We will arrive in Lima this the evening, staying at Hotel Costa del Sol overnight.  We will be in touch as the trip approaches with recommended flights from the U.S. You can expect our team to arrange your transfer from the Lima airport to our lodging.

We’ll rise early for an early flight to Tarapoto. Known as the city of palms, Tarapoto is located at an altitude of 353 meters (1,150 feet) above sea level. It has a cooler climate than other major cities in the Peruvian Amazon with a daily average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F). We start our birding with a visit to the Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area. There we explore part of the mountain range known as Cahuapayas, the youngest (geologically) range found in the Peruvian eastern Andes, and which has a decidedly cloud forest aspect.

After lunch at the restaurant El Mono y La Gata (where we can enjoy some more birds over lunch), we head to the Association for the Conservation of Birds and Biodiversity Koepcke's Hermit (ACONABIKH), located 25 km from the city of Tarapoto on the road to Yurimaguas. The reserve protects 40 hectares of rainforest and is between 700 and 900 meters above sea level). Among the many birds we’ll enjoy are Plumbeous Euphonia, Dotted Tanager, Koepcke’s Hermit, Rufous Potoo, Gould’s Jewelfront, Fiery-capped Manakin, Paradise Tanager and, if we’re lucky, White-plumed Antbird and Curl-crested Aracari (rare!). Koepcke’s Hermit, named for German ornthologist Maria Koepcke, is a Peruvian endemic found only in foothill forests along the eastern slope of the Andes.

Overnight in Tarapoto at the Hotel Cumbaza

Before heading to Waqanki, we visit the Ricuricocha lagoon where we spend the morning exploring this rich, seasonally-flooded habitat. The lagoon is very close to Tarapoto and attracts species characteristic of the Amazon Basin. The bizarre Comb Duck, and the even stranger Hoatzin, are a good possibility. An impressive number of rail species are also possible, including Russet-crowned Crake, Chestnut-headed Crake, Rufous-sided Crake, Grey-breasted Crake and Spotted Rail, not to mention the more conspicuous Purple Gallinule and Gray-cowled Wood-Rail.

Our ultimate destination today is Moyobamba and Waqanki Lodge, where we spend the next two nights. Moyobamba, known as the city of orchids, is located at an altitude of 860m (2,800 ft). It has one of the most pleasant climates in the entire Peruvian jungle, with an average temperature is 22°C  (72°F).  Waqanqi is a private family-run reserve in the Mayo Valley on the outskirts of Moyobamba. Waqanki provides access to a large variety of habitats, including excellent hill forest on outlying ridges, sandy-soil forests, and savannah/scrub. The lodge features a delightful orchid garden, trails, and a hummingbird garden with many flowering bushes, hummingbird feeders, and a three-story observation tower. Over 25 hummingbird species have been recorded here so far, including the diminutive and flamboyant Rufous-crested Coquette. Other birds we’ll seek out in this part of Peru include Black-bellied Tanager, Oilbird, Planalto Hermit, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Varzea Thrush (only described to science in 2012!), Rufescent Screech-Owl, Rufous Potoo, Ash-throated Antwren, Stripe-chested Antwren, Foothill Antwren, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant, Striped Manakin and Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher.

Overnight Waqanki Lodge

This morning we head to the Mishquiyaquillo Ravine (aka Quebrada Mishquiyacu) where we will spend the whole morning birding. The path is a bit steep, but accessible and very birdy. Some of the special birds we’ll be looking for include Ornate Antwren, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, Varzea Thrush, Red-shouldered Tanager, Speckle-chested Piculet and the recently described Painted Manakin. The endangered Ash-throated Antwren is also found here, but involves a very long and challenging hike to find it, so this might be an optional excursion for some avid hikers. On our way back to Waqanki we may stop at a local lagoon to observe Masked Duck.

After lunch at Waqanki, we head to Morro de Calzada (1430 m). Morro de Calzada is a fairly small reserve on an isolated hill above the flat plains around Moyobamba. The general area is composed of evergreen forest, open grasslands with scattered trees and second growth scrub. Morro de Calzada is a good location for difficult to find species, such as Great-billed Seedfinch, Stripe-necked, Pearly-vented, and Buff-throated Tody-Tyrants, Mishana Tyrannulet, Fiery-capped Manakin, Black-faced Tanager, Pale-breasted Thrush, and Red-shouldered Tanager. Cinereus-breasted Spinetail, Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant, and Wedge-tailed Grass Finch can be found at or near the top of Morro de Calzada.

