CHICLAYO-TARAPOTO TOUR

The reason for birding northern Peru is to see the numberous endemics and range-restricted birds not found anywere else. These birds combined with numerous more widely distributed species and stunning scenery make for a truly memorable tour. Featured birds on this tour include the poorly known and only recently observable Long-whiskered Owlet, found only around Abra Patricia and nearby Fundo Alto Nieva, the extraordinary Marvelous Spatuletail, perhaps the world's most astonishing hummingbird, and the stunning endemic Scarlet-banded Barbet along with the newly described Plataforma Antbird.

Our Chiclayo-Tarapoto tour follows the traditional northern Peru birding route and visits nearly all the important birding sites between Chiclayo in northwestern Peru and Tarapoto on the high jungle plateau of the northeastern Andes.The tour begins with a flight to Chiclayo and transfer to the Chaparri Ecological Reserve located to the east of that city. This site is the most important reserve protecting the dry forest of northwestern Peru and is home to several endemics. Next stop on the itinerary is the dry forest pre-Colombia archaeological site of Bosque de Pomac Historic Sanctuary, located about an hour north of Chiclayo, important for a couple endemics of that habitat. The following day we have a half-day drive to the northern city of Jaen. En route we'll be driving over the highland pass of Abra Porculla, where we'll spend some time seeking several target species there. The Jaen area will be our first opportunity to see some localized Marañon specialties. We'll have a morning birding that area before continuing on to the Abra Patricia area. During the transfer we'll stop near the Huembo Center at Pomacochas, where the incredible Marvelous Spatuletail typically comes to hummingbird feeders. We'll spend 3 days birding roadsides in the cloud forest around Abra Patricia. One night we'll use a local guide to take us to the most reliable site for seeing the recently discovered Long-whiskered Owlet. After a final morning of birding that area, we'll continue on to the Arena Blanca Ecological Reserve. An early morning visit to a blind there will afford us with views of 3 normally very secretive birds, Cinerous Tinamou, Little Tinamou, and Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail. After that we'll continue eastward to Moyobamba and Waqanki Ecolodge, best place to see the endemic Koepcke's Hermit. After a day birding there, we'll continue on to Tarapoto, stopping at the Quiscarumi Bridge to look down into a deep, narrow gorge where Oilbirds can be seen roosting and moving about. The following morning we'll transfer by 4x4 vehicla up a long, winding, sometimes rough gravel road to the end of the line at the village of Plataforma. We'll have the afternoon the and next morning to bird the sometimes steep, usually muddy tracks around the village looking for the recently described Scarlet-banded Barbet and Plataforma Antbird. After returning to Tarapoto, we'll have one last day to bird the Cordillera Escalera Conservation Area that protects Amazonian foothills and cloud forest along with the Aconabikh Center where hummingbird feeders and some hilly forest trails offer excellent birding. The tour ends with an early evening flight back to Lima that same evening.

Day 1 - Meals: None; Accommodation: LimaQ Hotel; Activity: Arrive in Lima.
Day 2 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Chaparri Ecolodge; Activity: Early morning flight to Chiclayo and transfer to Chaparri Reserve. Remainder of day in the reserve.
Day 3 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Chaparri Ecolodge; Activity: All day Chaparri Reserve.
Day 4 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in Chiclayo; Activity: Morning Casupe Road. Afternoon Bosque de Pomac Sanctuary north of Chiclayo.
Day 5 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in Jaen; Activity: Morning Abra Porculla near Limon. Afternoon Jaen area.
Day 6 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in El Progreso; Activity: Morning outside Jaen. Afternoon transfer toto Pomacochas area, stopping at Huembo Center for Marvelous Spatuletail. Continue on to El Progreso. Early evenng look for Long-whiskered Owlet.
Day 7 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Owlet Lodge; Activity: All day Abra Patricia area.
Day 8 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Owlet Lodge; Activity: All day Abra Patricia area.
Day 9 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Arena Blanca Ecological Reserve; Activity: Morning Abra Patricia area. Then transfer to Arena Blanca.
Day 10 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Waqanki Lodge; Activity: Early visit to blind at Arena Blanca. Transfer to Moyobamba with birding en route. Afternoon Waqanki Reserve.
Day 11 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in Tarapoto; Activity: Morning Waqanki Reserve. Afternoon transfer to Tarapoto with stop at Quiscarumi Bridge to view roosting Oilbirds.
Day 12 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: La Flor Cafe in Plataforma; Activity: Early transfer to Plataforma. Rest of day day Plataforma.
Day 13 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in Tarapoto; Activity: Morning Plataforma. Afternoon transfer to Tarapoto.
Day 14 - Meals: BL; Accommodation: None; Activity: Morning Cordillera Escalera ("The Tunnel"). Afternoon visit to Aconabikh Center. Return to Tarapoto in time for early evening flight to Lima. End of tour at airport in Lima. Overnight flight home.
Day 15 - Meals: None; Accommodation: None; Activity: Arrive home.

