23 Jun 2025 - 05 Jul 2025 (13 days)
BRL29,950 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Bradley Davis
Tour price (Per person): BRL29,950 * GBP4,104 * EUR4,938 * AUD7,907 * USD5,138
Single Supplement: BRL4,150 * GBP569 * EUR684 * AUD1,096 * USD712
Can be linked with: Brazil - Acre Extension 2025
24 Jun 2026 - 06 Jul 2026 (13 days)
BRL32,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Bruno Renno
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): BRL32,000 * GBP4,385 * EUR5,276 * AUD8,448 * USD5,489
Can be linked with: Brazil - Acre Extension 2026
Nowhere inspires more awe and wonder at the raw beauty of remote nature like the Amazon Basin of South America. Pioneered by Major Candido Rondon de Silva, explorations in this region of Brazil became the stuff of legend, as Rondon enabled the first telegraph line and subsequently the first road, to cross the Brazilian Amazon. He discovered numerous indigenous groups, named several major rivers, and is hailed by many Brazilians as one of the true heroes of Brazil’s native people and lands.
This area of Brazil became most famous with the publication of a biographical work on Theodore Roosevelt’s ill-fated expedition on the Rio de Duvida (River of Doubt). None other than Rondon himself escorted and outfitted the expedition in 1914, that nearly cost the ex-president his life. The mishaps of Roosevelt’s adventure only added to the mystique and draw of the area, which continues to be one of the least-accessible, most remote areas in the World. Luckily for us, the Pousada PiraAçu is a very conveniently located lodge where superb birds and wildlife await, including the near mythical Rondonia Bushbird. We we will focus our efforts on seeking out the numerous special bird species on the lodges many trails and river systems. Fine birding will be had in the Porto Velho and Humaita area, on the West Bank of the Madeira River, where we will have exposure to completely unique habitats, and species, on the other side of the Madeira interfluvium. This will be an unforgettable adventure into the heart of the Amazon!
Rondonia Bushbird; Harpy & Crested Eagles; Cryptic & Slaty-backed Forest Falcons; Brown-banded & Western Striolated Puffbirds; Ivory-billed Aracari; Golden-collared & Gould's Toucanets; Bonaparte’s, Crimson-bellied & Santarem Parakeets; Peruvian Warbling, Rondonia Warbling, Humaita, Black, Sooty, White-throated, Banded, Rufous-faced, Ferruginous-backed, White-breasted, Spot-backed, Dot-backed, Scale-backed & Hairy-crested Antbirds; Black-necked Red Cotinga; Crimson Fruitcrow; Purple-breasted, Spangled, Purple-throated & Pompadour Cotingas; Blue-backed, Black, Snow-capped, Flame-crowned, Band-tailed, Red-headed & Fiery-capped Manakins; Black-spotted & Pale-faced Bare-eyes; Variegated, Alta Floresta, & Thrush-like Antpittas; Predicted, Plain-throated, White-eyed, Madeira, Ornate, Sclater’s, Ihering’s, Rusty-backed & Leaden Antwrens; Saturnine, Glossy, Natterer’s Slaty, White-shouldered, Amazonian & Pearly Antshrikes; Masked Crimson, Red-shouldered, Black-faced, Hooded, Red-billed Pied, Flame-crested, Fulvous-crested, White-winged Shrike, Dotted, Masked, Paradise, Opal-rumped, Green-and-gold, Swallow & White-rumped Tanagers; Small-billed, Grey, White-throated, Brazilian, Variegated & Red-winged Tinamous; Spix’s Guan; Nocturnal & Razor-billed Curassows; Campina Jay; Sunbittern; Sungrebe; Dark-winged Trumpeter; Tawny-bellied Screech, Crested, Spectacled, Amazonian Pygmy & Black-banded Owls; Long-tailed, White-winged & Rufous Potoos; Spot-tailed & Little Nightjars; Crimson Topaz; Needle-billed, Great-billed & Reddish Hermits; Black-eared Fairy; Green-tailed Goldenthroat; Black-bellied Thorntail; Long-billed Starthroat; Grey-breasted Sabrewing; Blue-chinned, Rufous-throated & White-chinned Sapphires; Black-girdled Barbet; Curl-crested & Red-necked Aracaris.
Lowland Tapir; Tucuxi; Golden-backed Squirrel Monkey; Black-horned Capuchin; Golden-and-white Tassel-ear & Golden-and-white Bare-ear Marmosets; Emperor Tamarin; Red-nosed Bearded Saki; Prince Bernhard's & Chestnut-bellied Titis; Black-faced Spider Monkey; Common Woolly Monkey.
varzea forest, Beni savannah, white sand forests, cerrado, small oxbow lakes, seasonally flooded areas, mixed terra firme forest, patches of slender bamboo, wide floodplains, transitional forests, upland terra firme and hilly terra firme forest
warm to hot and humid, small biting insects
8 with 1 local birding leader
moderate pace, some longer walks
good
moderate with numerous challenging species
450+
average to good
The trip was excellent, and there is no praise too high for Stephan Lorenz!
