquette. Day 16
wetland area, eclipsing even Africa’s Okavango Delta in size and diversity. It extends to reptiles. Fish concentrate in the few seasonal
overnight at the Caesar Park Hotel. gather outside the church, hoping to witness a Day 11
Dinner at a local restaurant; overnight at our Iguaçu Falls /
include areas of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay and supports over 400 species of birds; huge pools, which in turn are crowded with storks,
maned wolf coming to take meat, a tradition Pantanal / Pixaim River hotel in Santa Teresa. Rio de Janeiro / USA
numbers of capybara, the world’s largest rodent; and such acclaimed megafauna as jaguar, Day 3 herons, spoonbills, ibises, and limpkins, not
that began more than 15 years ago. Dinner and During today’s drive northward we search for This morning we take a leisurely walking
ocelot, tapir, giant river otter, three species of primates, plus crab-eating raccoons and crab- Rio de Janeiro / Belo to mention ever-watchful jacaré caimans that Day 13
overnight at the seminary. the region’s rare and beautiful hyacinth macaw excursion to admire the Brazilian side of the
eating foxes. Our visit is timed to coincide with the Pantanal’s lowest water levels, giving Horizonte / Serra da Canastra search the ponds for easy prey. We continue
and stop for lunch along the Pixaim River. We Santa Teresa / falls and to enjoy the most spectacular of all
us excellent chances to witness high concentrations of water birds and caiman, and exciting National Park Day 6 through a diverse blend of cattle country, forest,
continue to Araras Eco-Lodge arriving in the late Muriqui Project / the views—the grand panorama. After lunch
opportunities to seek out the many nocturnal mammals of the area. A short morning flight brings us to Belo Caraça Natural Park and swamps, with repeated stops for observation lombardia forest fly to Rio de Janeiro, then connect to your
Horizonte where an overland drive to Serra da We have a full day to explore the Caraça and photography. Our journey continues after After breakfast we drive to Santa Maria de
Next we visit Brazil’s highly endangered Atlantic rain forest, which dates back 20 million independent flight back to the USA.
wilderness on various walks with special dusk with an evening spotlighting excursion to Jetibá to visit the Muriqui Project whose
years earlier than the Amazon. As in Madagascar and New Zealand, extreme isolation and giant river otter
a vast span of time have facilitated the evolution of an incredibly rich fauna and flora here, focus on the endangered masked titi monkey, look for crab-eating foxes, crab-eating raccoons, mission is to study and conserve the popula- Day 17
giant anteater
many of the species are unique to this area. From our base in Santa Teresa, renowned for often located early in the morning by its and other mammals of the area. Dinner and tions and habitats of the northern muriqui. USA
its numerous hummingbird species, we explore the biodiversity of this fascinating region, strange laughing call. We will also look for overnight at our hotel in the Pantanal. One of the world’s 25 most critically endan- Arrive in the USA and connect with your
seeking out endemic birds and several of the 18 primates endemic to these forests. At the the uncommon black-tufted-ear marmoset. gered primates, and South America’s largest flights homeward.
The many birds of the area include such gems Day 9
renowned Muriqui Project we search for South America’s largest primate—the critically primate, the muriqui is endemic to Brazil’s
as the elusive swallow-tailed cotinga and the Pantanal / Porto Jofre Atlantic rain forest region. Only a few hundred
endangered northern muriqui; nearby we look for maned sloth, marmosets, masked titi

hyacinth visorbearer. Dinner and overnight at
monkeys and rare and endemic birds. A visit to celebrated Iguaçu Falls, a two-and-a-half-
the seminary.
mile-wide cataract surrounded by luxuriant rain forest linking Brazil, Argentina, and
Paraguay, provides us with a stunning finale to our journey.
Day 7
Join me for an experience that reveals the neotropics at their very best—where biodiversity Caraça Natural Park / Ouro
has had free rein to assemble one of the greatest collections of wildlife on the planet. Preto / Belo Horizonte
We depart Caraça early this morning, driving
Warmest regards, south to visit the World Heritage Site of Ouro
Preto, a charming colonial city built from the
© Mark Brazil
We spend our first morning in the Pantanal on individuals remain and our visit to the project
the Pixaim River, searching for the family of will help support this species.
giant otters that makes its home in this area.
After lunch we continue southward towards This afternoon we visit the Lombardia Forest,
Porto Jofre, making frequent stops for birds, which shares parkland with the Augusto
nature-viewing, and photography as we head ever Ruschi Reserve, home to the buffy-headed
deeper into the Pantanal. We scan any wetland marmoset, maned sloth, brown capuchin,
areas along the way for capybara and marsh and masked titi monkeys. Birding here is rich
deer, and we stop to admire the immense treetop and rewarding and we hope to find antbirds,

© Jonathan Rossouw
fabulous wealth acquired from what were then nests of the jabiru stork, an iconic bird of the manakins, puffbirds, toucanets, and many
Mark Brazil some of the richest gold mines in the Western region. By the time we reach Porto Jofre, at the more rare and endemic species. Dinner and
© Mark Brazil

Hemisphere. After a lunch and a tour here, very end of the Transpantaneira, in the heart overnight at our hotel.
northern muriqui
©Jonathan Rossouw
VICTORIA AMAZONICA WATERLILY iguaÇu falls

brazil
Cuiaba
Canastra National Park takes us through the Day 14
Chestnut-eared Aracari central part of the state of Minas Gerais. The Santa Teresa /

Riv iver
aba im R
rocky, hilly landscape is dotted with farms Vitória / Iguaçu

a
er
Pix
Lombardia Forest
and pastures and the occasional dark Porto Jofre
Caraça Natural Park
Falls

Cui
green patch of remnant forest is lit by Santa Teresa After breakfast we drive to
bolivia Pantanal
bright yellow and purple flowering trees. Muriqui Project Vitória and enjoy lunch in
Dinner and overnight at our hotel. town before boarding our
flight to Iguaçu via Rio de

© Holly Faithfull
Day 4 SOUTH AMERICA Serra da Canastra NP Janeiro. Dinner and overnight
Serra da Canastra Ouro Preto Vitória
Belo Horizonte at our hotel in Iguaçu.
National Park
A vast area of rugged mountains and Rio de Janeiro

© Jonathan Rossouw
Area of Detail
termite-mound-studded grasslands, Serra da
Canastra National Park presents a spectac-
ular backdrop to our full day excursion. The
wooded gullies and rolling savannas support
best of brazil unusual birds, including the comical-looking
toco toucan and cock-tailed tyrant, as well
17 tour days
afternoon, which gives us time to watch the Day 15
Pa hordes of birds at the feeders, to seek out
ra Iguaçu Falls
gu local mammals, including coati, or to simply
ay Iguaçu Falls Atlantic Ocean We have a full day to explore Iguaçu, one
relax. After dinner another fascinating night
of the world’s most dramatic, and South
argentina
map not to scale
drive takes us in search of crab-eating fox,
great potoo, and perhaps even the ocelots
America’s most celebrated waterfall. The falls
are located on the Rio Iguaçu, just above

