General.
Please do not drink the tap water.
Please do not put toilet paper in the toilet – use the water bin provided.
Please bring sun block and hat (preferably wide-brimmed) for protection.

Daily activities: Generally birding is best early morning and late afternoon in the forests so we take early breakfasts with birding until about an hour before lunch. Some day’s activities will dictate that we take a box lunch. We take an afternoon rest period (when bird activity is low) when possible.

Hotel check-in: This tends to take a little longer in Latin America than in the UK or the USA. Please be patient and relax in reception while the leader attends to this. You will usually be asked to complete some forms on arrival and the clerk may ask to copy your passport. Your leader will collect the passports once this is done and return them to you.

Travel: Please leave the front seats vacant for the leader on the bus.

Tips: Gratuities to local guides and drivers are covered in the price of the tour. Optional tips to hotel staff (who carry your luggage for instance) are not included.

Drinks: Some ground agents include bottled water free (usually in a cool box in the vehicle). However, we advise participants to purchase at least one bottle of mineral water at the start of the tour.

Please make sure you let the waiter know your room number when ordering drinks at a hotel and pay any bills the evening prior to departure. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Photography: Brazil is a photographer’s dream, especially the Pantanal. The leader will have a telescope for general use by the group, but please bring your own if you wish to digiscope birds and wildlife.

Clothing: Brightly coloured clothing should be avoided if at all possible. Cold weather clothing should not be needed on this tour but a light fleece or sweater may be required for early mornings. Otherwise long-sleeve shirts should suffice, preferably cotton. We recommend wearing long trousers in the field but shorts may be preferred when travelling and in the evenings. Although we are visiting Brazil in the dry season we can expect some showers so a collapsible umbrella or a poncho may be needed. Walking boots / shoes should be worn during the day with sandals an option for relaxing / travelling.

“Nasties”: Please consult your GP regarding health precautions for visiting Brazil. Mosquitoes are not prolific in the areas we are visiting but repellent should be carried at all times in the field. 

Time: Brasilia time is GMT – 3 hours and covers the whole of the south-east, south and north-east regions, Brasilia and the state of Goias. Amazon regions that are covered by Brasilia time include the states of Tocantins, Amapa and the eastern half of Para. Mato Grosso is one hour behind Brasilia time.

Reception and rendezvous: Airport transfers have been arranged so on arrival please be alert for a driver with a sign with your name or TOUCAN BIRDING TOURS on it.

Toucan Birding Tours February 2008.

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