| Detailed Itinerary |
| Day 1: Flights into Lima Arrival at Lima and check in at Lima Hotel. Most flights come in late that evening, and we will have a local guide greet you and get you safely to your local hotel. In most cases, your bird guide will greet you upon your arrival to the hotel. Option: In some cases, we offer a trip to Southern Ecuador before this trip for the enthusiastic hummingbird watcher and thorough South American birder. These two trips combined save in international airfare (nearly $1,000) and add two days of birding in areas between Guayaquil in Ecuador and Chiclayo in Peru. Day 2: Fly to Chiclayo then to Pomac Protected Forest & Historic Sanctuary On the second day of the trip, we leave Lima early and fly to Chiclayo, which is the Capital of Lambayeque Departamento. Here, we will start our quest for endemics. We’ll head for the Pomac Protected Forest and Historic Sanctuary to look for Peruvian Plantcutter (e), and Rufous Flycatcher (e), West Peruvian Dove, Coastal Miner (e), Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Necklaced Spinetail, Collared Antshrike, Tumbesian Tyranulet, Tumbes Swallow, Cinereous Finch and White-edged Oriole. Then We’ll head north to Eten to look for Peruvian Thick-Knee and Tawny -throated Dotterel, continuing later onwards to the charming Chaparri Lodge. Day 3: Chaparri Reserve We start with early morning birding at Chaparri Reserve, an enchanting deciduous forest and one of the known sites for the endemic and extremely rare White-winged Guan (e). Here we will spend most of the day birding the grounds near the lodge and exploring the many trails throughout the reserve. We will be looking for Croaking- ground Dove, Red-masked Parakeet, Pacific Parrotlet, West Peruvian Screech-Owl, Tumbes Swift, Tumbes Hummingbird, Amazilia Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheartail, , Elegant Crescent-chest, Gray-and-white Tyrannulet, Tumbes Tyrant (e), Pacific Elaenia, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Tumbes Pewee, Baird’s Flycatcher, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Superciliated Wren, White- tailed Jay, Tumbes Sparrow, White headed Brush-Finch and Collared Warbling-Finch and Sulphur-throated Finch. Day 4: Chaparri Reserve and Off to Jaen We again stary early in Chaparri looking for any species that might have eluded us. During midmorning, we will start our journey to Jaen, stopping on the way to look for Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Chapman´s Antshrike, Piura-Chat Tyrant (e), Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Black- cowled Saltator. You will also really enjoy the beautiful scenery and views of the Abra Porculla pass. Day 5: Gotas de Agua Reserve and Other Birding Near Jaen An early morning start will be warranted for a short drive to a location near Jaen in the deciduous woods of the Gotas de Agua Reserve. Here we look for Tataupa Tinamou, Marañon Crescent-chest, Ecuadorian Ground- Dove, Chinchipe Spinetail (e), Marañon Thornbird, Black- and-white Becard, Marañon Gnatcatcher (e), Purple- throated Euphonia, Drab Seedeater, Red-pileated Finch and Little Inca-Finch (e). Late in the morning, we drive towards Tamborapa and Huancabamba looking for Marañon Slaty-Antshrike, Speckled-breasted Wren, Buff- bellied Tanager and Marañon Spinetail. Then in the late afternoon, we will bird the rice fields near Jaen to look for Spotted Rail and Chestnut-throated Seedeater. Day 6: Jaen to Abra Patricia Reserve, including Huembo Hummingbird Gardens We start day with early morning birding near Jaen for any species that might have eluded us, and then we start our birding transfer to Abra Patricia Reserve. In route, we will stop in the Huembo Hummingbird Gardens to look for the Marvelous Spatuletail (e), Green Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Purple-throated Sunangel, Speckled Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Bronzy Inca, Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Purple- collared Woodstar, White-bellied Woodstar, Little Woodstar, White-bellied Hummingbird, and Andean Emerald. Besides hummingbirds, we will hope to find other species, such Plain-breasted Hawk, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Highland Elaenia, White-capped Dipper and Silver-backed Tanager. We spend the night at Abra Patricia Reserve and the Long-wiskered Owlet Lodge. Day 7: Abra Patricia Full birding day will be enjoyed by all in the very famous Abra Patricia reserve. This is the only known site for Long-wiskered Owlet (e) and other rare species, such as Royal Sunangel, Coppery-naped Puffleg (e), Ochre- fronted (e), Rusty-tinged Antpitta (e), Chestnut Antpitta (e), and the recently described Lulu’s Tody-Tyrant (e). We’ll be also looking for: Scaly-naped Amazon, Gray- breasted Mountain-Toucan, Peruvian Rufous-vented Tapaculo (e), Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Cinnamon- breasted Tody-Tyrant, Broze-Olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Rufous- headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Andean Tyrant, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Pale-footed Swallow, Yellow-scarfed Tanager (e), Red-hooded Tanager, Rufous-crested Tanager, White-capped Tanager, and Bar-winged Wood-Wren and much more. Day 8: Abra Patricia Area and Beyond: Alto Mayo Protected Forest We will spend a great full birding day beyond Abra Patricia, visiting