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Wildlife Observation in Brazil
Brazil is one of the best countries to visit for wildlife lovers, with an 8,000km coastline plus offshore islands, plus many different ecosystems such as the Amazon Jungle and River system; the Pantanal Wetlands; the Brazilian Cerrado; the Atlantic Rainforest of the southern coast and interior; plus the dry Caatinga lands of the north-east. All have endemic species, all are full of superlatives: the largest tropical rainforest that contains more species than anywhere on earth; the largest concentration of fauna anywhere on the planet; the best places to spot jaguar; and many more.
On the coast, the largest creatures encountered around Brazil are the southern right and humpback whales, which can be seen off the coast of Praia do Rosa in Santa Catarina (and increasingly around Florianopolis once again, happily) and Praia do Forte or the Abrolhos Archipelago respectively. Whale-watching trips can make part of your tours to these destinations, usually between June and October are the best months.
Rays and sea-turtles can be seen regularly all along Brazil's coastline, with penguins also riding cold currents all the way up to Bahia sometimes. Tropical and temperate fish can also be found, while dolphins accompany boats and also come in regularly to various spots, including Dolphin Bay in both Praia da Pipa near Natal, and the Governador Celso Ramos peninsula in Santa Catarina near Florianopolis.
Dolphins can also be found in the Amazon River, including the famous pink dolphins, and stays at many Amazon lodges brings the chance for close interaction with them, although the shy manatee are harder to find. Caiman alligators, anaconda, tapir, monkeys galore, and tropical rainforest birds such as macaws, toucans and parrots are all easy to find in the Amazon, with sloths finding it hard to escape your attention. Specialist wildlife-watching lodges such as Cristalino and Uacari are in areas of fabulous biodiversity, even for the Amazon, and with naturalist guides to help give you the best chance of wildlife encounters in the tropical rainforest.
The elusive jaguar is a little more difficult to spot in the thick vegetation of the Amazon, but the wetland savannah of the Pantanal gives more open views and far better chance, with one of the world's best jaguar hotspots being close to Porto Jofre in the northern Pantanal, and various lodges in the area also have options for a jaguar special in this area. The Pantanal lodges of both north and south are also the best places to see the wonderful giant and banded anteaters; tapir; and armadillo, with ocelots and puma seen occasionally.
Bird-watching in the Pantanal is world-famous, and many lodges also offer specialist bird-watching trips there and to the neighbouring Cerrado, with the Amazon making a third ecosystem in the same area, all having endemic species, 650 of which exist in the Pantanal alone including the jabiru and maguari storks, hyacinth macaw, harpy eagle, ibis, and enormous flocks of parakeets.
Bonito, close to the southern Pantanal, also has many of these species that can be seen even while snorkelling in the crystal clear rivers.
The Atlantic Rainforest around Iguazu Falls and covering parts of the Brazil coastline between Florianopolis and the Costa Verde up to Rio de Janeiro is home to many of the bird, mammal and reptile species mentioned, with plenty of nature reserves to protect species such as the golden lion tamarind. Porcupines and howler monkeys are possible sightings in the wild.
There are also national parks in the interior of Minas Gerais and Bahia which are worth visiting to hike trails and encounter wildlife.
So many species of avian, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish and insect, so many different areas to see them and many of them beautiful in terms of nature as well, then Brazil is one of the world's essential countries for any wildlife lover to visit.
On the coast, the largest creatures encountered around Brazil are the southern right and humpback whales, which can be seen off the coast of Praia do Rosa in Santa Catarina (and increasingly around Florianopolis once again, happily) and Praia do Forte or the Abrolhos Archipelago respectively. Whale-watching trips can make part of your tours to these destinations, usually between June and October are the best months.
Rays and sea-turtles can be seen regularly all along Brazil's coastline, with penguins also riding cold currents all the way up to Bahia sometimes. Tropical and temperate fish can also be found, while dolphins accompany boats and also come in regularly to various spots, including Dolphin Bay in both Praia da Pipa near Natal, and the Governador Celso Ramos peninsula in Santa Catarina near Florianopolis.
Dolphins can also be found in the Amazon River, including the famous pink dolphins, and stays at many Amazon lodges brings the chance for close interaction with them, although the shy manatee are harder to find. Caiman alligators, anaconda, tapir, monkeys galore, and tropical rainforest birds such as macaws, toucans and parrots are all easy to find in the Amazon, with sloths finding it hard to escape your attention. Specialist wildlife-watching lodges such as Cristalino and Uacari are in areas of fabulous biodiversity, even for the Amazon, and with naturalist guides to help give you the best chance of wildlife encounters in the tropical rainforest.
The elusive jaguar is a little more difficult to spot in the thick vegetation of the Amazon, but the wetland savannah of the Pantanal gives more open views and far better chance, with one of the world's best jaguar hotspots being close to Porto Jofre in the northern Pantanal, and various lodges in the area also have options for a jaguar special in this area. The Pantanal lodges of both north and south are also the best places to see the wonderful giant and banded anteaters; tapir; and armadillo, with ocelots and puma seen occasionally.
Bird-watching in the Pantanal is world-famous, and many lodges also offer specialist bird-watching trips there and to the neighbouring Cerrado, with the Amazon making a third ecosystem in the same area, all having endemic species, 650 of which exist in the Pantanal alone including the jabiru and maguari storks, hyacinth macaw, harpy eagle, ibis, and enormous flocks of parakeets.
Bonito, close to the southern Pantanal, also has many of these species that can be seen even while snorkelling in the crystal clear rivers.
The Atlantic Rainforest around Iguazu Falls and covering parts of the Brazil coastline between Florianopolis and the Costa Verde up to Rio de Janeiro is home to many of the bird, mammal and reptile species mentioned, with plenty of nature reserves to protect species such as the golden lion tamarind. Porcupines and howler monkeys are possible sightings in the wild.
There are also national parks in the interior of Minas Gerais and Bahia which are worth visiting to hike trails and encounter wildlife.
So many species of avian, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish and insect, so many different areas to see them and many of them beautiful in terms of nature as well, then Brazil is one of the world's essential countries for any wildlife lover to visit.
Wildlife Observation Tours
TRADITIONAL
from
$ 475
USD
Iguazu Falls Tour
3 Days / 2 Nights or 2 Days / 1 Night
Wildlife Observation - Ecotourism
Your tour of Iguazu Falls takes you to see the 275 separate falls that together make up Iguazu Falls, the most beautiful waterfall in the world. You visit both the national parks on the Brazil and Argentina sides. [...]
TRADITIONAL
from
$ 1,375
USD
Rio de Janeiro & Costa Verde Tour
10 Days / 9 Nights
Wildlife Observation - Ecotourism - Beaches
Your tour of Rio de Janeiro & the Costa Verde takes you first to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the Botanical Gardens and Sugar Loaf Mountain as well as the city of Rio. You then travel down the Costa Verde, Brazil's [...]
TRADITIONAL
from
$ 1,925
USD
Amazon at Anavilhanas Lodge
6 Days / 5 Nights or Less
Wildlife Observation - Ecotourism
This tour to Manaus and Anavilhanas Lodge takes you to the City at the Heart of the Amazon Jungle with its famous opera house. You then travel to the Anavilhanas Archipelago, the largest freshwater archipelago in the world, t [...]