Bird Tours Peru - North Peru
North Peru holds one of the greatest concentrations of quality birds anywhere. West of the Andes in the vanishing Dry Tumbesian forest, we find sought-after species like Peruvian Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher, White-winged Guan, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, and more. The dry Marañon Valley is home to a different set of specialties including Marañon Crescentchest, Marañon Spinetail, and Little Inca-Finch, while the Mayo Valley and nearby areas are much more diverse as they are mostly covered in humid forest. Goodies in this area are too many to list, but include the incomperable Marvelous Spatuletail, Johnson's Tody-Flycatcher, Royal Sunangel, Speckle-chested Piculet, Ash-throated Antwren, and many, many more. The popular Upper Marañon Extension gives another wide range of Peruvian endemics, including Koepcke's Screech-Owl, Russet-mantled Softtail, Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Grey-winged Inca-Finch, Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Grey-bellied Comet, and Great Spinetail. In 2010 we had two excellent visits to the often disregarded Chido Valley, both times highlighted by stunning views of the world's best antpitta (some may disagree, but mostly they won't have seen this beauty, I'll bet!) - the rare endemic Pale-billed Antpitta; this 1-day add-on is highly recommended. Add to that various other extension options (for Orange-throated Tanager, Ecuadorian Cacique, Dotted Tanager, Russet-bellied Spinetail, and others) and you've got what is arguably the best birding region in the world!
Below the Itinerary Table, you will find a short description of the Base Tour and available extensions, and also a day-by-day itinerary for the most popular route for the area: the North Peru Base Tour with the Upper Marañon Extension. It is possible to combine the Base Tour with any combination of the five extensions; Chikais will add a huge range of Amazonian birds to the list (including the dazzling Orange-throated Tanager), while the others are more focussed on specific target birds. For a day-by-day itinerary for any combination that interests you, please email us.
| day | Base Tour | Complete Tour | |
| 1 | Bosque Pomac-Olmos | Bosque Pomac-Olmos | |
| 2 | Qda. El Limon-Olmos | Qda. El Limon-Olmos | |
| 3 | Porcuya-Jaen | Porcuya-Jaen | |
| 4 | Jaen Area-Pedro Ruiz | Jaen Area-Pomacochas | |
| 5 | Pomacochas-Abra Patricia | Bagua Chica-Chikais | Chikais Extension |
| 6 | Abra Patricia | Chikais | |
| 7 | Afluentes-Moyobamba | Chikais | |
| 8 | Mishquiyacu-Moyobamba | Chikais-Imazita | |
| 9 | Moyobamba-Tarapoto-flight to Lima | Imazita-Pedro Ruiz | |
| 10 | Abra Patricia-Moyobamba | ||
| 11 | Mishquiyacu | ||
| 12 | Moyobamba-Tarapoto | Lower Mayo Extension | |
| 13 | Upaquihua | ||
| 14 | Tunnel-Nuevo Cajamarca | ||
| 15 | Afluentes-Abra Patricia | ||
| 16 | Abra Patricia | ||
| 17 | Abra Patricia-Chillo | ||
| 18 | Chido Trail | Chido Trail Extension | |
| 19 | Utcubamba Valley-Leimebamba | Upper Marañon Extension | |
| 20 | Barro Negro-Balsas-Celendin | ||
| 21 | Celendin-Cajamarca | ||
| 22 | San Marcos-Cajamarca | ||
| 23 | Sinsicap-flight to Lima | Sinsicap Extension |
Northern Peru Base Tour (9 days)
Northern Peru is home to an unbeatable set of specialty birds found in diverse habitats within a relatively small area. On this Base Tour, we begin by birding the dry Tumbesian lowlands, searching for many regional and Peruvian endemics including Peruvian Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher, Tumbes Tyrant, Tumbes Sparrow, and White-tailed Jay. Before heading into the Andes, we'll try for White-winged Guan, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Elegant Crescentchest, Chapman's Antshrike, and many others at slightly higher elevations. The next major birding area is the dry Middle Marañon Valley, where targets include Marañon Spinetail, Marañon Cescentchest, and Little Inca-Finch.
