August 31st - September 8th, 2023

Join Daniel for close encounters with Brazil’s colorful red-and-green macaws, and one of its more strange, yet captivating, creatures, the giant anteater. This is a wonderful extension to your Jaguar tour with us!

This journey will take us just south of Brazil’s Pantanal region, starting with an easy, unique snorkel that will introduce us to the river Rio da Prata’s underwater paradise. Swim in crystalline waters (clear as gin!) and photograph the colorful fish and aquatic plants and landscape in this unspoiled environment, an experience not to be missed!

Next, we’ll make our way to “Macaw Canyon” where red-and-green macaws are plentiful. Photograph these colorful birds in flight, perched in trees, and interacting with one another. This is the time of year when the red-and-green macaws mate, so there should be plenty of excitement in the air!

We’ll enjoy close-up encounters with the unusual giant anteater, the largest of all the anteaters. Though a bit odd-looking, you’ll surely be mesmerized by these animals as they meander in their natural habitat, sniffing out unsuspecting ant and termite mounds to satisfy their 30,000 insect per day appetite.

Lastly, we should have opportunities to photograph the beautiful blue-and-gold macaws along with coatis before we return to Cuiabá. Note: Dan will be leading this tour with our local guide.

Meet Daniel and Tanya Cox
  • Daniel Cox
Travel Plan
Accommodations
Helpful Information
Explorer Testimonials

  • 2023 Brazil Macaw Canyon and Giant Anteater Photography Tour Travel Plans

    Thursday, August 31

    Jaguar Tour II guests will depart US/Canada to fly to São Paulo (GRU) or Campinas (VCP), usually an overnight flight, arriving September 1.

    Friday, September 1 (D)

    Upon arrival, board a connecting flight to Campo Grande (CGR). Today Jaguar Tour II guests will have some time to relax from their international flight. There will be a local representative to greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Dan will be finishing up the first jaguar tour today, so our local guide will host our group welcome dinner at a nearby venue. Overnight at Novotel Campo Grande.

    Jaguar Tour I guests will spend tonight (the last night of the jaguar tour itinerary) in Cuiabá at the Hotel Slim Cuiabá Aeroporto or similar near the airport.

    Saturday, September 2 (B, L, D)

    Early this morning Jaguar Tour I guests will head to the airport in Cuiabá and board a flight to Campo Grande with Dan.

    Today, we’ll drive to the town of Jardim and make our way to the Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata to eat lunch. After lunch, there are two options.

    The first (and more adventurous) option is to stay at Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata for a nature experience like no other. We’ll gear up in our neoprene wetsuits and booties and take a short drive to a nearby trail. A brief walk on this pleasant trail will take us through a beautiful riparian forest filled with old trees, orchids, and bromeliads. Keep an eye out for the creatures that inhabit this forest, including coatis, capuchin monkeys, peccaries, agoutis, anteaters, and several species of birds. At the end of the trail, we’ll snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Olho d’Água River, a tributary of the Rio da Prata. This aquatic environment hosts 50+ species of Brazil’s native tropical fish along with amazing underwater scenery and vegetation, and you’ll have ample time to enjoy and photograph this unspoiled paradise.

    For those who prefer a less adventurous afternoon, enjoy a tour of the Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata gardens before taking a short drive to EcoPark Jardim, located just downstream on the Rio da Prata. Here you’ll have the opportunity to photograph curassows and a plethora of bird species. Several different types of macaws, parakeets, parrots, hummingbirds, hawks, owls, and other avians inhabit this area. The endemic blaze-winged parakeet is one of the top species that is often seen at this location.

    In the evening, we will reconvene as a group and have dinner together. Overnight at Vitória Hotel in Jardim

    Sunday, September 3 (B, L, D)

    Rise and shine, another adventure awaits! This morning we’ll make our way to “Macaw Canyon.” Macaw Canyon has been described as a mini Grand Canyon, though it isn’t the canyon itself that draws people here. This 400-foot deep, 300-foot wide limestone sinkhole is home to 20+ pairs of red-and-green macaws.

    We’ll situate ourselves on viewing platforms with plenty of space, so we can photograph these colorful birds in flight, perched in trees, and interacting with one another. This is the finest place in the world to photograph these large macaws, and we can expect numerous unique, and sometimes challenging, photo opportunities. The canyon’s vibrant pink and yellow walls interspersed with various lights and shadows is an excellent location to perfect your photo technique. This is the also time of year when the red-and-green macaws mate, so there should be plenty of excitement in the air!