Dear Adventurer
as the world’s highest concentration of giant occasionally seen in the area. Overnight at
we drive to Belo Horizonte for dinner at a local of the northern Pantanal, the sight of hundreds the meeting point of Brazil, Paraguay, and
Day 1 anteaters. We hope to have good photographic Araras Eco-Lodge.
restaurant and overnight at our hotel. of jacaré caimans, dozens of capybaras, and a Argentina, and surrounded by luxuriant
USA opportunities of these and other fascinating subtropical rain forest. Today we visit the
Our popular Best of Brazil adventure is an immersion into this huge country’s stunning multitude of water birds will have presented a Day 12
Depart from the USA this evening on your animals as they roam the grasslands. Dinner Day 8 Argentinean side of the two-and-a-half-mile-
biodiversity and a wildlife safari that presents unparalleled eye-witness opportunities. We unique and memorable spectacle. Dinner and Cuiaba / Vitória /
independent overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. and overnight at our hotel. Belo Horizonte / Cuiaba / wide falls to enjoy a glorious combination of
traverse several different biomes, encounter some of the planet’s rarest and most endan- overnight at the Porto Jofre Hotel. Santa Teresa
Pantanal furious whitewater, rain forest, and diverse
gered primates, see as many as 25 species of indigenous mammals, and study ten times as Day 2 Day 5 We return to Cuiaba, transfer to the airport
We depart Belo Horizonte very early this Day 10 birdlife, including caciques, toucans, and
many birds. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Serra da Canastra National for our flight to Vitória, the capital of Espírito
morning and fly to Cuiaba. We set out for Porto Jofre / Pantanal / woodpeckers. Of special interest are the
Arrive Rio de Janeiro and transfer to our Park / Caraça Natural Park Santo, then drive to Santa Teresa, a charming
We begin in Serra da Canastra National Park, a vast area of rugged mountains and termite- the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland Cuiaba River kettles of great dusky swifts as they swirl
hotel. After lunch depart for an afternoon Today we set out overland to Caraça Natural city whose tiled-roof farmhouses reveal its
mound-studded grasslands. If we are fortunate the brilliant yellow tabebuia (trumpet) trees area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a To fully explore this rich wetland area, we spend and dart through the rising clouds of spray
at the Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, a Park with stops for photos, birding, and 19th-century Italian roots. The town is laid
may be in bloom and we hope to encounter the greater rhea and the red-legged seriema, a Biosphere Reserve. The first 60 miles is through much of today in boats on the Cuiaba River to and cling to the cliffs behind the falls;
botanical microcosm of Brazil, showcasing lunch en route. Set among tall mountains and out in the shape of a cross; flowers and trees
secretary bird look-alike. Photographic opportunities abound, from wonderful landscapes a disturbed cerrado transition ecosystem that watch some of the area’s innumerable riverine among them we may find white-collared and
Victoria Amazonica lilies and more than 700 lush montane forest, this beautiful park was decorate its square. We visit the botanical
to giant anteaters—the world’s highest concentration is found here—in search of their leads to the raised-dirt highway known as the birds, including kingfishers, terns, and skimmers, biscutate swifts. The endangered tegu lizard
species of orchid, and supporting many of the originally a seminary retreat. Our accommoda- garden of the Mello Leitao Museum, where
favorite foods, ants and termites. Transpantaneira. Suddenly, wildlife abounds; as well as keep a lookout for capybaras, caimans, is relatively common here, and the number
region’s common birds. We also ride the cable tions for the next two nights are in renovated flowers and feeders attract multiple species and colors of butterflies is astounding.
car to the top of Sugar Loaf, Rio’s iconic peak, rooms in a wing of the original 17th-century this is one of the finest birding regions on Earth. howler and capuchin monkeys and, if we are of iridescent hummingbirds, including the
Our four-day exploration of the Pantanal is the centerpiece of this exciting and varied The astonishing biodiversity here includes extremely lucky, perhaps even a jaguar. Dinner Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
for marvelous views of the city and its famous seminary, surrounded by park lands among stunning swallow-tailed hummingbird,
program. Encompassing more than 60,000 square miles, this is the planet’s largest seasonal an incredible array of mammals, birds, and and overnight at our hotel.
beaches. Dinner at a local restaurant and high mountains and lush forest. Tonight we and perhaps even the scarce frilled coquette. Day 16
wetland area, eclipsing even Africa’s Okavango Delta in size and diversity. It extends to reptiles. Fish concentrate in the few seasonal
overnight at the Caesar Park Hotel. gather outside the church, hoping to witness a Day 11
Dinner at a local restaurant; overnight at our Iguaçu Falls /
include areas of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay and supports over 400 species of birds; huge pools, which in turn are crowded with storks,
maned wolf coming to take meat, a tradition Pantanal / Pixaim River hotel in Santa Teresa. Rio de Janeiro / USA
numbers of capybara, the world’s largest rodent; and such acclaimed megafauna as jaguar, Day 3 herons, spoonbills, ibises, and limpkins, not
that began more than 15 years ago. Dinner and During today’s drive northward we search for This morning we take a leisurely walking
ocelot, tapir, giant river otter, three species of primates, plus crab-eating raccoons and crab- Rio de Janeiro / Belo to mention ever-watchful jacaré caimans that Day 13
overnight at the seminary. the region’s rare and beautiful hyacinth macaw excursion to admire the Brazilian side of the
eating foxes. Our visit is timed to coincide with the Pantanal’s lowest water levels, giving Horizonte / Serra da Canastra search the ponds for easy prey. We continue
and stop for lunch along the Pixaim River. We Santa Teresa / falls and to enjoy the most spectacular of all
us excellent chances to witness high concentrations of water birds and caiman, and exciting National Park Day 6 through a diverse blend of cattle country, forest,
continue to Araras Eco-Lodge arriving in the late Muriqui Project / the views—the grand panorama. After lunch
opportunities to seek out the many nocturnal mammals of the area. A short morning flight brings us to Belo Caraça Natural Park and swamps, with repeated stops for observation lombardia forest fly to Rio de Janeiro, then connect to your
Horizonte where an overland drive to Serra da We have a full day to explore the Caraça and photography. Our journey continues after After breakfast we drive to Santa Maria de
Next we visit Brazil’s highly endangered Atlantic rain forest, which dates back 20 million independent flight back to the USA.
wilderness on various walks with special dusk with an evening spotlighting excursion to Jetibá to visit the Muriqui Project whose
years earlier than the Amazon. As in Madagascar and New Zealand, extreme isolation and giant river otter
a vast span of time have facilitated the evolution of an incredibly rich fauna and flora here, focus on the endangered masked titi monkey, look for crab-eating foxes, crab-eating raccoons, mission is to study and conserve the popula- Day 17
giant anteater
many of the species are unique to this area. From our base in Santa Teresa, renowned for often located early in the morning by its and other mammals of the area. Dinner and tions and habitats of the northern muriqui. USA
its numerous hummingbird species, we explore the biodiversity of this fascinating region, strange laughing call. We will also look for overnight at our hotel in the Pantanal. One of the world’s 25 most critically endan- Arrive in the USA and connect with your
seeking out endemic birds and several of the 18 primates endemic to these forests. At the the uncommon black-tufted-ear marmoset. gered primates, and South America’s largest flights homeward.
The many birds of the area include such gems Day 9
renowned Muriqui Project we search for South America’s largest primate—the critically primate, the muriqui is endemic to Brazil’s
as the elusive swallow-tailed cotinga and the Pantanal / Porto Jofre Atlantic rain forest region. Only a few hundred
endangered northern muriqui; nearby we look for maned sloth, marmosets, masked titi

