Sandwich Bird Tours

Bespoke Itineraries - Brazil

South East Atlantic Rainforest

Suggested itinerary for 13 night stay

We have graded our excursions to give you an idea of what each excursion entails, whether it's an easy gradual walk, or something a little more strenuous.

• Grade A = Driving and birding, with short easy walks en-route.
• Grade B = Easy birding on almost level ground.
• Grade C = Some extent of up hill walking, no problem for averagely healthy people.
• Grade D = Steep up hill walking, sometimes long distances, good level of fitness required.

Day 1:

Collection from Rio de Janeiro, briefing, rest of day free.

Day 2:

Morning on the Theodoro Trail - Grade B
After a 15 minute drive from the lodge we arrive at the beginning of the Theodoro Trail. Commencing at 1100m asl, this path offers superb birding. The entire length of this gradually descending trail used to be part of the old Cachoeiras - Nova Friburgo railway line and remains surfaced with asphalt.

Running through secondary and primary forest this trail is a real treat and couldn't be easier! Birds that can be seen include Brown Tinamou, Mantled Hawk, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Scale-throated Hermit, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Black-throated and Surucua Trogon, Spot-billed Toucanet, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Streaked Xenops, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage Gleaner, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Scaled Woodcreeper, Variable Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Brazilian Antthrush, Variegated Antpitta, Bare-throated Bellbird, Blue and Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-hooded Atilla, Greenish Schiffornis and Brassy-breasted Tanager.

Return to lodge for lunch

Afternoon in the lodge grounds and trails - Grade C
The gardens and trails around the lodge provide excellent birding opportunities. To date we have recorded 190 species within the grounds, of which 59 are endemic to the Atlantic rain forest! We offer a 3-4 hour guided walk around the grounds of the lodge.

Some birds we expect to see include Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Surucua Trogon, Spot-billed Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Streaked Xenops, Black-capped Foliage-Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner, Thrush-Like Woodcreeper, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Spot-Backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Plain Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue Manakin, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody Flycatcher White-throated Spadebill, Gray-hooded Attila, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Rufous-headed, Flame-crested, Ruby-crowned, Brazilian, Golden-chevroned, Green-headed, Red necked and Burnished-buff Tanagers, Violaceous, Orange-bellied and Chestnut-bellied Euphonias, Buff-throated Saltator and Black-throated Grosbeak.

This walk takes between 3 and 4 hours

Day 3:

High Altitude Excursion (lower section) – Grade C (Full day Excursion)
On this excursion we head off towards Nova Friburgo for a 50 minute drive before our first stop where we will look for White-tailed Hawk, Red-legged Seriema, Hepatic and Cinnamon Tanager.

We continue our journey for a short distance where we then leave the minibus and start our days walk at an altitude of approximately 1600 metres. We will spend the remainder of the day on this trail where we hope to see amongst others: White-tailed Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Plumbeous Pigeon, Scaly-headed Parrot, Plovercrest, Glittering-bellied Emerald, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, White Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant Antshrike, Large-tailed Antshrike, Variable Antshrike Rufous-capped Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Black and Gold Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrant Manakin, Olivaceous Elaenia, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, Velvety Black-Tyrant, Shear-tailed Gray-Tyrant, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-rimmed Warbler, Cinamon Tanager, Chestnut-headed Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Green-winged and Thick-billed Saltator.

Day 4:

Three-toed Jacamar excursion – Grade A (Full day excursion)
Many birders who visit south-east Brazil go in search of the endemic Three-toed Jacamar. On this full day excursion we visit several sites where this bird is regularly found. Along the way we pass through a variety of habitats and cover a fair distance (200 km) stopping regularly en-route to look for other species.

