Bolivia

There are plenty of reasons to visit this tropical paradise: snow-covered peaks of the Andes, Yungas cloudforest lining the slopes, deep canyons and remote villages seeming frozen in time. Nature is wild and abundant, and the general infrastructure is more than adequate for birders of all kind. From the thriving city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where we’ll bird the tropical grounds of the botanical gardens and Lomas de Arena Park, we head for pampas grasslands, marshes, Chiquitano woods and dry forest which hold numerous species such as Red-legged Seriema, Whistling Heron, Spectacled Tyrant, Striped Cuckoo, Mato Grosso Antbird and Troupial. We then leave for the mountains of Amboró National Park where we look for Golden-collared and Military Macaws, Bolivian Tapaculo, Yungas Manakin and many others. The inter Andean Valleys are home to several endemics such as Cliff Parakeet, Bolivian Earthcreeper, Bolivian Blackbird and the endangered Red-fronted Macaw. Continuing west towards Cochabamba we'll explore “Polylepis” woodlands and high Andean habitats, where Bolivian Warbling-Finch, Giant Conebill, Rufous-bellied Saltator, Tawny Tit-Spinetail and Maquis Canastero can be found. More Yungas cloudforest on the way to the “Chapare” support Hooded Mountain-Toucan, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and finally back to Santa Cruz de la Sierra. We then head to the Altiplano at La Paz, up to 4000 m in elevation. Birding Lake Titikaka and the valleys near Sorata, we encounter a totally new set of wildlife species: the very special and flightless Short-winged Grebe, Giant Coot, Puna Ibis, Black Siskin and two endemics: Berlepsch’s Canastero and Black-hooded Sunbeam.

Highlights
• A marvelous survey tour of the surprisingly diverse habitats of Bolivia, with lots of interesting and quite spectacular species.
• A delightful tour in a friendly and comfortable country!
 

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrival in Santa Cruz
Our tour starts in the old colonial but fast-growing town of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, otherwise known as Santa Cruz. After settling into our hotel, we will visit the Botanical Gardens for our first introduction to Chaco birds, among them Blue-winged Parrotlets, several parakeets, Red-billed Scythebill, Mato Grosso Antbird, Bolivian Slaty-Antshrike and Fawn-breasted Wren.. Overnight Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Day 2 - Santa Cruz and transfer to Los Volcanes National Park
We spend the morning at the Viru Viru Airport, where we should find Greater Rhea along with other open country species such as Red-winged Tinamou, Red-legged Seriema, Long-winged Harrier, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Misto Yellow-Finch, Black-faced Tanager, Masked Yellowthroat, Tawny-bellied Seedeater and the rare Rufous-rumped Seedeater.. We then drive to Los Volcanes National Park, arriving in time for late afternoon birding. Overnight Los Volcanes.

Day 3 - Los Volcanes and Amboro National Park vicinity.
Tucked away in a deep valley, Los Volcanes offers spectacular views of sandstone rock
cliffs as well as the tropical forests which surround the Sanctuary. Possibilities include Military Macaw, Mitred and Green-cheeked Parakeet, Scaly-headed and Red-billed Parrots, Large-tailed Dove, Buff-bellied Hermit, Slender-tailed Woodstar, Ocellated Piculet, Spot-backed Puffbird, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Black-capped Antwren, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Slaty Gnateater, Purplish and Plush-crested jays, Moustached Wren, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Black-goggled and Orange-headed Tanagers, Two-banded
Warbler and Dusky-green Oropendola. Overnight Los Volcanes.

Day 4 – Transfer to Samaipata and Tambo
We leave Los Volcanes and drive into the Andean foothills, looking for Variable Hawk, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, King Vulture or possibly Andean Condor. A stop at a crater lake may turn up Masked Duck. We arrive at our hotel in Tambo in late afternoon. Overnight Tambo

Day 5 – Inter-Andean Valleys
The Inter-Andean Valleys surrounding Tambo support several Bolivian endemics and specialties, including Red-fronted Macaw, Cliff Parakeet, Blue-crowned and Grey-hooded Parakeets, Glittering-throated Emerald, White-bellied Hummingbird, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, White-fronted Woodpecker, Bolivian Earthcreeper, Olive-crowned Crescentchest, Cliff Flycatcher, Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Bolivian Blackbird and White-tipped Plantcutter. Overnight Tambo

