Birdwatching in Bonito: Brazilian Savannah & Buraco das Araras

1-3 days

Easy trail Year-round

Birdwatching in Bonito, Brazil: Brazilian Savannah & Buraco das Araras Tours

Birdwatching in Bonito: Brazilian Savannah & Buraco das Araras

Private 1–3 day birding tours in the Cerrado — the Brazilian savannah — around Bonito, working the gallery forests of the Formoso, Perdido and Mimoso rivers and the Red-and-green Macaws of Buraco das Araras, led by biologist and guide Lucas Yanai.

Birdwatching in Bonito begins in the Cerrado, the Brazilian savannah, where mornings open with intense bird activity. Even before sunrise, vocalisations fill the gallery forests along the Formoso, Perdido and Mimoso rivers — ecological corridors linking open grasslands, well-preserved riparian forests and denser woodland fragments.

This habitat diversity makes birdwatching in Bonito especially rewarding, bringing together typical savannah species, wetland birds, soaring raptors and macaws colouring the sky. In a single day, visitors may encounter grassland and forest birds, including iconic species such as the seriema and the arancuã.

A short drive away, Buraco das Araras — the world-famous "Macaw Sinkhole" — adds a spectacular signature stop, where Red-and-green Macaws wheel above a vast red-sandstone doline. It pairs naturally with Bonito's river-snorkelling and wildlife circuit for travellers extending their trip.

With excellent tourism infrastructure, an airport just 15 minutes from the town centre, and a wide range of accommodation, Bonito is a strategic destination for birdwatchers seeking efficient logistics and high species diversity.

Headline species

Band-tailed Manakin
Pipra fasciicauda
Blaze-winged Parakeet
Pyrrhura devillei
Chaco Puffbird
Nystalus striatipectus

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Region: Cerrado (Brazilian savannah) around Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Habitats: Gallery forests along the Formoso, Perdido and Mimoso rivers, open grassland and woodland fragments
Duration: 1 to 3 days
Best season: Year-round
Format: Private and tailor-made — works as a day trip or combined with the Pantanal
Guide: Lucas Yanai, biologist, Cadastur-certified, 18+ years in the field
Languages: English, Portuguese and Spanish
Level: Easy trail — suitable for beginners

Why Bonito is a strategic birdwatching destination

Bonito occupies a privileged position on the Brazilian biodiversity map. Here the Cerrado — the Brazilian savannah — meets the Pantanal, inland Atlantic Forest and the Chaco, and that convergence delivers, within a small area, a variety of birds that would normally take several separate trips.

The backbone of the tour is the gallery forest along the Formoso, Perdido and Mimoso rivers. These are ecological corridors: strips of well-preserved riparian woodland linking open grassland to denser forest fragments. Within a few kilometres you move from grassland species to forest species, and it is that rapid habitat turnover that makes the day productive.

A short drive away, Buraco das Araras — the "Macaw Sinkhole" — adds a spectacular signature stop: a vast red-sandstone doline where Red-and-green Macaws wheel through the day. It is one of the most photogenic sightings in the region and works well late in the morning.

Logistics count in Bonito's favour too. The airport is 15 minutes from the town centre, accommodation is plentiful, and the roads are good all year — which makes this itinerary easy to slot in before or after a Pantanal expedition, and a natural pairing with Bonito's river-snorkelling circuit for travellers extending their trip.

How a day of birdwatching in Bonito works

The itinerary is built to order, but in the Cerrado the morning decides everything — and the day is organised around it:

Before sunrise: the gallery forests
Vocalisations start before first light. Being in position in the riparian forest at that moment is what separates an ordinary day from a good one — it is when the Helmeted Manakin, the tinamous and the woodcreepers announce themselves.
Morning: alternating grassland and forest
We work both habitats in sequence, because they are only minutes apart. Open country brings the Red-legged Seriema, tinamous and raptors gaining height; the forest brings parakeets, tanagers and manakins.
Late morning: Buraco das Araras
The sinkhole works well once the sun is high and the Red-and-green Macaws are moving over the rock face. It is a short, highly visual stop, and good for photography.
Afternoon and night: optional
Activity drops in the heat and returns late in the afternoon. On multi-day itineraries a night outing is worthwhile: the forests around Bonito hold owls such as the Spectacled Owl and the American Barn Owl.