The incomparable Marvelous Spatuletail is the next major target as we move into more humid habitats; we spend the rest of the trip on the East Andean Slope, where the diversity of birds is nearly overwhelming. Specific target birds in the Abra Patricia area are many, but include Johnson's Tody-Flycatcher, Royal Sunangel, Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Speckle-chested Piculet, Chestnut and Rusty-tinged Antpitta, and even Long-whiskered Owlet. Many widespread enigmas, like White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and a variety of tanagers and flycatchers, are also found here.
The Mayo Valley is our final birding area for the trip; this area is home to a fascinating mix of Andean foothill birds, isolated populations of species widespread in other parts of South America, and of course Peruvian and regional endemics. Likely highlights include Equatorial Greytail, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Black-billed Seed-Finch, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Pale-eyed Blackbird, Black-bellied Tanager, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, and Ecuadorian Tyrannulet. More difficult species that we've seen in the area include Napo Sabrewing and even the elusive Ash-throated Antwren.
Nearly this whole Base Tour is on paved roads and in mid-range hotels; a few accommodations are more basic, and the Owlet Lodge at Abra Patricia is above average for this route. Camping is an alternative on one night, which gives a better chance of Peruvian Screech-Owl.
Extensions
| Chikais Extension (add 5 days) |
Although this extension adds a huge number of Amazonian species to the potential trip list, including goodies like Purplish Jacamar, Ecuadorian Cacique, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Black Bushbird, and Chestnut-headed Crake, there is one main reason to do it: the spectacular and rare Orange-throated Tanager. This amazing's bird's tiny world range is almost entirely within Aguaruna lands, and often these people are not welcoming to visitors. Chikais is a friendly community with which Tanager Tours has a special relationship, and we can be sure of being welcome in the village and of finding excellent birds in the immediate area. This extension involves two long driving days on dirt roads, and three nights camping in a community building (could be reduced to two at the expense of a day of birding at Chikais, making the total extension 4 days long).
| Lower Mayo Extension (add 4 days) |
The Lower Mayo Valley, and adjacent areas, is home to a unique set of species that cannot otherwise be found in Peru. Some specialties include Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Planalto Hermit, Rufous Casiornis, Blackish Pewee, and Dotted Tanager. The driving is mostly on good paved roads, and the accommodations are comfortable.
| Chido Trail Extension (add 1 day) |
Though we rarely did this extension in the past, we enjoyed two incredible visits in 2010 and now recommend it strongly. The star bird is one of the world's best - the unexpectedly stunning Pale-billed Antpitta - though of course it can be a challenge to see! Other possibilities include Russet-mantled Softtail (getting more and more difficult on the Upper Marañon Extension), Golden-plumed Parakeet, and with lots of luck Mountain Avocetbill. Hiking up to the treeline gives a chance for Neblina Tapaculo and others. The hike from the trailhead to the beginning of the interesting habitat is about 1 hour uphill; camping is not necessary.
| Upper Marañon Extension (add 4 days) |
The most popular extension to the Northern Base Tour is the endemic-packed Upper Marañon drainage. Additional targets in this area include Marañon Thrush, Koepcke's Screech-Owl, Russet-mantled Softtail, Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Grey-winged Inca-Finch, Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Great Spinetail, and Grey-bellied Comet – all excellent Peruvian endemics! The driving is mostly on good gravel roads, and the accommodations are mid-range to basic.
| Sinsicap Extension (add 1 day) |
The main reason for visiting the remote Andean village of Sinsicap is the rare and beautiful Russet-bellied Spinetail - endemic to the west slope of the Andes in northern Peru. This also gives an additional chance for Piura Chat-Tyrant, and our coasal accommodation means you have a chance for some species like Inca Tern and even Waved Albatross, which in some years is regular off the beach in front of the hotel. This extension involves an extra half day of driving paved roads and several hours of rough gravel roads. Accommodations are pleasant.
North Peru Classic Itinerary
This is the day-by-day for most popular birding itinerary for North Peru, combining the Base Tour with 4 days in the Upper Marañon drainage.
