Marcelo Barreiros is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, who became fascinated with birds when he entered college in 2005, graduating with a degree in biology in 2009. He then moved to Manaus to work with conservation of Harpy Eagles and other large forest raptors, monitoring nests in both the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest regions. Today, Marcelo's depth of expertise in finding and identifying even the rarest species has earned him an outstanding reputation among the leading fieldmen in Amazonia and, increasingly, all of Brazil.
Marcelo and his wife moved back to Sao Paulo in 2015 to be closer to family and the wonderful beaches and Atlantic Forest. Marcelo is a friendly, generous guide with an even temperament and ready laugh, who truly enjoys showing birds to tour participants. He began working on Field Guides tours in 2016 and 2017 and has co-led trips with various of our senior guide staff, including Bret Whitney, Dave Stejskal, and Megan Edwards Crewe. He has a full schedule of upcoming tours in Brazil ane Guyana and will see the occasional foray elsewhere.
Marcelo has been generating lots of great reviews on post-tour evaluations from our clients who have traveled with him. We think you'll have a great tour, too.
Scroll down to see Marcelo's current schedule of tours.
Client comment
"I've taken three other Field Guides tours and they all ran very smoothly and have been very enjoyable. Your office staff members are more responsive than those with other companies, and your guides are uncommonly nice in addition to being top-notch birders. I enjoyed the tour from start to finish. I'd absolutely travel with guides Marcelo Barreiros and Dave Stejskal again. Field Guides is top notch." J.L., RIO NEGRO PARADISE: MANAUS, BRAZIL
Marcelo's Upcoming Tours
Nov 21-29, 2024 ($4795) with Marcelo Barreiros & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Two wonderful lodges for a rewarding tropical birding experience in this English-speaking country, including some regional specialties. Great as an intro to or continuation of your Neotropical birding.
Dec 5-14, 2024 ($5595) with Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 10
Wonderful introductory birding tour to South America's riches, including bellbirds, toucans, manakins, and motmots.
Jan 16-28, 2025 ($7525) with Marcelo Barreiros & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A survey birding tour of the country's vast untrammeled rainforest, with an emphasis on Guianan shield specialties, and side trips to coastal and savanna regions and spectacular Kaieteur Falls.
Feb 2-16, 2025 ($6295) with Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 8
Beautiful Bahia, linking Northeast and Southeast Brazil, is chock-full of rare birds, from Giant Snipe and Hook-billed Hermit to Pink-legged Graveteiro and Banded Cotinga!
May be combined with Nowhere but Northeast Brazil!
Mar 1-8, 2025 ($3550) with Chris Benesh & Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 14
Superb birding with two dozen Mexican endemics and fascinating ruins while based in lovely Oaxaca City.
May be combined with Mexico: Oaxaca's Atlantic & Pacific Slopes
Mar 13-25, 2025 ($7525) with Marcelo Barreiros & Doug Gochfeld
Tour Limit: 8
A survey birding tour of the country's vast untrammeled rainforest, with an emphasis on Guianan shield specialties, and side trips to coastal and savanna regions and spectacular Kaieteur Falls.
May 10-27, 2025 ($7175) with Marcelo Barreiros & Bret Whitney
Tour Limit: 10
This itinerary visits a rich region of Brazil not covered on our other tours, one replete with rarely seen endemics and the recently rediscovered Blue-eyed Ground Dove!
Jun 9-24, 2025 ($8325) with Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 8
Pristine rainforest on the beautiful Rio Cristalino combined with the wilds of the Pantanal in search of Hyacinth Macaw, Harpy Eagle, Jabiru, Jaguar, and a large piece of the meaning of life.
Sep 13-27, 2025 (Fee TBD / 2024=$8575) with Marcelo Barreiros & Bret Whitney
Tour Limit: 10
Bird the rainforests and rivers of the mighty Amazon and Negro in an unforgettable mix of forest hikes and live-aboard luxury.
Oct 17 - Nov 3, 2025 - Part One (Fee TBD / 2024=$7875) with Bret Whitney & Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 12
The fantastic center of avian endemism in eastern Brazil, particularly well endowed with hummingbirds, cotingas, antbirds, and beautiful scenery. Part I: North of the Tropic; Part II: South of the Capricorn.
Nov 1-17, 2025 - Part Two (Fee TBD / 2024=$7475) with Bret Whitney & Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 12
The fantastic center of avian endemism in eastern Brazil, particularly well endowed with hummingbirds, cotingas, antbirds, and beautiful scenery. Part I: North of the Tropic; Part II: South of the Capricorn.
Jan 17 - Feb 3, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$8575) with Marcelo Barreiros & Bret Whitney
Tour Limit: 12
From beautiful beaches to barren badlands, our tour is a quest for specialties of the endangered caatinga, chapada, and Atlantic Forest habitats.
(Fernando de Noronha pre-tour extension from Jan 15, 2026)
May be combined with Brazil: Bahia Birding Bonanza
Feb 1-15, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$6295) with Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 8
Beautiful Bahia, linking Northeast and Southeast Brazil, is chock-full of rare birds, from Giant Snipe and Hook-billed Hermit to Pink-legged Graveteiro and Banded Cotinga!
May be combined with Nowhere but Northeast Brazil!
Feb 26 - Mar 10, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$7525) with Marcelo Barreiros & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A survey birding tour of the country's vast untrammeled rainforest, with an emphasis on Guianan shield specialties, and side trips to coastal and savanna regions and spectacular Kaieteur Falls.
Jun 10-25, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$8325) with Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 8
Pristine rainforest on the beautiful Rio Cristalino combined with the wilds of the Pantanal in search of Hyacinth Macaw, Harpy Eagle, Jabiru, Jaguar, and a large piece of the meaning of life.
Sep 5-20, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$8575) with Bret Whitney & Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 10
Bird the rainforests and rivers of the mighty Amazon and Negro in an unforgettable mix of forest hikes and live-aboard luxury.
Oct 16 - Nov 2, 2026 - Part One (Fee TBD / 2024=$7875) with Bret Whitney & Marcelo Barreiros
Tour Limit: 12
The fantastic center of avian endemism in eastern Brazil, particularly well endowed with hummingbirds, cotingas, antbirds, and beautiful scenery. Part I: North of the Tropic; Part II: South of the Capricorn.
Oct 31 - Nov 16, 2026 - Part Two (Fee TBD / 2024=$7475) with Marcelo Barreiros & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 12
The fantastic center of avian endemism in eastern Brazil, particularly well endowed with hummingbirds, cotingas, antbirds, and beautiful scenery. Part I: North of the Tropic; Part II: South of the Capricorn.