Birding Tour Brazil: Southeast Brazil – Atlantic Forest Endemics Paradise

Southeast Brazil – Atlantic Forest Endemics Paradise
September 2025

This classic southeast Brazil tour offers numerous highlights for those who are fond of spectacular birding sites and a great diversity of birds. Of the 1,868 bird species recorded in Brazil, 1,113 have been recorded in southeast Brazil, including a staggering 147 Brazilian endemics (61 percent of all endemic birds of Brazil). Despite being heavily populated, with 75 million people, a multitude of great birding sites can be found both in the vicinity of metropolitan areas as well as in remote areas of this fascinating part of the country. Join Birding Ecotours on this 15-day Brazil birding tour as we explore three main birding sites in the state of Sao Paulo.

Green-headed Tanager is one of the many tanagers we will target on this tour (photo Riccardo Boschetti).

First, we visit Intervales State Park, one of the finest birding destinations in southeast Brazil, where many amazing-looking birds can be found, such as Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Large-tailed Antshrike, White-bearded Antshrike, and Hooded Berryeater, among many other specials.

We then continue to the well-known Ubatuba area, where we will be delighted by species such as Blond-crested Woodpecker, Bare-throated Bellbird, Spotted Bamboowren, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, and Festive Coquette.

Festive Coquette is one of the many specials we will look for around Ubatuba.

Finally, we spend a few days exploring Itatiaia National Park, one of the most famous birding sites in southeast Brazil. With a list of 357 species and comfortable accommodation, it is an excellent place to look for some sought-after species such as Green-crowned Plovercrest, Brazilian Ruby, Saffron Toucanet, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Slaty Bristlefront, Surucua Trogon, Green-billed Toucan, and a nice selection of colorful tanagers such as Green-headed, Gilt-edged, Brassy-breasted, and Red-necked Tanagers. After 15 days of great birding in Brazil you will be transferred to São Paulo to connect with your homebound flight.

This tour can be combined with our preceding Argentina and Brazil: Cerrado, Pantanal, and Iguazu Falls birding tour, and/or with our Brazil: Cerrado Endemics, Brazilian Merganser, and Maned Wolf birding tour which immediately follows this southeast Brazil birding tour.

Itinerary (15 days/14 nights)

Day 1. Arrival at São Paulo and transfer to Intervales

Upon your arrival at São Paulo airport (GRU), we will have an afternoon transfer to the Intervales State Park. If time permit, we will look for Long-trained Nightjar and with some luck, Rusty-barred Owl, which are found in the park after dark.

Overnight: Casa Pica Pau, Intervales State Park

Red-necked Tanager — one of the many tanager species we should see on this tour (photo Riccardo Boschetti).

Days 2-3 Two full days birding at Intervales State Park

We will have two full birding days to enjoy Intervales State Park, with our lodge conveniently located within the park. During our stay at Intervales State Park we will have the opportunity to find a multitude of species including Black-fronted Piping Guan, Purple-crowned Plovercrest, Sao Paulo Tyrannulet, Giant Antshrike, White-bearded Antshrike, Sharpbill, Bertoni’s Antbird, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Scalloped Woodcreeper, Half-collared Sparrow, Eared Pygmy Tyrant, Blue-bellied Parrot, Black Hawk-Eagle, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Star-throated Antwren, Cinnamon-vented Piha, Red-necked and Chestnut-backed Tanagers, Tufted Antshrike, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Squamate Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Hooded Berryeater, Oustalet’s Tyrannulet, Pavonine Cuckoo, Helmeted Woodpecker, Pallid Spinetail, Cinnamon-vented Piha, and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. At night we have chances for Long-trained Nightjar, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl, and Rusty-barred Owl.

Overnight: Casa Pica Pau, Intervales State Park

Day 4. Transfer to Tapiraí and birding Toucan’s Trail

Toucan’s Trail is a private reserve of about 70 hectares (0.7 square kilometers), and the lodge offers great experiences to observe and photograph some of the most beautiful birds of the Atlantic Forest. A great attraction is the large number of feeders that support a good selection of species. Perhaps the main attraction here is the most-wanted Atlantic Royal Flycatcher, a Brazilian endemic, found only in places with clear water and preserved forest.

Atlantic Royal Flycatcher is a stunner when it lifts its brightly colored crest!

We will also look for species such as Variegated Antpitta, Dusky-legged Guan, Brazilian Ruby, Spot-billed Toucanet, Green-billed Toucan, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Yellow-fronted, Blond-crested and White-spotted Woodpeckers, Ochre-collared Piculet, Surucua Trogon, Black-throated Grosbeak, Olive-green, Magpie, and Azure-shouldered Tanagers, and at night we will try for Black-capped Screech Owl, and Tawny-browed Owl.

