Fred Tavares 2019
Fred has been working as a naturalist and hiking guide since 1999, building his career on a strong foundation in biology and field research. He holds a degree from Izabela Hendrix University in Belo Horizonte, where he focused on primate behavior in southeastern Brazil and the ecology of the Pantanal.
Fred has guided travelers through the Atlantic Forest, the sprawling wetlands of the Pantanal and remote regions in northeastern Brazil. His trips often involve deep-forest walks, river excursions and close observation of wildlife in their natural habitats—from troops of capuchin monkeys moving through the canopy to the quiet presence of marsh deer in the floodplains. His routes tend to go beyond the typical tourist paths, leaning into areas where his local knowledge and scientific background shine.
In addition to guiding, Fred is has led numerous training courses for aspiring guides, especially in the areas of natural history interpretation, field safety and guest communication. Many of Brazil’s top guides have passed through his workshops, learning how to read the landscape, engage travelers and create meaningful connections with the environment.
Fred is based in southeastern Brazil but spends much of the year in the field. His energy is legendary among travelers and colleagues. Fred’s excitement about the natural world is unsatiable, whether he’s pointing out a rare orchid, explaining the nesting behavior of a jabiru stork, searching for elusive jaguars or, essentially, any activity he leads in the field.
What Our Guests Say
Fred was a fabulous guide. He was knowledgeable and willing to share wonderful information and background stories. He understood all the animal behaviors and advised us on the best choices for areas to see, animals to watch, and how to stay safe. And all the patience and persistence paid off with some great wildlife sightings! He also had a good sense of humor and interacted well with the whole group. His instructions were clear as to what to expect, as well as plans for each day. Finally, I really appreciated his passion for birds!<br />
Fred is an absolutely exceptional guide. The most important thing to us on trips is the safety of our family, and we immediately felt we were in good hands with Fred. His encyclopedic knowledge of flora and fauna (especially birds) was extremely impressive and added so much to our trip. His enthusiasm and passion for the area is evident, and it was so nice seeing him share in the excitement of his guests. Fred’s deep knowledge of animal behavior allowed him to explain to us what may or may not happen at animal sightings. This, combined with his great rapport with the knowledgeable local guides and drivers, helped us be well-prepared and positioned for some awesome sightings and behaviors. On top of all this Fred is just a great person to be around.
Fred was very aware of all the different needs within the group. He was also very knowledgeable about the different animal behaviors, which allowed us to have private encounters with jaguars after other groups had left the area because they were impatient. The interactions he had with other staff at the different locations made it obvious he was liked and respected by others in the tourism business.
Upcoming Adventures with Fred Tavares
Brazil Jaguar & Wildlife Photo Expedition
The most immersive Pantanal wildlife safari you'll find! Includes an extra day to photograph jaguars in Porto Jofre, plus tapirs, hyacinth macaws and more on private small-boat excursions on the Cuiaba River.
