About This Reserve
At the Canudos Biological Station in Brazil, you are likely to see hundreds of Lear’s Macaws make a colorful, noisy splash of blue against the red of the dramatic sandstone canyons where they roost and nest. Departing from their burrows at dawn, always in pairs and in joyful commotion, the Lear’s Macaws set out to get food—the fruits of the Licuri palm. To watch this show, visitors are led by reserve guides, employed from the local community.
The Canudos Biological Station, located in the Bahia Department of Brazil is a pioneering initiative of the Biodiversitas Foundation to protect one of the planet’s most endangered and admired birds, the Lear’s Macaw. Due to focused conservation efforts, the species’ numbers have increased from a few dozen in the late 1980s to about 1,700 today. The reserve is strikingly beautiful, the sandstone canyons having weathered into striking, odd forms, clothed in caatinga habitat with giant cacti and unique flora.
In addition to the Lear’s Macaw, you are also likely to see birds endemic to Brazil’s North East, such as Broad-tipped Hermit, Red-shouldered Spinetail, and Cactus Parakeet. You can also spot Black-bellied Antwren, Barred Antshrikes, Red-legged Seriema, and Blue-winged Macaw, among others. In the evenings, you can look for Rufous Nightjar and several species of owl.
Accommodations
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Canudos Lodge
The Canudos Lodge
Ciro Albano
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Canudos Lodge
The Canudos Lodge has 6 suites that can accommodate up to 12 people and a common area where meals are offered and guests have the opportunity to get to know the flavors of the local cuisine. The facilities were built from a socio-environmental perspective, prioritizing the use of local labor and locally sourced raw materials, ecological bricks (made without burning and, consequently, without CO2 emissions).
Ciro Albano
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Bedroom
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Dining Room
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Veranda
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Observation areas
Guides will take visitors on trails through the red canyons at dawn to spend several hours viewing flocks of Lear’s Macaws.
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Lear's Macaws on licuri palm
You can join park guides to view the areas used by the Lear’s Macaws for feeding, the Licuri palm trees. On the way to the feeding areas, visitors are offered a window into the unforgettable landscape of the Northeast caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome.
Ciro Albano
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Local crafts
Visitors interested in the unique history of Canudos, including the infamous Canudos Ware, can visit the nearby town of Canudos. Guests can also visit communities to purchase local handicrafts, including those made from Licuri straw.
Day-Use Only
Dining Available
Overnight Accomodation
Restrooms Available
Trails Available
