This birding trip will take us to the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean to see Humboldt Current specialists such Humboldt Penguin and the endemic Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes. We will explore the Andean mountains above Lima where we will look for the endemic Great-Inca-Finch.
We will travel across the Andes under the majestic snow-peak mountains looking for Polylepis specialists such as the White-cheeked Cotinga, Giant Conebill and Ancash Tapaculo. We will explore the highest bog-cushions of Marcapomacocha to look for the legendary Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and the endemic White-bellied Cinclodes.
The Junin lake located at 4000msm and the second largest Andean lake in the country, harbor the endemic and endangered Junin Flightless Grebe. We will focus all our efforts to see this elusive species. We will visit the remote location of Bosque Unchog, a wet elfin forest in the mountains above Huanuco, which is the site that harbors the endemic and gorgeous Golden-backed Mouintain-Tanager. Finally, we will reach the upper tropical forest of Tingo Maria where we will visit the famous Oilbird Cave.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Lima. Transfer to our Hotel in Lima.
Day 2: We will start the tour visiting the Lomas de Lachay, which is a special kind of ecosystem of low coastal hills that are covered in a unique fog vegetation oasis of life along the Pacific desert. This place will provide the first set of endemic birds such as the Coastal and Thick-billed Miner, the Cactus Canastero and, with a bit of luck, we may see the Raimondi-Yellow-Finch. Other birds that may be encountered are the Peruvian Meadowlark, Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Collared Warbling-Finch, Amazilia and Oasis Hummngbirds, Mountain Parakeet, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Chiguanco Thrush and Greyish Miner.
We will look along the desert plains for the Peruvian Thick-Knee and Burrowing Owl. Afterwards, we will continue the trip stopping along the shore looking for a good spot to see some coastal birds like Inca Tern, the endemic Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes, Band-tailed Gull and Peruvian Booby.
After a five hour trip, we will reach the city of Huaraz. This beautiful city lies under the Huascaran, the highest majestic snow-capped mountain in Peru 6768msm. Overnight in a comfortable hotel in Huaraz.
Day 3: Today we will have an early start to explore the Polylepis forest of Llanganuco. This is one the largest patches of forest that remains protected in Peru and is the habitat of the endemic Ancash Tapaculo, Plain-tailed, Warbling-Finch, Rufuos-eared Brush-Finch and the White-cheeked Cotinga. Other birds include Striped-headed Antpitta, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Giant Conebill, the endemics Baron’s Spinetail and Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Tit-like Dacnis, Greenish and Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch, Thick-billed and Black Siskin, Shinning Sunbeam, Bay-crowned Brush-Finch and others. Overnight in Huaraz.
Day 4: We will visit the highest pass above the Llanganuco Lakes to increase our chances in finding the White-cheeked Cotinga. We will try for other seldom seen species such as the Tawny-Tit-Spinetail, Blue-mantled Thornbill, the endemics Canyon Canastero, and Striated Earthcreeper. Other birds will include Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Rufuos-webbed Tyrant, D’Orbigny Chat-Tyrant and, with a bit of luck, the rare and endemic Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, Rufuos-breasted Warbling-Finch, Green-headed Hillstar and Koepcke Screech-Owl. Overnight in Huaraz.
Day 5: During our last day in Huaraz, we will drive north of Huaraz to look for our last endemics in the area such as the unnamed distinctive race of Pale-tailed Canastero and the two Incaspiza species Great Inca-Finch and Rufuos-backed Inca -Finch. The Incaspiza genus contains five species of Inca-Finches all endemics of Peru. Later, we return to Lima to overnight.
Day 6: The famous Santa Eulalia will be our next destination, just located above the mountains of Lima. This place harbours birds such as the endemic Black-necked Woodpecker, Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch, Bronze-tailed Comet and the seldom seen Rufuos-breasted Warbling-Finch. This will be our next opportunity to see the Great Inca-Finch. We will look for the Pacific Pygmy-Owl, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Streak-throated Bush-Tanager, Aplomado Falcon, and the gorgeous Peruvian Sheartail and, with bit of luck, we may also see the Andean Condor. Overnight in Santa Eulalia
Day 7: Today we will reach the Marcapomacocha area which is located above 4500msm. The reason is to search one of the most seeked for neotropical species, the legendary Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. We will focus all our efforts to look for this species, but also for the endemics White-bellied Cinclodes, Black-breasted Hillstar and Dark-winged Miner. The site also offers opportunities to see Andean Lapwing, Andean Goose, Crested Duck, and Giant Coot. Overnight in La Oroya
Day 8: The Junin Flightless Grebe is one of three flightless grebes in the world and is endemic of the Junin Lake, the second largest andean lake of the country. Unfortunately, the lake has received pollution during the last couple of years due to mining activities and the status of the species is therefore critically endangered. Today, it is still possible to see this species near the shore.
