We are a group of passionate people who love nature in all its forms. Through our birdwatching and wildlife journeys we get to live our “Magic Moments in Nature”. There is something truly magical about the jungle’s solitude, the symphony of dawn, the encounter with a rare and secretive bird, the thrill of spotting a wild animal that ignores you… These moments leave an indelible mark, and we’re devoted to sharing them with you!
We firmly believe that the recipe for an exceptional nature experience includes meticulous planning and local expertise. Our tours are built on well-crafted itineraries, precise logistics, and, most importantly, friendly, seasoned local guides who find joy in sharing their passion with others.
Our company is based in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso state, the Geodesic center of South America and a strategic gateway to the Pantanal, Cerrado savannas and the Amazon Rainforest.
Our mission is to inspire the love for nature, preserving it and educating the future generations through unforgettable journeys and experiences.
We want to transform people’s relationship with the environment and contribute to a more sustainable future
Our vision for the future is a world where nature is valued and preserved, and people connect with it in a conscious and passionate way.
Through our tours, we hope to inspire positive actions towards the natural world and contribute to a more sustainable and balanced future for present and future generations.
Our journeys offer an unique opportunity to connect with nature and live incredible experiences in remote and pristine locations.
Our guides are expert birders, photographers and naturalists whose vocation is to share the hidden wonders of our natural world through their knowledge of the fauna and flora.
Our journeys are tailored to the unique preferences and desires of each traveler. The result? An experience that’s as distinct as you are, etched in your memory forever.
We place your safety and comfort at the highest, ensuring that your adventure unfolds with quality equipment, secure transport, and cozy havens in the heart of the wild.
We are connoisseurs of exceptional journeys, so our mission is to provide you with those magical moments in nature whose memories will be cherished for a lifetime!
Our company and staff are directly engaged in the preservation of the birds, wildlife and natural habitats of Brazil, by supporting research and conservation efforts, preserving wildlife and natural habitats in our lodge’s private reserve, reducing our carbon footprint and plastic waste wherever possible, respecting the welfare of the wildlife, communities and places visited, and choosing partners and service providers that are also committed to leave a positive impact.
Through our sister company, Aymara Lodge Pantanal, we are able to execute more initiatives that align with our philosophy. Learn about all of our work at Aymara Lodge through this link.
Our vision for the future is a world where nature is valued and preserved, and people connect with it in a conscious and passionate way.
Through our tours, we hope to inspire positive actions towards the natural world and contribute to a more sustainable and balanced future for present and future generations.
Preserving wildlife and natural habitats in our lodge’s private reserve, reducing our carbon footprint and plastic waste wherever possible, respecting the welfare of the wildlife, communities and places visited, and choosing partners and service providers that are also committed to leave a positive impact.
Through our sister company, Aymara Lodge Pantanal, we are able to execute more initiatives that align with our philosophy. Learn about all of our work at Aymara Lodge through this link.
Let us introduce you to our incredible team of guides, each a fusion of profound expertise and unwavering passion. They range from avid birdwatchers to seasoned wildlife experts, but their common thread is a deep and abiding love for nature.
They are more than just guides; they are your keys to forging meaningful connections between travelers and the environment. They are specialists in our core tours: birdwatching, wildlife safaris, and immersive learning expeditions. With each journey, our guides don’t just enhance your adventure; they leave an indelible, positive impact on your life and on the magnificent landscapes we explore throughout Brazil. Get ready for an emotional and unforgettable journey of discovery with them!
Even with well planned itineraries and seamless logistics, surprises could happen along the way – especially when traveling in remote areas! That’s when our office team comes to the rescue, supporting our guides and clients 24/7.
Senior Leader and Director at Birding Pantanal, has been a professional guide since 1998, leading tours throughout Brazil. He has co-authored the definitive field guide entitled “Birds of the Pantanal” (Aves do Pantanal) and a few papers on ornithology. All of our leaders share Giuliano’s passion and commitment and are specialists in the areas where they guide.
Born in Cuiabá-MT, Lisa Canavarros is graduated in Law School at the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, and post graduated from the University of Pablo de Olavide – Seville, Spain, with extensive experience in Labour-Law. After many years working as a lawyer, her life took a sharp turn when she started helping her husband Giuliano Bernardon on his new- born company, Birding Pantanal, and soon proved to be indispensable for the business.
