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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lima
Transfer to hotel. Night in Lima.

Day 2: Transfer to Muyuna Lodge
We fly to Iquitos, and then transfer to marvelous Muyuna Lodge on the Amazon, a three-hour boat ride. We have four nights at Muyuna where we access a variety of lowland Amazonian habitats, including flooded forest, lakes and river islands. Each habitat supports different species and we make sure we cover the full range during our time here. From our boat along the Amazon, we should see Snowy, Cattle and Great Egrets, Black and Greater Yellow-headed Vultures, kingfishers, and Yellow-hooded Blackbird. Night at Muyuna Lodge.

Days 3 - 5: Muyuna Lodge
The Peruvian Amazon boasts a huge list of species, and we will amass a very impressive tally of neotropical goodies. Trails around the lodge could produce Wire-tailed and Blue-crowned Manakins, Black-tailed and White-tailed Trogons, Curl-crested and Chestnut-eared Aracaris, and Bluish-fronted Jacamar. Principal targets include the endemic Black-tailed Antbird and Plum-throated Cotinga. Aquatic habitats around the lodge support Sunbittern, Hoatzin, Gray-necked Wood-rail, crakes, Black-capped Donacobius, and Wattled Jacana. Cuvier’s Toucan and Festive Parrot call from the upper canopy, and Plumbeous and Snail Kites, Black-collared Hawk and Lined Forest-Falcon are among the raptors that occur here. We may see one of the most amazing wonders of nature – the pink river dolphins! Overnights at Muyuna Lodge.

Day 6: Muyuna Lodge to Iquitos
We have the morning at Muyuna Lodge before we travel back to Iquitos. Night in Iquitos.

Day 7: Allpahuayo – Mishana
We spend a full day in the Allpahuayo-Mishana area searching specifically for endemics, including recently discovered species only known from the area such as Iquitos Gnatcatcher and Ancient Antwren. The newly created Allpahuayo-Mishana Reserve Zone protects the greatest concentration of White Sand Forest in the entire Peruvian Amazon, which we explore thoroughly today. White Sand Forests are a unique ecosystem where extremely poor soil has been constantly leached by rain for millions of years, resulting in a unique and impressive biodiversity with rare endemics. This is the home of Pompadour Cotinga, Allpahuayo Antbird, Mishana Tyrannulet, Northern Chestnut-tailed Antbird, Orange-crowned and White-crowned Manakins, Sulphur-crested Tyrant-Manakin, Cinnamon-crested Spadebill, Zimmer’s Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Antbird, White-throated Antbird, Great and Paradise Jacamars, Pied Puffbird, and Gilded Barbet and the impressive Black-necked Red Cotinga. We have a chance to hear or even see the rare White-winged and Rufous Potoos. We also look for ant-following specialists such as White-plumed and White-banded Antbirds, Black-faced Antthrush, and Black-spotted and Reddish-winged Bare-Eyes. Later in the day we fly back to Lima. Night in Lima.

Day 8: Pomac and Chaparri
Today, we drive to Chiclayo, and on arrival depart for the reserve of Bosque de Pomac where we come to grips with several common Tumbesian endemics along with the threatened Peruvian Plantcutter and Rufous Flycatcher. Bosque de Pomac is a reserve of about 6000 ha that protects archeological sites such as Batán Grande, and in so doing has also saved a considerable amount of Prosopis (Mesquite) woodland. Species that occur here include Necklaced Spinetail, Superciliated Wren, Cinereous Finch, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Gray-and-White Tyrannulet, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Tumbes Tyrannulet (split from Mouse-colored Tyrannulet), Pacific Hornero, Baird´s Flycatcher, Fasciated Wren, Long-tailed Mockingbird and Saffron Finch. Other interesting birds include White-edge Oriole and Collared Antshrike, while the cliffs nearby hold Black-faced Ibis and riverside vegetation is home to Tumbes Swallow. We then move on to the Chaparrí Ecological Reserve, stopping en route at Puerto Eten for wetland species such as White-tufted Grebe, Many-coloured Rush-tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, Chilean Flamingo, Peruvian Tern, and waterfowl, and along the beach for boobies, pelicans, skuas and maybe Waved Albatross. Night in Chaparrí.

