Birding in Northern Peru

Birding in Northern Peru

The trip take a small transect of the Peru’s Northern Tourist Corridor from the Pacific coast to the jungle lowlands in Tarapoto city.

Northern Peru Itinerary (2 to 7 paxs)

Destinations: Chiclayo, Chaparri, Olmos, Jaen, Abra Patricia, Moyobamba, Tarapoto..

Duration: 11 days.

The trip take a small transect of the Peru’s Northern Tourist Corridor from the Pacific coast to the jungle lowlands in Tarapoto city. In Lima city we include one important birding destination. The beauty of this trip is the combination of incredible landscapes, different habitats and the opportunity to see and enjoy a great diversity of wildlife and endemic species.

Day 1

Early flight from Lima to Chiclayo. Chiclayo is Peru’s fourth largest city, located at Km. 765 on the Pan-American Highway north of Lima. We start our birding adventure visiting a very interesting tropical deciduous forest: Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary, located at 31 Km from Chiclayo city, where we will be searching for Peruvian PlantcutterRufous Flycatcher, Tumbes Swallow, and Streak-headed Woodcreeper among other Tumbesian endemics. We continue on route to Chaparrí Eco-lodge (2 hours away from Chiclayo) a charming ecolodge constructed in traditional style using local’s materials as adobe and stone.

Overnight at Chaparri Eco-Lodge. BL

Day 2

We start our birding adventure visiting a very interesting bromeliad forest in the Casupe creek above Chaparri area. He we will search for the endemic and endangered White-winged Guan, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Black-capped Sparrow, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Elegant Crescentchest, Ecuadorian Piculet, among others can be found at this part of the area. After lunch we will visit areas outside the reserve, including a stop at the Tinajones Reservoir to search for Comb Ducks and Black-faced Ibis.

Peruvian Plantcutter @Jean Paul Perret

Day 3

Early breakfast to begin our search walking around the trail system in search of several bird species that inhabits this part of dry forests. This area is also very good for other Tumbesian birds as Sooty-crowned Flycatcher, White-tailed Jay, Tumbes Hummingbird, Baird´s Flycatcher, White-headed Brush-Finch and Elegant Crescentchest among others.
After Lunch we can visit Quebrada Limon, located in the dry forest close to the city of Olmos. This place is very good spot to look for Tumbes Tyrant, Tumbes hummingbird, Elegant Crescentchest, Ecuadorian Trogon, Whooping Motmot, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Ochre-bellied Dove, the endemic White-winged Guan among other birds.

Overnight at Hospedaje Villa Grande, Olmos. B, D.

Day 4

Early departure to Abra Porculla pass. This is the lowest pass of the Andes Mountains in Peru. Abra Porculla is located at 2145 meters above sea level and surrounded with more humid montane forest as we drive along. A set of interesting species can be found such as Piura Chat Tyrant, Chapman’s Antshrike, Gray Chinned Hermit (porculla race) and Black-cowled Saltator. After here we will drive to the town of Jaen, located at the edge of the Marañon Canyon. Late afternoon birding in Chamaya canyons searching for Little Inca Finch and Northern Slaty Antshrike.

Overnight at Hotel el Bosque. B.

Tumbes Tyrant @Jean Paul Perret

Day 5

Morning to explore the “Seminario Road” to search for Marañon Crescentchest, “Chinchipe” Spinetail and Northern Slaty Antshrike. Around mid morning we continue on route to Pedro Ruiz to look for Fasciated Tiger Heron and Marañon Spinetail. Lunch at Pedro Ruiz town. In the afternoon we continue our journey to Huembo to look for Marvelous Spatuletail and Little Woodstar. After this we will continue our journey eastwards towards Abra Patricia pass located in the eastern slope of the Andes.

Overnight at Abra Patricia Long-whiskered Owlet Biological Station. B, L, D.

Day 6

Early in the morning we will concentrate our search along the highway between Km. 364.5 and 373 looking for Lulu’s Tody-tyrant, Royal Sunangel, Bar-winged Wood-wren, White-capped Tanager and several others mountain tanagers. Then return to the Biological Station for lunch, located on the east slope of the Andes, very near to the Abra Patricia pass, where comprise steep slopes characterized by mid-montane cloud forest and a unique stunted ridge-top elfin forest as a part of the landscape is one of our highlights. We will spend the rest of the day working the station grounds searching for more Tanager mixed flocks and several Hummingbird species that come to the feeders. At night first attempt for the rare Long-whiskered Owlet that has been recorded in the grounds.