During the tour we'll be staying at moderately priced comfortable hotels plus reasonably comfortable ecolodges at Chaparri, Abra Patricia, Arena Blanca, and Waqanki. The guesthouse at Plataforma is quite basic with shared toilets down a fairly long hallway from the rooms. There is a shower at Plataforma as well, though it too is a rather basic. It's for one person at a time but adjacent to the shared toilets.

PACE - The pace of this tour is easy to moderate. It can be adjusted to the preferences and physical abilties of the participants.

DIFFICULTY - Much of the birding is along roadsides that can be a bit hilly. Some of the roads are main highways, such as at Abra Porculla, where traffic can be fairly heavy. Some birding is along trails that are more difficult through steep terrain, especially at Waqanki and Abra Patricia. The trail up to the main hummingbird feeders at Waqanki is fairly short but a bit steep. The site for Long-whiskered Owlet near the town of El Progreso is quite steep and muddy going downhill in the dark. Birding at Plataforma involves a very long transfer via 4x4 to reach the town and then a rather strenuous hike uphill along a wide 4x4 road to see the Scarlet-banded Barbet. Seeing additional target birds there involves additional hiking along muddy trails that require rubber boots or even bushwhacking.

INTERNAL FLIGHTS - An early flight about 7:00am from Lima to Chiclayo is necessary at the beginning of the tour. The return flight from Tarapoto to Lima can be adjusted according to the departure time of international flights home. The preferred flight is in early evening around 6:00pm. Reervations for these flights must be made by participants in coordination with the tour guide.

CLIMATE - The climate is geographically variable, with the western slope of the Andes quite arid while the eastern slope is more lush and forested. Dry season is from June to November and is the best time to visit. Heavy rains can result in flooding and road washouts during the wet season from December to May, especially in January and February.

BIRD ACTIVITY - The nesting season is mainly from August to November when bird activity is very good. In the northwest peak activity is from December to April. The best months for seeing Marvelous Spatuletail are from November to April. Even so, activity at hummingbird feeders is highest during dry season from May to November when fewer flowers are in bloom. The best activity is in early mornings during dry season. The best time to see Long-whiskered Owlet is from March through May when they are most active.

PHOTOGRAPHY - Bird photography is excellent around hummingbird feeders and in the arid northwest. Getting photos in the dense cloud forests around Abra Patricia is much more challenging.

DAY 1 - LIMA

Arrive at international airport in Lima and transfer to your hotel near the airport. Night at LimaQ Hotel.

DAY 2-3 - CHICLAYO & CHAPARRI

Morning flight to Chiclayo followed by transfer to Chaparri Reserve near Piura with some birding en route, arriving mid-day. Chaparri is a private reserve the arid region of northwestern Peru. The reserve protects a biodiverse dry forest in the Tumbesian region of Peru located 75 km. east of Chiclayo. The reserve was established to protect the endangered White-winged Guan, easily seen there, and Spectacled Bear, also commonly seen. Habitat is dry scrub and semi-deciduous forest. Some 39 species restricted to arid northwestern Peru and southeastern Ecuador, "Tumbesian endemics", are found in the reserve. A few are rare or only seasonally present, but most are resident and many are common or fairly common.

