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Focus on Brazil


Brazil is a vast country with several distinctly different biomes. Discover them all with Focus Tours: Brazil

Focus on Argentina

The 8th largest country in the world, Argentina offers a wealth of experiences. From the subtropical rain forests of Iguazú Falls to the high Andes. Discover more with Focus Tours: Argentina 

Focus on Bolivia

Bolivia, nestled between Brazil, Peru, Chile and Paraguay, is the poorest and least developed country in South America, but also biologically and culturally the richest, safest and friendliest. Discover more with Focus Tours: Bolivia

Focus on Chile

Chile is the only truly temperate country in the Neotropics, and occupies more degrees of latitude than any other nation worldwide. Perhaps it is not surprising that Chile offers several extremes of the natural world. Discover more with Focus Tours: Chile

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Jaguar Tours

The northern Pantanal is the richest area in the world for spotting Jaguars in the wild and, our naturalist guides are some of the best. Together with our boatmen we can take you into the best areas for jaguars and many other creatures. Read more about Jaguar Tours.

Bird Watching Tours

Douglas Trent is a scientist, bird watcher and wildlife photographer and his be operating Bird Watcing Tours for around two decades now. The tour possibilities in South America are many. Read more about Bird Watching Tours.

Wildlife Photography Tours

Douglas Trent is a wildlife photographer and guides groups of professional, or enthusiastc amateur, photographers and film crews on focused wildlife tours. Read more about Wildlife Photography Tours 

Funding Conservation

 

A percentage of our profits has been funding in-country conservation projects since 1981. They directly benefit the local communities we visit and, when possible, are self-sustable, generating benefits long after our initial donation. Your visit will benefit you, the environment and your hosts.

ARAGUAIA RIVER: Fresh Water Dolphins and More

 

The great Araguaia River traverses Brazil's central state of Goiás. It is widely believed, but not yet proved, that this 1,630 mile-long (2,630km-long) river supports more fish species than any other does. On its way to the Amazon, at one point it splits and later rejoins, forming the Ilha do Bananal. The Bananal is the world's largest river island; nearly 200 miles (320km) from end to end. This incredible river is also a fantastic wildlife and adventure destination. Due to an active sport fishing industry, boats and accommodations are readily available.

Our recent scouting trip out of Luis Alves, south of the Bananal, discovered places to see and even hand-feed Pink River Dolphins! Hundreds of strange Hoatzins lined the river shore. Yellow and the endangered Black Caiman are plentiful, and huge Giant River Turtles join slide-necked South American River Turtles. Marsh Deer is still common in some areas, along with several species of armadillos, Common Iguana, two species of rays, Brown Capuchin, Black Spider Monkey, Crab-eating Fox, Crab-eating Raccoon and many other animals.

It is similar to Brazil's exciting Pantanal, with an Amazonian twist. Giant Wood-Rail replaces the Grey-necked; Northern Screamer the Southern. Water levels rise and fall considerably, leaving flooded wetlands. Huge flocks of Jabirus with Maguari and Wood Storks are joined by other waterbirds from May to September. As a birder's destination, it is superb. Over 300 species occur, including the highly restricted and endemic Bananal Antbird.

We suggest starting the tour spending the first night in the historic city of Goiás. Surrounding this charming town is rich Cerrado woodlands, similar to some of the habitat around Chapada dos Guimarães and Emas National Park, but more extensive. You'll certainly want to spend at least one morning here, and it breaks up the drive to Luis Alves.

Great wildlife on land and in the water, fun boat trips, friendly people, great food and more make this a prime if undiscovered destination for the adventurer and ecotourist. We suggest five to eight days, depending on your interests.