Kolibri Expeditions - Peru Birding Tours and Birdwatching Holidays Worldwide
Peru Tours
       

Bolivia Endemics incl Blue-throated Macaw and Pakachulpa Cotinga

 
 INTRODUCTION

Birding Boliva

Bolivia is remarkably diverse, even without any coastal species. Two endemic macaws and a mixture between savanna, rain forest, cloud forest, dry scrub and Andean landscapes make your lists grow fast. We will go to places that no other bird-tour company goes. We are aiming to have a go at all Bolivian endemics and restricted-range species within our circuit.

We have long had the skeleton of a full-scale Bolivia tour that aims to see all the Bolivian endemics at a reasonable cost on this page. Now together with our Bolivian contacts we have finally put together a fuller version of Bolivian Endemics. It is possible to do only part of the trip if you wish.

Some birds that are rarely encountered by other birding groups will be sought after on this trip, such as the newly split Pakachulpa Cotinga (previously Swallow-tailed Cotinga), Yungas Tyrannulet, Yungas Antwren, Bolivian Recurvebill and Horned Curassow. Additionally both Bolivian endemic Macaws - Blue-throated and Red-fronted Macaw are on the itinerary. All in all, it is the most complete Bolivian itinerary ever offered



 DEPARTURES
No Departures for this Tour


If the departure dates don't fit you, please suggest another date.
 
 THE TOUR

Complete Bolivia endemics

Day 1.Arrive to Santa Cruz in the morning.  In the afternoon we shall be birding Okanawa. The area is good for White-banded Mockingbird, and many seedeaters, such as Tawny-bellied, Dark-throated and Gray-and-chestnut Seedeater.
Night in Santa Cruz.

Day 2. Lomas de Arenas full day. For example Red-winged and Small-billed Tinamous, White-bellied Nothura, Chaco Chachalaca, Rufous-thighed Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, White Woodpecker and Narrow-billed Woodcreeper. If time permits also a visit to the Botanical Gardens which has some  Chaco habitat. Night in Santa Cruz.

Day 3. Drive to los Volcanes. Birds include Military Macaw, Andean Condor, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Black-banded Owl, Slaty Gnateater, Blue-browed Tanager, Gray-throated Leaftosser and Black-capped Antwren. Yungas Antwren and Bolivian Recurvebill have also been recorded  here but at rare.

Day 4. Continued birding near los Volcanes in the morning and then drive to Samaipata Night in Samaipata.

Day 5. Birding near Samaipata for Giant Antshrike, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Olive-crowned Crescentchest, Large-tailed Dove, Scaly-headed Parrot and large numbers of Blue-fronted Parrot and Mitred Parakeet.  Continue to on the Tambo near Comarapa. Night Tambo mission school.

Day 6. We shall search for Red-fronted Macaw on road towards Saipina. Other birds during the day may include  Andean Condors, King Vulture, Cliff Parakeet, Green-cheeked Parakeet,Spot-backed Puffbird, Red-tailed Comet, Bicolored Hawk and Dusky-legged Guan .

Day 7. Additional birding from Tambo and surroundings with Bolivian Earthcreeper, Cream-backed Woodpecker, White-bellied Hummingbird, White-tipped Plantcutter, Greater Wagtail-tyrant, Grey-crested Finch, Stripe-crowned Spinetail and Black-and-chestnut, Ringed and Black-capped Warbling-Finches.

Day 8. Full day visiting the temperate forest at Siberia. Birds include Black-winged Parrot, Black-hooded Sunbeam, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Rufous-faced Antpitta, Black-throated Thistletail, Gray-bellied Flowerpiercer,  Light-crowned Spinetail (rufous-crowned form) and Pale-footed Swallow. Should it be needed yet another site for Rufous-fronted Macaw can be visited in the afternoon. Night Tambo mission school.

Day 9. Drive to Cochabamba via Chunal above Siberia for Black-breasted Sunbean, Fulvous-headed Brush-Finch,  Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch, Grey-bellied Flower-piercer and Rufous-bellied Saltator.  Continuing further west we pass Puente Mendoza where sometimes Citron-headed Yellow-Finch can be seen. Other birds here include  Cochabamba Mountain-Finch, Red-tailed Comet, Andean Hillstar, Rock Earthcreeper, D’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant, Fulvous-headed Brush-Finch and Rufous-bellied Saltator.  Night in Cochabamba.

Day 10. Villa Tunari road.  Species in the upper temperate section include  Hooded Tinamou, Hooded Mountain-Toucan, Black-winged Parrot, Yungas Tody-Tyrant, Hazel-fronted Pygmy-Tyrant,  Straw-backed Tanager, Stripe-faced Wood-Quail, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Scaled Metaltail, Rufous-faced Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Band-tailed Fruiteater, Bolivian Tyrannulet and White-eared Solitaire.