    We’ll take a break to have lunch at and then head back to Macaw Canyon in the afternoon for even more red-and-green macaw opportunities. Overnight at Vitória Hotel

     

    Monday, September 4 (B, L, D)

    Now that we’ve spent a whole day photographing the fast-flying red-and-green macaws, we’ll check out of our hotel and head back to Macaw Canyon one last time this morning to hone our action photography skills even more.

    Later in the morning we’ll depart the canyon and make our way to Bonito to have lunch, check into our hotel, and rest for a bit.

    Now it’s time for close-up encounters with a more peculiar-looking animal, the giant anteater. Bonito has several great locations where we can observe and photograph 5-10 of these impressive mammals from just a few meters. Giant anteaters are the largest of the anteaters and can grow up to eight feet long and weigh up to 120 pounds. Their well-adapted noses help them detect ant and termite nests, and their sticky tongues slurp up to 30,000 ants/termites per day! Though anteaters are generally docile animals, they do have razor-sharp claws and are known for their ability to fight off pumas and jaguars. Our biologist guides have many years of experience with the giant anteaters, so we’ll be sure to adhere to their guidelines while we photograph these endearing animals.

    Overnight Pousada Olho D’Água

    Tuesday, September 5 (B, L, D)

    Because they’re so fascinating, we’ll spend today with the giant anteaters in Anteater Valley, with a midday break for lunch and a little R&R. Overnight Pousada Olho D’Água

     

    Wednesday, September 6 (B, L, D)

    This morning is free for you to enjoy the inn. Take a dip in the pool, or wander the inn grounds to photograph macaws, toco toucans, plush-capped jays, brown capuchin monkeys, and other wildlife that frequent the gardens and forested area of the grounds.

    After checking out of our rooms, we’ll drive back to Campo Grande. Though an urban area, here we’ll have the chance to photograph blue-and-gold macaws up close, among the most accessible in the world. We’ll also photograph coatis, the adorable, hyperactive relatives of raccoons, in palms and forests. Overnight Novotel Campo Grande

    Thursday, September 7 (B, L, D)

    We’ll spend one last morning with the blue-and-gold macaws, coatis, and other urban wildlife of Campo Grande and then have lunch.

    Jaguar Tour II guests will have a late checkout from the hotel and then board the evening flight to Cuiabá. Overnight Hotel Slim Cuiabá Aeroporto or similar near the airport

    Jaguar Tour I guests will overnight again at Novotel Campo Grande.

    Friday, September 8 (B)

    Breakfast provided at the hotel.

    Jaguar Tour II guests will continue on the 2023 Brazil Pantanal Jaguar Wildlife Photo Expedition II.

    Jaguar Tour I guests will fly home from Campo Grande (CGR) today.

    Saturday, September 9

    Jaguar Tour I guests arrive home.

    • Tour Extensions Available

    • Trip Cost

      3,990 pp, DBL occupancy

      Single supplement: 600

      Note: 6 guests or less, ADD 500pp

      Pricing in USD

    • Deposit

      $1000 Per person due at time of booking
      Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, or check accepted

      Deposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are necessary, we require this request in writing. We will do our best to resell your space. Only if we can resell your space, we will refund (minus deposit and discounts given to sell your space). No partial refunds are possible for unused services.

    • Installments

      February 1, 2023: Final payment

      Check only for final installment. Please make checks payable to Natural Exposures and mail to:

      Natural Exposures
      810 N. Wallace, Suite E
      Bozeman, MT 59715

    • Included

      • Private small group travel with professional photographer Daniel J. Cox
      • Local English-speaking guide
      • Transfers in Cuiabá and Campo Grande on scheduled itinerary days and throughout tour in air-conditioned vehicles
      • Accommodations for 7 nights
      • Meals where indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
      • Entrance fees to locations in itinerary
      • Snorkel gear at Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata

    • Not Included

      • International airfare
      • Domestic airfare, including any connecting flights for international arrivals / departures
      • Domestic airfare CGB-CGR or CGR-CGB – Natural Exposures will book you on the group flight, cost TBD at time of booking
      • Laundry, miscellaneous expenses, beverages
      • Vaccinations
      • Gratuities
      • Travel /emergency medical evacuation insurance
      • Any activities not listed in itinerary

    • Flights to Book

      Extension Guests Please Note: Different arrival and departure airports for your international flights.