the lower montane forest and the foothills at the Alto Mayo Protected Forest. This area is one of the most beautiful sites on the trip, and is a great area for Wire-crested Thorntail, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Versicolored Barbet, Speckle-chested Piculet (e), Leimebamba Antpitta, Short-billed (Gray) Tapaculo, Loja Tyrannulet, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Inca Flycatcher(e), Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant, Chestnut- belted Chat-Tyrant, Scaled Fruiteater, Fiery-throated Friuteater, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Amazonian Umbrellabird, White-collared Jay and White-eared Solitaire and moe. Day 9: Abra Patricia Reserve to Leimabamba Early morning birding will focus on the Abra Patricia Reserve for some of the species we weren’t able to find in the previous days. Then, we take a reasonable late morning birding drive to Leimabamba. This small and tranquil town is in the middle of the mountains with an amazing close up view of the Andes. From here we take a very pleasant drive up along the Río Utcubamba valley in delightfully unspoiled and uncrowded countryside. Terrific birding potential along the route. Day 10: Leimebamba to Balsas: Marañon River Early departure will give us an opportunity to bird some remnant temperate forest in route to the small town of Balsas right at the shore of the Marañon River. The road between Leimebamba and Balsas will give us the chance to appreciate some of the most breathtaking scenery on earth. This day we’ll be looking for species such as Coppery Metaltail (e), Russet-mantled Softail (e), White- chinned Thistletail, Many-striped Canastero, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Andean Flicker, Gray-breasted Mountain- Toucan, Rusty-breated Antpitta (a yet undescribed subspecies of Rufous Antpitta), Yellow-scarfed Tanager (e), Superciliaried Hemispingus, and Drab Hemispingus. Later in the day we’ll be in the range of species such as Marañon Pigeon, Yellow-faced Parrotlet (e), Black-necked Woodpecker (e), Marañon Thrush and Buff-bridled Inca- Finch (e). Note: This evening we will have a camp arranged for us with cots to support our access to this key area for a number of endemic species. Day 11: Balsas to Celendin: Hacienda Limon Another early start, as we get to birding on the road towards Celendin. We stop at Hacienda Limon. We will be looking for key species: Chestnut-backed Thornbird (e) and Gray- winged Inca-Finch(e), Black-lored Yellowthroat, and Bare-faced Ground-Dove among others. The hotel will be welcome tonight for cleaning up and enjoying some excellent local cuisine. Day 12: Birding Celendin to Cajamarca Early up again will help us get on some good birds as we travel to Cajamarca, the Capital of Cajamarca Departamento. Several stops on the way should produce some good looks at Mountain Caracara, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Striated Earthcreeper, Rufous (Cajamarca) Antpitta (e), White-browed Chat-Tyrant, Jelski's Chat- Tyrant, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-webbed Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Golden-billed Saltator, Peruvian-Sierra Finch, Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch (e) Rufous-eared Brush-Finch (e) and many others. We spend the night in Cajamarca, a city dating back before Pre-Colombian times and one of the most important cities of the Inca empire. Day 13: Otusco Morning starts a day birding the scrubby habitat beyond the archeological site of Otusco. We should get some good looks at Gray-bellied Comet (e), Bare-faced Ground- Dove, Andean Parakeet, Green-headed Hillstar (e) (Andean Hillstar), Black Metaltail (e), Giant Hummingbird, White-winged Cinclodes, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail (e), Yellow-bellied Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant, Cinereous Conebill and Mourning Sierra-Finch. Day 14: Flights Home or Transition Day to Extension Trip Two choices here. Some trip participants will take and early morning flight back to Lima to connect with international flights back home later in the day. Others will continue on for a few more days for two other key endemic species and more great birding. See detail below. Day 14: San Marcos & Huamachuco After assuring other get on early flight to Lima, the extension trip participants will drive to Huamachuco stopping on route near San Marcos to look for the endemic Great Spinetail. Night in Huamachuco. Day 15: El Molino Transition Early morning drive to “El Molino” to look for Purple- backed Sunbeam(e) and drive back to Cajamarca. Overnight at Cajamarca. Day 16: Departure for Extension Trip Early flight back to Lima to connect with international flights back home in afternoon. |
| 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 Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Febrero Marañon |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Febrero Marañon |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Murray Cooper |
Tumbesian–Maranonian Endemics
| Pomac Protected Forest, Chaparri Reserve, Abra Patricia Reserve, Huembo Hummingbird Gardens, Alto Mayo Protected Forest, Leimabamba, Balsas and Marañon River, Celendin and Hacienda Limon, Cajamarca and Otusco Historic Site |
| Northwest Peru and Tumbesin-Maronian Endemics |
Northwest Peru
| Northern Peru Itinerary for Extension Trip |