Day 9: Chaparrí Reserve
We spend the morning in and around Chaparri Reserve. The community of Santa Catalina de Chongoyape has declared 34,000 hectares of its land as “Chaparri Ecological Reserve”. In the dry forest we look for those “Tumbesian” specialties that we have not yet found, such as the rare and local Tumbes Tyrant, one of the most attractive of New World flycatchers, and the handsome Maranon Crescentchest. In the afternoon we should encounter White-winged Guans. Discovered in the dry northwest of Peru in 1876 and presumed extinct for a century thereafter, this endangered guan was rediscovered in 1977 and occurs in only a handful of wooded valleys in the west Andean foothills. Dry deciduous forests in the reserve have been the site of a successful reintroduction program for this endangered cracid. Many other birds inhabiting these woodlands are confined to semi-arid habitats in northwestern Peru and southwest Ecuador such as Red-masked Parakeet and White-headed Brush-Finch. Large woodpeckers such as Lineated and Guayaquil are possible, as are Andean Tinamou, Short-tailed Woodstar, Tumbes Hummingbird, Elegant Crescentchest, Tumbes Pewee (split from Tropical), Sooty –crowned Flycatchers, Tropical Gnatcatcher (the western, white-faced form), the superb White-tailed Jay along with Tumbes Sparrow and Collared Warbling-Finch. Cryptic species include Peruvian Thick-knee. Night in Tucume.

Day 10: To Jaen
After an early start today, we drive towards Jaen, birding en route in the deciduous forests of the western Andes near the Abra Porculla pass. The drive takes us to 2100 m elevation before we descend to the warm Marañòn Valley, so make sure you have a sweater or jacket handy. After we arrive and check into the hotel, we bird some areas nearby. The Porculla Pass is home to the endemic and hard-to-find Piura Chat-Tyrant, and also for Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaners, Chapman’s Antshrike, Three-banded Warbler, Black-cowled Saltator, and White-winged and Bay-crowned Brush-Finches. Open country birds include Harris’s Hawk and Northern Crested-Caracara. We also stop at “km 70” about an hour before Jaen to look for Yellow-faced Parrotlet. Night in Jaen.

Day 11: Jaen – Abra Patricia
Today we go on to the famous Abra Patricia area, located in one of the loveliest areas of Peru’s northern Andes, for the next two days. En route we look for several Marañón endemics and other goodies such as Little Inca Finch, Purple-throated Sunangel, Three-striped and Russet-crowned Warblers, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, Sierran Elaenia, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Smoke-colored Pewee, flowerpiercers, and Green-throated, Silver-backed and Blue-capped Tanagers. Near the village of Pomacochas we spend time in search of the Marvelous Spatuletail. The male is perhaps the world’s most spectacular hummingbird, with long tail feathers curved back around the body and ending in “spatulas”. This amazing hummingbird is confined to the humid montane forests on the west slope of the eastern Andes; we hope to find a male of this legendary species, although a female or young male would be quite welcome! Night in Abra Patricia area.

Day 12: Abra Patricia
This is a very bird-rich region; over 400 species have been recorded in this area. Stunted forests here, amidst awe-inspiring scenery, support the mysterious Long-whiskered Owlet, the little-known Ochre-fronted Antpitta, the stunning Royal Sunangel. and the highly localized Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Bar-winged Wood-Wren and the splendid White-capped Tanager. Multi-species flocks hold a multitude of tanagers including the endemic Yellow-scarfed Tanager, several bush-tanagers, mountain-tanagers, hemispinguses and flowerpiercers, along with antbirds, woodcreepers, fruiteaters, becards, flycatchers, vireos and warblers. Hummingbirds are well represented, with Bronzy Inca, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Chestnut-breasted Coronet and Long-tailed Sylph. Night in Abra Patricia area.

Day 13: Abra Patricia - Moyobamba
Today we continue birding the Abra Patricia area, driving down the road and arriving in Moyobamba in the afternoon. Further downslope from Abra Patricia, near the tiny settlement of Afluente, the road passes through beautiful upper tropical forests. Twenty years ago, the late Ted Parker first explored this region, locating yet another set of new and exciting birds. Among the most noteworthy specialties are the tiny Speckle-chested Piculet and the canopy-dwelling Ash-throated Antwren, until recently only known from outlying mountain ridges above Jesus del Monte (further east), but in 1999 this highly localized species was also found here. We have excellent chances of seeing Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Ecuadorian Piedtail, a lek-forming hummingbird here reaching the southernmost limit of its range. The endemic Huallaga (or Black-bellied) Tanager is fairly common and Yellow-throated and Ashy-throated Bush-Tanagers make their rounds in noisy family parties. At day’s end, our tanager list may include Orange-eared, Paradise, Green-and-gold, Spotted, Golden, Blue-necked, Bay-headed, White-winged and Magpie Tanagers, whilst with a bit of luck we will encounter the stunning Vermilion Tanager. Chestnut-breasted Wrens are also here, along with Black-billed Treehunter, Versicolored Barbet, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Gray-mantled Wren and the easily overlooked Equatorial Graytail, a warbler-like member of the Furnariidae here also at the southern extremity of its range. Other birds include various pigeons, parakeets and parrots, toucans, woodpeckers, woodcreepers, foliage-gleaners, antbirds, tyrannulets, euphonias, oropendolas and thrushes. Later we make a few stops in cleared areas for open country and second growth species such as Striated Heron, Roadside Hawk, Wattled Jacana, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Smooth-billed Ani, Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, Ringed Kingfisher, Brown-mandibled Aracari, Little Woodpecker, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Barred Antshrike, Yellow-cheeked Becard, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Black-capped Donacobius, Pale-breasted and Black-billed Thrushes, Crested Oropendola, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Blue-grey, Palm, Burnished-buff and Black-faced Tanagers, Grayish Saltator, Blue-black Grassquit, and Black-billed and Lesser Seed-Finches. Night in Moyobamba.