Day 1: Bosque Pomac
We'll spend the morning birding at Bosque Pomac, where the rare endemics Peruvian Plantcutter and Rufous Flycatcher are the main targets. The supporting cast of Tumbesian endemics includes Necklaced Spinetail, Superciliated Wren, Grey-and-white Tyrannulet, White-tailed Jay, Pacific Parrotlet, White-edged Oriole, and others. Activity at this site is often remarkably good through the mid-day heat. With luck, we may find Tumbes Swallow and Tumbes Tyrant before we drive to our hotel in Olmos in the afternoon.
Day 2: Quebrada El Limon: The White-winged Guan
We'll have all day to bird the Quebrada El Limon area. The mega-bird here is of course the Critically Endangered White-winged Guan, but there's lots more to see as well, including Elegant Crescentchest, Tumbes Hummingbird, White-headed Brush-Finch, Black-capped Sparrow, and another chance for most the Tumbesian species we looked for yesterday. In the afternoon, we'll bird some drier desert scrub, looking especially for Tumbes Sparrow and Sulphur-throated Finch. Night at the same hotel in Olmos.
Day 3: Abra Porculla and Jaen
This morning we'll head to Abra Porcuya, where a diminishing patch of humid scrub still holds some very special birds, such as Henna-hooded and Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaners, Grey-and-gold and Three-banded Warblers, Piura Chat-Tyrant, Chapman's Antshrike, and Black-hooded Saltator. In the late morning, we'll continue on to Jaen. After checking into our hotel, we'll spend the late afternoon birding just north of town, where the spectacular Marañon Crescentchest is among the possibilities; more common birds include Red-crested Finch, Ecuadorian Ground-Dove, and Drab and Chestnut-throated Seedeaters.
Day 4: near Jaen
We'll make an early start to bird in the Tamborapa area in the morning. The main targets here are Marañon and Necklaced Spinetails (the latter being the very distinctive "Chinchipe" Spinetail, a sure split), while other possibilities include Northern Slaty-Antshrike (Marañon race), Guira Tanager, Green-backed Becard, and even Grey-breasted Flycatcher. Military Macaws seem to be extirpated from this formerly reliable site, but we'll keep our eyes open. After a lunch back in Jaen, we'll drive on to our hotel in Pedro Ruiz, looking for Little Inca-Finch en route.
Day 5: Abra Patricia and The Mayo Valley
Another early start will give us a full morning to begin our sampling of the fascinating Abra Patricia cloud forest. This famous site is incredibly diverse; thoday we'll concentrate on roadside birding, looking especially for flocks including Yellow-scarfed, Grass-green, and Metallic-green Tanagers, Inca Flycatcher, Drab Hemispingus, and an endless variety of other bird typical of the East Andean slopes. Further specialties we may find along the road include the highly restricted and beautiful endemic Johnson's Tody-Tyrant and the spectacular White-capped Tanager. In the afternoon, we'll drive down into the Mayo Valley and bird some marshes near Rioja. Our main targets here will be Black-billed Seed-Finch and Pale-eyed Blackbird before we check into our hotel in Moyobamba.
Day 6: Mishquiyacu
We'll make a full day excursion to Mishquiyacu, just outside the city of Moyobamba. Seeing some of the best birds here involves a fairly strenuous hike, but there are other possibilities for those looking for a more relaxing day. Among the birds Tanager Tours has recorded recently at this site are Ash-throated Antwren, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, Red-shouldered Tanager, Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant, Lanceolated Monklet, Blue-rumped Manakin, and many others. Overall, Mishquiyacu provides an excellent selection of lower montane and Amazonian bird species. In the afternoon near the access road, we'll try for Mishana Tyrannulet, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, and even Spot-tailed Nightjar at dusk. We'll be in the same Moyobamba hotel for the night.