Best time for birdwatching in Bonito

Unlike the Pantanal, Bonito works all year round. What changes is the weather and the kind of bird activity.

April to September — dry, mild winter

Dry days, cool nights and comfortable trails. It is the easiest window for walking and the one that pairs best with a Pantanal extension, which is then at the peak of its dry season.

October to March — hot, humid summer

Hotter, with afternoon rain, but also more song, more breeding activity and lush vegetation. Mornings remain excellent; what changes is the need to start even earlier.

Flagship birds of the Bonito savannah

Blaze-winged Parakeet
Pyrrhura devillei
A restricted-range species and one of the most sought-after in the region, usually in noisy flocks along the gallery forest.
Red-and-green Macaw
Ara chloropterus
The star of Buraco das Araras, wheeling over the red-sandstone sinkhole. Seen in pairs or in large flocks.
Chaco Puffbird
Nystalus striatipectus
A Chaco-affinity species that reaches the Bonito region — discreet and patient, often perched motionless on an exposed branch.
Spectacled Owl
Pulsatrix perspicillata
Powerful and striking, it inhabits the forests of the Cerrado around Bonito and makes nocturnal outings especially appealing.

What is included

Cadastur-certified biologist guide (Lucas Yanai) throughout the tour, in English, Portuguese or Spanish.
Planning around your dates, pace, experience level and target species list.
Field identification support and a list of species recorded by the end of the tour.
Adventure insurance, included in all tours.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before the tour date, and free rescheduling in case of adverse weather.
Airport transfer and transport logistics arranged, once you share your flight details.

Practical information for reaching Bonito

Bonito airport (BYO) receives direct flights from São Paulo (GRU) and Campo Grande (CGR) and is 15 minutes from the town centre — the most convenient option.
Campo Grande (CGR) is the international airport with the most connections; from there it is about a 4-hour drive to Bonito, with road transfers available.
Citizens of the EU, USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in Brazil.
Bring your own binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat and long sleeves in neutral colours. The trails are easy and on flat ground.

Species you may encounter on this Bonito birdwatching tour

Alegrinho-do-Chaco
Gray-capped Tyrannulet
Serpophaga griseicapilla
Anambé-branco-de-bochecha-parda
Black-crowned Tityra
Tityra inquisitor
Anambé-branco-de-rabo-preto
Black-tailed Tityra
Tityra cayana
Arara-canindé
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Ara ararauna
Arara-vermelha
Red-and-green Macaw
Ara chloropterus
Araçari-castanho
Chestnut-eared Aracari
Pteroglossus castanotis
Batuqueiro
Green-winged Saltator
Saltator similis
Caboclinho-de-chapéu-cinzento
Copper Seedeater
Sporophila bouvreuil
Caboclinho-de-papo-branco
Marsh Seedeater
Sporophila palustris
Caboclinho-de-papo-escuro
Dark-throated Seedeater
Sporophila ruficollis
Caraúna
Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
Cauré
Bat Falcon
Falco rufigularis
Falcão-de-coleira
Aplomado Falcon
Falco femoralis
Gavião-caboclo
Savanna Hawk
Heterospizias meridionalis
Gavião-de-rabo-branco
White-tailed Hawk
Geranoaetus albicaudatus
Gavião-pato
Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus melanoleucus
Gracuã-do-Pantanal
Chaco Chachalaca
Ortalis canicollis
Inhambu-chintã
Tataupa Tinamou
Crypturellus tataupa
Inhambu-chororó
Small-billed Tinamou
Crypturellus parvirostris
Jacutinga-de-garganta-branca
White-throated Piping Guan
Pipile grayi
Maitaca-verde
Scaly-headed Parrot
Pionus maximiliani
Murucututu
Spectacled Owl
Pulsatrix perspicillata
Papagaio-verdadeiro
Turquoise-fronted Amazon
Amazona aestiva
Perdiz
Red-winged Tinamou
Rhynchotus rufescens
Pernilongo-de-costas-brancas
White-backed Stilt
Himantopus melanurus
Quiri-quiri
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Rapazinho-do-Chaco
Chaco Puffbird
Nystalus striatipectus
Saíra-de-chapéu-preto
Hooded Tanager
Nemosia pileata
Saíra-de-papo-preto
Burnished-buff Tanager
Tangara cayana
Seriema
Red-legged Seriema
Cariama cristata
Soldadinho
Helmeted Manakin
Antilophia galeata
Suindara
American Barn Owl
Tyto furcata
Surucuá-de-barriga-vermelha
Blue-crowned Trogon
Trogon curucui
Tiriba-fogo
Blaze-winged Parakeet
Pyrrhura devillei
Trinca-ferro-gonga
Grayish Saltator
Saltator coerulescens
Urubu-de-cabeça-amarela
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Cathartes burrovianus
Urubu-de-cabeça-vermelha
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Urubu-rei
King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papa
Uirapuru-laranja
Band-tailed Manakin
Pipra fasciicauda

