Don’t waste a minute!
We want your trip to the Lajedo dos Beija-Flores hummingbird sanctuary to be unforgettable (as well as safe and comfortable!).
So here is some inside information to help visitors prep for their trips. Check out our recommendations and get planning!
Don’t forget to bring all your photography gear, so you can shoot the best angles of these unforgettable landscapes and the plants and wildlife that thrive here.
You can decide on exactly how much tech you need, ranging from a simple smartphone to wide-angle lenses that capture the grandeur of these magnificent landscapes.
And don’t forget your zoom lens, for magnifying every detail of even the tiniest species.
A peaceful little town, Boa Nova and its residents welcome visitors eager to explore its magnificent surroundings. Although the Lajedo dos Beija-Flores hummingbird sanctuary has no overnight accommodation, it has partnerships with hospitable locals who gladly welcome visitors.
Recommendation: the POUSADA SANDE is an inn that is well-accustomed to the ways of birdwatchers and photographers. It even sets out an early breakfast for guests unwilling to miss out on the dawn chorus.
It’s also a great place to rest after long and exciting days.
Just contact the inn directly to see if there are rooms free for your dates:
SANDE INN AND RESTAURANT – (77) 99988-1039
Espresso coffee and mineral water are always available at the Lajedo dos Beija-Flores hummingbird sanctuary.
But refreshments and meals are never a problem!
Just ten minutes away, the town of Boa Nova has plenty of great lunch options. It’s easy to drive there, eat well, and come back to the hummingbird sanctuary without spoiling your schedule for the day.
One way of reaching the Lajedo dos Beija-Flores hummingbird sanctuary is to drive 440 kilometers (300 miles) south from Salvador on the BR-116 highway.
A more comfortable option might be to fly to the newly-modernized Glauber de Andrade Rocha Airport in Vitória da Conquista, which is only 110 kilometers (70 miles) south of Boa Nova.
Major airlines – Gol, Latam and Azul – use this airport, with regular flights to and from Belo Horizonte, Campinas, São Paulo and Salvador.
In a car rented at the airport, the drive from the airport to Boa Nova takes about an hour and a half.
Then it’s only five kilometers from downtown Boa Nova to the Lajedo dos Beija-Flores hummingbird sanctuary, an easy ten-minute drive.
Ensuring that visitors get the very best out of their stays, guides are required for groups of three to eleven people (maximum).
All guides are trained and registered with the hummingbird sanctuary, ensuring top quality services for visitors.
Here are a few selected local guides who are very familiar with local species and landmarks throughout the entire Boa Nova region.
Check out the experience and expertise of each of them!
PROFILE: SIDNEI SAMPAIO
Whatsapp: (71) 99985-8732
Biologist Sidnei Sampaio has a PhD in Biodiversity and Evolution, with an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development. Fascinated by insects – particularly beetles and butterflies – since childhood, he began to study birds in 1994, enchanted by their colors and calls.
Since then, he has spent much of his time recording birdsong and other natural sounds. An expert in natural history, he also plays an active role in studying and preserving endangered bird species.
He is the coordinator of the Fringe-Backed Fire-Eye Project, set up to study, conserve and protect Atlantic Rainforest areas, showcasing the fringe-backed fire-eye (Pyriglena atra) as its flagship species.
In parallel to building in-depth experience during the past few decades through observation, studies and conservation projects, he firmed up his status as an outstanding guide and contributor to birdwatching projects in several different parts of Bahia State. His photographs and recordings are available on major citizen science platforms, including eBird, Xeno-Canto, Wikiaves and iNaturalist.
PROFILE: CIRO ALBANO
Whatsapp: (85) 98122-5162
Biologist Ciro Albano has been a birding guide since 2006, specializing in Northeast Brazil. He is acknowledged as one of the leading field ornithologists who guides trips through this area.
In 2003, he joined the Aquasis NGO, eager to work with wildlife conservation and research. The next five years, he was one of the founders and a team member working on conservation projects, particularly two severely endangered species: the Araripe manakin (Antilophia bokermanni) and the grey-breasted parakeet (Pyrrhura griseipectus).
A keen bird photographer, he also collects acoustic data on birdsong and, vocalizations. His photographs have been published in leading periodicals, including the Handbook of the Birds of the World. One of his greatest discoveries is a new bird species, still lacking a scientific name, and belonging to the Pygmy Tyrant (Myiornis) genus.
His eagerness to share his birding knowledge enchants his clients, always amazed by his familiarity with the biodiversity of the Boa Nova region, with its many birds and other wildlife. His guidance, a birdwatching trip to the Lajedo dos Beija-Flores hummingbird sanctuary will be unforgettable.
PROFILE: CRISTINE PRATES
WhatsApp: (85) 99997-2045
Biologist Cristine Prates is an environment consultant and birdwatching guide. With a degree from Paraíba Federal University, she works with bird conservation and research projects in the Caatinga scrublands.
She worked with the Little Blue Macaw in Nature Project that was designed to reintroduce Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) to its natural habitat.
Since 2013, she has been a member Brazil Birding Experts, specializing in the nature tourism field.
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There are no daily fees for trained and registered guides. So if you’re an excellent guide for birdwatchers and photographers in the Boa Nova region and you would like to head up tours of the Lajedo dos Beija-Flores hummingbird sanctuary, contact us!
To enjoy all the magic of Lajedo dos Beija-Flores in comfort, it is also worth planning the clothes and accessories for the best experiences.
Although located in northeastern Brazil, Lajedo dos Beija-Flores is 900 meters above sea level. Because of that, the temperature varies a lot between the hot day and the cold night. Light clothing and boots are recommended for gardens and trails. The soil is mountainous in some areas and composed of rocks in others, so paying attention to your shoes is essential.
However, at nightfall, coats are welcome, as, after sunset, the cold and dry climate can register considerable drops in temperature. The average temperature is 24°C, but it can reach 12°C at night, in the winter months.
Sunscreen, insect repellent, hats and hats can make the experience even more pleasant.