Overnight: Toucan’s Trail Lodge

Day 5. Birding Toucan’s Trail

We will have a full day birding the lodge grounds and will spend time watching the moth traps where every morning the lights attract endless numbers of bugs which allows visitors to witness many birds coming to feast on the bugs. Some of bird species we might find here include Tufted Antshrike, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Ferruginous Antbird, Planalto Woodcreeper, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Grey-capped and Planalto Tyrannulets, Grey-hooded Attila, Sibilant Sirystes, Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Long-tailed Tyrant, and Masked Water Tyrant.

Overnight: Toucan’s Trail Lodge

Day 6. Transfer to Sitio Espinheiro Negro

After breakfast we will transfer to our new accommodation which has nice bird feeders attracting numerous tanagers including Red-necked, and Green-headed Tanagers and with luck, the endemic Black-legged Dacnis. This small but charming private property also provides a hide from where is possible to see Ruddy Quail-Dove, the endemic Spot-winged Wood Quail, and with luck, Solitary Tinamou.

Overnight: Sitio Espinheiro Negro

Day 7. Transfer to Peruibe

After breakfast we will transfer to Guaraú in Peruíbe, located in the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station, a paradise composed of a mosaic of different ecosystems. About 320 species are found in Guaraú, including 30 species endemic to Brazil and 11 species that are globally threatened.

Pousada Waldhaus has a rustic infrastructure with panoramic views of the ocean and the Serra dos Itatins range. Importantly the area hosts numerous forest trails, with large numbers of bird species right on our doorstep, additionally the beach is a just a five-minute walk away. Our most important target bird here is the endemic Red-tailed Amazon.

Overnight: Pousada Waldhaus, Guaraú

Day 8. Birding Peruíbe

We will spend the full day looking for Red-tailed Amazon at their roosting sites and also target the endemic Black-backed Tanager. Additionally, we may encounter other species such as Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Star-throated Antwren, White-breasted Tapaculo, Black-legged Dacnis, White-banded Mockingbird, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Bicolored Conebill, and many more.

Overnight: Pousada Waldhaus, Guaraú

Day 9. Transfer to Ubatuba

After breakfast we will leave Peruíbe and drive to Ubatuba, near the Rio de Janeiro state border. We will spend three nights at Ubatuba to maximize our chances to see all the specials such as Festive Coquette, Saw-billed and Reddish Hermits, Brown-backed Parrotlet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Dusky Leaftosser, Scaled Antbird, Salvadori’s and Unicolored Antwrens, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Slaty Bristlefront, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Spotted Bamboowren, Sao Paulo Tyrannulet, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Long-billed Wren, Red-necked and Brazilian Tanagers, and Green Honeycreeper. At night, with luck, we could find Black-capped Screech Owl, Striped Owl, and Mottled Owl.

Overnight: Ubatuba

Brazilian Tanager, another outrageously colored tanager that we’ll target on this tour (photo Riccardo Boschetti).

Days 10-11. Two full days birding at Ubatuba

We will spend two full days birding Ubatuba, looking for, in addition to the species listed above, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Pale-browed Treehunter, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Bare-throated Bellbird, Blue Manakin, Planalto Tyrannulet, Green-headed and Olive-green, Tanagers, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Greenish Schiffornis, White-throated Spadebill, Grey-hooded Attila, Spot-billed Toucanet, Ochre-collared Piculet, Green-billed Toucan, and if we are lucky, Sharpbill, and the secretive Solitary Tinamou.

Overnight Ubatuba

Day 12 Transfer to Itatiaia National Park

Today we will transfer from Ubatuba to Itatiaia National Park. The vegetation of the park is exuberant, as is the avifauna. Itatiaia hosts many of Brazil’s exciting endemic species. Specials in the park include Saffron Toucanet, Green-billed Toucan, Green-crowned Plovercrest, Surucua Trogon, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Itatiaia Spinetail, Slaty Bristlefront, Brazilian Laniisoma, and Black-and-gold Cotinga.

Overnight: Hotel Do Ypê, Itatiaia

Blond-crested Woodpecker can be seen in Itatiaia National Park (photo Riccardo Boschetti).

Days 13-14. Two full days birding at Itatiaia National Park

We will spend two days looking for Green-crowned Plovercrest, Frilled Coquette, Brazilian Ruby, Saffron Toucanet, Pileated Parrot, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Itatiaia Spinetail, Serra do Mar and Grey-capped Tyrannulets, Black-and-gold Cotinga, White-bibbed Antbird, Velvety Black Tyrant, Pin-tailed Manakin, Brown, Brassy-breasted and Diademed Tanagers, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Itatiaia Spinetail, Black-capped Piprites, Black-billed Scythebill, Gilt-edged Tanager, and Speckle-breasted Antpitta, while at night we’ll try for Tawny-browed Owl.

Overnight: Hotel Ypê, Itatiaia

Several toucans and toucanets can be seen on this tour, including Saffron Toucanet.

Day 15. Departure from São Paulo

After some final morning birding around the lodge, we will leave towards São Paulo city and grab lunch along the road. We will then be transferred to the airport to connect with our international flights home.

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides, and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling or other factors.