BOLIVIA BENI
EXTENSION

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A less visited region of Bolivia that is typically not included in standard birding tours to the country is the Beni region in the north. The Beni region encompasses a vast area of diverse habitats including Amazonian rainforest near the border with Brazil, vast seasonally flooded savannas, dry cerrado in the northeast, and temperate forest in the Andean foothills. It features a wide variety of birds including a good number of specialties not found in central Bolivia. The goal of this extension is to see two localized endemics, Masked Antpitta around Riberalta and the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw south of Trinidad. It can be conducted at the beginning or end of our Central Bolivia tour.

The tour begins with an early flight from La Paz to the far northern city of Riberalta, located near the border with Brazil. We'll spend the rest of that day and, if necessary the next morning, seeking out our first target, the Masked Antpitta. Once we have seen that species, we'll devote the rest of the time birding other sites outside town, most likely the San Lorenzo pampa area. On the afternoon of our second day, we'll fly to the town of Trinidad for an overnight stay. The next morning we'll visit a private reserve south of town to seek out the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw. We'll return to Trinidad in time for lunch and an afternoon flight to either Santa Cruz or Lima, depending on your ongoing travel arrangements.

Day 1 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in Riberalta; Activity: Early morning flight to Riberalta. Rest of day birding that area, targeting Masked Antpitta.
Day 2 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in Trinidad; Activity: Morning birding near Riberalta. Late afternoon flight to Trinidad.
Day 3 - Meals: BL; Accommodation: None; Activity: Morning birding south of Trinidad for Blue-throated Macaw. Afternoon return flight. End of tour there.

We'll be staying in comfortable, moderately priced hotels throughout the tour.

PACE - The pace of this very easy.

DIFFICULTY - Birding in the far north around Riberalta is mostly along roadsides with possibly some fairly flat trails. Birding around Trinidad is along fairly flat roads.

CLIMATE - The Beni region of Bolivia has a tropical monsoon climate. During rainy season from October to May, conditions are hot, very humid, and rainy. Some roads can be impassable. Dry season frm June to September is somewhat cooler and has significantly less rainfall.

BIRD ACTIVITY - Most birds breed in the Beni region during November to April in the midst of rainy season. The nesting season of Blue-throated Macaws is mainly from October to March, but the birds can be seen during dry season. Forest birds are generally very active throughout the dry season.

PHOTOGRAPHY - Getting photos of birds during this tour is opportunistic.

DAY 1 - FLIGHT & RIBERALDA

We'll take a very early domestic flight from La Paz to Riberalta, which is located in far northern Bolivia not far from the border with Brazil. The flight arrives in mid morning. Upon arrival we'll immediately go birding. Our primary target species is Masked Antpitta, which is best found near the small town of Marigüal, located an hour or so west of Riberalta. This species occupies riverine habitat of Varzea forest in a very restricted area of northern Bolivia. If the guide has a bird staked out. we should be able to find the bird in a couple hours. Otherwise, it will take some effort. After a hopefully successful excursion to see the antpitta followed by lunch, we'll drive east a half hour to the San Lorenzo pampas area.This dry cerrado region is a unique mix of tropical savanna, forest patches, and seasonally flooded plains. It's home to several range-restricted birds. We'll have the afternoon and early evening to look for Sharp-tailed Tyrant, Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant, Cock-tailed Tyrant, Dark-throated Seedeater, and Black-masked Finch. We should also see Greater Rhea, which regularly occurs there. Overnight at a hotel in Riberalta.

DAY 2 - RIBERALTA & TRINIDAD

If all went well the preceding day, we'll go north to bird tropical Amazonian rainforest at the Aquicuana Natural Reserve. This infrequently visited reserve offers a second and perhaps better chance of seeing Masked Antpitta if we just couldn't get it the day before. It also offers a chance of seeing the rare-to-uncommon near-endemic Red-necked Aracari, the uncommon near-endemic Large-billed Antwren, the fairly common near-endemic Dusky-green Oropendola, and the scarce and local near-endemic Black-and-tawny Seedeater. Many other more widely distributed species are likely to be seen as well. Around mid-day we'll return to Riberalta for lunch and a late afternoon flight to Trinidad. Overnight at a hotel in Trinidad.

DAY 3 - TRINIDAD

Today we'll drive south about 60km to a private reserve near the Beni town of Loreto to look for the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw at a private reserve near town. The best time to visit is nesting season from November to April during rainy season, but the birds are resident year-round. After returning to Trinidad and having lunch, we'll transfer to the airport. Tour ends there. Outgoing flight can be to La Paz or Santa Cruz, depending on your other tour and travel arrangements.

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