Itacaré Eco Resort

Experience the excitement of riding the perfect wave. Feel the power of the ocean and the rush of riding ahead of a wave. Hear the unique sound of a barrel ride. Itacaré offers a variety of good surfing beaches all year round. The Itacaré Eco Resort provides the gear, and surf instructor Aline Chaves will show you what you need to know to practice this sport that will make you feel strongly connected to Itacaré.

Rafting trips and ziplining take place in the Taboquinhas district, a 34-kilometer drive from Itacaré, with 28 kilometers of dirt road.

The only way to get there is with a four wheel drive vehicle.

Feel the connection with your own emotions and with nature as you drop down a waterfall or soar high above the river and the rocks.

In addition to the magnificent beaches, Itacaré offers beautiful waterfalls that can be reached by boat, canoe, barge and even with an offroad ATV. Contact our Tour Center for information and enjoy an unforgettable trip.

Guided hiking tours through forest trails, with amazing views of the blue ocean and the sound of streams flowing over the rocks. The Itacaré Eco Resort coordinates trekking tours escorted by trained guides. Additional information about all the activities offered can be obtained at the Resort's Tour Center.

Rustic and cozy, surrounded by the atlantic forest, at Cacau Café you will have a chance to learn about the history of cocoa, considered the "golden fruit" at the time when the colonels ruled. In this lovely atmosphere encircled by a small cocoa plantation, you will be able to taste a delicious assortment of cakes, chocolate truffles and coconut candies made from cocoa and served with coffees or teas prepared in a wood burning stove. You will also learn about the craft chocolate making process.

Itacaré is known to have one of the most beautiful tree top adventure circuits in Brazil. Enjoy this unique eco-tourism experience that consists of moving from tree to tree on suspension bridges above the forest floor. This activity allows visitors to connect with nature, while creating awareness on the need to preserve the trees that are the big stars in this adventure. We try to exceed our own limits with safety and environmental responsibility.

The best way to get in touch with nature and to have a true eco-tourism experience comes on horseback. On the way you will be able to listen to the sound of the animals, watch the waves and the river flowing. You will enjoy the natural beauty of the Atlantic forest amongst 500 acres of trails, streams, waterfalls and beaches, all part of the protected area where the resort is located. You will also see ancient trees that are hundreds of years old and that make up a great part of our complex.

One of the popular trips is a canoe ride with local guides, from the village center border to a beautiful waterfall. The native dugout canoe heads up the Contas river, passes through mangroves and offers a spectacular view of the surrounding nature. Several species of crabs and cocoa farms can be seen along the way. Hint: On the way back, have lunch by the river and then hit a hammock, lay back and relax. At the end of the trip, it's worth stopping by Conchas beach to watch one of the best sunset views in the region.

Birding

The South Bahia region is home to the last remaining tracts of coastal Atlantic Forest, which constitutes Brazil's endemic ecosystem and one of the most endangered in the planet. One of the last remaining areas is within the Itacaré ? Serra Grande APA (Protected Area) where the Itacaré Ecoresort is located.

This 155,670-acre area with immense environmental diversity, includes beaches, mangroves, forests, marshes, holms and open spaces. Such diversity is responsible for the rich variety of bird species in the region and one of the best for birdwatching in the north coast.

So far, 320 bird species have been identified in APA, which is almost half of the catalogued species in the Atlantic Forest and many of them live in the forests. There are approximately 40 endemic species and 16 officially listed on the status of endangered wildlife.

The chance to watch species from different ecosystems as Cerrado, Caatinga and Amazônia, which constitute a complex biogeographic pattern, will provide a unique and terrific birding experience.

List of endangered endemic species encountered in Itacaré's Protected Area and of particular interest for birdwatchers:

* Endangered species listed by IBAMA or BirdLife International

- Tinamus solitarius - Solitary Tinamou
- Ortalis guttata - Speckled Chachalaca - Endemic

- Leucopternis lacernulatus - White-necked Hawk - Endemic *
- Spizaetus tyrannus - Black Hawk-Eagle
- Spizaetus ornatus - Ornate Hawk-Eagle
- Aratinga auricapillus - Golden-capped Parakeet *

- Pyrrhura cruentata - Blue-throated Parakeet - Endemic *
- Brotogeris tirica - Plain Parakeet - Endemic
- Touit surdus - Golden-tailed Parrotlet - Endemic *
- Pionopsitta pileata - Pileated Parrot - Endemic *
- Pionus reichenowi - Reichenow's Blue-headed Parrot - Endemic
- Triclaria malachitacea - Blue-bellied Parrot - Endemic *
- Florisuga fusca - Black Jacobin - Endemic
- Chrysolampis mosquitus - Ruby-Topaz Hummingbird