Overnight at Abra Patricia Long-whiskered Owlet Biological Station. B, L, D.

Chapman´s Antshrike @Jean Paul Perret

Day 7

We have the whole morning to explore the trail system in search of species such as White-capped Tanager, Rusty-tinged Antpitta, Rufous-vented Tapaculo, Inca Flycatcher and Lulu’s Tody Tyrant. In the afternoon we will drive into lower elevations around Afluentes to search species like Equatorial Graytail, Ecuadorian Piedtail and Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. After dinner another chance for the Owlet, Andean Potoo and White-throated Screech-Owl.

Overnight at Abra Patricia Long whiskered Owlet Biological Station. B, L, D.

Day 8

After breakfast we drive into lower elevations in search of other set of birds on route to Moyobamba. Some species that can be seen in these sections are Lanceolated Monklet, Speckle-chested Piculet, Huallaga Tanager and Russet Antshrike and with some luck we will be able to locate the endemic Ash-throated Antwren. Depending on time, we can visit the hummingbird feeders in Wakanqui area near Moyobamba town. About 18 species of hummingbirds can be seen in this great spot in a couple of hours. Some hummers include Rufous-crested Coquette and Black-throated Hermit.

Overnight in Wakanqui in Moyobamba. B, BL.

Booted Racket-Tail @Jean Paul Perret

Day 9

Early Morning we will try the trail in the upper area of Wakanqui forest for some specialties. After lunch we will visit several birding spots in the surroundings of Moyobamba town, this bird species includes Rusty-backed Antwren, Masked Duck and Wedge-tailed Seedfinch among others. After dinner we will try for some owl’s species, like Tropical –Screech Owl, Stygian Owl, Black-banded Owl and Band-bellied Owl.

Overnight in Wakanqui in Moyobamba. B, BL.

Day 10

Early morning we will try again some of the spots around Wakanqui area, for some missing species, before we began our journey to Tarapoto (2 hours by road). On route we will visit a few spots to look for Oilbirds and some other species along the road and rice fields. Afternoon at leisure.

Overnight at Hotel Tucan Suites in Tarapoto.

Long-tailed Sylph @Jean Paul Perret

Day 11

Today we have the first hours of the morning to explore Cerro “La Escalera” Reserve located at 30 minutes from the city. Here we will concentrate our search in some specialties like Plumbeous Euphonia, Dotted Tanager and Koepcke’s Hermit, after a few hours on this spectacular spot we will be visit the new Hummingbird station where we can add some more species like Black-throated Brilliant, Gould´s Jewelfront. After lunch we will head to the airport for our domestic Flight Tarapoto – Lima.

Prices Includes

  • Lodging in single rooms.
  • Meals as indicated.
  • Birding guide.
  • All transportation in private air conditioned van.
  • Entrance to reserves.

Prices does not include

  • Domestic Air fare.
  • Airport taxes.
  • Personal issues.
  • Alcoholic drinks and tips.

Price

2 PAX $5,237 per person, in double room
3 PAX $4,250 per person, in double room
4 PAX $3,530 per person, in double room
5 PAX $3,243 per person, in double room
6 PAX $2,930 per person, in double room

Important notes

Total costs don’t include domestic air tickets: Lima- Chiclayo and Tarapoto – Lima.

You can check current prices at: www.StarPeru.com and www.lan.com.pe (USD 150.00 – 300.00 per person.) Subject to change and can only be guaranteed upon ticketing

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Download program (PDF) Back to Birdwatching in Northern Peru

We'd see an incredible number of species (92 in 2 days), great photos and a wonderful time.

Oscar Dang

Amateur Wildlife Photographer -- California, USA / Melbourne, Australia

Our drivers were excellent as well the VANS. Our lunches were great too, one made by Guillermo´s wife!

Robin L. C. Leong (Life list close to 6,600 bird species)

Board member of the American Birding Association 2009 - 2018, Board member of Western Field Ornithologist 2021-present, Environmental Engineer – Vallejo, CA – USA

One of the highlights was the day we spent with Ecologistica Peru looking for birds around Lima.

Brian J Miller

Board Member of Orange Audubon Society, Co-Chair of the Audubon Chertok Nature Photo Contest, Retired Biology Teacher and Photographer - Orlando, FL

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