Subject: [Tweeters] RFI:Birding Brazil
Date: Jan 31 14:29:36 2010
From: Levine, Barron S - LevineB at bsd405.org


Chatters and Tweeters,
Kate and I are contemplating doing a month long trip to Brazil this summer. For those of you who are experienced in such said trip can you offer us some advise about the following:
-Would an itinerary that would include the following (Igua?u Falls, The Pantanal, Christalino Lodge, and the SE Rain forest) be too ambitious?
-If not, how many days would you recommend at each? If so, what would you eliminate? any other options
that you would think better than those stated for a first trip to Brazil?
-How does one (or 2 in this case) navigate around Brazil?
-Would you recommend for, or against driving at all, or part of the trip?
- If for, what route would you suggest?
-If flying would be best, what route should we take to help defray costs?
-Any one know of guides that are in the Pantanal region? We would rather not go on a big tour and would
be looking mostly for someone to help us get to the birds and keep us from getting lost. We always
enjoy working with the locals, so that we can also feel connected to the culture.
--Any one have recommendations of guides, or lodges, that are in the SE region?
-Christalino has come highly recommended, but is very expensive. Any one have other options that they
have used in the Mato Grosso area that they would rate as close to or equivalent?
-For those of you who set up trips for yourselves, any tips that might help us to save a few dollars would be greatly appreciated.
All the best

Barry Levine
levineb at fastmail.fm
seattle