South American Bird Trip 2007

[Tiki]

Who would be interested in doing a group tour of the main bird spots in South America with a bit of culture thrown in? This is an actual itinerary I worked out some time ago with a view to doing it in 2007. You would need 3 weeks to do the whole thing, us lucky Aussies get 4 weeks paid vacation every year. The itinerary is: Rio-Iguassu Falls-Pantanal-Brasilia (transit)-Manaus-Amazon-boat to Iquitos, Peru, Cuzco-Macchu Pichu, Manu Biosphere-Macaw salt licks, Lima. Plenty of wild macaw and other bird watching along the way and we would be staying at jungle lodges whenever possible.

The ROUGH cost for all the land portion is about $3500 per person double occupancy and that includes a Brazil Airpass and Peru Airpass, jungle tours, guides, some meals-jungle lodges, accomodation-3 star in cities (depending on what's available online) and jungle lodges. You need to get your own airfare from your home town to Rio and return from Lima. Meals in cities, evening entertainment in cities, personal stuff, shopping is not included in the estimate. I know that's a lot but 2 years should be enough time to save up. I am doing it myself one way or another, just want to see if anyone else wants to come along. I am not trying to make any money off this-you pay what I pay, but if there are enough of us we would get group discounts.

[Monica]

You know, I'd actually love to go! And in the year 2007, I'd be 19! If I don't forget about it, and could actually save up that money, it is something I'd be interested in doing!

[Tiki]

That's the spirit, Monica! That's why I am giving plenty of advance notice, if you open a special account and put $250 in every month, by 2007 you will have enough to come!

[Stacey32]

I'm definitely interested. and we'd be coming from brisbane as well tiki, unless we were visiting my parents first. just curious....is the $3500 aussie or USD?

[Kachina]

I'd love to go. Our wedding is in May '07 so as far as funds go I won't be able to do it.

If ya'll do go, make sure to take and post lots of pics for the rest of us to see.

[BirdzRmylife]

Tiki that sounds fanatastic, but however to no avail for me....due to my late birthday I'll only be 17, yet graduating from highschool. I'd be turning 18 in the 07 fall.

How bout Eco-trip 2010? LOL

[Tiki]

Stacey, the $3500 is USD. Most South American hotels/tour operators use USD so much easier to calculate that way. I just grabbed a few estimates off the net several months ago and from the Lonely Planet and added a bit on for inflation. We'd be using Lan Chile because you can get stopovers in Easter Island and Tahiti as well between Australia and South America. Go to www.travel.com.au for a rough estimate of airfares.

Steven, 2010 is a bit far even for me to plan in advance but possible! One thing I can say is that anyone who has ever traveled never regrets it!