Lima, the colonial city founded by the spaniards in the 16th century, stands along the Pacific Ocean and the mighty Andes, and will be our rendezvous to start our tour. We will visit the coastal lagoons south of Lima where several species of birds rest during migration.
We will search for the Plumbeous Rail and Great Grebe. The reeds that grow around the ponds harbor the gorgeous Many-colored Rush-Tyrant and the elusive Wren-like Rushbird. We will take a boat to make a short trip near the beach to see our first Humboldt Current specialist like the endangered Humboldt Penguin and the endemic Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes. The Pacific desert should provide views of the endemic Coastal Miner and Peruvian Thic-Knee.
We will fly to the northern city of Chiclayo where the first set of Tumbesian birds will be seen. We will focus on the endemics Rufuos Flycatcher, Tumbes Tyrant, Piura Chat-Tyrant and Peruvian Plantcutter.
From the northern coast, we will drive across the Andes to the humid montane forest of Abra Patricia where we will spend several days in the area in the quest for the Marvelous Spatuletail, one of the most beautiful birds on earth.
We will reach the upper tropical lowlands where several amazon species will be waiting for us. And finally, the trip will take us on the Marañon River where we will see more endemic species of birds only possible to see here like the Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Gray-winged Inca-Finch and Gray-bellied Comet.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Flight to Lima. Transfer to Hotel Lima.
Day 2: We will start our birding by visiting some coastal lagoons and the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean to see our first Humboldt Current specialists such as the gorgeous Inca Tern, the endangered Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Boobies, Peruvian Pelicans, the endemic Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes, and Red-legged Cormorant.
We will explore the desert area near the coast looking for some desert specialists such as the Peruvian Thick-Knee, the endemic Coastal Miner and Burrowing Owl. The wetlands will provide an excellent view of the Great Grebe, but also Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, Peruvian Meadowlark, Grassland Yellow-Finch, Blackish Oystercatcher, Band-tailed, Kelp, Gray, and Gray-hooded Gulls and many more. After lunch we will take our flight to the northern city of Chiclayo. Overnight in Chiclayo.
Day 3: Another early start to visit the Prosopis-mesquite forest of Batan Grande. This natural sanctuary located only 32 kms from the bustling city, holds an amazing set of birds including our first Tumbesian specialist such as the endemic Rufuos Flycatcher and Peruvian Plantucutter. We will see Fasciated and Superciliaried Wren, Collared Antshrike, Pacific Parrotlet, Gray-and-white Tyrannulet, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Yellow-tailed Oriole and Scarlet-backed Woodpecker and Parrot-billed Seedeater.
Later, we will journey further north to Olmos, making select stops on the road looking for the White-tailed Jay, Sulphur-throated Finch, Chestnut-throated Seedeater and many others. Night birding may produce Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Striped Owl and Scrub Nightjar. Camping.
Day 4: The endemic and endangered White-winged Guan was re-discovered in 1977 and there are few birds still around in the area. We will look for some of the last couples that occur in the area but will also begin to focus on the powerful drum of the Guayaquil Woodpecker.
This is a good site to see most of the Tumbesian specialist like the Pale-browed Tinamou, Red-masked Parakeet, Tumbes Swift, Tumbes Hummingbird, the endemic Tumbes Tyrant, Ecuadorian Trogon, Ecuadorian Piculet, White-headed Brush-Finch, Pale-breasted Thrush, King Vulture, Tumbes Sparrow, Cinereous Finch, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant and many more. During the afternoon (and if the time permits) we will visit the White-winged Guan breeding center where we will try for the Striped Owl. Overnight in Olmos.
Day 5: This morning we will journey further north to Olmos and cross to the east slope of the Andes through the Porculla Pass, which is the lowest mountain pass in Peru and where we will make our first stop for the endemic Piura Chat-Tyrant, the Black-cowled Saltator, Three-banded and Gold-and-grey Warblers, Black-and-white Seedeater, Bay-crowned and White-winged Brush-Finches, Chapman’s Antshrike, Henna-hooded and Rufuos-tailed Foliage-Gleaner, Gray-chinned Hermit and others.
We will continue the trip to the bustling town of Jaen. On the seminary school road, we will look for the endemic Chinchipe Spinetail, Ecuadorian Ground-Dove, Elegant Crescentchest, Red-crested Finch, Marañon Antshrike, the endemic Spot-throated Hummingbird, Drab Seedeater, Golden-bellied Grosbeak and more birds. Overnight in Jaen.
Day 6: Another early start driving north of Jaen where we will look for the elusive Marañon Crescentchest, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Saffron Finch, Line-cheeked Spinetail, the recently split Maraon Gnatcatcher and Yellow-cheeked Becard. We will try for the rare and endemic Marañon Spinetail and if we are lucky, we may see a pair of Military Macaws. Overnight in Bagua Chica.
Day 7: The dry forest of Bagua Chica is one of the most reliable spots to see our first Incaspiza species of the trip: the Little Inca-Finch. This and all the members of the genus are endemics of Peru. After the Inca-Finch, we will go straight to Pomacochas, a small andean settlement located around a natural lake which is one of the few sites on earth to search for the Marveleous Spatuletail Hummingbird.
With the extra help of local contacts, we will look for the full males, but also the area provides Blue-capped Tanager, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Rufuos-browed Pepershrike, White-bellied Hummingbird, Bronzy Inca, White-sided Flowerpiecer, Silver-backed Tanager, and others.
If time and weather conditions permit, we will explore the Chido trail looking for some species like Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Rufuos-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Emerald Toucanet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Band-tailed Fruiteater, White-capped Dipper, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Large-footed Tapaculo and Andean Guan. Overnight in Pomacochas.