Day 7: Afluentes to Abra Patricia
Today we'll concentrate on the now patchy forest below Abra Patricia which is home to an excellent variety of specialties. We'll begin in an area where Andean Cock-of-the-Rocks are regular, and where we've also seen Amazonian Umbrellabird and mouth-watering flocksincluding Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Equatorial Greytail, Speckle-chested Piculet, and Versicoloured Barbet. Ecuadorian Piedtail, Wire-crested Thorntail, and other hummingbirds are also among the possibilities. In the afternoon, we'll arrive at the Owlet Lodge, our base for more thoroughly birding Abra Patricia.
Day 8: Abra Patricia
We'll have all day to track down some of Abra Patricia's more elusive inhabitants. The list of local targets is tantalising, but many are very difficult birds. In the near-impossible category are Long-whiskered Owlet and Ochre-fronted Antpitta; hard-to-see but not-that-rare specialties include Rusty-tinged and Chestnut Antpittas, Rufous-vented Tapaculo, and Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant; more reasonably, we hope to see Royal Sunangel and Bar-winged Wood-Wren while enjoying a host of more common birds such as Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Cliff Flycatcher, Rufous-tailed Tyrant, and Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner. The hummingbird feeders at the biological station attract Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Collared and Bronzy Incas, Long-tailed Sylph, and Fawn-breasted Brilliant.
Day 9: Marvellous Spatuletail & Utcubamba Valley
After a few morning hours to hunt down a couple more goodies at Abra Patricia, we'll drive on to Pomacochas to search for one of the most spectacular birds in the world - the Marvellous Spatuletail. While finding one, especially a full adult male, sometimes takes time, it is well worth the effort. In the afternoon, we'll drive up the Utcubamba Valley , making a few select birding stop en route. Possibilities include Marañon Thrush and Golden-rumped Euphonia, while a good flowering tree can produce Spot-throated Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, and even Little Woodstar with luck. We'll spend the night at El Chillo, where Koepcke's Screech-Owl is sometimes staked out on a day roost; otherwise we'll try our luck at night.
Day 10: to Leimebamba
After some early birding around El Chillo (Buff-bellied Tanager, and distinctive local races of Tropical Gnatcatcher and Tropical Pewee are among the possibilities), we'll spend most of the day on a rough road above Leimebamba. Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan is relatively common here, while we will enjoy a variety of other higher elevation montane forest species as well, possibly including the rare Red-hooded Tanager. In the late afternoon, we have the chance to visit some hummingbird feeders near town, where Marvellous Spatuletail is regular as well as Rainbow Starfrontlet, Purple-throated Sunangel, and Sword-billed Hummingbird. Night in a hotel in Leimebamba.
Day 11 - Through the Marañon Valley
Although much degraded, there are still patches of bamboo and forest at Barro Negro where we can hunt down the most difficult target of the area - the endangered endemic Russet-mantled Softtail. Other possibilities include the endemic Coppery Metaltail, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Blackish Tapaculo, and White-chinned Thistletail. Later we'll make the spectacular descent into the Marañon Valley, arriving in the Balsas area in time to track down Yellow-faced Parrotlet and Peruvian Pigeon before setting off to our final birding site on the east side of the Marañon. There we'll look for Grey-winged Inca-Finches and Chestnut-backed Thornbird. Night in a hotel in Celendín.
Day 12 - Celendin to Cajamarca
We have the whole day to drive the few hours to Cajamarca, but there are lots of birds to find on the way. Among the morning targets are Jelski's Chat-Tyrant, Baron's Spinetail, White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, Rufous-webbed Tyrant, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, and the very distinctive "Cajamarca" Rufous Antpitta. Closer to Cajamarca, we'll try for Rufous-eared Brush-Finch before heading up a small valley near town to look for the enigmatic Grey-bellied Comet as well as Black Metaltail, White-winged Cinclodes and others. We'll stay in Cajamarca for the night.
Day 13 - Great Spinetail at San Marcos
We'll make an early start south towards San Marcos . This is the most accessible site for Great Spinetail, while other birds can include Andean Tinamou and White-winged Black-Tyrant. We'll be back in Cajamarca in the early afternoon, in time to catch a flight to Lima in the afternoon.
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| TANAGER TOURS | ||
| Lima - Peru | ||
| Phone: | +51 1 9858 36609 | |
| e-mail: | info@tanagertours.com | |
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