BRAZIL

Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais

13–30 June 2027

Day 1 Early morning departure from London Heathrow via Lisbon and Belo Horizonte to Vitoria, the capital of Espírito Santo state and transfer to Sooretama/Linhares. Dinner and overnight in BHS Hotel in Linhares.

Day 2 Full day at Reserva da Vale do Rio do Doce located in the endemic-rich Atlantic rainforest in the north of Espírito Santo. Here we should see many species including Grey-rumped Swift, Channel-billed Toucan, Bat Falcon, Plain, Maroon-faced and Peach-fronted Parakeets, Blue-winged Macaw, Blue-and-white Swallow, Greater and Smooth-billed Anis, Southern Beardless-tyrannulet, Chivi Vireo, Saffron Finch, Blue Dacnis, and Flame-crested, Brazilian and Sayaca Tanagers. Specialty birds of the reserve include Red-billed Curassow (one of the only reliable locations for this bird), Red-browed Amazon, Ochre-marked Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, Red-stained Woodpecker, Ringed Woodpecker, Black-necked Aracari, White-necked Hawk, Black-headed Berryeater, East Brazilian Pygmy-owl, Minute Hermit, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, White-winged Cotinga, Red-headed Manakin, White-crowned Manakin, Greyish Mourner, the very-loud Screaming Piha, Yellow-backed Tanager and Yellow-green Grosbeak. Overnight BHS Hotel.

Day 3 After some early-morning birding at Reserva da Vale we will head north-west and transfer to Santa Teresa. En route we hope to see White-tipped Dove, Pale-vented and Picazuro Pigeons, Toco Toucan, Aplomado Falcon, Grey-headed Elaenia, and Purple-throated Euphonia. Among the special birds of the area we will look for Frilled Coquette, White-vented Violetear, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Black-billed Scythebill, Brazilian Ruby, Scale throated Hermit, Amethyst Woodstar and Streak-capped and Salvadori’s Antwrens, Wied’s Tyrant-Manakin, Green-winged Saltator, Russet-winged Spadebill and Rufous-brown Solitaire. Overnight Vita Verde Lodge.

Day 4 Still in the state of Espírito Santo we will spend the morning birding Santa Teresa and then transfer to Aguia Branca Reserve. Here we might find East Brazilian Chachalaca, White-faced Whistling-duck, Slaty-breasted Wood-rail, Common Gallinule, Wattled Jacana, Scaly-headed Parrot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Campo Flicker, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Wing-banded and Rufous Horneros, Cattle Tyrant, Tropical Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher and White-winged Becard. Among these commoner species our key targets here will be Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Sharpbill and Hooded Berryeater. Overnight Aguia Branca Hotel.

Day 5 Today will be a full day at the small private reserve of Reserva Kaetes, which protects an area of old-growth rainforest. Our main targets for today include the very-rare Cherry-throated Tanager, Black Hawk-eagle, Plain Parakeet, Spotted Bamboowren, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Cinnamon-vented Piha, Pileated Parrot, Rufous-headed and Brown Tanagers. We also hope to see Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, White-throated Spadebill Pin-tailed Manakin and Blue-naped Chlorophonia. Overnight Aguia Branca Hotel.

Day 6 Another full day at the marvellous Reserva Kaetes giving us another chance for Cherry-throated Tanager. Along with Brown Tinamou, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Greyish Mourner, Southern House Wren, Golden-crowned Warbler and Ruby-crowned Tanager we are targeting Rusty-barred Owl, Long-trained Nightjar, Giant Snipe, Spot-billed Toucanet, Pale-browed Treehunter, Giant Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, White-throated Woodcreeper, White-bibbed Antbird, Blue Manakin and Robust Woodpecker. Overnight Aguia Branca Hotel.

Day 7 We will have an early breakfast and transfer to the airport in Vitoria where we will take a flight to Montes Claros in the state of Minas Gerais. Overnight Hotel Intercity.

Day 8 After an early breakfast we will transfer to Botumirim birding en-route. We will be birding the semi-arid Caatinga and the savanna-like Cerrado. We aim to see Yellow-legged Tinamou, Spotted Piculet, Ochre-backed Woodpecker, Caatinga Parakeet, Caatinga Cacholote, Grey-headed Spinetail, Caatinga Antwren, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, White-naped Jay, Campo Troupial, Pale Baywing and Red-cowled Cardinal. We do have some special target birds today: Minas Gerais Tyrannulet, Reiser’s Tyrannulet, Caatinga Black-tyrant, Sao Francisco Sparrow, Outcrop Sabrewing and Ash-throated Casiornis. Overnight Pousada do Vale.