Day 8: Today we will drive east of Pomacochas to the famous mountain pass of Abra Patricia. We will look for the endemic Royal Sunangel, Lulu’s Tody-Tyrant, White-capped Tanager, White-collared Jay, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Andean Solitaire, Azara’s Spinetail, Greay-breasted and Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Sickle-winged Guan and Mountain Cacique.
We will try for the elusive Chestnut-breasted Wren, Rufuos-tailed Tyrant, Cliff Flycatcher, Yellow-throated, Saffron-crowned, Flame-faced, Beryl-spangled, Golden-naped, Metallic-blue and Blue-necked Tanagers, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and others. Overnight in Pomacochas.
Day 9: A predawn start may produce views of Andean Pygmy-Owl, Rufuos-banded Owl, and Rufuos-bellied Nighthawk. East of Pomacochas, the small settlement of Afluente in the upper tropical forest will provide several species like the awesome Golden Tanager, but also Spotted, Bay-headed, Paradise, Vermillion, Golden-eared and the endemic Huallaga Tanagers.
We will focus on Crested Quetzal, Andean Cock of the Rock, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Red-billed Parrot, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Versicolored Barbet, Black-faced Dacnis, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Cacique and others.
Later we will move to the amazon town of Rioja where we will look for the Moriche Oriole, Gilded Barbet, Pale-eyed Blackbird, Blue Ground-Dove, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker and many others. Overnight in Rioja.
Day 10: Another predawn start may provide Rufuos Nightjar. We will visit a birding site near town to look for the Cream-colored Woodpecker, Yellow Tyrannulet, Dark-breasted and Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Great-billed Seed-Finch, and Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch. The humid forest at the top of the mountain provides Black-eared Fairy, White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant, Swallow Tanager, Lineated Woodpecker, Blue-winged Parrotlet and Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant. Later, will head to Tarapoto to our comfortable hotel.
Day 11: We will drive along the Yurimaguas road near the recently created “La Escalera National Reserve”. Here we will look for most tropical species like the rare Dotted Tanager, Painted Parakeet, the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit, Violet-fronted Hummingbird, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-Gleaner, Slate-coloured Grosbeak, Double-toothed Kite and Flame-crested Tanager. The place may provide Plumbeous Euphonia and Golden-headed Manakin.
Later, we will drive back south to Moyobamba. We will look around the gardens of our hotel for the Buff-burnished Tanager, a second chance for the Huallaga Tanager, Common Thornbird, Pale-breasted Thrush and others. Overnight in Moyobamba.
Day 12: Today we will return to Pomacochas with a full day morning at El Afluente and Abra Patricia. Overnight Pomacochas.
Day 13: We will drive along the Utcubamba Valley looking for our first Marañon specialist such as the Marañon Thrush. The trip should also provide views of Mitred Parakeet, the endemic Black-necked Woodpecker, Golden-bellied Grosbeak, Green Jay, the endemic Buff-bellied Tanager, Rusty Flowerpiercer, White-bellied Hummingbird and White-tipped Dove. We will try for the elusive Little Woodstar, the famous Torrent Duck, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Torrent Tyrannulet, Black Phoebe, White-capped Dipper, Great Thrush, White-shouldered Tanager, Hepatic Tanager and others. Overnight in Leimebamba.
Day 14: Another early start to explore the Black Mudd Pass south of Leimebamba. Here we will look for the endemic Russet-mantled Softail and Coppery-naped Puffleg, the amazing Sword-billed Hummingbird, Rainbow Starfronlet, Rufuos-capped Antshrike, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Black-capped Tyrannulet, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Baron’s Spinetail, Streaked Tuftedcheeked, and others.
Later we will continue the trip through the Andes road and eventually we will descend to the valley of Balsas. Once in Balsas, we will look for the endemic Buff-bridle Inca-Finch, Marañon Pigeon and Yellow-faced Parrotlet. We will spend another night camping near Hacienda Limon.
Day 15: We will bird around the campsite looking for the Gray-winged Inca-Finch and the Chestnut-backed Thornbird. Then we will continue the trip looking for Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Streaked Saltator, Tricolored Brush-Finch, Andean Lapwing, and with a bit of luck, the endemic Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch. Overnight in comfortable Hotel Cajamarca.
Day 16: The main target today will be the endemic and endangered Grey-bellied Cometa. A nice hummingbird which is confined to this dry part of the country. Others birds to see are Giant Hummingbird, Andean Hillstar, Black Metaltail, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Mountain Caracara, White-winged and Bar-winged Cincldes, Golden-billed Saltator, Andean Swift, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Purple-collared Woodstar among others. Overnight in Cajamarca.
Day 17: The last target of the trip will be the endemic and localized Great Spinetail. We will drive 52 km from Cajamarca to the Spinetail territory. Other birds include views of Lesser Goldfinch, White-winged Black-Tyrant, masked Yellowthroat, Hepatic Tanager, White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant if we are lucky, and Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant. Return to Cajamarca. Overnight in Cajamarca.
Day 18: Early flight to Lima. Transfer to the Hotel. Connect to international flights.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour Includes:
* Transfers (Airport-Hotel-Airport)
* Hotels and Accommodation
* Private Vehicle
* Private Bird Guide
* Local Guides
* Meals and Bottles of Water
* Flights and Airport Taxes
* Camping Expenses
* Admission Fees
* Porters
Excludes:
* Alcoholic Drinks
* Tipping
* Souvenirs and Handicraft
* Laundry Service
* Phone and Internet Access.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Birdwatching
National Parks
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