Leonardo Patrial is a Brazilian biologist and ornithologist whose passion for nature developed still as a little kid, on the many camping and fishing trips taken with his family. Fluent in English, he moved to the USA at the age of 17, where he went to High School in Fort Scott, Kansas, and joined the Hunter Education Course offered by the Kansas Wildlife Department. Back in Brazil, he got his degree in Biology, specializing in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management. In 2007 he moved with his wife and daughter to the coast of Northeast Brazil, where they have a restaurant in Itacaré, State of Bahia.
Sergio Freitas is one of those nature enthusiasts that have the job of his dreams. His first contact with the Pantanal and the Amazon happened while he was studying Biology and had the opportunity to travel to these areas a few times, during the field classes. Later, while doing his master’s degree on ecology and biodiversity conservation, he decided to research the fishes of the Pantanal. He published several papers and articles on ecology and climate change, and even described new species of fish for the Pantanal basin.
Our Rio de Janeiro specialist, Ricardo Barbosa is a journalist that saw his life change in 1989 when he decided to follow his passion and a career in tourism. Living in Rio for most of his life, he is our insider there with an extensive knowledge of the city and its gems, be it the tourism attractions, the restaurants, the culture, or the people. His passion for nature started at an early age, with the birds that his father used to have in cages at home… but it was only in 1990, while guiding a couple from Florida, that he saw a bird through binoculars for the first time: the gorgeous Brazilian Tanager, and it was love at first sight.
Victor do Nascimento was born in a ranch in the Pantanal, where his father used to work as a cowboy. He grew up there, and during his childhood developed a deep connection with this habitat and the wildlife around. He used to work as a tractor driver at the ranch when one day, in 1993, he had the opportunity to guide some tourists around the property. That was the moment his life started to change, and Vitinho began to study more and more about the nature he already knew so well.
Marcelo da Rocha is a person that not just loves nature: being in nature is his life, his religion, where he finds himself happiest and inspired. He grew up in a small rural village near the Iguassu river in Brazil, and as a young kid he used to have insect’s collections and chase all the creatures that made a visit to his backyard. He used to walk by a forest reserve on the way to school, and that was too tempting… when he was 12 he would often skip classes to spend hours in solitude in that forest, exploring, observing and learning. This naturally led him to chase a job in tourism, so he started leading visitors to the amazing Iguassu Falls.
Johny De Carli is the newest (and youngest) guide to join the Birding Pantanal team. He is a smart, calm and considerate person whose passion for nature started at an early age, with a set of VHS tapes narrated by David Attenborough, and with the time spent exploring the little forest patch near his home. When he was 10 he had already decided to be a biologist! At the age of 17 he started to study biology in university, and after trying different specializations, found his passion for ornithology, taking part on lab studies and field research, including several expeditions for species assessment and banding.
René Santos became a biologist because of his love for parrots. Since he was a kid it was clear to him and his family that one day he was going to follow a career in ornithology. Even before university he started working with the care and breeding of captive birds, when he had the late Nelson Kawall (a renowned Brazilian ornithologist specialized in parrots) as his inspiration and mentor. He also volunteered at the São Paulo Zoo, where he got to know some of the wild parrot conservation projects and joined the teams that worked for conservation of Lear’s and Spix’s Macaws.
Senior Leader and Director at Birding Pantanal, has been a professional guide since 1998, leading tours throughout Brazil. He has co-authored the definitive field guide entitled “Birds of the Pantanal” (Aves do Pantanal) and a few papers on ornithology. All of our leaders share Giuliano’s passion and commitment and are specialists in the areas where they guide.
Born in Cuiabá-MT, Lisa Canavarros is graduated in Law School at the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, and post graduated from the University of Pablo de Olavide – Seville, Spain, with extensive experience in Labour-Law. After many years working as a lawyer, her life took a sharp turn when she started helping her husband Giuliano Bernardon on his new- born company, Birding Pantanal, and soon proved to be indispensable for the business.
Born in São Paulo, one of the largest cities in the world, she has always been familiar with large dimensions. She has traveled extensively throughout Brazil and South America, an incredible experience that helped her understand the immense richness of this continent and its diversity. Her father Nelson Kawall was a prominent ornithologist in Brazil, from whom she learned to love animals and nature. His work helped to preserve several species of birds and his research led him to identify a new species of parrot, which was then named ‘Amazona kawalli’, in his honor.
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