We'll devote the remainder of this day and the next day to birding at this site. Endemics expected there include Collared Antshrike, Marañ

;on Antshrike, Tumbes Chat-Tyrant, Rufous Flycatcher, Baird's Flycatcher, White-tailed Jay, Black-capped Sparrow, Marañn;on Sparrow, White-headed Brushfinch, and Sulphur-throated Finch. In slightly higher humid forest, the rare and quite shy Ochre-bellied Dove occurs. and there is a good chance of seeing this species as well. A variety of other specialties found only in northwestern Peru and southwestern Ecuador are present in the reserve, including Gray-chinned Hermit, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Chapman's Antshrike, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, and more.The area around the lodge features gardens and a pond that attract a variety of additional specialties such as Elegant Crescentchest, Necklaced Spinetail, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Gray-and-white Tyrannulet, and White-edged Oriole. Several species of hummingbirds regularly appear at the feeders near the lodge including Long-billed Starthroat, Peruvian Sheartail, Short-tailed Woodstar, Oasis Hummingbird, Tumbes Hummingbird, and Spot-throated Hummingbird. In early evening some owling could produce Peruvian Screech-Owl, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, and Striped Owl. Nights at Chaparri Ecolodge.DAY 4 - CASUPE ROAD & BOSQUE DE POMAC SANCTUARY

We'll depart early for some birding at higher elevation cloud forest along the Casupe-Tocmoche Road, about an hour's drive from Chaparri. This is a relatively unexplored birding site offering chances to see birds such as Ecuadorian Trogon, Ecuadorian Piculet, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Piura Chat-Tyrant, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Gray-and-gold Warbler, Black-cowled Saltator, and Black-capped Sparrow.

Late morning we'll drive to Chiclayo for lunch and then continue north for an hour to Bosque de Pomac Historic Sanctuary. Aside from the interesting ruins, the dry forest and scrub habitat at this site is excellent for a number of good birds. The primary target species are the endemic Peruvian Plantcutter, which can usually be found in dry scrub along the road, and Rufous Flycatcher. Of special interest is the very rare Tumbes Swallow, often seen flying above the Acacia forest in the reserve. Other interesting species here include Ecuadorian Piculet, Tumbes Chat-Tyrant, Short-tailed Field Tyrant, Snowy-throated Kingbird, and Tumbes Sparrow. Night at a hotel in Chiclayo.

DAY 5 - ABRA PORCULLA & JAEN

We'll depart early for the 2-hour drive up into the highlands, reaching the pass, Abra Porculla, by 7:30. We hope for clear weather but fog is always possible in the highlands. We'll be birding the "El Puente" area and a short trail off the main road at the pass in mainly cloud forest. The main target bird is the rather shy Piura Chat-Tyrant, found in shrub-filled gullies. We also hope to find the endemic White-winged Brushfinch. There is good birding at this site and other possibilities include Gray-chinned Hermit, Peruvian Sheartail, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Chapman's Antshrike, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Gray-browed Brushfinch, White-headed Brushfinch, Bay-crowned Brushfinch, Golden Grosbeak, and Black-cowled Saltator.

At mid-day we'll continue driving east to Jaen with a stop at a local restaurant for lunch en route. We'll arrive in late afternoon, in time to bird some arid foothills above the town. Birds there include Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Marañon Crescentchest, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Marañon Gnatcatcher, and Little Inca-Finch. Some early evening birding could yield Scrub Nightjar if not already seen at Chaparri. Night at hotel in Jaen.

DAY 6 - JAEN & ABRA PATRICIA

We'll depart early for some very xeric habitat outside Jaen. This area is the best place to find the rather scarce Little Inca-Finch. We'll also be looking for Marañon Antshrike, the uncommon Marañon Spinetail, Chinchipe Spinetail, and Marañon Sparrow. Also present are Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, a possible future split as Cordilleran Parakeet, Yellow-cheeked Becard, White-edged Oriole, Buff-bellied Tanager, and other more widely distributed species.

