Northern Peru Enigmatic
Missing Species – 10 Days
This tour is designed for you, who can not travel for 2 or 3 weeks once again, but you have the opportunity to see the amazing Scarlet-Banded Barbet, it used to be difficult to include an itinerary to travel to this remote area “Cordillera Azul National park”, this area has not been included in any birdwatching tour, nowadays you have good chance to see this Peruvian endemic specie close of Tarapoto at the same time you have a second chance to see some missing species in your last trip .
Our targets is find all the missing endemic and local birds in your passed tour with great views and also with the opportunity to photograph these amazing birds.
Remember our tours is designed according to your needs if you have some suggestion please let us to know and we can prepare a tour thinking in your needs, if you consider that you’ve visited already part of the schedule, you can avoid, and you can join just part of the tour.
Day 1: To PLATAFORMA / FLOR DE CAFE
In the morning we take first flight from Lima to Tarapoto arriving at 8:30 am. then we’ll begin our expedition to a new site for Scarlet‐banded Barbet. This involves using off‐road vehicles to reach our campsite Village, first we drive on a paved road for 2 hours, then we change our van to off-road vehicle ground transport, along the road we start birding looking for some endemic species Mishana Tyrannulet, and the mythical Scarlet-banded Barbet around lunch time, at the night we will have time to look around soccer match in Plataforma / Flor de Cafe village and do some night birding to look for Band-Bellied Owl and Vermiculated Screech Owl.
Night: Plataforma / Flor de Cafe. L:D.
Day 2: PLATAFORMA – CORDILLERA AZUL MOUNTAINS
We’ll have a full day to bird above the village; obviously the main target is Scarlet‐banded Barbet, but we can expect a variety of other foothill birds too, possibly including Shrike‐like Cotinga-Andean Laniisoma, Grey‐tailed Piha, Foothill Antwren. Scaled, Fiery-throated and Scarlet-breasted Fruiteaters, Rose-fronted Parakeet, Foothill Antwren and Slaty Antwren, Foothill Schiffornis, Short-tailed Antthrush, multicolored variety of Tanagers flocks, Jet Manakin, Yungas Manakin and Blue-rumped Manakin.This is a poorly‐known site, and there is a recently new specie discovered «PLATAFORMA ANTBIRD» we’re sure to have some exciting finds!
Night: Plataforma / Flor de Cafe. B:L:D.
Day 3: PLATAFORMA to MOYOBAMBA
Today we’ll spend the morning birding in the same area before making the return trip to Tarapoto, We’ll explore the zone looking for some missing species Like Yellow-throated Spadebill, Roraiman Flycatcher and many others has been seen here too. before driving up the road towards Tarapoto, we have a long driving to get Moyobamba, around the lodge we can look for some owls.
Night: Moyobamba. B:L:D.
Day 4: ABRA PATRICIA – FUNDO ALTO NIEVA
Today will drive to Abra Patricia with some birding along the way after a quickly stop we’ll continue searching along the route for some missing species we’ll visit Hummingbird feeder at the based of the mountain – Arena Blanca Reserve, if we are lucky some Rufous-breasted Wood-quail, cinereous and Brown Tinamous, we will make many stops on the pointed birding sites looking for our target species like Vermilion Tanager, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Speckle-chested Piculet, Equatorial Greytail, and many more missing species that you need; late in the day we explore trails around Fundo Alto Nieva Reserve Ochre-fronted Antpitta and Rusty.tinged Antpitta are part of our targets; at night we’ll have our first change for Long whiskered owlet and Cinnamon Screech-owl.
Night: Abra Patricia. B:L:D.
Day 5: ABRA PATRICIA – OWLET LODGE
Today we’ll have a full day to explore the trails at Fundo Alto NIeva, this new famous place for ornithologist, we’ll be concentrate in the trails for ground forest birds Ochre-fronted & Rusty-tinged Antpitta, Bar-winged Wood-wren, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-tyrant, Uniform Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Rufous Spinetail, we may bump into mixed flocks with Blue-browed Tanager, Metallic-green tanager, Yellow-Scarf Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Hooded Mountain Tanager, also we can see Barred Becard, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Royal Sunangel, and the endemic Lulu’s Tody-Flycatcher. in the evening we move up the road to Abra Patricia pass, enjoying a new trail system, at night we’ll have our second change for Long whiskered owlet.
