“The Northern Kingdoms of Peru and its Endemic Birds”

Itinerary especially prepared by Doris Valencia for Wide World Nature Tours

This trip takes a transect from the Pacific coast to the Tarapoto lowlands, which offers excellent birding as well as an incredible combination of culture as we explore the northern kingdoms of Peru inhabited by the Moche, the Chimu and Chachapoya people.

Day 1:Lima to ChiclayoArrive in Lima and morning flight to the coastal city of  Chiclayo. On arrival transfer to selected hotel, rest of morning at leisure.  Afternoon visit of the Tumbas Reales of Sipan Museum for an introduction on the northern kingdoms of Peru. Overnight at Chiclayo.,

Day 2:Chiclayo to Chaparri Ecolodge
Morning drive to bird protected Algarrobo Woodlands  at Batan Grande/Bosque Pomac,  this area is good for Necklaced Spinetail, Peruvian Plantcutter, Supercilliaried Wren, Coastal Miner and others. Mid-afternoon arrival to Chaparri Ecolodge.

Day 3: Chaparri to Olmos
Morning  leisurely breakfast at lodge. We will spend our first morning hours watching several species of hummingbirds that gather by lodge dinning room to bathe in a close running stream, this may include Amazilia Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheartail, Little Woodstar and others. Rest of morning we spend birding at Chaparri Lodge Trails, we hope to see Tumbes Sparrow, White-headed Brush-Finch, White-tailed Jay, Piura Chat-tyrant as well as some mammals like White-tailed Deer and Coastal Fox.
Mid-afternoon drive to Olmos, selected stops will be made along the way where we hope to find Gray and Gold Warbler, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Gray and White Tyrannulet. Arrival to Olmos in the late afternoon and overnight at selected hotel.

Day 4:Olmos to Quebrada Limon
Early morning breakfast and drive to Quebrada Limon, we hope to find the recently re-discovered White-Winged Guan off into the canyons, other species we are likely to see are Elegant Crescentchest(endemic), Golden-olive Woodpecker, Henna-hooded Foliager-gleaner, Cinereous Finch(endemic) and others. Late afternoon drive back to Olmos, overnight at selected hotel.

Day 5: Olmos to Jaen
Morning drive to one of the lowest passes of the andes at Abra Porculla, selected stops will be made along the way, we may see Three-banded Warbler, Black-cowled Saltator, Andean Tinamou, Black and White Seedeater, Ecuatorian Piculet  and others. Mid-afternoon arrival to the small town of Jaen where we spend the night at selected hotel.

Day 6: Jaen to Marañon Valley
Early morning departure to bird the Marañon Valley with  highly endemic species this may include the gracile Marañon Crescentchest, Marañon Spinetail, Marañon Thrush, Yellow-cheeked Becard and several others. Mid-afternoon arrival to Pomacochas along the way we hope to find Little Inca Finch, we will spend some time checking somre rice fields on the way that may produce Paint-billed Crake and Spotted Rail. Then we continue on along the Utcubamba River with it rushing waters keeping our eyes wide open for Fascinated Tiger Herons and Torrent Ducks. Late afternoon arrival to la Florida and overnight at selected hotel.

Day 7 and 8: La Florida to Kuelap and Marvelous Spatuletail
After a recomforting breakfast we will dedicate part of the day to find probably the world´s most beautiful hummingbird the Marvelous Spatule-tail , we will visit a protected forest where this hummingbird is often seen, we may also explore the forest around Chachapoyas good for several species of hummingbirds, Versicolored Barbet, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Silver-backed and Straw-backed Tanagers, White-capped Tanager and others. We dedicate part of the day to explore the amazing site of Kuelap, built by the Chachapoya Indians, this settlement was built on the top of a hill to repel the attacks of the fearfull Incas. Overnight at la Florida.

Day 9: Abra Patricia

Morning breakfast drive to Abra Patricia Lodge, on arrival exploration of the extensive trail system around lodge excellent for several species of great birds like Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Lulu´s Tody Tyrant, Cinnamon-breasted Tody Tyrant and several others. We hope to bump into colorful tanager flocks that may have Blue-browed, Metallic-green, Straw-backed, White-capped Tanagers and others. The lodge clearing often has White-throated Screech Owl and Rufuos.banded Owl.We may try a night walk to try to find the mysterious rare endemic Long-wiskered Owlet. Overnight at Abra Patricia Lodge.

Day 10: Abra Patricia
Morning birding at Abra Patricia exploring site trails for more specialties that may include Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet, Scaled Fruiteater, Cock of the Rock, Barred Becard, Fine-barred Piculet and many more. Night birding should reward us with good views of Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, Cinnamon Screech Owl. Overnight at Abra Patricia Lodge.

Day 11: Abra Patricia to Tarapoto
Morning birding at Abra Patricia and then onto Puente Aguas Verdes down the road from Abra Patricia, around this area we are going to drive through beautiful upper tropical forest where a different set of new and exciting birds await for us as we explore excellent roadside habitat, birds may include Speckle-chested Piculet, Ecuatorian Piedtail, the endemic Huallaga Tanager, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Gray-mantled Wren, Red-billed Parrots, Blackish Antbird, Northern White-crowned Tapaculo and several others. Mid afternoon arrival to selected hotel at Tarapoto.

Day 12: Tarapoto to Lima
Our last birding day we shall visit an area of semi-deciduous woodland and xerophytic scrub south of Tarapoto, home to the isolated huallagae race of Northern Slaty Antshrike, other interesting birds we may find here include Speckled Chachalaca, Striped-chested Antwren, Tropical Gnatcatcher, White-bellied Pygmy Tyrant, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Blue-crowned Motmot, Blue Ground Dove. Night flight back to Lima and international connections.
End of services

Optional trips before or after Northern Peru

Peruvian Coast-Lima to Paracas

Cusco to Machu Picchu-Birds and Culture

Amazon Basin - Birds and Wildlife

Condors and Nazca Lines