Cristina and Andy Foster of Serra dos Tucanos arranged everything for a four-week birding trip in Brazil – Itororo Lodge, Pantanal and, finally, Christalino in the Amazon. Everything went brilliantly. We saw more than 500 species of birds, plus jaguar, giant anteater, giant otter and an anaconda eating a caiman. The logistics were perfect: good accommodation, good food, safe drivers and superb guides. Andy in particular was excellent. He's a highly-skilled field ornithologist and worked hard to ensure we all saw the birds. I can't recommend Serra dos Tucanos too highly
What can I say? This has to be the most idyllic place we have ever been to. The accommodation is perfect, scenery outstanding, food (OMG, the food!) is just amazing and Andy Foster, our host and guide is simply the perfect gentleman, incredibly knowledgeable (impossible to fault) and generally a really nice guy. All the staff make you feel like you have just returned home, making the visit incredibly relaxed. We would have no hesitation to recommend to anyone this holiday whether you are fully fledged twitchers (lol), professional or amateur photographers, or simply want a relaxing time in the country. We intend to go again, if he has any spaces left once word spreads! Any negative comments by other visitors are laughable, it's worrying to think that those people are living amongst us!…
When we arrived we were welcomed by Andy and his wife. Andy is a great birder and a knowledgeable guide. The verandah is great for sitting out and watching the birds, especially if it is raining (unfortunately we had a day and a half of rain), All the staff were welcoming and friendly. Meals were good and fresh. There are lovely grounds to walk around and a pool if you want. We would recommend Serra dos Tucanos for anyone wanting good birding and a pleasant place to stay with good food.
We spent 5 nights here and enjoyed every day. We were amazed at the variety and abundance of birds (we saw 200 different species). The location was good, in a National Park. We could hear the nearby road but it was not a problem (I thought the sound of the nearby river was louder and I love to hear running water) and it meant that excursions further afield were in easy reach. Our room was a good size with an excellent shower and a pleasant balcony to sit out on. The downstairs verandah, looking on to the bird feeders and garden was a lovely place to relax, there were also comfortable settees e.t.c in the lounge and dining areas. Great breakfasts and good home made food at the other meals. The pool area was very pleasant (with wifi access) and there was a good photographic hide. Andy and his wife were very welcoming and all the staff were friendly. Andy took us out on all our excursions (we went out every day) and proved to be very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, a great spotter and quick to set up his telescope for us. All the excursions were classified as to difficulty which we found very useful as we are not as young and fit as we once were but by choosing carefully and with consultation with Andy found all the walks we did manageable for us. Plenty of bird books to look at in the lounge which was very helpful, supplementing the little book I had taken with me. Altogether we had a great time and I would recommend this lodge to anyone who wants to go birding in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. we…
A wonderful spot for birding a couple of hours outside Rio! The owner, Andy, is a fun, engaging and very knowledgeable guide. The rooms are very nice. Nothing fancy, but well cared for, comfortable, and clean. Meals are very good, and again, nothing pretentious. Just good food. The back veranda looks over the lawn to feeding stations that bring in parakeets, toucanets, tropical finches, and other absolutely beautiful birds. An excellent place to get out of the city and see a bit of the real Brazil. The only disappointing part is the nearby busy road, but then everywhere in this part of the country seems busy. It's not a problem, but just more of a surprise after reading other reviews. I would recommend Serra dos Tucanos to anyone looking for a good birding opportunity in the Atlantic rainforest.…
Great place for birders. Andy the ownership has got a little piece of paradise in the sort after Atlantic Rainforest. Warm and friendly place. Andy and the staff are always at hand and nothing is too much trouble. Rooms are good. Although just off the main road, the noise from the traffic is minimal. Each evening and lunch there is a nice homemade meal.
My wife and I spent eight days here, having arranged an inclusive package (accommodation in a room overlooking the garden and birdfeeders, all meals, and guided birding excursions each day) directly with Andy, the owner. The small lodge (sleeping a maximum of 14) is extremely comfortable and serves excellent home-cooked food. Our room was very clean, with a good hot shower, and the lodge has wifi access if you want to stay in touch with the rest of the world. Although it's situated on a busy main road and there is some traffic noise, we didn't find this a problem either while sleeping or birding around the grounds. For those going birding, Andy is very knowledgeable on all the local species (including many endemics), and is an easy-going yet highly professional guide with a great sense of humour. And you don't necessarily have to venture out of the garden - the fruit and nectar feeders pull in a wide range of species, including specials like Blond-crested Woodpecker, and there's a small hide available for photographers. In short, we had a fantastic time, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend SdT to any birders looking for an introduction to the birds of Brazil's Atlantic Forest.…
My wife and I had a marvelous time at this lovely lodge in the Atlantic rain forest. The austral autumn turned out to be a great time to visit, as the lodge was less crowded than in the spring. The programmed itinerary was adjusted to our needs, and bird guide Cirilo helped us find some very difficult species. Our room was comfortable and quiet, the meals were healthy and tasty, and the garden was visited by beautiful tanagers and hummingbirds.
I have just returned from a 2 week stay at Serra Dos Tucanos Lodge, this is a FANTASTIC place, comfortable,clean,friendly the food was excellent and the guide Cirilo was brilliant at finding the birds for us to see. Andy and Christina who own the Lodge could not have been more friendly and helpful . This is a place for nature lovers who wish to relax in beautiful surroundings, but is only two hours away from tourist attractions in Rio. There are many hummingbird feeders and feeding stations that are replenished regularly so that there is constant activity from birds that would normally be more difficult to see which provides excellent photographic opportunities along with a small bird hide.
Location along a busy and noisy road. But let's be honest. Most of Brazil sounds like this. Free cachaça at 5.30 pm. Choice from 8 different brands. Artificial fruit juice. Absolutely incredible, every Brazilian b&b, bar or restaurant has a stock of frozen portions of exotic fruits, allowing them to make tasty fruit juices. And most of them have a selection of a few seasonal fruits for truly fresh fruit juice. But not here! It's just coloured powder. Walks: Expensive. In lots of other eco-lodges, they're included in the price. Food: Normal, but it would be tastier if the day activities were a little bit more intense. Guiding: It's all about the birds. Don't dare to ask the guide what kinds of colourful fruit are growing near the entrance of the farm you're passing by. He doesn't know them, because he knows only birds. Tracks: Dissappointing. The one closeby is along an old concrete road, counts only 500 metres, and then you have to return exactly the same way. Boring. Birds: Lots, but check my fellow reviewers for that.…
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