Night: Abra Patricia. B:L:D.
Day 6: SAN LORENZO / CHIDO TRAIL – HUEMBO ECOLODGE
We leave early in the morning to San Lorenzo, here we start to reach a site for the elusive Pale-billed Antpitta, a rarely seen endemic and certainly one of the most spectacular in Peru. Russet-mantled softtail, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Peruvian Wren, After an ascent we will reach the highly fragmented forest patches in which our quarry resides, and even Mountain Avocetbill with luck. after a morning birding we would then drop down to Huembo feeders to pick up the Marvelous Spatuletail, Little Woodstar White-bellied Hummingbird, white-crowned Tapaculo, Sickle-winged Guan and other selection of birds and late in the evening last chance for Long-whiskered Owlet.
Night: Abra Patricia. B:L:D.
Day 7: RIOJA MARSHES To TARAPOTO
Today we’ll move downslope and look for last missing species and lots of others. we’ll bird some marshes looking for Pale‐eyed Blackbird, Black‐billed Seed‐Finch, Point‐tailed Palmcreeper, and perhaps some crakes and rails, we have a quickly stop at an Oilbird Colony we know where the birds are easily seen, then well drive to Tarapoto.
Night: Tarapoto. B:L:D.
Day 8: TUNNELS – SAN LORENZO
we spend a couple our birding around Cordillera Escalera, Plumbeous Euphonia, Koepcke’s Hermit, Blackish Pewee are part of our target, then we drive to Yurimaguas where we take an small aircraft to flight from Huallaga river to Marañon river bank, here we are focused on the mythical White-masked Antbird.
Night: San Lorenzo / Datem del Marañon. B:L:D.
Day 9: SAN LORENZO – WHITE-MASKED ANTBIRD
San Lorenzo new place for White-masked Antbird, offers still a good patch of forest, beside our main targets is black-necked Cotinga, Blue-crowned Manakin, Double-banded Pygmy-tyrant, Rufous-tailed Flatbill, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Short-billed Leaftosser and many more; Velvet-fronted Grackle, Black-banded Crake, Green-tailed Goldenthroat, Silvered Antbird could be present too, in the afternoon we can do short boat trip White-eared Jacamar, Green and Rufous Kingfisher, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Mouse-colored & Amazonian Antshrike are part our bird list.
Night: San Lorenzo / Datem del Marañon. B:LD.
Day 10: FLIGHT BACK TO YURIMAGUAS – To LIMA
we have a final morning for the difficult White-masked Antbird, exploring our well know area, birding in the best time of the day, scanning for additional birds and of course we go for good views and if are extremely lucky a photo. then we drive to the airport to take the aircraft and flight back to Yurimaguas, immediately we take our ground transport service to drive back until Tarapoto where we conclude the tour.
Flight to Lima. B:L.
What to Bring:
- Please do not bring too much luggage. For domestic flights you can hold 23 kg. ( 50.7063 lbs.) and 8 kg. (17.637 lbs.) in hand luggage. Extra costs run by yourselves.
- Lightweight comfortable clothing is recommended, i.e. standard field pants and shirts for the
entire trip, some jacket for cold places is enough. - At Abra Patricia and Moyobamba laundry can be done.
- Sunblock and hat or cap.
- Mosquito or insect repellent.
- An umbrella and rain poncho.
- Rubber boots / gumboots specially for Plataforma and San Lorenzo area.
- Small flashlight for owling – I will have a strong owling light (guide).
- You will need a fleece or other light jacket – NOT a heavy winter type coat/jacket.
