Bird Photography Tour to Northern Peru

Lima / Tarapoto

Morning flight to the city of Tarapoto. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel, where we will have lunch. Afternoon visit to Cordillera Escalera Reserve, looking to photograph for birds like Ivory- billed Aracari, Dotted Tanager, Carmiol’s Tanager, Golden Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Paradise Tanager, and more. Overnight
Overnight: Tarapoto
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Dinner

Tarapoto - Moyobamba

This morning we will drive for about 2 hours to the city of Moyobamba. After checking in at the hotel we will visit the Waqanki hummingbird feeders, where the usual visitors are Black-throated Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, White-chinned Sapphire, the fantastic Rufous-crested Coquette, and another 20 species. The forest around the feeders can also produce Tataupa Tinamou, Green-backed Trogon; mixed flocks of tanagers with Paradise, Black-bellied, Blue-necked, Guira, Golden, and many other tanagers; Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant and Mishana Tyrannulet are also possible. In the afternoon we will make a short hike to visit a lek of Band-tailed Manakin. Several species of tanagers are also possible in this area.
Overnight: Moyobamba
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Dinner

Moyobamba / Aguas Verdes / Abra Patricia

Early departure towards the mountains of Abra Patricia. We will make a couple of stops along the road to try to photograph the Andean-Cock-of-the-Rock. Another important stop along the road is the “Arena Blanca Reserve”, where the hummingbird feeders attract Reddish Hermit, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Black-throated Brilliant, Rufous-crested Coquette, Blue-tailed Emerald, Wire-crested Thorntail, Many-spotted Hummingbird, and another 15 more species of hummingbirds. The Tinamou feeders are usually visited by Cinereous and Little Tinamous, along with Rufous-breasted Woodquail and Orange billed Sparrow. Other interesting birds in the area are Huallaga (Black-bellied) Tanager, Northern Chestnut-tailed Antbird, Peruvian Antwarbler, Dark-breasted and Cinereous-breasted Spinetails, and flocks of Tanagers. Another important stop is before the town of El Afluente, a good spot to look for White-winged Tanager, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, the fantastic Andean Cock-of-the Rock, and a myriad of other tanagers, woodcreepers, antbirds, woodpeckers, flycatchers and more. We also will make a brief stop at La Llanteria hummingbird feeding station for Green Hermit, Booted Racket-tail, and Ecuadorian Piedtail. We will arrive to the Abra Patricia Owlet Lodge before it gets dark.
Overnight: Abra Patricia
Meals: Picnic breakfast, picnic lunch. Dinner

Abra Patricia

This morning we will try our chances at the antpitta feeding station, where the regular visitor is Chestnut Antpitta, a rare endemic bird of these mountains. Not far is the Rusty-tinged Antpitta feeding station, the only place where we will have some chances to see this secretive bird. Then we will walk the “Grallaria trail” that starts in the upper part of the lodge and goes down the hill for about two and a half hours. The trail goes through humid mountain forest where birds like Sharpe’s Wren, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Bicolored Antvireo, White-fronted Nunbird, Golden-headed Quetzal, are quite common. In the afternoon we can drive down the mountains for another chance to photograph the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.
Overnight: Abra Patricia
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Dinner

Abra Patricia

Morning walk the along the “Tino trail” looking for birds like Masked Trogon, Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Variable Antshrike, White-backed Fire-eye, and flocks of tanagers with Golden-naped, Beryl-spangled, Saffron-crowned and Flame-faced Tanagers. More difficult to find, but yet possible, are mammals like Yellow-tailed Wooly-Monkey, Kinkajou, and Andean Night-Monkey. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Abra Patricia
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Dinner

Huembo - Jaén

Morning at the hummingbird feeders again for more chances to get good pictures of the Marvelous Spatuletail. By mid-morning we will drive for about 4 hours to the town of Jaén. After a late lunch you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima.
Overnight: Huembo
Meals: Breakfast, lunch