 |
||
 |
||
|
12-day Peru Central HighwayLeader: Eduardo Ormaeche The Peru central highway trip is designed to travel along the central highway for 12 days looking for the greatest quantity of endemics and local specialists of the western and eastern slope of the Andes. For those people who are not able to travel for 16 days or prefer a budget alternative to our complete Central Peru Tour, this trip will be a great opportunity to explore the main birding spots of the central highway such as the Santa Eulalia road, Marcapomacocha, the Junin Lake, the Paty trail, and the Bosque Unchog forest looking for birds like the Great Inca-Finch and Rufuos-backed Inca-Finch, Andean Condor, Rufuos-breasted Warbling-Finch, Black-breasted Hillstar, Rufuos-bellied Seedsnipe, White-bellied Cinclodes, Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, Junin Grebe, Bay Antpitta, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, White-eared Solitaire, Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager, Rufuos-browed Hemispingus and more. Please note: We will reach high altitudes locations during this trip mostly between 2 500-3 500 but we will reach 4 500 meters at Marcapomacocha. We provide all the equipment for the camping nights including staff to help with the logistics such as cooking and setting up the campsite. Camping includes double or single accomodation in a tent with mattress, blankets, pillows, toilet tent, and dining room tent. We provide hot water and towels for a one’s morning ablutions. The distance between the campsite and the Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager site during our days in Bosque Unchog is one kilometer at 3 600 msm. As an alternative to the strenuous hike, we will provide medium-sized horses for those who will prefer to go slow on the horse led by local portiers. DETAILED ITINERARY 01. Day Arrival in Lima. Transfer to the Hotel. 02. Day We will have an early start to explore the famous Santa Eulalia Valley where we will look for the gorgeous Peruvian Sheartail, the diminutive Peruvian Pygmy-Owl and the endemics Black-necked Woodpecker, Rufuos-bellied Brush-Finch, Bronze-tailed Comet and the rare Rufuos-breasted Warbling-Finch. We should also view the Golden-bellied Grosbeak, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, White-browed Chat-Tyrant, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, Canyon Canastero, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Scrub Blackbird, and Long-tailed Mockingbird. We will focus on the river for a pair of Torrent Ducks and the White-capped Dipper. We will spend the night camping. 03. Day We will have an early start to wait for the majestic Andean Condor, the heaviest flying bird of the world. There is a good place near the campsite where we should have close up views of this magnificent bird. We will focus on looking for the Aplomado Falcon, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Andean Tinamou, White-winged Cinclodes, Variable hawk, Purple-collared Woodstar, Andean Swift, Collared Warbling-Finch, Hooded Siskin and Magellanic Horned Owl with a second opportunity to see the Rufuos-breasted Warbling-Finch. Night camping. 04. Day Just before dawn, we will head to the Milloc road stopping on the Andean lakes for waterfowls like Puna Teal, Speckled Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Duck, and also Silvery Grebe and Giant Coot. We will pass by a small patch of Polylepis forest which lies in the slope of the mountains at one side of the road. We will stop to see any species we may have missed during our stay in Huaraz. We will have second opportuntiy for the White-cheeked Cotinga. Near the 4 000 msm the habitat changes from arid shrub to bog cushions where it is possible to see the Gray-breasted Seedsnipe, Puna Snipe and the rare Puna Tinamou. We will reach the famous Marcapomacocha site where we will look for the legendary Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and the endemic White-bellied Cinclodes. Others birds include Olivaceous Thornbill, Andean Lapwing, the endemic Junin Canastero, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail and Black Siskin. Overnight in La Oroya. 05. Day Today we will head to Junin, an Andean town located near 4 000 msm elevation. Here, we will explore the famous Junin Lake in search of the endemic Junin Flightless Grebe probably one of the most threatened birds of the country. We will also look for the Correndera Pipit, Dark-winged, Common and Puna Miners, Plain-breasted Earthcreeper, Andean Ibises, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Cinereous Harrier, Junin Canastero, Andean Negrito and, if we are lucky, we may see a pair of Andean Avocets. Chilean Flamingos are usually found here as well. Later we will head to Huanuco. Overnight Grand Huanuco Hotel. 06-07Day Over these two days, we will drive an hour north ofHuanuco to reach the Carpish mountain pass. This area will provide a different and unique set of cloudforest birds such as the endemics Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Peruvian Wren, Masked Fruiteater, and Tschudi’s Tapaculo. We should have views of many colourful birds like Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Rufuos-chested Tanager, Plushcap, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Superciliaried Hemispingus, White-banded Tyrannulet, Long-tailed Antbird, Striped Treehunter, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Yellow-billed Cacique, Hooded Mountain, Lacrimose and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanagers. We will explore the Paty Trail looking for the localized Bay Antpitta and the elusive Brown Tinamou. Others birds here include Chestnut-breasted Wren, Azara’s Spinetail, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Yellow-billed Elaenia, Andean Tyrant, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Speckle-faced Parrot, Golden-headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Ocellated Piculet, Grass-green Tanager and more. Overnight in Huanuco. 08-10 Day We will drive above the mountains of Huanuco to explore the elfin and cloudforest near Cochabamba. Here, during the 70’s the Louisiana ornithologist team discovered new species to science like the endemics Pardusco and the amazing Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager. We will camp three nights in this area to find the seven endemic species of birds that occur around the famous Bosque Unchog. Besides the Pardusco and the Tanager we will also look for the rare Rufuos-browed Hemispingus, Bay-vented Cotinga, Rufuos Antpitta, Neblina Tapaculo and Coopery Metaltail. We should see Andean Snipe, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Andean Flicker, White-chinned Thistetail, White-browed Spinetail, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Many-striped Canastero, Line-fronted Canastero, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Black-and-white Seedeaters, Plain-breasted Hawk, White-collared Jay, White-throated Tyrannulet, and Swallow-tailed Nightjar. 11. Day This morning we will leave Bosque Unchog with a brief stop on the Cochabamba town to look for the endemic Brown-flanked Tanager. We will start our return to Lima by making a stop on La Oroya for an overnight. 12. Day After a predawn start, we will head below the Ticlio Pass, the highest mountain pass of the Peruvian Andes where we will have a another opportunity to look for the Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and Rufuos-bellied Seedsnipe. We should see Crested Ducks, Giant Coots and Andean Gulls around the area. Near the Casapalca mining village we will stop for the last endemic of the trip, the gorgeous Black-breasted Hillstar. We will arrive to Lima to connect to our international flights. Accomodations in Lima and Huanuco are in three stars hotel. Accomodation in La Oroya is at a good and adequate house with private bathroom and hot shower
THIS ITINERARY is easily combined with a special extension to the Yanachaga-Chemillen National Park looking for species like the Andean Cock-of-the Rock, Blue-headed Macaw, Creamy-bellied Antwren, Blue-banded Toucanet, Lanceolated Monklet, Versicolored Barbet and Cloudforest Screech-Owl. Please contact us for further details. |
Itinerary: Duration: 12 days Limit: 4-6 Date: TBA Start: Lima End: Lima Price: on request Price_Includes: Meals Accommodation Camping Equipment Portiers All transfers Entrance fees Guiding fees All transport while on tour Price_Excludes: International flights International Airport Taxes Personal Insurance Internet and Phone Service Alcoholic Beverages Gratuities Laundry Service Personal expenses such as gifts Activities out of shedule
|
|
© 2008-2010 Birding Ecotours · www.birdingecotours.co.za was updated March 2010 |
||