These two tours are designed for people who enjoy a more relaxed trip based in just one or two excellent lodges, but they are also great for birders with limited vacation available. Take only one for a quick getaway, or do them both for a longer and more comprehensive trip. Either way you can count on great birding during the day and a comfortable place to relax at night. The first trip concentrates on the vast wetlands of the Brazilian Pantanal while based in the famous Caiman Lodge, located on a huge 130,000 acre (53,000 ha.) ranch. The birding is easy and there are also great opportunities to see mammals, including, with some luck, Jaguar. We visit during the dry season when the insects are at a minimum.

Day 1: Arrival. Our flights arrive mid-morning in Campo Grande, and we drive through the heat of the day to Caiman Lodge, our base for five nights. We will stay in one of three beautiful guesthouses

Days 2–4: Caiman Lodge. Four full days on the ranch will give us plenty of time to experience the area at a relaxed pace. Open-topped vehicles will take us from site-to-site, and it is not unusual to never reach our intended destination due to the sheer number of birds seen en-route! Hyacinth Macaws as well as other parrots are very easy to see here, causing constant (but welcome) distraction. The wetlands are loaded with herons, ibis, storks, and other waterbirds.

On some mornings we will walk on trails through gallery forest with different species like Band-tailed Manakin, Rusty-backed Antwren, White-lored Spinetail, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, and a variety of beautiful woodpeckers. Imitating a pygmy owl can often bring a whirlwind of angry birds seemingly out of nowhere! The more open savannah and scrub has a different assortment, and we could see White-naped Xenopsaris, White-wedged Piculet, Chotoy Spinetail, among others.

Boat rides on rivers and lakes will take us closer to some of the birds (bring a camera). Scarlet-hooded Blackbirds never fail to impress, and all of South America’s resident kingfishers are here including the tiny Pygmy Kingfisher, and with patience we could even see a Sungrebe or Azure Gallinule.

Night rides can’t be missed, not only for the chance at Jaguar, but for a variety of nightbirds like Spectacled Owl, Great Potoo, and Rufous Nightjar.

Day 5: End of tour. We’ll make our way back to Campo Grande. Guests joining the next tour will spend the night in the city before catching a morning flight to Rio. This flight is not included but is easily purchased with your international ticket.