BOLIVIA APOLO EXTENSION
Tour Overview
BOLIVIA
BIRDING TOUR
ANY TIME*
| Duration: | 6 days, 5 nights |
| Group Size: | 2-4 |
| 2-3 Price: | $2500 |
| 4+ Price: | $2400 |
| Single Suppl: | $800 |
| Est #Species: | 175-200 |
| Pace: | Difficult |
| Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Best Time: | Oct-Nov |
| * This tour is available for any dates of your choosing provided guide services and accommodations are available. | |
Our tour extension to the Apolo region north of La Paz is focused on looking for the recently described, enigmatic Inti Tanager and the recently rediscovered Palkachupa Cotinga, the latter thought to be extent for the past 98 years. We'll drive as far as Charazani the first day, birding nearby forest in the afternoon. From there we continue north to Apolo. Once there we'll have two full days of birding, one day to the south near Aten for the endangered Palkachupa Cotinga and a second day in the Machariapo Valley for the Inti Tanager. On the final day we typically depart very early for the drive south toward La Paz, as we want time to stop for some morning birding in the Apolo Yungas en route. We'll go as far as Charazani, where we'll spend the last night. The following morning we'll transfer to La Paz, which takes about 4 hours. We may do some birding en route as time permits. The tour ends in La Paz.
Tour Considerations
PACE - This tour is rated as difficult and is intended for serious birders.
DIFFICULTY - Our extension to the Apolo region north of La Paz is considered difficult because it entails long drives of up to 12 hours and substantial hiking. Road conditions from La Paz to Apolo are susceptible to washouts and landslides during rainy season.
CLIMATE - The climate around Apolo is generally mild and subtropical. There is a pronounced dry season from May to October. The heaviest rainfall is from December through March.
BIRD ACTIVITY - The main breeding season of the Inti Tanager is from October through March. At other times of year, it's distribution is uncertain though it has been seen in the Apolo region during August and September. The breeding season of the Palkachupa Cotinga, considered by some to be a subspecies of Swallow-tailed Cotinga and by others as a separate species, is from early November to mid-March. The birds are very active during this time and most easily seen then.
PHOTOGRAPHY - Getting photographs of the main target birds can be challenging but is possible.
TOUR NOTES
Tour involves long drives between La Paz and Apolo. Birding is intense with substantial walking involved. Can be combined with any of our other Bolivia tours.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We'll stay at the best available place in Apolo, which is likely a fairly basic guest house possibly with shared bathroom and shower facilities.