* Lists vary according to season and specific conditions. Sightings are not guaranteed but maximized by expert guiding.

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Birdwatching in Bonito: frequently asked questions

Is Bonito good for birdwatching?

Yes. Bonito sits at a crossroads of the Cerrado (Brazilian savannah), the Pantanal, inland Atlantic Forest and the Chaco, so it produces a remarkable variety of species in a small area — including the Blaze-winged Parakeet and the Red-and-green Macaws of Buraco das Araras — with excellent tourism infrastructure and an airport 15 minutes from town.

When is the best time for birdwatching in Bonito?

Bonito works year-round. From April to September the weather is dry and mild, ideal for walking and for pairing with the Pantanal in its dry season. From October to March it is hotter with afternoon rain, but there is more song and breeding activity. In any season, the morning is what matters.

What is Buraco das Araras, and is it worth visiting?

It is a vast red-sandstone sinkhole where Red-and-green Macaws (Ara chloropterus) wheel through the day — one of the most photogenic sightings in the region. Yes, it is worth it: a short, highly visual stop that fits well late in the morning, after the activity peak in the gallery forests.

Is this suitable for beginner birdwatchers?

Yes — this is our most accessible tour. The trails are easy and on flat ground, distances are short, and many of the birds appear in open habitat or along forest edges, which makes observation much easier. It is a good first encounter with Brazilian birdlife.

Can I combine Bonito with the Pantanal?

Yes, and it is the most common combination. Bonito is the base from which we enter the Pantanal along the Estrada do Parque, so the two itineraries fit together with no extra domestic flights. Many visitors add the Brazilian Chaco at Porto Murtinho as well.

Can I combine birding with Bonito's river-snorkelling tours?

You can, and it works well: birding needs the morning, while river-snorkelling tours usually run later in the day. We build the itinerary so the two do not clash — just tell us what you have already booked.

How much does a Bonito birdwatching tour cost?

Because every tour is private and tailor-made, the price depends on length, number of participants, season and the logistics involved. Send us your dates and what you want to see and we will come back with a detailed quote, no obligation.

Records and references for the region

To research the birdlife of Mato Grosso do Sul before you travel:

eBird — Mato Grosso do Sul
Checklists, hotspots and month-by-month bar charts for the state.
WikiAves — Brazilian bird records
Photographs, sounds and distribution documented by Brazilian birders.

Ready to see these birds?

Tell us your dates, group size and the species you most want to see. We reply with availability, a suggested itinerary and pricing.