Overnight Waqanki Lodge

First thing this morning we head to the Arena Blanca reserve, an area of ​​very humid tropical premontane forest. The reserve is a private conservation area in the town of Aguas Verdes. An observation platform here overlooks many flowering plants and hummingbird feeders, attracting Wire-crested Thorntail, Rufous-crested Coquette, White-bellied Woodstar, Golden-tailed Sapphire and Black-throated Sunangel. And while we’re on the subject of hummingbirds, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Long-billed Starthroat, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Black-throated Brilliant and Sapphire-spangled Emerald are also possibilities! If, and when, we’ve had our fill of hummers, the fruit and seed feeders attract Magpie Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail and Little Tinamou.

Later in the afternoon, we arrive at the Owlet Lodge, a spacious lodge owned by ECOAN (Association of Andean Ecosystems), located within the Abra Patricia Private Reserve (2,300 m). Once we check into our rooms we can enjoy the action at the hummingbird feeders until dinner time.

Overnight Owlet Lodge

This morning we explore the wonderful trails of Abra Patricia. The Abra Patricia Reserve spans over 25,000 acres of cloud forests in the Amazonas department of northern Peru. The area’s bird list includes over 300 species including many endemic to Peru, 23 of which are considered globally threatened. Abra Patricia is designated as an Alliance for Zero Extinction site, due to the presence of the Long-whiskered Owlet and Ochre-fronted Antpitta – both species classified as endangered. Other rare, threatened birds include the Royal Sunangel, Johnson’s Tody-Tyrant, and Ochre-breasted Tody-Tyrant. Several songbirds that breed in North America such as Swainson’s Thrush, Blackburnian Warbler, and Cerulean Warbler winter in the forests here as well. Abra Patricia is also home to the Critically Endangered Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey and a diversity of other wildlife and rare orchids.

Abra Patricia Reserve is managed by the Peruvian conservation organization Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN). American Bird Conservancy worked with ECOAN to establish this reserve in 2005, develop tourism infrastructure and expand the reserve since. Tourism profits are reinvested by ECOAN into reserve management and conservation projects.

After lunch at the Owlet Lodge, we hit the trails again and explore the roadside portions of the Alto Mayo Protection Forest. This extensive wooded presereve covers 182,000 hectares, providing invaluable protection for the local watershed. Night birding at Owlet Lodge is excellent, with Rufous-banded Owl, White-throated Screech-Owl, Andean and Common Potoos, and various nightjars and nighthawks also possible. Long-whiskered Owlets and Cinnamon Screech-Owls are regularly heard and seen during night walks guided by ECOAN staff.

Overnight Owlet Lodge

This morning we once again explore the trails at Abra Patricia. There are sure to be more avian delights to discover! Inca Flycatcher, Royal Sunangel, Ochre-fronted Antpitta, Rusty-tinged Antpitta, White-faced Nunbird, Red-hooded Tanager, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and White-capped Tanager are just a few of the possibilities.

Later in the day we head towards the Pomacochas Lagoon and our next lodging, located at 2,257 meters above sea level, in the humid montane forest of the high jungle. If time allows, we can search for Puna Snipe and Plumbeous Rail around Pomcochas.

Overnight Hotel Mirador del Puma

We’ll spend the morning on the rugged but accessible San Lorenzo trails, hiking approximately 3 to 4 hours between ascent and descent. Among the many birds we hope to see include the rare Pale-billed Antpitta, an odd looking, range restricted antpitta species of bamboo stands in the cloud forest. Rusty-tinged and Leymebamba Antpitta are also found here. We also hope to many other goodies including, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Coppery Metaltail, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Speckle-chested Piculet, Trilling and Large-footed Tapaculo, Russet-mantled Softtail, Inca Flycatcher, Johnson's Tody-Flycatcher, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant, White-collared Jay, Yellow-throated Tanager, Moustached and Black-throated Flowerpiercer.

After lunch we head to Huembo Lodge, where we dedicate all afternoon to observing the hummingbirds at the feeders of the lodge, including the spectacular Marvelous Spatuletail! Of course, there will be other notable hummers at the feeders to oogle, including Little Woodstar, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Violet-fronted Brilliant, and Bronzy Inca. In addition to the hummingbird show we may see Peruvian Pigeon, Andean Guan, Silvery Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Mitred Parakeet and the unbelievable Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. Undulated Antpitta is now habituated to worms and may come out on the trail for us to catch a glimpse.

Overnight Hotel Mirador del Puma

Today we bird our way to the city of Jaén, observing birds with frequent stops along the road and seeking out the specialities of the dry Marañon Valley. Marañon Thrush, Koepcke´s Screech-Owl, Black-necked Woodpecker, Little Woodstar, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Peruvian Wren, and Little Inca-Finch are all possibilities. Birding near Jaen after lunch, we’ll be on the look out for Marañon Crescentchest, Marañon Slaty-Antshrike and Chinchipe Spinetail. The area around Jaén offers several birding sites all promising for Marañon endemics and other species. Other special birds we may encounter include Peruvian Pigeon,  Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Necklaced Spinetail and Speckle-breasted Wren.