Day 14: Moyobamba - Tarapoto
This morning we bird the area around an isolated mountain that rises out of the river basin. North of the bustling town of Tarapoto the road ascends into a low range of forest-clad foothills. Fiery-capped Manakins buzz, Pavonine Quetzals hum, and Blackish Pewee and the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit are not uncommon here, and with luck we will also find Scaled Fruiteater. Among a multitude of other possibilities are Painted Parakeet, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, White-necked Jacobin, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Gould’s Jewelfront, Amazonian White-tailed and Collared Trogons, Striolated Puffbird, Gilded Barbet (split from Black-spotted), Golden-collared and Chestnut-tipped Toucanets, White-throated, Scale-breasted and Red-stained Woodpeckers, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Eastern Woodhaunter, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Rufous-winged Antwren, Black and Scale-backed Antbirds, White-lored Tyrannulet, several flycatchers, honeycreepers, dacnises, euphonias, tanagers and saltators. We drive on to Tarapoto for lunch and an afternoon trip to the dry forest south of Tarapoto. Here we could find the isolated huallagae race of Northern (or Guianan) Slaty Antshrike, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Speckled Chachalaca, Blue Ground-Dove, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Blue-crowned Trogon, Blue-crowned Motmot, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Chestnut-eared and Lettered Aracaris, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Stripe-chested Antwren, White-browed Antbird, Flammulated Pygmy-Tyrant, Olive-faced (split from Yellow-breasted), Boat-billed and Piratic Flycatchers, Buff-breasted Wren, Hauxwell’s Thrush, Dusky-capped Greenlet, Tropical Gnatcatcher and Red-eyed Vireo. Night near Tarapoto.

Day 15: Pumarinri
We spend the day close to our lodge along the Huallaga River where we look for Wattled Guan, Black-fronted Nunbird, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, White-browed Purpletuft, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Blue-headed Parrot, Pale-vented Pigeon, Yellow-headed Caracara, Violaceous, Blue-crowned and White-tailed Trogons, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Uniform and Mouse-colored Antshrikes, Fiery-capped Manakin, Flammulated Tody-Tyrant, Silver-beaked Tanager, Slate-colored Grosbeak and Thrush-like Wren. Gardens around our lodge are home to several species of owls: Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Crested and Band-bellied Owls and Tropical and Tawny-belled Screech-Owls are all possible. Night near Tarapoto.

Day 16: Departure
After breakfast we catch flights to Lima where we should have some time to bird around Lima, before connecting with our international departures for home.

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What to Expect

Our accommodations range from good to basic but perfectly adequate. In the Tumbes region, weather will be variable. At low and middle elevations days are usually warm to hot, sunny and likely humid, although it can be cool and overcast. At higher altitudes conditions range from cool to cold, especially in the early morning. Rain can be expected at times. Layers and a windbreaker would be the solution in the mountains. At all altitudes, we should remember to have adequate protection from the sun. Walking effort is mostly moderate, with some optional harder walks including the hike to see the Marvelous Spatuletail. In the Amazonian lowlands, we begin birding before breakfast, followed by a slow-paced walk in the forest. After lunch we have some time for siesta or enjoy watching hummingbirds from a hammock with a cold drink in hand. In the late afternoon we venture again to the forest. On some occasions we will go spotlighting in the forest at night. Trails may be muddy; waterproof hiking boots are recommended, with rubber boots being optional. In the evening, we enjoy good meals provided by the various lodges’ dining facility, at the hotel restaurant, or a local place selected for its good food and fine local charm. At this time we discuss the day’s activities and review the list of birds and wildlife we have encountered. We outline the events for the next day, in preparation for another round of excitement and discovery.