In late morning we'll depart for the Abra Patricia area. After a 3-hour drive plus a stop for lunch, we'll arrive at the Huembo Hummingbird Center. Our main target bird there is the spectacular Marvelous Spatuletail, which most recently has been visiting hummingbird feeders set up on a hillside across the road from the center entrance. Also typically present at those feeders are Sparkling Violetear, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, and Little Woodstar. After spending some time there, we'll continue on to the town of El Progreso, located near Abra Patricia.

One of our main target species in this area is the elusive and near mythical Long-whiskered Owlet. For many years this bird was rarely seen, but local knowledge has greatly improved our chances of seeing it. Most recently, the best place to see this species is a forested trail outside the nearby town of El Progeso, where a local guide will help us find it. The same site is also a good place to see Johnson's Tody-Flycatcher. Night at hotel in El Progreso.

DAY 7 - ABRA PATRICIA AREA

The habitat around Abra Patricia is pristine cloud forest and is home to numerous special birds. During the morning we'll bird roadsides in the area where we hope to find mixed species flocks comprised of species such as Common Chlorospingus, Rufous-crested Tanager, Oleaginous Hemispingus, Vermilion Tanager, a key target species, Lacrimose Mountain Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Yellow-throated Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, and Metallic-green Tanager, the scarce Blue-browed Tanager, another target species Saffron-crowned Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Capped Conebill, Masked Flowerpiercer, and Gray-hooded Bush Tanager. A nearby site is the best place to see the range-restricted stunning Royal Sunangel.

After lunch in town, we'll transfer to nearby Owlet Lodge. During the afternoon we'll do some birding around the lodge and view hummingbirds attracted to lodge feeders such as Green-fronted Lancebill, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Greenish Pufflet, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Mountain Velvetbreast, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and Chestnut-breasted Coronet. Night at Owlet Lodge.

DAY 8 - ABRA PATRICIA AREA

We'll spend this day birding the extensive trails around our lodge. We have a reasonable chance of seeing the localized endemic Ochre-fronted Antpitta, which has some individuals coming out for food, and possibly also the endemic Rusty-tinged Antpitta, Chestnut Antpitta, and the recently split Rufous-breasted Antpitta. Other special birds we'll target include Rufous-vented Tapaculo, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Johnson's Tody-Flycatcher, Golden-browed Chat-Tyrant, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Rufous-tailed Tyrant, Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Black-eared Hemispingus, and Yellow-scarfed Tanager. Other possibilities include Uniform Antshrike, Golden-headed Quetzal, Crested Quetzal, Streak-headed Antbird, Blackish Antbird, Spotted Barbtail, Ash-browed Spinetail, Rufous Spinetail, Golden-winged Manakin, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Scaled Fruiteater, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Sharpe's Wren, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Three-striped Warbler, Red-hooded Tanager, among many others. Night at Owlet Lodge.

DAY 9 - ABRA PATRICIA & ARENA BLANCA

We'll spend the morning birding around Abra Patricia looking for any species missed the previous day. After lunch we'll depart for Arena Blanca Ecological Reserve. about a two hour drive. The main attraction awaits us the following morning, but we have the afternoon to view the hummingbird and fruit feeders. The hummingbird feeders attract Green-fronted Lancebill, Brown Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Black-throated Mango, Wire-crested Thorntail, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Many-spotted Hummingbird, and Golden-tailed Sapphire while Blue-gray Tanager, Black-bellied Tanager, and possibly others come to the fruit feeder. There are also some trails through the forest at the reserve where a variety of birds can be found including Peruvian Warbling-Antbird, Zimmer's Antbird, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Fiery-capped Manakin, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and many others. Night at Arena Blanca.

DAY 10 - ARENA BLANCA & WAQANKI RESERVE

Very early this morning we'll enter the blind at Arena Blanca and wait for some very secretive species to appear. We should have very good views of Cinereous Tinamou, Little Tinamou, and Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail while in the blind. Afterwards, we'll spend a little time around the gardens where we should see White-tipped Sicklebill and Great-billed Hermit feeding on the flowers.

Mid-morning we'll depart for Moyobamba, stopping to bird some rice fields en route where a few widely distributed water birds are usually present. After lunch in town, we'll proceed to nearby Waqanki Reserve, where we'll spend some time viewing hummingbirds at the feeders. Our main target bird there is very localized Koepcke's Hermit. There are also three trails in the reserve that offer forest birding. Night at Waqanki Ecolodge.