In the subtropical zone we have recorded Semicollared Hawk, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, White-throated Antpitta, Blue-banded Toucanet, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher and Crested Quetzal. Night in Villa Tunari

Day 11-13. Carrasco National Park.  Our guide has a good place for Yungas Antwren, This is home of the Horned Curassow,  which is best searched for in October-November when they call, but we may be lucky in other times of years.The rare Bolivian Recurvebill also occurs here.  This is our best chance for these rare species why 2 full days are needed.
Other birds include an undescribed Flowerpiercer, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Upland Antshrike, Cuvier’s Toucan, Rough-legged Tyrannulet and Olive Tanager.

On day 13 we head back to Cochabamba birding the other direction for species we may have missed and at nightfall above the temperate forest we shall try for Swallow-tailed Nightjar.

Day 14. Quillacolla road in the morning.  Many speclal birds here. Wedge-tailed Hillstar, Red-tailed Comet, Maquis Canastero, Bolivian Warbling-Finch, Cochabamba Mountain-Finch, Gray-bellied Flowerpiercer and Bolivian Blackbird.  In the Polylepis at the top there are Giant Conebill, Tawny Tit-Spinetail and Rufous-bellied Saltator, as well as Short-tailed Finch in the bolder areas.

When done on the Quillacolla road we shall drive to Oruro and bird Lago Uru Uru in the afternoon for three species of Flamingos, Giant Coot, Least Seedsnipe, Andean Avocet Puna Plover and Bright-rumped and Puna Yellow-Finches.

Day 15. Lago Uru-Uru in the morning (if necessary) and then drive to Inquisivi for Bolivian Spinetail and Huayco Tinamou, we continue to drive to Chulumani for an overnight stay most likely arriving late.

Day 16. Apa Apa forest. Main target is Scimitar-winged Piha.  Most groups don’t see this bird, why we should not hold our hopes to high.  Other more likely encounters include Hooded Tinamou, Rufous-faced Antpitta, Short-tailed Antthrush, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Straw-backed Tanager, Versicolored Barbet, Yungas Manakin, and Slaty Finch.

Day 17. Today we bird the famous Coroico road.  There will be lots of overlap on the Apolo road later in the program and the birding we have already done in Cochabamba. While we here we shall look for a few special birds such as Orange-browed Hemispingus, Golden-collared Tanager, Solitary Eagle, Blue-banded Toucanet, Buff-banded Tyrannulet and Lesser Elaenia. Higher up is good for Hooded Mountain-Toucan, Diademed Tapaculo, Black-throated Thistletail, Plushcap, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Light-crowned Spinetail (light-crowned race) and Andean (Yungas) Pygmy-Owl. Near el Cumbre we find birds such as Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Short-tailed Finch, Olivaceous Thornbill, Giant Hummingbird and Andean Hillstar. Night in La Paz

Day 18. Lake Titicaca, Sorata and then drive on towards Apolo.  In the morning we shall scan the shores of Lake Titicaca for Titicaca Flightless Grebe, we continue to Sorata and should have seen the endemic Berlepsch’s Canastero before noon. Then we continue the epic journey towards Apolo on a dirt road that cuts over the Andes. With the prize of the endemic Puchacapa Cotinga – newly split from Swallow-tailed Cotinga  at the end of the road. The birds are similar to those of Manu road in Peru or the Coroico road. Camp.

Day 19. Arriving to Apolo.

Day 20. Searching for Palkachupa (Swallow-tailed) Cotinga near Aten Night in Apolo.

Day 21. Explorations around Apolo. Additional species that may occur here are undescribed ssp of Black-capped Antwren, Yungas Tyrannulet, Yungas Antwren, Bolivian Recurvebill and perhaps even Scimitar-winged Piha and the formerly Peruvian endemic Green-capped Tanager.

Day 22. Drive back towards La Paz (camp)

Day 23. Arrving La Paz

Day 24.Fly to Riberalta.

Day 25-26. Birding around Riberalta for species like Masked Antpitta as the main target, but also the very rare Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant and good species like Johannis' and Spotted Tody-Tyrants, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Chestnut (Purus) Jacamar, White-browed Hawk, Leaden and Streaked Antwrens, Rufous-tailed Flatbill, Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Amazonian Royal Flycatcher, White-rumped Tanager, White-bellied Parrot, Horned Sungem and Cock-tailed Tyrant.
In 2007 we saw Crowned Eagle here.

Day 27. After some additional birding in the morning we shall be flying to Trinidad and transfer to the Hacienda that will put us up.

Day 28. Full day to search for Blue-throated Macaw and other Savanna birds.

Day 29. Additional morning at the hacienda before returning to Trinidad and on to Santa Cruz.

 


 PRICES :
 CLIENT'S COMMENTS:
 
 


CATEGORY TOURS KOLIBRI EXPEDITIONS
EASY BIRDWATCHING
MODERATE BIRDWATCHING
EXTREME BIRDING
BIRDING AND CULTURE/ARCHEAOLOGY
HIKING, BIRDS AND PLANTS. NATURE TREKKING.
BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER INSECTS
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
PELAGIC TOURS
5 DAY BIRDING TOURS
Copyright © 2024 Kolibri Expeditions. All rights reserved.

Telephone: +51-1- 652 76 89. From the US: 011-51-1- 652 76 89. Cell: 988 555 938 (Gunnar) or 999 007 886 (Elia Gallo) - Email: kolibriexp@gmail.com