We will dedicate this day to look for the Grebe but we may also see Andean Negrito, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Andean and Puna Ibis, Mountain Caracara, Andean Avocet, Puna, Cinereous, Ochre-naped and White-fronted Ground-Tyrants, Yellow-billed Pintail, Puna and Speckle Teals, Crested Duck, and Silvery Grebe. Later we will continue our trip to Huanuco. Overnight in Huanuco.
Days 9 - 10: After a week of birding in the dry and deciduous habitats, we will search for several species in the humid montane forest near the tunnel of Carpish.
We will look for the endemics Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Peruvian Wren and Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant. The area is famous for its high level of bird diversity and we may encounter birds like Superciliaried Hemispingus, White-banded Tyrannulet, Rufuos-chested Tanager, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Andean Solitaire, the endemic Tshudi Tapaculo, Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Finch and others.
We will walk down the Paty Trail looking for more secretive species such as the Streaked Tuftedcheeked, White-eared Solitaire, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Azara’s Spinetail, Grey-breasted Wood-Wren, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Rufuos-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Flame-faced, Saffron-crowned and Blue-and-black Tanager, Striped Treehunter, Long-tailed Antbird and Variable Antshrike.
We will look for the elusive and endemic Bay Antpitta. If we are lucky, we could see Chestnut and Rusty-breasted Antpitta, and the seldom seen Masked Saltator. Overnight in Huanuco.
Days 11 - 13: Today we will visit the remote location of Bosque Unchog. This place became famous in the ornithologist world since during 1970 when the Louisiana University discovered new species to science. We will spend three nights camping safari style to increase our chances to see all the endemics such as the awesome Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager, the elusive Rufuos-browed Hemispingus, the Bay-vented Cotinga, the Pardusco, the Coopery Metaltail, the Masked Fruiteater and the Huanuco race of Rufuos Antpitta.
Others birds may include White-chinned Thisteltail, Many-striped and Line-fronted Canastero, White-browed Conebill, Andean Snipe, Grass-green, Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Undulated Antpitta, Neblina Tapaculo, Glossy, Moustached and Bluish Flowerpiercers, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, White-throated Tyrannulet, White-collared Jay and, with luck ,we may see at night the silhouette of the Swallow-tailed Nightjar. Camping Safari Style.
Day 14: We will return to Huanuco and continue the trip to Tingo Maria where we will stay at the lodge. We may look for several bird species like the endemic Huallaga Tanager, but also Yellow-browed Sparrow, Lafresnaye Piculet, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, White-vented Euphonia, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Blue-headed Parrot, Speckle-faced Parrot, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Limpkin, Orange-backed Troupial, Rufuos-breasted Hermit, Fasciated Tiger-Heron. Night birding may produce Spectacled Owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. Overnight in the lodge.
Day 15: We will leave the lodge to visit the the Oilbird Caves where we will experience many of these species resting in the rock ledges and flying above of us in the interior of this cave. Others birds includes White-eyed Parakeet, Cliff Flycatcher, Coraya Wren, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Russet-backed Oropendola, Violaceous Jay. Later, we will return to the Andes. Overnight in La Oroya.
Day 16: We will bird near the Ticlio Pass on the route to Lima. We may see Rufuos-bellied Seedsnipe, Olivaceous Thornbill, Puna Snipe, Streak-throated Canastero, White-winged Diuca-Finch, White-bellied Cinclodes and Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. Overnight in Lima.
Day 17: Connect International Flight.
Note:
We will not take flights during this trip. We will use a private van during the whole tour and 4x4 vehicles to reach our campsite in Bosque Unchog.
We will only use comfortable hotels in most of the cities of Lima, Huaraz, Huanuco, Santa Eulalia and Tingo Maria, and adequate basic accommodation in the most remote areas such as in La Oroya.
We provide a good set of camping equipment for comfort during our camping safari days. We will provide tents, mattresses, blankets, pillows, dining room tent, set of chairs, dining room table, propane torch and toilet tent.
The distance between the campsite and the Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager site is about 1 km and the hike could be difficult for some people. We will take horses and portiers will be available during the whole trip to assist us.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour Includes:
* All Transfers
* All Accommodation and Lodges
* Private Bird Guide
* Private Van
* 4x4 Transport
* Local Guides
* Portiers
* Meals (except where indicated)
* Bottles of Water
* Camping Equipment
* Admission Fees
Excludes:
* Phone and Internet Access
* Laundry Service
* Tipping
* Souvenirs
* Alcoholic Drinks.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Birdwatching
National Parks
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