DAY 11 - WAQANKI RESERVE & TRANSFER

We'll spend the morning birding trails around Waqanki Reserve, also known as Quebrada Mishquiyacu. Key target species in this forest reserve are the recently described Painted Manakin as well as the "San Martin" form of Mishana Tyrannulet, a likely future split. Other specials include Band-bellied Owl, Spot-tailed Nightjar, Fiery-capped Manakin, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Varzea Thrush, and Red-shouldered Tanager. Numerous other upper tropical zone species are also present, including Blue-crowned Trogon, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Tschudi's Woodcreeper, Plain-winged Antshrike, Stripe-chested Antwren, Foothill Stipplethroat, Ornate Stipplethroat, White-browed Antbird, Spot-winged Antbird, Wing-barred Piprites, Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Forest Elaenia, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher, Olive-faced Flatbill, Coraya Wren, Fulvous-crested Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Masked Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, and Buff-throated Saltator.

After lunch we'll transfer to Tarapoto, stopping at the Quiscarumi Bridge to look down into a deep, narrow, dark gorge to view roosting Oilbirds on the crevices and ledges of the gorge. We'll then continue on to Tarapoto for an overnight stay there. Night at a hotel in Tarapoto.

DAY 12 - TRANSFER & PLATAFORMA

Early this morning we'll transfer along a sometimes rough mountain road by 4x4 vehicle to Plataforma, the most accessible site in the world to see the highly localized endemic Scarlet-banded Barbet. The transfer takes about 3 hours even with the improved road conditions. The village of Plataforma is at the end of the road. We'll spend the rest of the day birding Plataforma area, which involves hiking up some steep and usually quite muddy tracks so rubber boots are advisable. The barbet is reliably seen at Plataforma but is not always easy to find. Also present is the recently discovered Plataforma Antbird, a second target species there. Other good species likely to be seen include Rose-fronted Parakeet, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Wire-crested Thorntail, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Short-tailed Antthrush, Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner, Gray-tailed Piha, Yungas Manakin, Foothill Schiffornis, Amazonian Umbrellabird, and Blue-browed Tanager. Early evening birding could well produce views of Foothill Screech-Owl near the town. Night at La Flor Cafe in Plataforma.

DAY 13 - PLATAFORMA & TARAPOTO

We'll have the morning to bird the Plataforma area again, seeking any species we may have missed the previous day. After lunch we'll transfer back to Tarapoto. Night at hotel in Tarapoto.

DAY 14 - CORDILLERA ESCALERA, ACONABIKH CENTER, & YURIMAGUAS

The Cordillera Escalera north of Tarapoto, also known as the Tarapoto Tunnel area, is an important lowland birding site north of Tarapoto featuring a mix of lowland and foothill species. Birding on either side of the 100m long tunnel is mainly along the road in remnant forest patches. The most desired target species is the seldom seen Dotted Tanager. This site is also one of the few places in Peru to see Plumbeous Euphonia from the lowlands. Other interesting species include the near-endemic Rose-fronted Parakeet, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, and Oriole Blackbird. Around mid-day we'll visit Aconabikh Center to view hummingbirds at the feeders. The main target species is Koepcke's Hermit, normally very difficult to find but lately coming to feeders there. Also present are Gould's Jewelfront and with some luck the scarce Black-throated Brilliant. There are forest trails at Aconabikh Center where Golden-headed Manakins display on a lek. If we encounter an army ant swarm, we have a good chance of seeing White-plumed Antbird and maybe even the seldom seen Hairy-crested Antbird. Also possible are Opal-rumped Tanager and Opal-crowned Tanager. From there we'll continue downslope toward the town of Yurimaguas, a gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. A number of lowland species are possible in that area, including Black-fronted Nunbird, White-eared Jacamar, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Riparian Antbird, Black-faced Antbird, and Paradise Tanager. In late afternoon we'll return to Tarapoto for an early evening flight to Lima in time to connect with international flights home. End of tour at Lima Airport.

DAY 15 - ARRIVAL HOME

Arrive home from overnight flight.

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