WOW – this was an entirely different trip than the main trip. The Pousada facility was a little more rustic than some of the other accommodations but nothing we couldn’t handle. It was certainly better than a hammock at the guard headquarters which Bradley indicated was the only thing available prior to Pousada. This portion required what seemed like a lot more walking and climbing over tree falls than anywhere else on the trip. It seemed that more of the birds were skulkers but then we were focusing on “ant-somethings” which are notoriously secretive. Again, it was disappointing there was not a single ant swarm and the mixed flocks were generally small and moved away from the trails fairly quickly. It was also frustrating that the best of the three trails (Capelinha) in the park was not available to us due to an on-going mammal-use survey. But, none of these things were within the control of Tuomas, Bradley, or our local guide. They were pros at adapting and modifying to take advantage of the trails that were available to us. By my count the main trip list was about 446 and we gained 81 sp on the extension, however, 40% of those were lifers, so worth the effort and expense, in my opinion. Our local guide, Gilberto, was indispensable. His recent knowledge was invaluable to know where to go for the target species.
A Fantastic experience!! Considerably better than I had expected. Guides were fantastic!! And the inclusion of local Brazilian guide - Leo - was a real plus. He worked great together with Forrest Rowland, and his knowledge of the country and the vegetation was a real plus. The mammals and other critters were a real plus to the tour. The facilities, driver, and van were also great! Overall, this tour ranks among the top of the 7-8 birding tours I have ever taken, and Rockjumper is certainly a company I would highly recommend to others!!!
Overall we were very pleased with the trip. We have been to the tropics in various places in SA but hadn’t really experienced the heat of the Amazon. At first I was concerned about the siesta in early afternoon and the loss of bird time but by the third day I looked forward to it!! The lack of ant swarms, foliage-gleaners and mixed foraging flocks was disappointing. Some of the key target species had not been seen by local guides for several months to over a year. We hope it is not an on-going trend due to climate change but it may be. We felt fortunate to have had the opportunity and hope that others can continue to have this experience. We were pleased with the “tag-team effort” by Tuomas and Bradley. They worked well together with making sure the logistics flowed, everyone had their needs met as much as possible, and kept the pace moving. We were fortunate to have 8 people that had all travelled in groups before and were tolerant of various personalities and their strengths and weaknesses. Both Tuomas and Bradley were patient and talented in getting everyone (usually) in the group to see the target species. I will be giving a presentation to the local Audubon Chapter in November and will be recommending Rockjumper and their various trips to the group.
Rob Williams was knowledgeable about all kinds of animals, and went out of his way to point out lizards he spotted that I would otherwise have missed. I greatly appreciate that. Some of the best moments on the trip for me included sightings of Jaguars, otters, Crab-eating Fox, agoutis, Guinea Pigs, Capybaras and Tegu Lizards. Iguazú Falls was spectacular.
Brazil - Atlantic Coastal Forest II 2024 - October 2024
Brazil - Northeast - Mega Birding Tour 2024 - September 2024
Brazil - Pantanal: Birds & Wildlife (Small Group) 2024 - September 2024
Brazil - Pantanal: Birds & Wildlife II 2024 - August 2024
Brazil - Pantanal: Birds & Wildlife I 2024 - August 2024
Brazil - Atlantic Coastal Forest I 2024 - January 2024
Brazil - Atlantic Coastal Forest II 2023 - October 2023
Brazil - Amazon Rainforest Extension (Small Group) 2023 - September 2023
Brazil - Northeast - Mega Birding Tour 2023 - September 2023
Brazil - Pantanal: Birds & Wildlife (Small Group) 2023 - September 2023
Brazil - Amazon Rainforest Extension II 2023 - September 2023
Brazil - Madeira & Tapajós - Endemics of the Rio Aripuanã (TM) 2023 - August 2023
Brazil - Pantanal: Birds & Wildlife II 2023 - August 2023
Brazil - Atlantic Coastal Forest I 2023 - January 2023
Brazil - Southeast - Mega Extension 2022 - October 2022
Brazil - Atlantic Coastal Forest II 2022 - October 2022
Brazil - Southeast - Mega Birding Tour 2022 - October 2022
Brazil - Amazon Rainforest Extension (Small Group) I 2022 - September 2022
Brazil - Pantanal: Birds & Wildlife (Small Group) I 2022 - September 2022
Brazil - Amazon Rainforest Extension II 2022 - September 2022