Day 9 Full day in Botumirim where we might see Southern Lapwing, Guira Cuckoo, White Woodpecker, White-collared Swift, White-eyed and Cactus Parakeets, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, White-vented Violetear, Large Elaenia, Curl-crested Jay, Hooded Siskin, Grassland Yellow-finch, Pileated Finch, Bananaquit and Gilt-edged and Scarlet-throated Tanagers. As ever we will have some special birds we will target: Blue-eyed Ground Dove (rediscovered in 2015), Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Narrow-billed Antwren, Giant Snipe, Cipo Canastero and Red-bellied Macaw. Overnight Pousada do Vale.

Day 10 After breakfast we will do some local birding and then transfer to Pompeu. We should see Western Cattle-egret, Buff-necked Ibis, Biscutate Swift, Scaly-headed Parrot, Grey-breasted Martin, Black-collared Swallow, Shiny Cowbird, Stripe-tailed Yellow-finch, Blue-black Grassquit and Silver-beaked Tanager amongst others. Special birds to find today are Ocellated Crake, Chapada Flycatcher, Henna-capped Foliage-gleaner, Checkered Woodpecker, Coal-crested Finch, White-rumped Tanager and White-banded Tanager. Overnight Nita Palace Hotel in Pompeu.

Day 11 After some early morning birding we will have lunch and then transfer to Serra da Canastra, a national park protecting the Cerrado biome. Birds we might find here include Great Dusky Swift, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Crested Oropendola, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grass Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Wedge-tailed Grass-finch and Copper Seedeater. The area also holds Maned Wolf, Giant Anteater and Giant Armadillo amongst other mammals. Overnight Chapada da Canastra.

Days 12–14 We will spend three full days at Serra da Canastra. Our main targets will include the much sought-after Brazilian Merganser plus Lesser Nothura, Golden-capped Parakeet, Black-masked Finch, Blue Finch, Cinerous Warbling-finch, Campo Miner, Cock-tailed Tyrant, Sharp-tailed Grass-tyrant, Helmeted Manakin, White-striped Warbler, Ochre-breasted Pipit, Red-legged Seriema, Great Pampa-finch, Crested Black-tyrant, Collared Crescentchest, Firewood-gatherer, Brasilia Tapaculo, Yellow-faced Parrot, Great Horned Owl, Grey Monjita and Streamer-tailed Tyrant. We should also come across Brazilian Teal, Whistling Heron, Green Ibis, Planalto Hermit, Black Jacobin, Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Golden-capped Parakeet, Scaled Dove, King Vulture, Yellow-headed and Crested Caracaras, Red-legged Seriema, Ringed Kingfisher, White Woodpecker, Streaked Xenops, Wing-banded Hornero, Sooty Tyrannulet, Plain-crested Elaenia, Tropical Parula, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Black-capped Donacobius, White-rumped Monjita, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, and Cinnamon, Rufous-headed and Hooded Tanagers. Overnights at Chapada da Canastra.

Day 15 After an early breakfast we will transfer to Serra do Caraça, a mountainous area of cloud forest and secondary lower-slope forests. Here we aim to see Violet-capped Woodnymph, Dusky-legged Guan, Crescent-chested Puffbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Velvety-black Tyrant, Serra Antwren, Pallid Spinetail, Rufous Gnateater, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Long-tailed Tyrant and Magpie Tanager.

Day 16 A full day at Serra do Caraça. Our main targets in Caraca will include Serra Antwren, Grey-backed Tachuri, Rock Tapaculo, Scaled Woodcreeper, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Large-tailed Antshrike, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Pale-throated Pampa Finch, Serra Do Mar Tyrant Manakin, Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant and Cinnamon and Brassy-breasted Tanagers. Other birds we might come across include Hyacinth Visorbearer, Scale-throated Hermit, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Rufous-thighed Kite, Mantled Hawk, Blackish Rail, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, White-browed Warbler, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Rufous-capped and Spix’s Spinetails, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Eared Pygmy-tyrant, Ochre-faced Tody-flycatcher, Velvety Black-tyrant, Greenish Schiffornis, Small-headed Elaenia, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Grey-bellied Spinetail, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Rock Tapaculo, Sibilant Sirystes, Hangnest Tody-tyrant and Burnished-buff Tanager. Overnight Belo Horizonte.

Day 17 Breakfast and transfer to the airport in Belo Horizonte for our flight back to London via Lisbon arriving on Day 18.

General Information Brazil can be hot and humid with rain likely at any time. The tour pace is moderate with generally easy walking. There are some health requirements which should be referred to your GP. Insects can be a problem at times and repellents are recommended. Visas are not required for EU citizens.

Group Size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 4; maximum group size: 8 with 1 leader.