      JAGUAR TOUR I Guests
      August 23, 2023
      Arrive Cuiabá (CGB) any time of day. Group welcome dinner tonight

      September 8, 2023
      Depart Campo Grande (CGR) and fly home. Checkout time from the hotel will be at around noon.

      JAGUAR TOUR II Guests
      September 1, 2023
      Arrive Campo Grande (CGR) any time of day. Group welcome dinner tonight

      September 17, 2023
      Depart Cuiabá (CGB) and fly home. Checkout time from the hotel will be at around noon.

      Please contact us if you have any questions.

    • Travel Insurance

      Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance is not required for this photo tour, but we always recommend purchasing it for any trip. We recommend one or more of the following, depending on your needs:

      Global Rescue
      (use code natexp)

      Allianz Global Assistance 
      (use travel agency ID F203564)

      Insure My Trip

    • Terms & Conditions

      Natural Exposures cannot control nor is responsible for abnormal weather, natural disasters, or any other disaster that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights or medical problems that may affect/delay your travel. National Parks have the right to change our itinerary.

      By booking a trip with Natural Exposures, you agree to the following CANCELLATION AND LIABILITY POLICY

  • Accommodations for 2023 Brazil Macaw Canyon and Giant Anteater Photography Tour

    September 6 + 1 Night (determined by Jaguar Tour I or II)
    Novotel Campo Grande
    Novotel Campo Grande is perfect for your leisure stay. The bedrooms are comfortable with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi available.

    September 2 and 3, 2 Nights
    Vitória Hotel
    Vitória Hotel is your “home away from home.” Rooms have air-conditioning, a flat screen TV, minibar, and free Wi-Fi is available.

    September 4 and 5, 2 Nights
    Pousada Olho D’Água
    Enjoy well-deserved rest and moments of conviviality and leisure in nature, a calm and comfortable environment.

    September 7, 1 Night (Jaguar Tour II guests only)
    Hotel Slim Cuiabá Aeroporto
    Hotel Slim Cuiabá Aeroporto features rooms with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Restaurant and self-service laundry onsite. Close to the airport, it’s a simple, newer hotel that meets our needs.

  • Helpful Information for 2023 Brazil Macaw Canyon and Giant Anteater Photography Tour

    Passport and Visa

    US citizens must carry a valid US passport when traveling to Brazil for any purpose. One blank passport page is required for the entry stamp.

    Beginning June 17, 2019, Brazil visas are no longer be required for US, Japanese, Canadian, and Australian citizens for stays of less than 90 days.

    Please visit the US Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs for the most up-to-date entry, exit, and visa requirements.

    Vaccinations

    It is always best to make sure you are up to date with your routine vaccinations and to check in with your doctor or a medical professional ideally 4-6 weeks before travel. Recommended (but not required) are:

    • Routine such as MMR, DPT, polio
    • Hepatitis A and B
    • Yellow fever
    • Typhoid
    • Rabies

    For a full list of recommended vaccinations, please visit the CDC website.

    Language

    Almost everyone in Brazil speaks Portuguese. Our guides will speak English. Less than 5% of Brazilians speak English!

    Camera Gear

    Closer to trip time, Dan will phone each guest to discuss camera gear needs, and we’ll also send a list of suggested items to bring.

    Typical Food

    Chicken, beef, catfish, in various manners. Beans (vegetarian) and rice at every lunch and dinner. A lot of fresh fruit, vegetables and salads. Potatoes, pasta. All simple but hearty.

    Have a question?

    Have a question about this tour? We're happy to answer any queries you may have.

  • Testimonials from Natural Exposures' Explorers

    • "Tanya and Dan’s logistic skills provide a seamless photo tour where one can truly enjoy the experience. With unlimited photographic opportunities Dan’s instruction has taken my photography to a higher level."

      Linda Henry, Oregon

    • "I just wanted to again thank you for a wonderful week of photography and relaxation away from the office. It was a really a good group."

      Sue Wolfe, Texas

    • "Wonderful. You guys are awesome and it's a real pleasure traveling with you!"

      Omar Hikal, Dubai

    • "What a trip
      What a group
      What a fabulous everything
      To our next encounters with nature"

      Maud and Leon Soriano, Florida

For additional information please contact Tanya at info@naturalexposures.com or by telephone at (406) 556-8212

Are you ready to start your next adventure?