A huge "granddad" of the forest towers above us, reaching for the clouds. The immense size of this emergent Brazil nut tree, standing at 60m (195 feet), is a clear reminder that were are walking a pristine "jungle" trail. As we round a bend, the exciting sight of thousands of army ants swarming on the forest floor greets us with an array of wonderfully colourful obligate Antbirds, Woodcreepers and a family group of Trumpeters all actively feeding on escaping arthropods.

As the morning sun breaks above the horizon, we are in the tree crowns on a canopy platform, surrounded by a sea of different shades of green. As a distant Forest-Falcon calls, a flock of shrieking Parrots and noisey Macaws fly past close at eye level. Toucans join in, and the dawn chorus starts in earnest as all around us the daytime forest creatures awaken. Stunningly colourful Pompadour and Spangled Cotingas sun themselves in the morning rays and busy brightly coloured Tanager and Honeycreepers start forming the canopy flocks. Canopy towers offer an insight at first hand of the life in this poorly known realm, all comfortably at eye level!

A flash of colour just off the trail in sunspot in the understory attracts our attention to a lek of stunning male Wire-tailed Manakin, their vivid yellow, scarlet and black mix amaze us as they call and display to attract females to mate. Deep hollow hoots of a Variegated Antpitta echo out of the forest and as we approach this infrequently seen species walks across the trail giving good views.

Moments like these remind us of wonderful experiences we have either already enjoyed or can look forward to on any Amazonian adventure!

Lowland tropical rainforest cover an immense area of northern Brazil, offering several excellent options to bird various endemic centres. At the confluence of the mighty Rio Negro and Amazon, Manaus is an excellently situated starting point to explore the Amazon along with its famous Opera House. Comfortable live-aboard riverboats give access to many endemic riverine fauna found at the Anavilhana Archipelago and on the Amazon white water river islands. Here highlights may include several recently re-discovered species such as Scaled Spinetail, Klages Antwren, Zimmer's Woodcreeper, Red-and White, Parker's and White-bellied Spinetail, Black and White Antbird, Azure Gallinule, Amazonian Umbrellabird and Cream-colored Woodpecker.

The Manaus area holds several very special white sandy campina forest areas rich in orchids and bromeliads and unique birds. Here we find the recently re-discovered Pelzeln's Tody-tyrant, Black and Yellow-crested Manakin, Saffron-crested Tyrant Manakin, Bronzy Jacamar, Blue-backed Tanager, Crimson Topaz, Guianan Slaty Antshrike, Rufous-crowned Elaenia and White-naped Seedeater. Caves of the region hold the stunning Guianan-cock-of-the rock. A visit to the famous INPA canopy tower you can see such gems as Crimson Fruitcrow, Pompadour Cotinga, Capuchin Bird, Black Curassow, Green Aracari, Guianan Toucanet, Caica Parrot, Harpy and Crested Eagle, Ferruginous-backed and Rufous-throated Antbird, Racket-tailed Coquette, Dotted Tanager and Glossy-backed Becard with White-winged, Long-tailed and Rufous Potoo possible.

A flight up the Rio Negro takes you to the quaint town of Sao Gabriel do Cachoeira located amongst breath taking scenery as the sleeping beauty mountain. The town offers excellent food and simple accommodations wonderful to explore the regions pristine forest with many poorly know near endemics. Here such mythical birds as Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo, Tawny-tufted Toucanet, Black-necked Red-Cotinga, Reddish-winged, White-plumed, Gray-bellied and Chestnut-crested Antbirds, Pavonine Quetzal, Fiery Topaz, Black-bellied Thorntail and Brown-banded Puffbird.

An outstanding Amazon experience is offered at Cristalino Lodge, Alta Floresta in Mato Grosso State reached by short flight from Cuiaba. This can easily be combined with a Pantanal tour (see description on our page about tours to the Pantanal and Chapada).

The Cristalino Lodge located in a huge reserve is rapidly developing a reputation as a World-class rainforest destination! The combination of excellent food, great accommodation and a super new 50 m canopy tower and outstanding birding (from a list of 540+) as well as wonderful chances of seeing big mammals. Primates abound, Tapir, Giant river Otter and the numbers of butterflies and diversity can hardly be believed. The crystal clear black water of the Rio Cristalino makes for superb afternoon river trips (mosquito free) along pristine rainforest lined banks. A newly constructed 50 m canopy tower, a tapir lick and miles of forest trails right from your doorstep with abundant bamboo make the setting ideal! Highlights include, confiding Razor-billed and Bare-faced Curassow, Red-throated Piping Guan, Red-necked and Curl-crested Aracari, Gould's Toucanet, Pavonine Quetzal, Bare-eyed Antbird, Manu Antbird (along with almost all the bamboo specialists found in SE Peru) Glossy Antshrike, Purple-throated Cotinga, Snow-capped and Fiery-capped Manakin, Crimson-bellied Parakeet, poorly-known Kawall's Parrot, Black-girdled Barbet, Tooth-billed Wren, Brown-banded and Rufous-necked Puffbird and Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak and many more.

Let Birding Brazil Tours help you plan your vacation of a lifetime to Amazonian Brazil!

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