Itinerary
Day
1 - Arrival and Orientation
Our tour begins in the early evening in Caracas. Night near Caracas airport,
in the coastal town of Macuto.
Day 2 - Fly To Merida
After an early breakfast, we catch a plane to Merida. During the late afternoon,
after checking into our hotel in Merida, we spend the remainder of the day visiting
several nearby birding locations. Night in Merida.
Day 3 - The La Azulita Road
Today we bird the La Azulita road, travelling in the morning to the University
of the Andes Forest, while in the afternoon we visit the Green Chapel section
of the road. The University of the Andean Forest gives us an excellent introduction
to Andian birding. Some of the birds that we should see in this area include
the lovely Crested Quetzal, Streaked Tufted-cheek, Orange-throated Sunangel,
Chestnut-bellied Thrush, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, and many more. Some of the
rarer species here include White-rumped Hawk, Wattled Guan and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow,
although we need to be lucky to see these local species. Night in Merida.
Day 4 - Sierra Nevada National Park
We spend the day exploring the lower reaches of the Pico Humboldt Trail in Sierra
Nevada National Park. Here we watch for the endemic Merida Sunangel, White-fronted
Whitestart and Grey-capped Hemispingus. Many other wonderful species abound in
this superb tract of subtropical forest including such gems as Golden-bellied
Starfrontlet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Pearled Treerunner, Green-and-black Fruiteater,
Blue-and-black Tanager, and Slaty Brushfinch. If we are very fortunate, we may
glimpse one or two of the rarer denizens of the forest such as the endemic Grey-naped
Antpitta or the multicolored Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia. Night in Santo Domingo.
Day 5 - Santo Domingo
We spend most of the day birding the paramo region near Santo Domingo, where
we focus our attention birding the Laguna Macubaji and Pico de Aguila areas.
The beautiful paramo around Laguna Macubaji supports a distinctive group of high-altitude
bird species including the endemic Ochre-browed Thistletail and Merida Wren,
as well as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Bar-winged Cinclodes, Andean Tit-Spinetail
and Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant. Higher up at Pico de Aguila, we search for the
incomparable Bearded Helmetcrest. If time permits, we check a nearby rushing
stream for the “Torrent Trio” of Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper
and Torrent Tyrannulet. Night in Santo Domingo.
Day 6 - Santo Domingo Valley
We spend day 6 birding the lower Santo Domingo valley, especially the San Isidro
tunnel trail. This easy-to-walk trail plays host to some of the most exciting
birds in the Santo Domingo valley. Most notible is the only accessible lek of
the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock in Venezuela! The large mixed species flocks here
support a stunning array of tanagers, flycatchers and thrushes. Some of the special
birds that we hope to see include the Rose-headed Parakeet, Long-tailed Sylph,
Red-headed Barbet, Golden-winged Manakin, Andean Solitaire, Cliff Flycatcher
and the Blue-naped Chlorophonia. If luck is on our side, we may catch up with
the very localized Red-ruffed Fruitcrow or Orange-eared Tanager. Night in Barinas.
Days 7, 8 & 9 - The Llanos
We spend three full days exploring the llanos at the famous Hato El Cedral. This
area holds tremendous numbers of wetland species as well as several specialties
such as Dwarf Cuckoo, White-bearded Flycatcher and Pale-headed Jacamar. The sheer
numbers of Ibis, Herons and Whistling-Ducks are certainly impressive. During
our time in this region, we look for Jabiru and Maguari Stork, Horned Screamer,
Orinoco Goose, Black-collared Hawk, the spectacular Scarlet Macaw, white-headed
Marsh-Tyrant and Orinoco Saltator to name but a few. A night drive may even allow
a view of one of the cat species found in this private reserve. Two nights in
Hato El Cedral and one in Barinas.
Days 10 & 11 - Yacambu National Park
In the morning we drive through the andean foothills and coffee plantations en
route to Sanare. In the afternoon and during the following day we explore several
extraordinary birding sites in Yacambu National Park. Some of the key species
that we hope to encounter in the park include Caribbean Coot, Rusty-flanked Crake
and Tocuyo Sparrow, plus a good selection of tanagers, flycatchers and hummingbirds.
Nights in Sanare.
Day 12 - Barquisimeto
After an early breakfast, we drive to the xerophytic region near Barquisimeto
where we bird the dry scrub. In the afternoon we travel to our hotel where we
will have the opportunity for some late afternoon birding around the grounds
of the hotel. The dry forests and scrub around Barquisimeto support many interesting
species that are restricted to northwestern Venezuela and adjacent Columbia.
We look for such species as Buffy Hummingbird, Russet-throated Puffbird, White-whiskered
Spinetail and Slender-billed Tyrannulet. Around Maracay we watch for Rufous-vented
Chachalaca, Tropical Screech Owl Burnished-buff Tanager and the beautiful Golden-winged
Sparrow. Night in Maracay.
Days 13 & 14 - Henri Pittier National Park
We spend the next two days birding this extraordinary location. During the first
day we concentrate on the area around the pass at the famous Rancho Grande. Easy
roadside birding here can produce a lengthy list of superb birds. White-tipped
Quetzal and Handsome Fruiteater are relatively easy to see here. Among a long
list of possibilities are the endemic Violet-chested Hummingbird, Guttulated
Foliage-gleaner, Venezuelan Bristle-Tyrant and Rufous-cheeked Tanager. Along
the forest trail inside the grounds of Rancho Grande we will be introduced to
the realms of such species as Black-faced Antthrush, Grey-throated Leaftosser
and White-striped Antvireo. Amongst the hard-to-see species inhabiting the forest
here we may be lucky to stumble across Helmeted Curassow, Scalloped Antthrush
or Plain-backed Antpitta.
The next day is spent birding the higher pass along the Choroni road. The forest
here supports the endemic Blood-eared Parakeet as well as Band-tailed Guan, Groove-billed
Toucanet, Golden-breasted Fruiteater and Black-capped, Beryl-spangled and Blue-winged
Mountain Tanagers. Lower on this road, the lush cloud-forest gives way to dry
woodland and scrub as we near the coast. The birds here are quite different and
we look for White-vented Plumeleteer, Wire-tailed and Lance-tailed Manakins,
Rufous-and-white Wren, Flavescent Warbler and Grey-headed Tanager. With luck,
we will see the local Fasciated Tiger-Heron on the stream which runs alongside
the road. Nearer the coast we look for the Black-backed Antshrike, Pearly-vented
Tody-Tyrant and Galucous Tanager and there is always a chance of the gorgeous
Rosy Thrush-Tanager. Offshore, we should observe Brown Booby, Brown Pelican and
Magnificent Frigatebird. Nights in Maracay.
Day 15 - Colonia Tovar
After an early breakfast drive to Colonia Tovar, we spend most of the day birding
the trails around Colonia Tovar. The forest around Colonia Tovar supports many
interesting montane species. We will be familiar with many of the species from
Henri Pittier but we hope to see several which are more common here than elsewhere
in the coastal cordillera. Some of these species that we look for include: Rufous-shafted
Woodstar, the endemic Black-throated Spinetail, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Ochre-breasted
Brushfinch and the Plushcap. Some of th harder-to-see species here include Black
Hawk-Eagle, Chestnut-crowned and Rusty-breasted Antpittas and the recently split
Caracas Tapaculo. In the late afternoon we drive back to Caracas. Night in Macuto.
Day 16 - Departure
The tour concludes in Macuto, near the Caracas airport, in the morning after
breakfast.
