Day Visits to REGUA
REGUA has recorded more bird species than any other site in the Atlantic Forest and probably more than at any site in Brazil outside of the Amazon region, which makes REGUA an excellent birdwatching destination (download our bird list). The forest trails are teaming with parrots, trogons, woodpeckers, antbirds, woodcreepers, manakins and tanagers, and the forest here is also one of the best places for the rare Shrike-like Cotinga (Elegant Mourner). Not to be outdone, the wetland has recorded over 180 species of birds including Masked Duck and Giant Snipe, and it is not unusual to see over 100 species around the wetland in a single day!
Mammals present on the reserve include Capybara, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Brown Capuchin Monkey and Southern Woolly Spider Monkey (Muriqui), although the later is rare and very difficult to see. There are also Broad-snouted Caiman, numerous frogs, butterflies and other invertebrates to be seen.
Day visitors may visit the wetland area (download a map of the wetland). If you would like to explore the forest trails then please contact us in advance.
What to look for around the wetlands: White-faced Whistling-Duck, Masked Duck, Least Grebe, 13 species of heron including Whisting and Capped Herons and Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Grey-headed Kite, Crane Hawk, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Laughing and Aplomado Falcons, Limpkin, 10 species of rail (Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Rufous-sided and Ash-throated Crakes and Blackish Rail are frequently seen), South American Snipe, Giant Snipe (best at dawn or dusk), Blue-winged Parrotlet, Orange-winged Parrot, Guira and Striped cuckoos, Tropical Screech-Owl, Tawny-browed Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Pauraque, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Rufous-breasted and Reddish Hermits, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, White-chinned Sapphire, Ringed, Amazon and Green Kingfishers, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Channel-billed Toucan, White-barred Piculet, White and Blond-crested Woodpeckers, Campo Flicker, Tufted, Chestnut-backed and Sooretama Slaty Antshrikes, White-flanked and Unicoloured Antwrens, Wing-banded Hornero, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Sooty and Yellow Tyrannulets, Bran-coloured Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, White-bearded Manakin (lek on the Nursery Trail), White-winged Becard, Lemon-chested Greenlet, Moustached and Long-billed Wrens, Yellowish Pipit, Hooded, Flame-crested, Ruby-crowned, Brazilian, Palm and Yellow-backed Tanagers, Swallow-Tanager, Chestnut-vented Conebill, various seedeaters, Pileated Finch, Buff-throated Saltator, Masked Yellowthroat, Red-rumped Cacique, Chestnut-capped Blackbird and Purple-throated, Violaceous and Orange-bellied Euphonias.
What to look for in the forest: Brown Tinamou, White-necked and Mantled Hawks, Black Hawk-Eagle, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Maroon-bellied and Plain Parakeets, Blue-bellied Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Glittering-throated Emerald, Surucua and Black-throated Trogons, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Buff-bellied and Crescent-chested Puffbirds, Channel-billed Toucan, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-eared, Yellow-throated and Blond-crested Woodpeckers, Spot-backed, Giant Antshrikes, Spot-breasted and Plain Antvireos, Star-throated, White-flanked, Unicoloured and Streak-capped Antwrens, Scaled Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, White-bibbed Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Plain-winged, White-throated, Planalto, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreepers, Ochre-breasted, Black-capped, Buff-fronted and White-eyed Foliage-gleaners, Pale-browed Treehunter, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Plain and Streaked Xenops, Ochre-bellied and Grey-hooded Flycatchers, Southern Antpipit, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, White-throated Spadebill, Grey-hooded Attila, Sharpbill, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed, Eastern Striped and Blue Manakins, Shrike-like Cotinga/Elegant Mourner (February to mid-August in the lowlands, mid-August to December at higher elevations), 25 species of tanager including Olive-green, Black-goggled, Azure-shouldered, Golden-chevroned, Turquoise, Brassy-breasted and Rufous-headed, Yellow-green and Black Grosbeaks, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and Blue-naped Chlorophonia.
Facilities: At the main entrance there are toilets and showers and an undercover seating area. There is also a hide overlooking the wetland. At the nearby villages of Guapiaçu and Matumbo there are a few bars and shops that sell refreshments.
Opening times: REGUA is open dawn to dusk year round.
Entrance fee: There is a small charge of US$10 per person per day for entry to the reserve (car parking is free) and all fees go directly towards our conservation work.
Access: All visitors must report to the REGUA office on arrival. Drive through the main entrance gate and continue until you reach the courtyard on your right. The REGUA office is the first door to the left of the gate. Park only in the courtyard area. If there is nobody at the office then you can explore the wetland area but please stay on the tracks and report to the office on your return.
Access to the the wetlands is via the main entrance. From the office walk right out of the courtyard and then at the fork take the left track past the buildings on the left. Access to the forest trails is by prior arrangement only. We can also provide advice on the best route and a guide if required. Please note that access may be restricted at times when habitat management work is in progress and so wherever possible visitors should contact REGUA in advance.
Directions: The main entrance to the reserve is located off the Areal road. See our location page for directions.
REGUA is a very safe place to visit. The reserve is the only site in the Atlantic Forest where rangers patrol the forest daily and our trails are well maintained and easy to follow. As with all tropical environments there are some hazards to be aware of, such as snakes and bullet ants so watch where you put your hands and feet. Also take plenty of drinking water with you on the trails. Please note that entry to the reserve is at your own risk and REGUA accepts no responsibilty for personal injury or loss or damage to private property.
We hope you enjoy your visit and please make sure that you notify us of any interesting sightings. Field descriptions and ideally photographs and/or sound recordings should be submitted for any new species for the reserve.