Chapada dos Guimaraes
Dry Canyonlands and Waterfalls
Brazil Birding Destination

Chapada dos Guimaraes is located about 40 miles north of Cuiaba in Mato Grosso state in south-central Brazil. It lies on a rocky plateau about 2500 ft higher in elevationthan the Pantanal.

Chapada dos Guimaraes is a very scenic region of arid canyon lands and waterfalls reminiscent of southwestern US located a few miles from the geographic center of South America. The major scenic attractions is the 280-ft free-falling Veu de Noiva Waterfall. The park encompasses sandstone cliffs and a unique cerrado habitat interspersed with clumps of gallery forest. It marks the transition zone between the Paraguay and Amazon river basins and is home to a variety of birds not found in the Pantanal. Among these are Red-legged Seriema, White-collared Swift, Biscutate Swift, White-eared Puffbird, Collared Crescent-chest, White-banded Tanager, White-rumped Tanager, Coal-crested Finch, Plumbeous Seedeater, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, and Yellow-billed Blue Finch. Birds to be found around the cliffs include Blue-winged Macaw, Red-and-green Macaw, Crested Black-Tyrant, and Cliff Flycatcher. Gallery forests in the area feature such birds as Cinnamon-throated Hermit, Yellow-ridged (Channel-billed) Toucan, Lettered Aracari, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Sirystes, Helmeted Manakin, Band-tailed Manakin, Guira Tanager, and Saffron-billed Sparrow.