Overnight the Urqu hotel, Jaen

An early start this morning, as we head to the Yanahuanca Forest, a private reserve which protects endemic species of flora and fauna of the seasonally dry tropical forests of the Marañón-Chinchipe Valley. It is located 30 minutes away from Jaén, at a height between 810- 950 m (2,700 ft). A local family own this cactus-rich thorn forest and visitors are welcome to explore the trails (with prior permission). Some of the highlights include the endemic Spot-throated Hummingbird, the range-restricted Little Inca-Finch and the critically endangered and endemic Marañón Spinetail. More commonly seen are Fulvous-faced Scrub-Tyrant, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Pale-legged Hornero, Chinchipe Spinetail and Scrub Nightjar.

After lunch we’ll explore Abra Porculla, the lowest east-west pass in the Peruvian Andes at 2,150m (7,050 ft). At this elevation we’ll see a whole new suite of birds, Piura Chat-Tyrant, Ochre-bellied Dove, Black-cowled Saltator, Bare-faced Ground Dove and maybe Andean Condor if we’re lucky, or a Pale-browed Tinamou.

Overnight Hotel El Maracuya

This morning we head towards the Bosque de Pomac Historic Sanctuary, an important protected natural area (5,887 hectares) in the region. It contains the most extensive stands of carob forest in the world and hosts a variety of different habitats including Acacia forest and arid chaparral forest. Here we are in the heart of the Tumbesian endemic area! Birding Pomac will give us our first chance to find the endangered Peruvian Plantcutter, as well as other interesting species including Ecuadorian Piculet, Tumbes Chat-Tyrant, Short-tailed Field Tyrant, Snowy-throated Kingbird, and Tumbes Sparrow. Other birds of note include Short-tailed Woodstar, Tumbes Hummingbird, Amazilia Hummingbird, Oasis Hummingbird, Necklaced Spinetail, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Collared Antshrike, White-tailed Jay and White-edged Oriole, Tumbes Tyrant. With luck we’ll see the rare and local Tumbes Swallow, often observed flying above the forest of the reserve. Our challenge today will be to see how many species we can observe with Tumbes in its name!

After lunch in the city of Lambayeque, we head to the beach to explore coastal wetlands, sand dunes and the Pacific Ocean near Punta Eten. We’re sure to see some new birds for the trip, including Peruvian and Blue-footed Boobies, Chilean Flamingo, White-tufted Grebe, Wren-like Rushbird, and Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant.

Overnight Chaparri Lodge

The Chaparri Private Conservation Area was established by the local community of Santa Catalina de Chongoyape in 2000. The community established the reserve to protect their natural resources and to allow them to seek for sustainable alternatives to reduce poverty and improve standards of living in the area. The community embarked upon this integrated conservation development approach under their own initiative and with the support of a local conservation development organization, Asociacion Naymlap.

After breakfast at our lodge we explore the Chaparrí reserve. The endangered White-winged Guan, Tumbes Tyrant, Tumbes hummingbird, Tumbes swift, Elegant Crescentchest, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, White-headed Brush-Finch and Sulphur-throated Finch are just some of the birds we hope to observe. After lunch at the Lodge, we’ll bird the lower part of the reserve. If we have the energy, night birding walk along the main track may produce Scrub Nightjar, Pacific Pygmy-Owl and West Peruvian Screech-Owl.

Overnight Chaparri Lodge

This morning we head up in elevation from Chaparri, birding the Casupe road with breakfast on route. The cloud forest here hosts many species found only in northwestern Peru and southwestern Ecuador, including Guayaquil Woodpecker, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Piura Chat-Tyrant, Chapman's Antshrike, Black-cowled Saltator, Ecuadorian Trogon, Ecuadorian Piculet, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Gray-and-gold Warbler, Black-capped Sparrow and Elegant Crescentchest.

After lunch in the field, we continue to Bosque Rafan near the coast.  Bosque Rafan is one of the few remaining relics of the forest type that used to be typical of this region. It’s also a reliable location for the rare and endangered (and endemic!) Peruvian Plantcutter. We’ll likely see many new birds for the trip here, including Peruvian Sheartail, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Pacific Parrotlet, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Cinereous Finch, Gray-and-White Tyrannulet, Necklaced Spinetail, Superciliated Wren and Rufous Flycatcher. Rufous Flycatcher is atypical for the Myiarchus flycatcher genus (like Great Crested Flycatcher), being almost solidly rufous. It’s a beauty! A short stop along the coast may yield a variety of shorebirds, Peruvian Tern, Peruvian Booby, Peruvian Pelican, and Inca Tern (with some luck!). The adjacent fields may host Least Seedsnipe and Tawny-throated Dotterel.

Overnight Hotel Costa Del Sol Chiclayo

Today we take return flights to Lima with some birding possible in the morning, depending on flight times, then catch our international flights back home.