| Day 1: Arrival and Birding in La Paz/Mecha Pacca and then Cochabamba After morning transfers from the La Paz airport (between 5 AM and 6 AM), we will bird in the La Paz area at Mecha Pacca. At about noon, we will head back to the airport to take our flight to Cochabamba (2 PM to 2:35 PM). Some late afternoon birding in Cochabamba area will be possible (or some may want to go back to hotel for a rest). Night Cochabamba. Day 2 to 4: Birding from Cochabamba, including the Cochabamba-Upper Chapare Road, Tablas Monte, Cerro Tunari, and Subestacia Miguelito On the second day, we will get up and drive a short distance to begin birding several spots along the Cochabamba-Upper Chapare Road as we drive towards Tablas Monte. The road goes through superb elfin, temperate, and subtropical yungas forests on the northeastern Andean slopes. This stretch of road is considered by many to be one of the best birding sites in South America. Four endemics, Black-hooded Sunbeam hummingbird, Black-throated Thistletail, Rufous-faced Antpitta, and Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer can be found here. Several other near endemics, which we would be fortunate to find, include Stripe-faced Wood-Quail, Black- winged Parrot, Hazel-fronted Pygmy-Tyrant, and Slaty Tanager. This is also one of the best sites in Bolivia to find Hooded Tinamou, Hooded Mountain Toucan, White- throated Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and Band- tailed Fruiteater. With one of our great South American guides, you are bound to see several real gems. Other birds we will hope to see include Brown Tinamou, Sickle-winged Guan, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Versicolored Barbet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Red-necked Woodpecker, Buff-browed Foliage- gleaner, Light-crowned Spinetail, Barred Fruiteater, Yungas Manakin, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Buff-banded Tyrannulet, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Rufous- bellied Bush-Tyrant, White-eared Solitaire, Andean Solitaire, Three-striped Hemispingus, Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Moustached Flower-piercer, Deep- blue Florwerpiercer, and Dusky-green Oropendola. On the third day, we will enjoy a bird watching trek at Cerro Tunari, enjoying different avifauna as we explore some very different habitats. The first part of the morning will be spent traveling up the lower slopes of Cerro Tunari where we hope to get good looks at Andean Tinamou, Torrent Duck, and Red-backed Hawk. We will also have a chance at some great hummingbirds, including Red-tailed Coronet, Andean Hillstar, Great Sapphirewing, and Giant Hummingbird. Other birds in this mountain area include Grey-hooded Parakeet, Olive-crowned Crescent-Chest, White-capped Dipper, Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer, Plain- breasted Earthcreeper, Rock Earthcreeper, and the endemic Bolivian Blackbird. By mid-day, mountain-top birding in puna grassland will likely be reward with some views of Maquis Canastero, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, White-winged Diuca Finch, Short-tailed Finch, several Ground Tyrants species, and Yellow-Finches. As we become weary of the high altitude, we will move back down the slope to bird an excellent patch of Polylepis woodland . At our last stop we will make a great effort to see rare Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant, the endemic Cochabamba Mountain Finch, and the endemic Bolivian Warbling Finch. We may also see Rufous-bellied Saltator, and Giant Conebill. On the fourth day, we will bird the lower elevations of the Cochabamba- Upper Chapare Road along the Subestacion Miguelito. The forest along this route is a better location to find Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Stripe- faced Wood-Quail, White-throated Quail-Dove, Crested Quetzal, Black-winged Parrot, Buff-browed Foliage- Gleaner, Yellow-rumped Antwren, Leimebamba Antpitta, Yungas Pygmy Tyrant, Unadorned Flycatcher, Yellow and Slaty Tanager, Blue-banded Toucanet, Upland Antshrike, White-throated Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Bolivian Tyrannulet, and the rare Straw-backed Tanager. Days 5 and 6: High Altitude Birding: Includes Laguna Alalay, Oruro, Lake Uru, and More Birding as We Ascend to La Paz (including Inquisivi) On the fifth day, we will start with a short drive to Laguna Alalay. We will hope to see White-tufted Grebe, Silvery Grebe, Yellow-billed Pintail, Rosy-billed Pochard, Puna Teal, Red Shoveler, Plumbeous Rail, Andean Gull, and Puna Ibis. Nearby we will also look for Cinereous Harrier, Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Grey- bellied Shrike-Tyrant, Cinereous Ground-Tyrant, White- winged Black-Tyrant, Short-billed Pipit, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, and Greenish Yellow-Finch. As we begin our travels to Oruro, we will make several birding stops along the way. Road conditions will require a slow but study ascent of the mountain, as we enjoy the Bolivian altiplano. Throughout the day we will be looking for a number of species of tinamous, raptors, ground