hyacinth visorbearer. Dinner and overnight at
monkeys and rare and endemic birds. A visit to celebrated Iguaçu Falls, a two-and-a-half-
the seminary.
mile-wide cataract surrounded by luxuriant rain forest linking Brazil, Argentina, and
Paraguay, provides us with a stunning finale to our journey.
Day 7
Join me for an experience that reveals the neotropics at their very best—where biodiversity Caraça Natural Park / Ouro
has had free rein to assemble one of the greatest collections of wildlife on the planet. Preto / Belo Horizonte
We depart Caraça early this morning, driving
Warmest regards, south to visit the World Heritage Site of Ouro
Preto, a charming colonial city built from the
© Mark Brazil
We spend our first morning in the Pantanal on individuals remain and our visit to the project
the Pixaim River, searching for the family of will help support this species.
giant otters that makes its home in this area.
After lunch we continue southward towards This afternoon we visit the Lombardia Forest,
Porto Jofre, making frequent stops for birds, which shares parkland with the Augusto
nature-viewing, and photography as we head ever Ruschi Reserve, home to the buffy-headed
deeper into the Pantanal. We scan any wetland marmoset, maned sloth, brown capuchin,
areas along the way for capybara and marsh and masked titi monkeys. Birding here is rich
deer, and we stop to admire the immense treetop and rewarding and we hope to find antbirds,

© Jonathan Rossouw
fabulous wealth acquired from what were then nests of the jabiru stork, an iconic bird of the manakins, puffbirds, toucanets, and many
Mark Brazil some of the richest gold mines in the Western region. By the time we reach Porto Jofre, at the more rare and endemic species. Dinner and
© Mark Brazil

Hemisphere. After a lunch and a tour here, very end of the Transpantaneira, in the heart overnight at our hotel.
northern muriqui
©Jonathan Rossouw
VICTORIA AMAZONICA WATERLILY iguaÇu falls

brazil
Cuiaba
Canastra National Park takes us through the Day 14
Chestnut-eared Aracari central part of the state of Minas Gerais. The Santa Teresa /

Riv iver
aba im R
rocky, hilly landscape is dotted with farms Vitória / Iguaçu

a
er
Pix
Lombardia Forest
and pastures and the occasional dark Porto Jofre
Caraça Natural Park
Falls

Cui
green patch of remnant forest is lit by Santa Teresa After breakfast we drive to
bolivia Pantanal
bright yellow and purple flowering trees. Muriqui Project Vitória and enjoy lunch in
Dinner and overnight at our hotel. town before boarding our
flight to Iguaçu via Rio de

© Holly Faithfull
Day 4 SOUTH AMERICA Serra da Canastra NP Janeiro. Dinner and overnight
Serra da Canastra Ouro Preto Vitória
Belo Horizonte at our hotel in Iguaçu.
National Park
A vast area of rugged mountains and Rio de Janeiro

© Jonathan Rossouw
Area of Detail
termite-mound-studded grasslands, Serra da
Canastra National Park presents a spectac-
ular backdrop to our full day excursion. The
wooded gullies and rolling savannas support
best of brazil unusual birds, including the comical-looking
toco toucan and cock-tailed tyrant, as well
17 tour days
afternoon, which gives us time to watch the Day 15
Pa hordes of birds at the feeders, to seek out
ra Iguaçu Falls
gu local mammals, including coati, or to simply
ay Iguaçu Falls Atlantic Ocean We have a full day to explore Iguaçu, one
relax. After dinner another fascinating night
of the world’s most dramatic, and South
argentina
map not to scale
drive takes us in search of crab-eating fox,
great potoo, and perhaps even the ocelots
America’s most celebrated waterfall. The falls
are located on the Rio Iguaçu, just above