- Discosura langsdorffi - Black-bellied Thorntail *
- Thalurania watertonii - Long-tailed Woodnymph - Endemic *
- Thalurania glaucopis - Violet-capped Woodnymph
- Heliothryx auritus - Black-eared Fairy
- Nystalus maculatus - Spot-backed Puffbird
- Malacoptila striata - Crescent-chested Puffbird - Endemic
- Selenidera maculirostris - Spot-billed Toucanet
- Picumnus pygmaeus - Spotted Piculet - Endemic
- Veniliornis maculifrons - Yellow-eared Woodpecker - Endemic
- Celeus torquatus - Ringed Woodpecker *
- Campephilus robustus - Robust Woodpecker
- Thamnophilus ambiguus - Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike - Endemic
- Myrmotherula urosticta - Banded-Tail Antwren Endemic *

- Herpsilochmus pileatus - Bahia Antwren - Endemic *
- Drymophila squamata - Scaled Antbird - Endemic
- Terenura maculata - Streak-capped Antwren
- Pyriglena leucoptera - White-shouldered Fire-eye
- Conopophaga melanops - Black-cheeked Gnateater - Endemic
- Formicarius colma - Rufous-capped Antthrush
- Sclerurus mexicanus - Tawny-throated Leaftosser
- Thripophaga macroura - Striated Softtail - Endemic *

- Pseudoseisura cristata - Rufous Cacholote - Endemic
- Cichlocolaptes leucophrus - Pale-browed Treehunter - Endemic
- Hemitriccus nidipendulus - Hangnest Tody-Tyrant - Endemic
- Rhynchocyclus olivaceus - Olivaceous Flatbill
- Carpornis melanocephala - Black-headed Berryeater - Endemic *
- Cotinga maculata - Banded Cotinga - Endemic*
- Procnias nudicollis - Bare-throated Bellbird - Endemic *
- Lipaugus vociferans - Screaming Piha
- Xipholena atropurpurea - White-winged Cotinga - Endemic *
- Pyroderus scutatus - Red-ruffed Fruitcrow

- Machaeropterus regulus - Eastern Striped Manakin - Endemic
- Dixiphia pipra - White-crowned Manakin
- Schistochlamys melanopis - Black-faced Tanager
- Schistochlamys ruficapillus - Cinnamon Tanager - Endemic
- Tangara brasiliensis - White-bellied Tanager - Endemic
- Hemithraupis ruficapilla - Rufous-headed Tanager - Endemic
- Ramphocelus bresilius - Brazilian Tanager Endemic

- Sporophila bouvreuil - Capped Seedeater
- Sporophila angolensis - Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch *
- Paroaria dominicana - Red-cowled Cardinal - Endemic
- Caryothraustes canadensis - Yellow-green Grosbeak
- Icterus jamacaii - Campo Troupial - Endemic

TOP 5 BIRDING SPOTS IN THE REGION:
- Itacaré EcoResort and Capitão Preserve
- Restinga do Pontal and Campos Naturais
- Entorno da Fazenda Catitu and Tijuipe River
- Serra do Condurú State Park
- Contas River ? Taboquinhas

BIRDING TOURS
The Itacaré Eco Resort provides exclusive guide services for visitors interested in birdwatching combined with comfort and quality service. With ample knowledge of the region's wildlife and large birding experience, the guide will help you identify the birds and will know where they are most likely to be found. His equipment (sound files and recorder) will be helpful to observe several species with peculiar habits, which are a big attraction to birdwatchers.

*For a more enjoyable stay, we strongly suggest that you request our birding tour services in advance.

Guide's Biography - LEONARDO W. PATRIAL (12-03-79)

Leonardo's interest in nature began when he was still a kid and his relatives and friends took him on camping and fishing trips around different areas of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul. In 1997, he concluded his first Environmental Education and Survival Skills course at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, in Kansas, USA. In 1999, seeking to improve his preservation concepts, he attended the University School of Biological Sciences.

Between 2000 and 2001, he worked as a volunteer guide at the Guartelá Canyon State Park for the Parana Environmental Institute. He obtained his biology degree in 2002 and during the same year he was an intern at IPARDES - Instituto Paranaense de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social, working on ecology and beach dynamics of the south coast region in Paraná.

In 2003, Influenced by his brother, he became interested in studying the birds. In mid-2004 he took an advanced course on wildlife management and preservation at PUC University, Parana. There he also participated in ornithology studies, with renown researchers of the Capão da Imbuia Museum of Natural History (Curitiba), in the States of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. He concluded his graduate course in 2006 with a bird survey in a Londrina area, listing new occurrences in the region. In 2007, he moved to Itacaré, attracted by its amazing biodiversity and great potential for ecotourism. Over the last two years he has been running his own business and guiding birding tours in different sites throughout the state of Bahia, helping researchers, photographers and birdwatchers in their search for rare species in each region.

Contact:
Phone: (73) - 3251-3139 / 8131-3277
Email: leopatrial@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.flickr.com/people/birdingtoursleopatrial