Tour operators

, 20 Upper Tachbrook St, London SW1V 1SH, T020-7233 5384, www.latinamerica.co.uk. Tours to Rio, the Amazon and the northeast.

, 2 Ferry Bank, Colintraive, Argyll PA22 3AR, T01700-841 318, www.condorjourneys- adventures.com. Tailor-made journeys to standard destinations.

, 2001 Camp Green, Debenham, Stowmarket, Suffolk 1P14 6LA, T01728-862 222, www.encounter.co.uk. Extended overland trips through the Amazon and throughout South America. Interesting routes.

, 1 Frederick St, Aldershot, Hants GU11 1LQ, T01252-760 000, www.exploreworldwide.com. Standard small-group trips to the northeast, Amazon and Rio.

, 12-13 Heathfield Terr, Chiswick, London W4 4JE, T020-8747 8315, and 12 St Ann's Sq, 2nd floor, Manchester M2 7HW, T0161-832 1441, www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk. Long- established company with excellent escorted tours to some interesting areas like Goiás and the Chapada Diamantina. They also offer a wide range of good-value flight options.

, Fleet Marston Farm, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0QT, T01296-653 000, www.lastfrontiers.com. Imaginative tailor-made tours to some interesting out-of-the-way locations including Fernando de Noronha.

, 3.51 Canterbury Court, 1-3 Brixton Rd, Kennington Park Business Centre, Lonon SW9 6DE, T020-7407 1478, www.selectlatinamerica.co.uk. Quality tailor-made holidays and small group tours.

, 47 Causton St, Pimlico, London SW1P 4AT, T020-7976 5511, www.southamericanexperience.co.uk. Standard itineraries with a few more unusual options like the Chapada Diamantina.

, 51 Castle St, Cirencester, Glos GL7 1QD, T01285-885 333, www.steppestravel.co.uk. Tailor-made and group itineraries throughout Brazil and Latin America.

, Sunvil House, Upper Square, Old Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 7BJ, T020-875 84774, www.sunvil.co.uk. A good range of options throughout Brazil, including some out-of-the-way destinations.

, 14 Frederick Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AS, T0117-311 4400, www.tripsworldwide.co.uk. Tailor-made trips throughout South America.

, T062-212 6232, www.trivium.co.uk. Highly professional English-run company based in Goiás, offering general and specialist botanical tours throughout the state, especially to the Chapada dos Veadeiros and to the Atlantic coast rainforest. Much of the money goes back into local communities.

, ground floor, 34 Warple Way, London W3 0RG, T020-8762 0616,

, 29 Straight Mile, Romsey, Hants, SO51 9BB, T01794 519 445, www.ornit holidays.co.uk. Annual or biannual birding trips throughout Brazil; usually to the Pantanal, Atlantic Coast rainforest and Iguaçu.

, A7 Dart Marine Park, Steamer Quay, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5DR, T01803-866 965, www.reefandrainforest.co.uk. Specialists in tailor-made and group wildlife tours.

, Specialist botanical tours in conjunction with the Eden Project.

, T1-800-887 5686, www.4starSouthAmerica.com. Customized or scheduled tours throughout South America.

Also has an office in Brazil at Av NS Copacabana

1066/907, Rio de Janeiro, T021-2267 6624.

, 7201 Wood Hollow Dr, Austin, TX 78731, T1-877-565 8119 (US toll free) or T+44-203-006 2507 (UK), www.brazilforless.com. US-based travel firm with a focus solely on South America, with local offices and operations, and a price guarantee. Good-value tours, run by travellers for travellers. Will meet or beat any published rates on the internet from outside Brazil.

, 14 Burlington Dr, Norwalk, CT 06851, T203-840 9010, www.elabrasil.com. Excellent bespoke tours throughout Brasil to some very imaginative destinations. Uses only the best and most responsible local operators.

, 3006 Aviation Av 4C, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133, USA, T1800-327 6162, www.ladatco.com. Standard tours to Rio, Iguaçu and Manaus for the Amazon.

, 100 S Greenleaf Av, Gurnee, IL 60031-337, T847-248 2111, T800-387 7378 (USA and Canada), www.milatours.com. Itineraries to Rio, Iguaçu and the Northeast.

, PO Box 5276, Gainesville, FI 326270 5276, USA, T352-376 3377, www.tropicalnaturetravel.com.

, 9433 Bee Cave Rd, Building 1, Suite 150, Austin, Texas 78733, USA, T1-800- 7284953, www.fieldguides.com. Interesting birdwatching tours to all parts of Brazil.

, 103 Moya Rd, Santa Fe, NM87508, USA, T505-4664688, www.focus tours.com. Specialists in birdwatching and environmentally responsible travel.

, SEPS EQ 714/914, Bloco E, Sala 409, Edificio Talento, Brasilia-DF, CEP 70390-145, T061-3345 4441, www.brazilalwayssummer.com. Tour operator specializing in holidays to Brazil.

, T021-2512 3895, www.dehouche.com. Upmarket, carefully tailored trips throughout Brazil.

, R Francisco Gurgel, 9067, Ponta Negra Beach, Natal, T084-3204 2900, www.manary.com.br. If ecotourism means wildlife then Manary are not eco at all, but they do offer unusual, exciting tours to the northeastern

including the spectacular Serra da Capivara (to see the rock paintings), Cariri and the fossilized dinosaur prints in Paraíba. Very professional service.

,

T011-3071 4515, www.matuete.com.

Bespoke luxury options around Brazil including a range of private house rentals.

, R Alan Kardec, 87, Campo Grande/MS, T067-3321 8303, www.opendoortur.com.br. Specialize in travel to the Pantanal and the Amazon.

, Av Tancredo Neves 274, Centro Empresarial Iguatemi, Sala 228, Bloco B, Salvador, 41820-020, Bahia, T071-3114 7900, www.tatur.com.br. Very helpful bespoke Bahia-based agency who can organize tours throughout Brazil, especially in Bahia, using many of the smaller hotels.