tyrants, miners, canasteros, and earthcreepers. We should arrive at our hotel in Oruro around sundown. On the sixth day, we will begin early and bird the lakes near Oruru. If the water levels are suitable, we’ll spend the morning birding Lake Uru-Uru in search of Flamingos (3 different species), Andean Avocet, White-tufted Grebe, Andean Goose, Andean Lapwing, Andean Gull, Andean Negrito, Bare-faced Dove, Andean Flicker, Slender-billed Miner, and Wren-like Rushbird. Once activity dies down around Uru-Uru, we will stop to bird in puna scrub and at a few small lakes as we continue our ascent to La Paz at 12,500 feet. Having slowly worked our way up in elevation, we should be ready for the high altitude of La Paz. Coroico Road Our seventh day of birding will start early, as we beat La Paz traffic and get to the shores of Lake Titicaca. We will bird the shore lines and various habitats along the Lake. With a few key endemic species like the flightless Short- winged Grebe and Berlepch’s Canastero, this will be a very good day. We will also hope to find Ornate Tinamou, Short-billed Pipit, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Yellow- winged Blackbird, and Giant Coot. On the eight day, we will wrap up the trips enjoying the very birdy Lower Coroico Road. We will be looking for a number of new trip species, including Sickle-winged Guan, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, White-throated Quail-Dove, Great- billed Hermit, Black-streaked Puffbird, Versicolored Barbet, Upland Antshrike, Short-tailed Antthrush, Andean Cock-of- the-Rock, Southern White-crowned Tapaculo, Yungas Manakin, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Golden-browed Chat-Tyrant and Yungas Tody-Tyrant, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Carmiols’s Tanager, Spotted Tanager, Slaty tanager and Deep-blue Flowerpiercer. Day 9: Flights Home or Start the Extension Flights out this final morning are early from La Paz and eventually back to Miami. Additional high altitude birding will start just after early airport drop offs for those staying for the trip extension. |
| For more information or to register for this trip, call Charles or Alison at 888-203-7464 or Charles directly at 720-320-1974 or by email at info@PIBird.com. |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by John Drummond |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Lelis Navarrete |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Cochabamba, Tablas Monte, Cerro Tunari, Subestacia Miguelito, Laguna Alalay, Oruro, Lake Uru, La Paz, Inquisivi, Lake Titicaca, Sorata, Lower Coroico Road Extension Chulamani, Upper Coroico Road and Apaapa Reserve |
Bolivia Highlands
| Detailed Itinerary |
| Bolivian Highlands from La Paz |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Photo by Colin Campell |
| Chulamani, including Upper Coroico Road and Apaapa Reserve Please contact us to discuss the logistics, pricing and interest level in the extension. Day 9 or Extension Day 1: Upper Coroico Road After early airport drop offs, the lucky extension participants will head to higher elevations up towards Chulamai. We will spend a day going up to Chulamani via the very birdy Upper Coroico Road. Likely species include Black- throated Thistletail, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Violet- throated Starfrontlet, Scaled Metaltail, Pearled Trerunner, Plain-breasted Earthcreeper, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Light- crowned Spinetail, Streak-throated Canastero, Line- fronted Canastero, Scribble-tailed Canastero, Stripe- headed Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Bolivian Diademed Tapaculo, White-crowned Tapaculo, Black-billed Shrike- Tyrant, Bolivian Tyrannulet, White-collared Jay, White- eared Solitaire, Three-striped Hemispingus, Golden- collared Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Short-tailed Finch, Moustached Flowerpiercer, and Rusty Flowerpiercer. Day 10 and or 11 or Extension Day 2 and 3: Apaapa Reserve We will then spend two full days at the Apaapa Reserve. Likely species include Hooded Tinamou, Brown Tinamou, Sickle-winged Guan, Stripe-faced Wood-Quail, White- rumped Hawk, Barred Parakeet, Black-winged Parrot (Black-eared), Plum-crowned Parrot, Montane Foliage- Gleaner, Trilling Tapaculo, Sclater’s Tyrannulet, Ochre- faced Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Bush-Tyrant, Band- tailed Fruiteater, the extremely rare and local Scimitar- winged Piha, Pale-footed Swallow, White-eared Solitaire, and Slaty Tanager among many others. Day 12 or Extension Day 4: Road Home and Birding The choice of more early birding at Apaapa Reserve or getting back to Coroico road for early birding there may be difficult. The guide and group will decide on the best course here for excellent birding. Either way, after a nice morning birding, additional birding on the return trip will also be productive. We will spend the night back in La Paz. Day 13 or Extension Day 5: Flight Home Early morning flights from La Paz to Miami will get most participants home that evening. |
| Bolivia Highlands Itinerary for Extension Trip |
| Photo by Colin Campell |