Our target bird is the Three-toed Jacamar, but other birds we could encounter include Whistling and Capped Heron, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Plumbeous Kite, Savanna Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Laughing Falcon, Aplomado Falcon, Bat Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Striped Cuckoo, Common Barn Owl, Planalto Hermit, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Amethyst Woodstar, White-eared Puffbird, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Black-necked Aracari, White Woodpecker, Tail-banded Hornero, Red-eyed Thornbird, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Gray and White-rumped Monjita, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, White-rumped and Tawny-headed Swallow, Black-capped Donacobius, Long-billed Wren, Curl-crested Jay, Magpie, Orange-headed, Hooded, Hepatic, Brazilian and Gilt-edged Tanagers and Hooded Siskin. We usually see between 65 - 100 species during the day!

Day 5:

Cedae Trail a.m – Grade C (Half day excursion, leaving afternoon free to relax by the pool or to bird the trails in the grounds)
After a short drive from the lodge we arrive at the beginning of the trail. On this excursion we hope to see amongst others: Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Yellow-faced Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Black-throated and Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Pale-browed Treehunter, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Spot-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted and Plain Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, White-shouldered Fire-Eye, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Oustalet's Tyrannulet, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-tailed Tityra, Sharpbill, Rufous-headed, Yellow-backed, Olive-green, Flame-crested, Ruby-crowned, Black-goggled, Grenn-headed, Red-necked and Brassy-breasted Tanagers and Black-throated Grosbeak.

Day 6:

Bamboo Trail – Grade C – small stream to cross (Full day excursion)
The Bamboo Trail starts practically opposite the Theodoro Trail. As its name suggests, this trail runs through an expanse of native bamboo and leads gradually up to an altitude of 1450m asl. This provides a great opportunity to get into some good primary forest.

Birds that can be seen include Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Scale-throated Hermit, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-browed and Green-barred Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Sharp-billed Treehunter, White-browed, Buff-browed, Buff-fronted and White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, White-bearded Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Bertonis and Ochre-rumped Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Black and Gold Cotinga, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Blue and Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, Greenish Schiffornis, Sharpbill, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, White-rimmed Warbler, Azure-shouldered and Brassy-breasted Tanager and Uniform Finch.

Day 7:

Restinga Antwren coastal excursion – Grade A (Excursion takes most of the day)
For this excursion we head off for a 2 hour drive until we arrive at our destination. Our first stop is at a lagoon area that was previously used for the production of salt. Here we shall start to scan for a variety of waders (dependant upon time of year) including Semipalmated and Collared Plover, Hudsonian Godwit, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling.

We then head into a nearby patch of restinga, a rare habitat consisting of cactus and other sand loving plants. We are primarily searching for the rare and endemic Restinga Antwren, other target birds include Glittering-throated Emerald, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Tropical Mockingbird and Orange-headed Tanager. After spending some time in this area we return to the vehicle and drive a little further along the coast to another larger patch of restinga and lagoons to increase our chances of seeing the above species and Roseate Spoonbill and White-cheeked Pintail.

Around mid-day we head back to the minibus and drive to a local restaurant for lunch to pass the hottest part of the day in the shade with a cold drink!

After lunch we start our 2 hour journey back to the lodge. We expect to arrive back by approximately 15.00.

Day 8:

Morning excursion to the Wetlands – Grade B (Half day excursion with the afternoon free to relax or to bird the lodge grounds)
On this excursion we visit a local nature reserve - Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Acu. Established in 2002 this large wetland restoration project has been very successful in the amount of species that it has attracted over the past year. Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Acu also protects a large amount of forest within the local area and employs rangers to ensure that species on the reserve are safeguarded.

Species we expect to see here amongst others include Least Grebe, Whistling and Capped Heron, Brazilian Teal, Masked Duck, Grey-headed Kite, Crane Hawk, Savanna Hawk, Limpkin, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Yellowish Pipit and Chestnut-capped Blackbird. Surrounding the wetland is lowland forest, a habitat very difficult to encounter as much of this habitat has been destroyed in the past, we venture into this forest in the hope of finding species such as Reddish Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren, Unicolored Antwren, Rufous-winged Antwren and Shrike-like Cotinga.