Dear Adventurer
as the world’s highest concentration of giant occasionally seen in the area. Overnight at
we drive to Belo Horizonte for dinner at a local of the northern Pantanal, the sight of hundreds the meeting point of Brazil, Paraguay, and
Day 1 anteaters. We hope to have good photographic Araras Eco-Lodge.
restaurant and overnight at our hotel. of jacaré caimans, dozens of capybaras, and a Argentina, and surrounded by luxuriant
USA opportunities of these and other fascinating subtropical rain forest. Today we visit the
Our popular Best of Brazil adventure is an immersion into this huge country’s stunning multitude of water birds will have presented a Day 12
Depart from the USA this evening on your animals as they roam the grasslands. Dinner Day 8 Argentinean side of the two-and-a-half-mile-
biodiversity and a wildlife safari that presents unparalleled eye-witness opportunities. We unique and memorable spectacle. Dinner and Cuiaba / Vitória /
independent overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. and overnight at our hotel. Belo Horizonte / Cuiaba / wide falls to enjoy a glorious combination of
traverse several different biomes, encounter some of the planet’s rarest and most endan- overnight at the Porto Jofre Hotel. Santa Teresa
Pantanal furious whitewater, rain forest, and diverse
gered primates, see as many as 25 species of indigenous mammals, and study ten times as Day 2 Day 5 We return to Cuiaba, transfer to the airport
We depart Belo Horizonte very early this Day 10 birdlife, including caciques, toucans, and
many birds. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Serra da Canastra National for our flight to Vitória, the capital of Espírito
morning and fly to Cuiaba. We set out for Porto Jofre / Pantanal / woodpeckers. Of special interest are the
Arrive Rio de Janeiro and transfer to our Park / Caraça Natural Park Santo, then drive to Santa Teresa, a charming
We begin in Serra da Canastra National Park, a vast area of rugged mountains and termite- the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland Cuiaba River kettles of great dusky swifts as they swirl
hotel. After lunch depart for an afternoon Today we set out overland to Caraça Natural city whose tiled-roof farmhouses reveal its
mound-studded grasslands. If we are fortunate the brilliant yellow tabebuia (trumpet) trees area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a To fully explore this rich wetland area, we spend and dart through the rising clouds of spray
at the Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, a Park with stops for photos, birding, and 19th-century Italian roots. The town is laid
may be in bloom and we hope to encounter the greater rhea and the red-legged seriema, a Biosphere Reserve. The first 60 miles is through much of today in boats on the Cuiaba River to and cling to the cliffs behind the falls;
botanical microcosm of Brazil, showcasing lunch en route. Set among tall mountains and out in the shape of a cross; flowers and trees
secretary bird look-alike. Photographic opportunities abound, from wonderful landscapes a disturbed cerrado transition ecosystem that watch some of the area’s innumerable riverine among them we may find white-collared and
Victoria Amazonica lilies and more than 700 lush montane forest, this beautiful park was decorate its square. We visit the botanical
to giant anteaters—the world’s highest concentration is found here—in search of their leads to the raised-dirt highway known as the birds, including kingfishers, terns, and skimmers, biscutate swifts. The endangered tegu lizard
species of orchid, and supporting many of the originally a seminary retreat. Our accommoda- garden of the Mello Leitao Museum, where
favorite foods, ants and termites. Transpantaneira. Suddenly, wildlife abounds; as well as keep a lookout for capybaras, caimans, is relatively common here, and the number
region’s common birds. We also ride the cable tions for the next two nights are in renovated flowers and feeders attract multiple species and colors of butterflies is astounding.
car to the top of Sugar Loaf, Rio’s iconic peak, rooms in a wing of the original 17th-century this is one of the finest birding regions on Earth. howler and capuchin monkeys and, if we are of iridescent hummingbirds, including the
Our four-day exploration of the Pantanal is the centerpiece of this exciting and varied The astonishing biodiversity here includes extremely lucky, perhaps even a jaguar. Dinner Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
for marvelous views of the city and its famous seminary, surrounded by park lands among stunning swallow-tailed hummingbird,
program. Encompassing more than 60,000 square miles, this is the planet’s largest seasonal an incredible array of mammals, birds, and and overnight at our hotel.
beaches. Dinner at a local restaurant and high mountains and lush forest. Tonight we and perhaps even the scarce frilled coquette. Day 16
wetland area, eclipsing even Africa’s Okavango Delta in size and diversity. It extends to reptiles. Fish concentrate in the few seasonal
overnight at the Caesar Park Hotel. gather outside the church, hoping to witness a Day 11
Dinner at a local restaurant; overnight at our Iguaçu Falls /
include areas of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay and supports over 400 species of birds; huge pools, which in turn are crowded with storks,
maned wolf coming to take meat, a tradition Pantanal / Pixaim River hotel in Santa Teresa. Rio de Janeiro / USA
numbers of capybara, the world’s largest rodent; and such acclaimed megafauna as jaguar, Day 3 herons, spoonbills, ibises, and limpkins, not
that began more than 15 years ago. Dinner and During today’s drive northward we search for This morning we take a leisurely walking
ocelot, tapir, giant river otter, three species of primates, plus crab-eating raccoons and crab- Rio de Janeiro / Belo to mention ever-watchful jacaré caimans that Day 13
overnight at the seminary. the region’s rare and beautiful hyacinth macaw excursion to admire the Brazilian side of the
eating foxes. Our visit is timed to coincide with the Pantanal’s lowest water levels, giving Horizonte / Serra da Canastra search the ponds for easy prey. We continue
and stop for lunch along the Pixaim River. We Santa Teresa / falls and to enjoy the most spectacular of all
us excellent chances to witness high concentrations of water birds and caiman, and exciting National Park Day 6 through a diverse blend of cattle country, forest,
continue to Araras Eco-Lodge arriving in the late Muriqui Project / the views—the grand panorama. After lunch
opportunities to seek out the many nocturnal mammals of the area. A short morning flight brings us to Belo Caraça Natural Park and swamps, with repeated stops for observation lombardia forest fly to Rio de Janeiro, then connect to your
Horizonte where an overland drive to Serra da We have a full day to explore the Caraça and photography. Our journey continues after After breakfast we drive to Santa Maria de
Next we visit Brazil’s highly endangered Atlantic rain forest, which dates back 20 million independent flight back to the USA.
wilderness on various walks with special dusk with an evening spotlighting excursion to Jetibá to visit the Muriqui Project whose
years earlier than the Amazon. As in Madagascar and New Zealand, extreme isolation and giant river otter
a vast span of time have facilitated the evolution of an incredibly rich fauna and flora here, focus on the endangered masked titi monkey, look for crab-eating foxes, crab-eating raccoons, mission is to study and conserve the popula- Day 17
giant anteater
many of the species are unique to this area. From our base in Santa Teresa, renowned for often located early in the morning by its and other mammals of the area. Dinner and tions and habitats of the northern muriqui. USA
its numerous hummingbird species, we explore the biodiversity of this fascinating region, strange laughing call. We will also look for overnight at our hotel in the Pantanal. One of the world’s 25 most critically endan- Arrive in the USA and connect with your
seeking out endemic birds and several of the 18 primates endemic to these forests. At the the uncommon black-tufted-ear marmoset. gered primates, and South America’s largest flights homeward.
The many birds of the area include such gems Day 9
renowned Muriqui Project we search for South America’s largest primate—the critically primate, the muriqui is endemic to Brazil’s
as the elusive swallow-tailed cotinga and the Pantanal / Porto Jofre Atlantic rain forest region. Only a few hundred
endangered northern muriqui; nearby we look for maned sloth, marmosets, masked titi

hyacinth visorbearer. Dinner and overnight at
monkeys and rare and endemic birds. A visit to celebrated Iguaçu Falls, a two-and-a-half-
the seminary.
mile-wide cataract surrounded by luxuriant rain forest linking Brazil, Argentina, and
Paraguay, provides us with a stunning finale to our journey.
Day 7
Join me for an experience that reveals the neotropics at their very best—where biodiversity Caraça Natural Park / Ouro
has had free rein to assemble one of the greatest collections of wildlife on the planet. Preto / Belo Horizonte
We depart Caraça early this morning, driving
Warmest regards, south to visit the World Heritage Site of Ouro
Preto, a charming colonial city built from the
© Mark Brazil
We spend our first morning in the Pantanal on individuals remain and our visit to the project
the Pixaim River, searching for the family of will help support this species.
giant otters that makes its home in this area.
After lunch we continue southward towards This afternoon we visit the Lombardia Forest,
Porto Jofre, making frequent stops for birds, which shares parkland with the Augusto
nature-viewing, and photography as we head ever Ruschi Reserve, home to the buffy-headed
deeper into the Pantanal. We scan any wetland marmoset, maned sloth, brown capuchin,
areas along the way for capybara and marsh and masked titi monkeys. Birding here is rich
deer, and we stop to admire the immense treetop and rewarding and we hope to find antbirds,

© Jonathan Rossouw
fabulous wealth acquired from what were then nests of the jabiru stork, an iconic bird of the manakins, puffbirds, toucanets, and many
Mark Brazil some of the richest gold mines in the Western region. By the time we reach Porto Jofre, at the more rare and endemic species. Dinner and
© Mark Brazil

Hemisphere. After a lunch and a tour here, very end of the Transpantaneira, in the heart overnight at our hotel.
northern muriqui

TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Reservations: 25% of the expedition fare, along
with a completed and signed Reservation Form, will reserve
a place for you on this Zegrahm Holdings LLC, d/b/a
Eco-Expeditions (ECO), program. The balance of the expedi-
tion fare is due 120 days prior to departure. Air fare is also due
at this time. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be
paid in U.S. dollars. Credit cards accepted for deposit only.
2. Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Notification of cancellation of this program and any indepen-
dent travel arrangements must be received in writing by ECO.
At the time we receive your written cancellation, the following
penalties will apply:
• 120 or more days prior to departure: $500 per person
• 60 through 119 days prior to departure:
50% of expedition fare
• 59 days prior to departure through day of departure:
100% of expedition fare
Some air fare may be nonrefundable. Once an expedition
has departed, there will be no refunds from ECO for any
unused portions of the trip. The above policy also applies to
all extensions and independent travel arrangements made in
conjunction with this program.
3. Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Insurance: We strongly advise that all travelers purchase
trip cancellation and interruption insurance as protection
against an emergency that may force you to cancel or leave
from an expedition while it is in progress. A brochure
describing coverage will be sent to you upon receipt of
your reservation.
4. Share Policy: Accommodations on all ECO
programs are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling
alone and wish to share accommodations, a roommate will be
assigned to you whenever possible. When pairing roommates,
we will always pair participants of the same sex. All shared
accommodations are nonsmoking. Upon booking you will
be required to pay a Single Supplement, if we are able to pair
you with a roommate the supplement will be refunded. Please
note that single accommodations are limited and cannot be
guaranteed throughout.
5. Medical Information: Participation on an
ECO program requires that you be in generally good health.
It is essential that persons with any medical problems and
related dietary restrictions make them known to us well before
departure. We can counsel you on whether the expedition you
have selected is appropriate for you.
The tour leader has the right to disqualify any participant at
any time during the tour if he/she feels the participant is physi-
cally incapable and/or if a participant’s continued participation
will jeopardize either the individual involved or the group.
There will be no refund given under these circumstances.
6. Luggage Restrictions: Luggage size and weight
limitations for both checked and carry-on luggage, imposed
by the airlines or as an operational requirement due to type
of aircraft, will apply for flights to/from/within this program.
Specifications will be provided with pre-departure materials.
7. Fuel Cost Increases and Currency
Fluctuation: In order to keep rates as low as possible,
we do not build into the trip fare an allowance to cover
Jabiru storks
possible increases from fuel costs or currency fluctuations.
Therefore, as fuel-cost increases may occur and currencies
do fluctuate around the world, it may be necessary for us
to initiate a rate surcharge at any time before departure if
there are exceptional cost increases beyond our control.
8. Itinerary Changes & Trip Delay:
Itineraries are based on information available at the time
of printing and are subject to change. ECO reserves the
right to change a program’s dates, staff, itineraries, or accom-
modations as conditions warrant. If a trip must be delayed,
or the itinerary changed due to bad weather, road conditions,
transportation delays, airline schedules, government interven-
tion, sickness, or any other contingency for which ECO or its
agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays or changes is
not included.
9. Itinerary Cancellation: ECO reserves the
right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason
whatsoever, including too few participants or logistical
problems such as strikes, wars, acts of God, or any other
circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvis-
able. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded,
and this refund will be the limit of ECO’s liability. ECO is
not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in
preparing for the trip, including nonrefundable or penalty-
carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees,
or other trip-related expenses.
10. Participation: ECO reserves the right to decline
to accept any individual as an expedition member for any
reason whatsoever.
11. Limitations of Liabilit y: This section
defines ECO’s responsibility with respect to all of our trips,
including extensions and independent arrangements. Please
read it carefully.
ECO, its Owners, Agents, and Employees give notice that
they act only as the agent for the owners, contractors, and
suppliers providing means of transportation and/or all other
related travel services and assume no responsibility howsoever
caused for injury, loss, or damage to person or property in
connection with any service resulting directly from: acts of
God, detention, annoyance, delays, expenses arising from
quarantine, strikes, thefts, pilferage, force majeure, failure
of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled,
civil disturbances, terrorism, government restrictions or
regulations, and discrepancies or changes in transit or hotel
services over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in
the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the
comfort and well-being of the passengers.
As described in item 7 above, all prices are subject to change.
As described in item 9 above, in the event that an expedition
must be cancelled, ECO is not responsible for any personal
expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the
program.
On advancement of deposit to ECO, the depositor acknowl-
edges that he/she has read and understands the above recited
terms and conditions, and agrees to be bound by them.
California Seller of Travel Program Registration #
2031043-40
© Jonathan Rossouw
jacare caimans
Meet our leader
MARK BRAZIL developed his fascination
with the natural world, especially birds, during
his boyhood in the landlocked English county of
Worcestershire. He then pursued his academic
interests in biology during studies in England and
Scotland, while exploring the coasts and moun-
tains of Britain in search of birds. Mark earned his
Ph.D. from Stirling University, Scotland, for his
work on avian ecology and behavior in Iceland and
since then ornithological research, natural history
Cover: top: Hyacinth McCaw; bottom, from top left clockwise: Common marmoset, Violet-capped woodnymph, © Mark Brazil; Toco Toucan © Jonathan Rossouw and Holly Faithfull; Capybara © Mark Brazil
consultancy for TV companies, and guiding naturalists and wildlife photographers have
taken him to all continents. Fascinated by island biology, he is a leading authority on
the natural history of Japan. He has traveled extensively in South America from Peru to
Patagonia and has now made seven trips to Brazil. Mark considers Brazil to be his favorite
Eco-Expedition destination. In addition to being a field naturalist, he is a columnist,
The Pantanal
author, and editor. His books include Wild Asia: Spirit of a Continent; The Birds of Japan;
The Whooper Swan; and, most recently, A Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia.
For adventurers, naturalists, and travelers, few places can match the verdant vistas and
biological diversity of the Pantanal, the planet’s largest wetland area. It is one of the most
© Jonathan Rossouw
immense, pristine, and biologically rich environments in the world. Lying in a seasonally
flooded basin of the Paraguay River, it covers over 60,000 square miles, an area larger than
Greece, and extends to areas in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. With its extraordinarily
concentrated and diverse flora and fauna, plus a landscape spanning a variety of ecological
subregions, the Pantanal remains one of the world’s great natural wonders.
The word “pantanal” is Portuguese for “swamp.” Each year, fed by rains from October
through March, the area experiences heavy and massive flooding. By June, the waters begin
to recede, resulting in even denser concentrations of wildlife in a green and shimmering
waterscape. By September and October, spectacled caiman can be seen in the hundreds and
waterbirds abound. At this time, the numbers of birds, mammals, and reptiles are often
staggering, a wildlife extravaganza that rivals scenes from the plains of Africa. Indeed, the
Best of Brazil
Pantanal holds the largest concentrations of megafauna in the whole of South America;
yet, even today, it is a remote and largely unknown watery wilderness in the very heart of
South America.
Diverse and unique, the Pantanal is like no other region on Earth. It is an unparalleled
WITH THE PANTANAL
wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty, representing one of the last intact ecological areas
in the world. It is home to the highest concentration of jaguars on the planet; a refuge for
the continent’s largest land mammal, the tapir; a sanctuary for over 400 species of birds;
and the habitat for over 10 million caiman, the highest concentration of crocodilians in
the world. It is little wonder, then, that this rich, bio-diverse region is regarded as South
America’s most important wildlife sanctuary.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Travelers on our Best of Brazil program should be aware that although the tour is not
overly strenuous, all participants should be reasonably fit and capable of moderate
exercise while searching for primates and birds. On several occasions there will be jungle
hikes that will entail being able to walk, unaided, along rugged trails with occasional
inclines. All accommodations are the best available in the area for a group of our size
and will range from simple to luxurious. Please note that in most of Brazil’s hotels, twin
beds are standard. Let us know if you prefer a double bed and we will request it wherever
possible. Nonsmoking rooms are rarely available in South America. Participants should
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
also be aware that several days of our itinerary require lengthy bus journeys along rough
roads to transport us to the areas that are diverse and rich in wildlife. We will mail a
complete list of recommended clothing and a suggested reading list to you approximately
192 Nickerson Street #200 Seattle, WA 98109 USA
five months prior to departure. For travelers who delight in natural history, possess a sense
of humor, flexibility, and a true spirit of adventure, your adventures in Brazil will be Tel: 206-285-4000 or 1-800-628-8747
remembered for many years to come.
®
Fax: 206-285-5037 E-mail: info@zeco.com
Giving You the World Web site: www.zeco.com

TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Reservations: 25% of the expedition fare, along
with a completed and signed Reservation Form, will reserve
a place for you on this Zegrahm Holdings LLC, d/b/a
Eco-Expeditions (ECO), program. The balance of the expedi-
tion fare is due 120 days prior to departure. Air fare is also due
at this time. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be
paid in U.S. dollars. Credit cards accepted for deposit only.
2. Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Notification of cancellation of this program and any indepen-
dent travel arrangements must be received in writing by ECO.
At the time we receive your written cancellation, the following
penalties will apply:
• 120 or more days prior to departure: $500 per person
• 60 through 119 days prior to departure:
50% of expedition fare
• 59 days prior to departure through day of departure:
100% of expedition fare
Some air fare may be nonrefundable. Once an expedition
has departed, there will be no refunds from ECO for any
unused portions of the trip. The above policy also applies to
all extensions and independent travel arrangements made in
conjunction with this program.
3. Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Insurance: We strongly advise that all travelers purchase
trip cancellation and interruption insurance as protection
against an emergency that may force you to cancel or leave
from an expedition while it is in progress. A brochure
describing coverage will be sent to you upon receipt of
your reservation.
4. Share Policy: Accommodations on all ECO
programs are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling
alone and wish to share accommodations, a roommate will be
assigned to you whenever possible. When pairing roommates,
we will always pair participants of the same sex. All shared
accommodations are nonsmoking. Upon booking you will
be required to pay a Single Supplement, if we are able to pair
you with a roommate the supplement will be refunded. Please
note that single accommodations are limited and cannot be
guaranteed throughout.
5. Medical Information: Participation on an
ECO program requires that you be in generally good health.
It is essential that persons with any medical problems and
related dietary restrictions make them known to us well before
departure. We can counsel you on whether the expedition you
have selected is appropriate for you.
The tour leader has the right to disqualify any participant at
any time during the tour if he/she feels the participant is physi-
cally incapable and/or if a participant’s continued participation
will jeopardize either the individual involved or the group.
There will be no refund given under these circumstances.
6. Luggage Restrictions: Luggage size and weight
limitations for both checked and carry-on luggage, imposed
by the airlines or as an operational requirement due to type
of aircraft, will apply for flights to/from/within this program.
Specifications will be provided with pre-departure materials.
7. Fuel Cost Increases and Currency
Fluctuation: In order to keep rates as low as possible,
we do not build into the trip fare an allowance to cover
Jabiru storks
possible increases from fuel costs or currency fluctuations.
Therefore, as fuel-cost increases may occur and currencies
do fluctuate around the world, it may be necessary for us
to initiate a rate surcharge at any time before departure if
there are exceptional cost increases beyond our control.
8. Itinerary Changes & Trip Delay:
Itineraries are based on information available at the time
of printing and are subject to change. ECO reserves the
right to change a program’s dates, staff, itineraries, or accom-
modations as conditions warrant. If a trip must be delayed,
or the itinerary changed due to bad weather, road conditions,
transportation delays, airline schedules, government interven-
tion, sickness, or any other contingency for which ECO or its
agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays or changes is
not included.
9. Itinerary Cancellation: ECO reserves the
right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason
whatsoever, including too few participants or logistical
problems such as strikes, wars, acts of God, or any other
circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvis-
able. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded,
and this refund will be the limit of ECO’s liability. ECO is
not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in
preparing for the trip, including nonrefundable or penalty-
carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees,
or other trip-related expenses.
10. Participation: ECO reserves the right to decline
to accept any individual as an expedition member for any
reason whatsoever.
11. Limitations of Liabilit y: This section
defines ECO’s responsibility with respect to all of our trips,
including extensions and independent arrangements. Please
read it carefully.
ECO, its Owners, Agents, and Employees give notice that
they act only as the agent for the owners, contractors, and
suppliers providing means of transportation and/or all other
related travel services and assume no responsibility howsoever
caused for injury, loss, or damage to person or property in
connection with any service resulting directly from: acts of
God, detention, annoyance, delays, expenses arising from
quarantine, strikes, thefts, pilferage, force majeure, failure
of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled,
civil disturbances, terrorism, government restrictions or
regulations, and discrepancies or changes in transit or hotel
services over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in
the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the
comfort and well-being of the passengers.
As described in item 7 above, all prices are subject to change.
As described in item 9 above, in the event that an expedition
must be cancelled, ECO is not responsible for any personal
expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the
program.
On advancement of deposit to ECO, the depositor acknowl-
edges that he/she has read and understands the above recited
terms and conditions, and agrees to be bound by them.
California Seller of Travel Program Registration #
2031043-40
© Jonathan Rossouw
jacare caimans
Meet our leader
MARK BRAZIL developed his fascination
with the natural world, especially birds, during
his boyhood in the landlocked English county of
Worcestershire. He then pursued his academic
interests in biology during studies in England and
Scotland, while exploring the coasts and moun-
tains of Britain in search of birds. Mark earned his
Ph.D. from Stirling University, Scotland, for his
work on avian ecology and behavior in Iceland and
since then ornithological research, natural history
Cover: top: Hyacinth McCaw; bottom, from top left clockwise: Common marmoset, Violet-capped woodnymph, © Mark Brazil; Toco Toucan © Jonathan Rossouw and Holly Faithfull; Capybara © Mark Brazil
consultancy for TV companies, and guiding naturalists and wildlife photographers have
taken him to all continents. Fascinated by island biology, he is a leading authority on
the natural history of Japan. He has traveled extensively in South America from Peru to
Patagonia and has now made seven trips to Brazil. Mark considers Brazil to be his favorite
Eco-Expedition destination. In addition to being a field naturalist, he is a columnist,
The Pantanal
author, and editor. His books include Wild Asia: Spirit of a Continent; The Birds of Japan;
The Whooper Swan; and, most recently, A Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia.
For adventurers, naturalists, and travelers, few places can match the verdant vistas and
biological diversity of the Pantanal, the planet’s largest wetland area. It is one of the most
© Jonathan Rossouw
immense, pristine, and biologically rich environments in the world. Lying in a seasonally
flooded basin of the Paraguay River, it covers over 60,000 square miles, an area larger than
Greece, and extends to areas in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. With its extraordinarily
concentrated and diverse flora and fauna, plus a landscape spanning a variety of ecological
subregions, the Pantanal remains one of the world’s great natural wonders.
The word “pantanal” is Portuguese for “swamp.” Each year, fed by rains from October
through March, the area experiences heavy and massive flooding. By June, the waters begin
to recede, resulting in even denser concentrations of wildlife in a green and shimmering
waterscape. By September and October, spectacled caiman can be seen in the hundreds and
waterbirds abound. At this time, the numbers of birds, mammals, and reptiles are often
staggering, a wildlife extravaganza that rivals scenes from the plains of Africa. Indeed, the
Best of Brazil
Pantanal holds the largest concentrations of megafauna in the whole of South America;
yet, even today, it is a remote and largely unknown watery wilderness in the very heart of
South America.
Diverse and unique, the Pantanal is like no other region on Earth. It is an unparalleled
WITH THE PANTANAL
wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty, representing one of the last intact ecological areas
in the world. It is home to the highest concentration of jaguars on the planet; a refuge for
the continent’s largest land mammal, the tapir; a sanctuary for over 400 species of birds;
and the habitat for over 10 million caiman, the highest concentration of crocodilians in
the world. It is little wonder, then, that this rich, bio-diverse region is regarded as South
America’s most important wildlife sanctuary.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Travelers on our Best of Brazil program should be aware that although the tour is not
overly strenuous, all participants should be reasonably fit and capable of moderate
exercise while searching for primates and birds. On several occasions there will be jungle
hikes that will entail being able to walk, unaided, along rugged trails with occasional
inclines. All accommodations are the best available in the area for a group of our size
and will range from simple to luxurious. Please note that in most of Brazil’s hotels, twin
beds are standard. Let us know if you prefer a double bed and we will request it wherever
possible. Nonsmoking rooms are rarely available in South America. Participants should
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
also be aware that several days of our itinerary require lengthy bus journeys along rough
roads to transport us to the areas that are diverse and rich in wildlife. We will mail a
complete list of recommended clothing and a suggested reading list to you approximately
192 Nickerson Street #200 Seattle, WA 98109 USA
five months prior to departure. For travelers who delight in natural history, possess a sense
of humor, flexibility, and a true spirit of adventure, your adventures in Brazil will be Tel: 206-285-4000 or 1-800-628-8747
remembered for many years to come.
®
Fax: 206-285-5037 E-mail: info@zeco.com
Giving You the World Web site: www.zeco.com

TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Reservations: 25% of the expedition fare, along
with a completed and signed Reservation Form, will reserve
a place for you on this Zegrahm Holdings LLC, d/b/a
Eco-Expeditions (ECO), program. The balance of the expedi-
tion fare is due 120 days prior to departure. Air fare is also due
at this time. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be
paid in U.S. dollars. Credit cards accepted for deposit only.
2. Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Notification of cancellation of this program and any indepen-
dent travel arrangements must be received in writing by ECO.
At the time we receive your written cancellation, the following
penalties will apply:
• 120 or more days prior to departure: $500 per person
• 60 through 119 days prior to departure:
50% of expedition fare
• 59 days prior to departure through day of departure:
100% of expedition fare
Some air fare may be nonrefundable. Once an expedition
has departed, there will be no refunds from ECO for any
unused portions of the trip. The above policy also applies to
all extensions and independent travel arrangements made in
conjunction with this program.
3. Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Insurance: We strongly advise that all travelers purchase
trip cancellation and interruption insurance as protection
against an emergency that may force you to cancel or leave
from an expedition while it is in progress. A brochure
describing coverage will be sent to you upon receipt of
your reservation.
4. Share Policy: Accommodations on all ECO
programs are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling
alone and wish to share accommodations, a roommate will be
assigned to you whenever possible. When pairing roommates,
we will always pair participants of the same sex. All shared
accommodations are nonsmoking. Upon booking you will
be required to pay a Single Supplement, if we are able to pair
you with a roommate the supplement will be refunded. Please
note that single accommodations are limited and cannot be
guaranteed throughout.
5. Medical Information: Participation on an
ECO program requires that you be in generally good health.
It is essential that persons with any medical problems and
related dietary restrictions make them known to us well before
departure. We can counsel you on whether the expedition you
have selected is appropriate for you.
The tour leader has the right to disqualify any participant at
any time during the tour if he/she feels the participant is physi-
cally incapable and/or if a participant’s continued participation
will jeopardize either the individual involved or the group.
There will be no refund given under these circumstances.
6. Luggage Restrictions: Luggage size and weight
limitations for both checked and carry-on luggage, imposed
by the airlines or as an operational requirement due to type
of aircraft, will apply for flights to/from/within this program.
Specifications will be provided with pre-departure materials.
7. Fuel Cost Increases and Currency
Fluctuation: In order to keep rates as low as possible,
we do not build into the trip fare an allowance to cover
Jabiru storks
possible increases from fuel costs or currency fluctuations.
Therefore, as fuel-cost increases may occur and currencies
do fluctuate around the world, it may be necessary for us
to initiate a rate surcharge at any time before departure if
there are exceptional cost increases beyond our control.
8. Itinerary Changes & Trip Delay:
Itineraries are based on information available at the time
of printing and are subject to change. ECO reserves the
right to change a program’s dates, staff, itineraries, or accom-
modations as conditions warrant. If a trip must be delayed,
or the itinerary changed due to bad weather, road conditions,
transportation delays, airline schedules, government interven-
tion, sickness, or any other contingency for which ECO or its
agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays or changes is
not included.
9. Itinerary Cancellation: ECO reserves the
right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason
whatsoever, including too few participants or logistical
problems such as strikes, wars, acts of God, or any other
circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvis-
able. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded,
and this refund will be the limit of ECO’s liability. ECO is
not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in
preparing for the trip, including nonrefundable or penalty-
carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees,
or other trip-related expenses.
10. Participation: ECO reserves the right to decline
to accept any individual as an expedition member for any
reason whatsoever.
11. Limitations of Liabilit y: This section
defines ECO’s responsibility with respect to all of our trips,
including extensions and independent arrangements. Please
read it carefully.
ECO, its Owners, Agents, and Employees give notice that
they act only as the agent for the owners, contractors, and
suppliers providing means of transportation and/or all other
related travel services and assume no responsibility howsoever
caused for injury, loss, or damage to person or property in
connection with any service resulting directly from: acts of
God, detention, annoyance, delays, expenses arising from
quarantine, strikes, thefts, pilferage, force majeure, failure
of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled,
civil disturbances, terrorism, government restrictions or
regulations, and discrepancies or changes in transit or hotel
services over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in
the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the
comfort and well-being of the passengers.
As described in item 7 above, all prices are subject to change.
As described in item 9 above, in the event that an expedition
must be cancelled, ECO is not responsible for any personal
expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the
program.
On advancement of deposit to ECO, the depositor acknowl-
edges that he/she has read and understands the above recited
terms and conditions, and agrees to be bound by them.
California Seller of Travel Program Registration #
2031043-40
© Jonathan Rossouw
jacare caimans
Meet our leader
MARK BRAZIL developed his fascination
with the natural world, especially birds, during
his boyhood in the landlocked English county of
Worcestershire. He then pursued his academic
interests in biology during studies in England and
Scotland, while exploring the coasts and moun-
tains of Britain in search of birds. Mark earned his
Ph.D. from Stirling University, Scotland, for his
work on avian ecology and behavior in Iceland and
since then ornithological research, natural history
Cover: top: Hyacinth McCaw; bottom, from top left clockwise: Common marmoset, Violet-capped woodnymph, © Mark Brazil; Toco Toucan © Jonathan Rossouw and Holly Faithfull; Capybara © Mark Brazil
consultancy for TV companies, and guiding naturalists and wildlife photographers have
taken him to all continents. Fascinated by island biology, he is a leading authority on
the natural history of Japan. He has traveled extensively in South America from Peru to
Patagonia and has now made seven trips to Brazil. Mark considers Brazil to be his favorite
Eco-Expedition destination. In addition to being a field naturalist, he is a columnist,
The Pantanal
author, and editor. His books include Wild Asia: Spirit of a Continent; The Birds of Japan;
The Whooper Swan; and, most recently, A Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia.
For adventurers, naturalists, and travelers, few places can match the verdant vistas and
biological diversity of the Pantanal, the planet’s largest wetland area. It is one of the most
© Jonathan Rossouw
immense, pristine, and biologically rich environments in the world. Lying in a seasonally
flooded basin of the Paraguay River, it covers over 60,000 square miles, an area larger than
Greece, and extends to areas in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. With its extraordinarily
concentrated and diverse flora and fauna, plus a landscape spanning a variety of ecological
subregions, the Pantanal remains one of the world’s great natural wonders.
The word “pantanal” is Portuguese for “swamp.” Each year, fed by rains from October
through March, the area experiences heavy and massive flooding. By June, the waters begin
to recede, resulting in even denser concentrations of wildlife in a green and shimmering
waterscape. By September and October, spectacled caiman can be seen in the hundreds and
waterbirds abound. At this time, the numbers of birds, mammals, and reptiles are often
staggering, a wildlife extravaganza that rivals scenes from the plains of Africa. Indeed, the
Best of Brazil
Pantanal holds the largest concentrations of megafauna in the whole of South America;
yet, even today, it is a remote and largely unknown watery wilderness in the very heart of
South America.
Diverse and unique, the Pantanal is like no other region on Earth. It is an unparalleled
WITH THE PANTANAL
wildlife sanctuary of spectacular beauty, representing one of the last intact ecological areas
in the world. It is home to the highest concentration of jaguars on the planet; a refuge for
the continent’s largest land mammal, the tapir; a sanctuary for over 400 species of birds;
and the habitat for over 10 million caiman, the highest concentration of crocodilians in
the world. It is little wonder, then, that this rich, bio-diverse region is regarded as South
America’s most important wildlife sanctuary.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Travelers on our Best of Brazil program should be aware that although the tour is not
overly strenuous, all participants should be reasonably fit and capable of moderate
exercise while searching for primates and birds. On several occasions there will be jungle
hikes that will entail being able to walk, unaided, along rugged trails with occasional
inclines. All accommodations are the best available in the area for a group of our size
and will range from simple to luxurious. Please note that in most of Brazil’s hotels, twin
beds are standard. Let us know if you prefer a double bed and we will request it wherever
possible. Nonsmoking rooms are rarely available in South America. Participants should
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
© Mark Brazil
also be aware that several days of our itinerary require lengthy bus journeys along rough
roads to transport us to the areas that are diverse and rich in wildlife. We will mail a
complete list of recommended clothing and a suggested reading list to you approximately
192 Nickerson Street #200 Seattle, WA 98109 USA
five months prior to departure. For travelers who delight in natural history, possess a sense
of humor, flexibility, and a true spirit of adventure, your adventures in Brazil will be Tel: 206-285-4000 or 1-800-628-8747
remembered for many years to come.
®
Fax: 206-285-5037 E-mail: info@zeco.com
Giving You the World Web site: www.zeco.com
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL

© Jonathan Rossouw
BEST OF BRAZIL
o SEPTEMBER 4 – 20, 2009 (WAITLISTED)
o SEPTEMBER 21 – OCTOBER 7, 2009
o SEPTEMBER 3 – 19, 2010

NAME #1 (as it appears on passport)

(preferred name)

NAME #2 (as it appears on passport)

(preferred name)

ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP COUNTRY

PHONE (home) (office)

FAX E-MAIL

ACCOMMODATIONS: o Twin o Share (roommate to be assigned) o Single

I AM/WE ARE: o Nonsmokers o Smokers
DEPOSIT INFORMATION:

o Enclosed is a deposit check for $ (25% per person of the program fare)

o Charge the 25% per person deposit to: o VISA o MasterCard o American Express
Card Number Expires

Authorized Cardholder Signature Date

(Note: Credit cards accepted for deposits only)

I/We have read and understand the enclosed Terms & Conditions for this program, and
agree to abide by them.

SIGNATURE DATE

SIGNATURE DATE

Please complete and return this Reservation Form with your deposit to:
EBRZ0901-2 / EBRZ1001

192 Nickerson Street #200 Seattle, WA 98109 USA

Tel: 206-285-4000 or 1-800-628-8747
®
Fax: 206-285-5037 E-mail: info@zeco.com
Giving You the World
Web site: www.zeco.com
© Mark Brazil

Tabebuia tree

BEST OF BRAZIL

DATES & RATES

DATES
SEPTEMBER 4 – 20, 2009
SEPTEMBER 21 – OCTOBER 7, 2009 LEADER: MARK BRAZIL
SEPTEMBER 3 – 19, 2010

RATES
$10,980 per person, double occupancy $1,580 single supplement*

Limited to 16 expedition members.

INCLUDED: All accommodations and meals as outlined in the itinerary; group transfers;
guided excursions as stated in the itinerary; entrance fees for parks, reserves, etc.; all gratuities.
NOT INCLUDED: All air transportation; excess baggage charges; airport arrival and
departure taxes; transfers for independent arrivals and departures; passport and/or visa
fees; travel insurance; items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, alcoholic
beverages, e-mail/fax/telephone charges.
AIR FARE: A tentative flight schedule is available upon request. Eco-Expeditions will
contact you approximately 180 days prior to the departure of this program to finalize
your flight plans. As of February 2009, the approximate economy air fare as listed in
the itinerary is $2,145 for Miami/Rio de Janeiro/Belo Horizonte/Cuiaba/Vitória/Iguaçu
Falls/Rio de Janeiro/Miami. Additional fares from other cities will be quoted as needed.
All rates are per person, quoted in U.S. dollars, and must be paid in U.S. dollars.
Rates and itineraries are subject to change.
*A limited number of single accommodations are available.
Reservation requests may also be made online at www.zeco.com.

A WORD FROM MARK BRAZIL

Brazilians are such friendly people, the country is so exciting and varied,
and the biodiversity is amongst the richest on our planet—making this a
fantastic destination for wildlife-watching. The amazing diversity, from
the enormous number and species of birds, including a phenomenal range of
hummingbirds, to the colorful butterflies, fantastic monkeys, combined with the
chances of viewing exciting mammals such as giant otter, maned wolf, tapir,
giant anteater, ocelot, and jaguar… make this my all time favorite tropical region
expedition. If you have enjoyed watching wildlife in Asia and Africa then it is
time you came with me to South America to experience the very best of Brazil.