Day 6. Sierra de Siberia
We have a full day birding in cloud forest habitats of Sierra La Siberia, at 2800 m. Climbing the Andes we will find tracts of Montane and Elfin forest, which we will search for specialties such as Black-winged and Scaly-naped Parrots, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Blue-capped Puffleg, Crested Quetzal, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-faced Antpitta, Buff-browed Foliagegleaner, Pearled Treerunner, Light-crowned Spinetail, Trilling Tapaculo, Hazel-fronted Pygmy-Tyrant, Rufous-bellied Bush-
Tyrant, Plumbeous Tyrant, Slaty-backed and Rufous-chested Chat-Tyrants, Highland and Sierran Elaenias, White-throated and Tawny-rumped Tyrannulets, Red-crested Cotinga, Crested Becard, Band-tailed and Barred Fruiteaters, White-browed Conebill, Masked and Moustached Flowerpiercers, Blue-winged and Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanagers, Bolivian Brush-Finch, Spectacled and Brown-capped Whitestarts. Overnight Tambo

Day 7. La Siberia and transfer to Cochabamba
We spend the morning at La Siberia, looking for species not yet located, after which we drive west towards Cochabamba birding on the way. The road climbs slowly to 3900 mts, and then descends to 2600 mts in town, where we arrive in the afternoon. Overnight Cochabamba

Day 8 – Cochabamba area
Today we visit the Cerro Tunari Yungas highlands above Cochabamba, and later we bird the Laguna Alalay and city surroundings. Possibilities include Andean Condor, Mountain Caracara, Grey-hooded Parakeet, Giant Hummingbird, Red-tailed Comet, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Cream-winged Cinclodes, Brown-capped and Tawny Tit-Spinetails, Cordilleran and Maquis Canasteros, Rufous-webbed Tyrant, Cinereous and Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant, White-browed Chat-Tyrant, Brown-capped Whitestart, Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer, Cinereous Conebill, Giant Conebill, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Black-hooded, Ash-breasted and Plumbeous Sierra-Finches, Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch, Cochabamba Mountain-Finch, Golden-billed and Rufous-bellied Saltators, and Bolivian Blackbird. Overnight Cochabamba

Day 9 – Quillacola Road and San Miguel Polylepis Forest
Today we visit the rare Polylepis forests of Cochabamba. We bird en route to puna habitat high in the mountains. Possible birds are Rufous-bellied Saltator, Giant Hummingbird, Red-tailed Comet, Andean Flicker, Maquis Canastero, Giant Conebill, Wedge-tailed Hillstar, Cochabamba and Bolivian Mountain-Finches, Short-tailed Finch, Gray-bellied Flowerpiercer, Thick-billed Siskin and Bolivian Blackbird. Overnight Cochabamba

Day 10 - El Chapare
We have a day trip towards El Chapare, birding cloud forest habitats at different elevations. This will be another rich and diverse day, as we search for Andean Guan, Blue-banded Toucanet, Hooded Mountain-Toucan, Versicolored Barbet, Red-crested and Chestnut-crested Cotingas, Masked Trogon, Golden-crested Quetzal, Black-throated Thistletail, White-throated Antpitta, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Yungas Manakin, Spectacled Whitestart, Hooded, Blue-winged and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanagers, Blue-and-black, Saffron-crowned, Straw-backed, Slaty and Blue-capped Tanagers, and Common Bush-Tanager. Overnight Cochabamba.

Day 11 – Transfer to La Paz
After breakfast we briefly visit the oilbird caves at Carrasco National Park. Then we return to our hotel, pack up and drive to La Paz, with a small detour to Lake Oruro and a stop at Villa Villa dam on the way to search for Chilean, Andean and Puna Flamingoes and Puna Plover. Overnight La Paz.