This is noted for the high elevations. We will be in all kinds of weather, but no special clothing is
necessary. If you are a person that gets cold easily – perhaps a little more clothing, like a warm hat or
light-weight gloves would be in order. - Please using camouflaged clothing would be ok not really any military clothing avoid the second.
- Shower thongs / rubber flip flops will be useful.
Recommendation:
- Binoculars.
- Extra Batteries.
- Camera (Optional).
- Telescope (Optional).
General:
- Birding will primarily be on forested roads and some trails – difficulty is medium to moderate level.
- We will be moving between 200– 2900 meters, asl (656 – 9514.436 feet). Mostly between 1200 and 2300 meters.
- We will experience all kinds of weather, but no special clothing is necessary.
- We will have electric power at all our destinations. There are sockets inside all rooms with 220 volt
electricity. - Please note be sure and bring extra batteries as electricity may sometimes go out in sites like Abra Patricia,
Fundo Alto Nieva. Plataforma. (in these places sometimes they have to use electricity generator 6 – 9 pm).
Medical and Health Information:
High altitude information you may find useful. Arriving in Tarapoto is not a problem because is basically around sea level, them gradually we will go to the east slope of the andes, the highest point during the tour is 2900 meters, but probably not high enough to cause serious problems. Adjusting to higher altitude is a very individual thing.
Some may feel no effects at all, some may have minor effects, and others may experience great difficulty.
You may feel the lack of oxygen, and will easily get «out of breath» for the first two or three days, so take it easy. You may feel a little nauseous, have a headache, or tire easily.. You will acclimatize to it by producing more red blood cells, so you should make sure you stay well hydrated, as the extra cells thicken your blood.
Drink lots of water, while avoiding alcohol or caffeine. Dehydration can make any effects of altitude worse. Try to avoid overeating the first day.
Please keep in mind our birding tour will be over a wide range of altitudes – and we will be acclimatizing as we move through the different habitats.
By the time we reach the very high altitude of the Paramo we should be adjusted to the altitude. We will be taking our time, birding slowly, and enjoying ourselves. That being said, your safety and well-being is of first importance above all else.
Therefore, I will be making frequent checks to make sure everyone is feeling well.
If someone in the group isn’t feeling well our driver will be ready to take the person or the group to lower altitude very quickly.
There are medications available for altitude sickness. Please check with your doctor. For the headache, you can take an over-the-counter medicine, such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).
Travel insurance
Our suggestion is that you use travel insurance service. The normal price of this tour not cover travel insurance.
Books:
Birds of Peru is the best field Guide.
If you consider you can bring some other field guide are welcome.
+ Prices Include:
- Private transport in all the way.
- All accommodations in all the tour (Tarapoto/Tarapoto).
- Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch/ picnic or box lunch depending where we are, dinner, snacks, water available all the time).
- Bird guide specialist.
- Bird checklist per person.
- 4×4 vehicle to go Plataforma.
- Entrances to all Birding spots.
- Aircraft tickets from Yurimaguas to San Lorenzo round trip
- Transfers in Tarapoto.
- Basically full board in a private tour.
- Domestic flights: Lima to Tarapoto round trip.
– Not included:
- Laundry, calls, medical costs or hospitalization, excess baggage charges, insurance, or other items of personal nature.
What I (guide) will have with me
- Recording stuff Roland R-05/Microphone SENNHEISER ME66/K6.
- Two iPods- speakers.
- A Swarovski ATX 80 scope 20-60 zoom
- Green laser pointer
- Owling light.
- GPS.
- Personal Swarovski Binoculars.
- I will be carrying the new field guide Birds of Peru this can be found on www.amazon.com.
Tour Calendar 2023:
- 22th April 2023.
- 14th June 2023.
- 6th August 2023.
- 28th September 2023.
- 20th November 2023.
If some our fixed departure doesn’t work with you, we can propose a fixed departure with your available dates , also if you need private or customized tour, please contact us for more information, all our tours are totally flexible and adjustable to your needs.
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- www.tanagertours.com
- info@tanagertours.com
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