Day 9:

High Altitude Excursion (higher section) – Grade D (Full day excursion)
This excursion is aimed at seeing the small number of endemics that exist above 1800 metres. Our day begins with an hours drive as we aim to drive as high as possible towards 2000 metres in altitude. This depends heavily upon the weather and road conditions. Once at our destination we leave the transport behind for the remainder of the day and start our days birding. As we gain altitude and continue our walk up a steep road we see a change in the habitat, small stunted trees surrounded by bamboo and other low vegetation provide the first areas in which we hope to see Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Diademed Tanager, Blue-billed Black Tyrant and Rufous-tailed Antbird.

As we walk further uphill we begin to enter the habitat where we stand a good chance of seeing the rare and endemic Grey-winged Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet and Black and Gold Cotinga. We shall also try in this area for Brazilian Antthrush and Mouse-colored Tapaculo. Almost at the summit we hope to encounter the endemic Itatiaia Thistletail, recently discovered in this area.

Day 10:

Serra dos Orgaos National Park – Grade C & D (Full day excursion)
The drive to this National Park in Teresopolis takes approximately 45 minutes. We stop en-route briefly where we hope to see Whistling and Capped Heron, Limpkin, Brazilian Teal, Purple and Common Gallinule, Ringed, Amazon and Green Kingfishers. The National Park is split into two sections, the lower and upper.

We begin at the lower park where we will spend an hour or so and expect to see White-necked Hawk, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-fronted, Yellow-eared, Yellow-throated and Yellow-browed Woodpeckers, Pale-browed Treehunter, Buff-fronted Foliage-Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner, White-throated Woodcreeper, Plain and Spot-breasted Antvireo, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Blue Manakin, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Gray-hooded Atilla, Rufous-headed, Yellow-backed, Olive-green, Flame-crested and Golden-chevroned Tanagers and Red-rumped Cacique.

We then return back to the vehicle and drive for a further 20 minutes to the upper section of the park. Depending upon weather conditions we hope to take the higher trail within the park for the remainder of the day.

Some of the birds we aim to see include Brown Tinamou, Mantled Hawk, Dusky-legged Guan, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Plumbeous Pigeon, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Surucua and Black-throated Trogon, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-eared and Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Pallid Spinetail, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreeper, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant and Tufted Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Bertonis, Rufous-tailed and Ochre-rumped Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Black and Gold Cotinga, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Blue and Pin-tailed Manakin, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, White-rimmed Warbler, Chestnut-headed, Azure-shouldered, Diademed, Fawn-breasted and Brassy-breasted Tanagers, Bay-chested Warbling-Finch, Green-winged and Thick-billed Saltator.

Day 11:

Macae de Cima – Grade C (Half day excursion with afternoon free to relax or to bird the lodge grounds and trails)
This morning we head off for a drive towards Macaé de Cima. We shall be birding our way along a dirt road, stopping in various areas and hoping to see the following:

Brown Tinamou, Dusky-legged Guan, Scale-throated Hermit, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, White-collared Foliage-Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant Antshrike, White-beared Antshrike, Bertonis, Rufous-tailed and Ochre-rumped Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Black and Gold Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Blue Manakin, Saffron-crested Tyrant Manakin, Ochre-faced Tody- Flycatcher, Shear-tailed Gray-Tyrant, Greenish Schiffornis, White-rimmed Warbler, Chestnut-headed Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Green-winged Saltator.

Day 12:

Morning on the Theodoro Trail – see above
Afternoon is free

Day 13:

Three-toed Jacamar excursion – see above

Day 14:

Free until departure.

Transfer back to Rio.

This is a fully inclusive holiday including all food, accommodation, transportation, airport transfers, guiding and reserve entrance fees. This holiday is priced from Rio to Rio.

Excluded are tips, drinks and items of a personal nature.

There is a well stocked library for your reference.

The costs are as follows:

• For a group of 8+ = £1050
• For a group of 6 = £1555
• For a group of 4 = £2180

These prices are for full occupation of the lodge. If clients are willing to share the lodge and excursions with other guests then the price per person would be £1050

For British Clients the flight guide price is about £500 including taxes.

Tour leader - Andy Foster

Check our previous trip reports to get a flavour of what Brazil is all about