For an informative overview of all our Brazil birding tours, see Brazil: Field Guides Tours.

Carajas is the site of one of the largest iron-ore mining operations in the world. Whole mountaintops have been mined into deeply terraced cones in the earth; from the edge, men and machinery look like tiny toys far below. Up close, massive trucks thunder through checkpoints on tires taller than our van. The scale of Carajas is indeed awesome--yet it is the forest that truly rules, that reduces the mine to a scar in a sea of green. Mist-shrouded, forested ridges stack out to the horizon making for some inspiring scenery as well.

The Carajas bird list is rich and diverse; the area is particularly well endowed with parrots. Among the species we could see are six species of macaws including Hyacinth, the beautiful Jandaya Parakeet, the very local Pearly Parakeet, Santarem Parakeet, the stunning Red-fan Parrot, and the little-known Vulturine Parrot. Just a few of the other exciting bird possibilities are White-crested Guan, Russet-crowned Crake, Black-bellied Gnateater (a gorgeous bird), the endemic White-tailed Cotinga, Purple-breasted Cotinga, Guianan Red-Cotinga, White Bellbird (represented by a race known only from Carajas), the endemic Opal-crowned and Fiery-capped manakins, Black-and-white Tody-Tyrant, and the highly prized Black-chested Tyrant. Our last tour there produced Pheasant, Pavonine, and Striped cuckoos in just a couple of days. Carajas is also an excellent place to find Harpy Eagle. We'll headquarter at one comfy little hotel with good birding a stone's throw from the front door. Join Marcelo for, as ever, a remarkable adventure into wonderful Amazonia.

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