Maned Wolf, Hyacinth Macaw, Bearded Capuchin Monkey Photo Tour

Itinerary

We must have a minimum of four guests to conduct this tour.
This trip can be booked as an individual trip or as a pre-extension to the 2013 Brazil Pantanal Jaguar Wildlife Expedition.

Guest Misty Nichols Image Gallery from a past Maned Wolf trip

Wildlife of the Maned Wolf Photo Tour

Monday, September 2

Arrive Brasilia (BSB). Transfers and overnight at Luguna Plaza Hotel

Tuesday, September 3 (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and then take a 50-minute flight from Brasilia to the Barreiras. Arrive in Barreiras in the late morning where we’lll be met by our expert naturalist guide who will drive with us in an air-conditioned vehicle for 3.5 hours north (paved road) into the southern part of Piauí State, stopping for lunch along the way. The last hour of the drive is quite scenic, with a number of dramatic 1,000-foot-tall, red-rock cliffs and mesas.

In the hamlet of São Gonçalo do Gurgueia, switch to a large, open back four-wheel-drive pick-up truck containing sit-in seats/benches with cushions. Drive 30 minutes (13 km) on a non-paved road to Wolf Valley Camp. Th

is camp is famous for its large flock of Hyacinth Macaws observed through blind (“hide”) that is located 2 km from camp. Within ten steps of the camp itself are wonderful, photogenic Tufted-eared Marmosets and colorful birds, all at eye level with natural backgrounds that are ideal for photos.

Check in at the camp and then head out in the pickup to the Hyacinth Macaw blind to try to get some close-up views (from 9-20 m) of these amazing macaws, the largest of the 345 parrot species of the world. The flock of macaws often exceeds 20 to 40. The birds are both on the ground and in low trees, thus affording perfect chances for observation of behavior and for photography with a non-sky background.

Return by truck to the camp. Relax with a warm shower, dinner, and overnight in basic bungalows at Wolf Valley Camp.

Wednesday, September 4 (B, L, D)

Visit the macaw blind (“hide”) again in the morning for 2-3 hours of observation and photography. Then return to camp and photograph the colorful birds in and near fruit feeders near camp. A family of Tufted-eared Marmosets visit quite often.

In the afternoon, drive slowly for one hour on a 23-km long sand road into the very heart of the Parnaíba Headwaters National Park, enjoying the cliff scenery and stopping for photos for the Burrowing Owls and for spectacular views of “Red Mountain”. Check into Wolf Cliffs Camp.This will be bungalow-style camping, BUT the location is worth it – on a hilltop with views of tall red cliffs in the distance, not to mention seeing the world’s tamest Maned Wolves that arrive to forage in natural settings just a few meters from the camp. Sometimes the wolves arrive during the late afternoon or early morning light, but often they arrive after dark. Every one of the scores of guests who have visited the Wolf Camps in 2011 saw Maned Wolves there at the Wolf Cliffs Camp. Overnight at the Wolf Cliffs Camp

Thursday, September 5 (B, L, D)

Try to see the wolves in the morning, but if they are not around, then watch birds, such as the brilliantly-colored Jenday Parakeet, and in the mid-morning drive back to Wolf Valley Camp for lunch. Visit the macaw blind again after lunch or observe birds and marmosets near the Wolf Valley Camp.

Friday, September 6 (B, L, D)

Drive very early, near or before sunrise, for two hours on a non-paved road to the Capuchin Valley Camp in a remote, scenic valley north of Parnaíba Headwaters National Park. The reason for the extra early departure is to try to reach the CVC in time to see the world’s only visible troops of Capuchin Monkeys. They are the most intelligent of the New World monkeys and demonstrate the world’s most complex tool use by nonhuman primates. These industrious monkeys gather and then wield special, heavy, igneous hammer rocks to crush palm nuts that they place carefully in divots on softer, sandstone anvil rocks. The monkeys perform this foraging trick for two periods each day, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. We want to get there early enough to see the morning session. As the monkeys now are so accustomed to human observers, one can watch this unique tool use from close range without use of a blind or hide. You can choose to view the monkeys for only the morning session and then drive back to the camp or stay until late afternoon to view the second nut-cracking session. Return to Wolf Valley Camp for the night.

Note: No blinds needed for Maned Wolves or Bearded Brown Capuchin Monkeys.

Saturday, September 7 (B, L, D)

Today we visit the Hyacinth Macaw blind again at Wolf Valley Camp and enjoy more views of the excellent fauna near the Wolf Valley Camp. Depending on availability and on the quality of the wolf viewing on the first visit to Wolf Cliffs Camp, we may do an afternoon visit to Wolf Cliffs Camp to try see the wolves again. Sleep that evening EITHER in Wolf Valley Camp or perhaps at the Wolf Cliffs if we need more time to see the wolves.

Sunday, September 8 (B, L, D)

One final day at Wolf Valley Camp to photograph the large flock of macaws and other fauna there. Overnight Wolf Valley Camp

Monday, September 9 (B)

Fly from Barreiras (BRA) to Brasilia (BSB) and depart for flight home.

If you are doing this trip as a pre-extension to Brazil then fly from Barreiras (BRA) to Brasilia (BSB) to Cuiaba (CGB), arriving before or near midnight. See 2013 Brazil Pantanal Jaguar Wildlife Expedition itinerary for remaining details on trip.

Tuesday, September 10

Arrive home