Nestled in the lush canopy of Brazil's Atlantic Forest, the Saffron Toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni) is a sight to behold. This smaller member of the toucan family boasts a striking golden-yellow plumage that seems to capture the very essence of sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Locally known as “Tangaras,” a name derived from the Tupí word for ‘dancer,’ these vibrant birds live up to their name with their graceful movements and harmonious chirping as they traverse the trees.

The Petrocerus catiena butterfly is a remarkable species, endemic to the high altitudes of Rio de Janeiro’s Atlantic Forest.

During an 8-day tour at Eco-Lodge Itororó you should see in the region of 250-300 species of birds, of which approximately 80+ species will be Atlantic Rainforest endemics.

The Eco Lodge Itororó is seated on the Serra do Mar Mountain Range at an altitude of 1200m, surrounded by well over fifty mountains and the Atlantic Rain Forest.

Manacá da Serra (Tibouchina mutabilis) is a pioneer tree of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, growing mostly in the Serra do Mar region. It occurs almost exclusively on secondary forests.

The Embaúba (Cecropia pachystachya) is a 4 to 8 meters tall tree, native to the American tropics. It is a pioneer tree, providing healthy and rich organic matter for other trees to thrive and grow around it.

At the end of February Rainer Dungs guided a small group of nature enthusiasts. They arrived in Lençois (one of the beautiful small villages in Chapada Diamantina) on February 22nd and set out to explore the north, the wetlands and the south side of the national park.