General Tour Information
ENTERING BRAZIL: A passport and visa are required for Americans traveling to Brazil for any purpose. Non-US citizens should check with their Brazilian Embassy to determine current visa requirements. Brazilian visas can be obtained in advance from the Brazilian Embassy, 3009 Whitehaven St. N.W., Washington, D.C., 20008; telephone (202) 238-2818, e-mail consular@brasilemb.org, or from a visa service such as CIBT.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Brazil in the University of Texas series here. You can review the U.S. Department of State background notes on Brazil here.
HEALTH: The CDC currently recommends vaccination or other protection against Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG); typhoid; yellow fever; and as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. There is no risk for malaria in the areas we visit on this tour. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
CLIMATE: July is the dry season in the southeast, although we may encounter rain at any time during the tour. As it is during the Brazilian winter, however, the higher elevations at Itatiaia and Teresopolis are likely to be cold in the mornings and a warm jacket and gloves are recommended.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: We’ll start early most days (5:30-6 a.m.) so as to be out in the field for the first few hours of the day when birds are most active. We will normally have early breakfasts at our lodging. We will have picnic lunches in the field some days and will have restaurant lunches other days. Whenever possible we will schedule optional birding trips so as to give those who wish the opportunity to take a few hours off to relax. The pace of this trip varies from roadside birding, with our vehicle following us, to walking narrow forest trails away from the vehicle. A couple of trails involve moderate uphill climbs at a slow pace. Be aware that you will not be able to return to the vehicle by yourself if you become tired, so participants should be able to walk at a slow to moderate pace for five to six hours at a time.
ALTITUDE: While at Itatiaia National Park we stay in a hotel at about 4,000 feet. On one day we drive up to 7,000 feet for an exploration of treeline habitats. This drive will involve no strenuous walking and only an occasional downhill stroll. Everywhere else on this itinerary we are at low elevations.
ACCOMMODATION: We’ll be staying in good quality hotels, often close to our birding sites, throughout the tour. All rooms will have a private shower and toilet.
DRESS: Dress will be informal throughout the tour. The Brazilian people tend to dress up, especially when going out to dinner, so shorts are not appropriate in hotel restaurants in the evenings.
TRANSPORT: During the tour we’ll travel in a variety of vehicles. When we use more than one vehicle, there will be a leader in each (unless the trip is only a transfer from one site to another). Many of the roads used will not be paved, so be prepared for some dust.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group.
If any lodge, accommodation or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than WINGS’ policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Brazil will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: February 2008