Day 12 - Lake Titikaka and the Altiplano
We have a day excursion to Lake Titikaka and the Altiplano. Species we may encounter include Short-winged Grebe, Puna Ibis, Crested Duck, Speckled, Puna and Cinnamon Teals, Ruddy Duck, Andean Coot, Giant Coot, Andean Lapwing, Andean Gull, Andean Flicker, Common, Slender-billed and Rufous-banded Miners, D’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant, Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, Andean Negrito, Andean Swallow, Peruvian, Plumbeous, Ash-breasted and Band-tailed Sierra-Finches and Black Siskin. Overnight La Paz

Day 13 - Chuspipata and old road to Coroico (Montane and yungas cloudforest)
We spend the day in montane and yungas cloudforest at Chuspipata and the old road to Coroico, returning to La Paz in the evening. Another suite of species awaits us: Great Sapphirewing, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Hooded Mountain-Toucan, Diademed Tapaculo, Black-throated Thistletail (endemic), Sierran Elaenia, White-throated and Torrent Tyrannulets, Rufous-bellied Bush-Tyrant, Barred Becard, Yungas Manakin, Andean Solitaire, Citrine Warbler, Spectacled and Slate-throated Whitestarts, Blue-backed Conebill, Chestnut-bellied, Scarlet-bellied, Blue-winged and Hooded Mountain-Tanagers, Rust-and-yellow, Fawn-breasted, Blue-capped, Blue-and-black, Saffron-crowned, Beryl-spangled and Golden-collared Tanagers, Orange-browed Hemispingus, Bolivian Brush-Finch and Mountain Cacique.
In the afternoon on our way back to La Paz, we hope to find Short-tailed Finch, Streak-throated and Scribble-tailed Canastero, Olivaceous and Blue-mantled Thornbill in the Upper Coroico road. Overnight La Paz

Day 14 – Mecapaca and drive to Samaja
In the morning we visit Mecapaca for some of the following: White-bellied Tyrannulet, Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail, Bolivian (endemic) and Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch, Brown-backed Mockingbird and White-tipped Plantcutter, Rock Earthcreeper, Bolivian Earthcreeper (endemic), and Bolivian Spinetail (rare endemic). After lunch at La Paz, we drive all afternoon to the village of Sajama perhaps staying at Tomarapi Ecolodge.

Day 15 – Sajama National Park
In the morning we will visit Sajama National Park searching for Golden-spotted Ground-Dove, Puna Tinamou, Black-hooded Sierra-Finch, Thick-billed Siskin, and vicuña, and the lagoons on the border with Chile, searching for Andean Avocet, Chilean Flamingo, Crested Duck, Giant Coot and Lesser Rhea. We return to La Paz in the afternoon

Day 16. Departure
Morning transfer to La Paz airport to fly home.
 

Featured Birds:
• White-tipped Plantcutter
• Red-fronted Macaw
• Berlepsch's Canastero
• Green-throated Tanager
• Mato Grosso Antbird
• Giant Conebill
• Black-hooded Sunbeam

 

Dates: July 31 - August 15, 2012.

Duration: 16 days 

Price: $4,975 USD/CAD, single supplement $420 USD/CAD

Tour Starts: Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Tour Ends: La Paz, Bolivia

What to Expect
• Many different habitats, visited at a relaxed pace
• Minimum of two nights in most areas
• Easy to moderate walking; some hill-climbing
• Mainly good/excellent accommodation, some basic accommodation
• Variable temperatures
• High altitude birding with an acclimation period at an intermediate altitude
• 2 leaders with 5 to 12 participants
 

Our daily travel schedules vary to account for weather, bird species and habitat. We will have some long days and early mornings, but they will be balanced with siestas, breaks, and early diners. In addition, there will be a few optional late evening expeditions in search of nocturnal birds for those interested. The tour involves generally easy walking and some hill climbing of up to an hour We will be visiting a variety of places and habitats, so one should be ready for the changes in climate. It is best to be prepared for everything from cold dry high altitude climates to the warm moist tropics. While there is always the possibility that during long walks we could get caught in some rain, we will try to avoid this. We will be birding some very high altitudes (4000 meters) during the day, but returning to lower areas each night. We will be staying in the most comfortable hotels that access to good birding sites provides, so the hotels will range from excellent city hotels to very good (wonderful locations) cottage hotels. Our stay at many of the hotels will be for at least two days, so there will be the opportunity for people to follow their own agenda, to relax, and to rest, if needed.
During dinner we usually discuss the day’s activities and review the list of birds seen and heard.