Day 1. Chiclayo-Chaparri. White-winged Guan and Tumbes Tyrant.
Either you have stayed in Chiclayo the previous night or just flown in the early morning. We drive straight to Rafan, which has shown to be a reliable site for Peruvian Plantcutter and Rufous Flycatcher. Other birds here include Cinereous Finch, Gray-and-White Tyrannulet, White-faced (Tropical) Gnatcatcher, Necklaced Spinetail, Superciliaried Wren, and Ammazilia Hummingbird. We shall also make a short stop on the coast to look for Peruvian Tern. Many Humboldt current birds will be seen here, such as Peruvian Booby, Peruvian Pelican, and Inca Tern. On the fields nearby, Least Seed-snipe is often seen and sometimes Tawny-throated Dotterel.
Before reaching Chaparri, we make a stop at the Tinajones reservoir. This is often a good spot for Great Grebe, Comb Duck, and the isolated population of Black-faced Ibis.
Chaparri has an excellent setting and prime birding with re-introduced White-winged Guan. Also Tumbes Tyrant, Tumbes Hummingbirds, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Black-crested Antshrike, Sulphur-throated Finch, White-headed Brush-Finch and others. At night search for Scrub Nightjar and Peruvian Screech-Owl. More rare are Buff-fronted Owl and Striped Owl. Night at Chaparri Lodge.
Day 2. Chaparri all day. White-tailed Jay and perhaps Spectacled Bear.
We spend a full day on the grounds of Chaparri and the hills above. Especially in November-December, this is worthwhile as it is the best time to find wild Spectacled Bear. If there have been recent sightings, we may opt for an up to 4-hour hike in the morning to search for the bear. Sometimes in the mango season, which extends to March, the bears can come closer to the lodge. The rest of the day is spent photographing birds at the feeders, such as the tame White-winged Guan, White-tailed Jay, and White-edged Oriole.
Day 3. Chaparri-Bosque Pomac-Quebrada Frejolillo-Olmos. Peruvian Plantcutter and Tumbes Swallow.
After watching hummingbirds bathing at Chaparri, we shall continue checking out Casupe road. It is often good for species such as Henna Hooded Foliage-gleaner and Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner. We continue to Bosque Pomac, getting a second opportunity for Peruvian Plantcutter and Rufous Flycatcher. Nearby is a good spot for Tumbes Swallow. We will spend the afternoon at Quebrada Frejolillo looking out for somewhat shyer and wilder White-winged Guans, as well as Guayaquil Woodpecker and Pacific Elaenia. Night in Olmos at Hospedaje Valle Grande.
Day 4. Olmos-Abra Porculla-Jaen. Black-cowled Saltator and Marañon Crescentchest.
We continue to Abra Porculla. Targets here include Chapman's Antshrike, Bay-crowned Brush-Finch. Elegant Crescentchest, Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Black-cowled Saltator, Porculla Hermit, and the rare Piura Chat-Tyrant. In the late afternoon, we shall arrive in Jaen in the afternoon and immediately look for Marañon Crescentchest, Marañon Slaty Antshrike, Necklaced Spinetail, and more. Hotel El Bosque, Jaen.
Day 5. Jaen-Pomacochas. Little Inca-Finch and Marvelous Spatuletail
Birding on the way to Pomacochas for Little Inca-Finch, Marañon Spinetail, and Little Woodstar. It is possible to make a detour to the Chachapoyas fortress at Kuelap. Later in the afternoon near Pomacochas, we will get to Huembo for our first encounters of Marvelous Spatuletail. Also here at the feeders are Andean Emerald, Bronzy Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, White-tailed Hummingbird, Sparkling Violet-ear, Little Woodstar, and many more. The area is also good for Speckle-chested Piculet and Buff-bellied Tanager. Night at Huembo Lodge.
Day 6. San Lorenzo trail and Abra Patricia. Pale-billed Antpitta and Long-whiskered Owlet.
In the morning, we shall bird the trail above San Lorenzo for Pale-billed Antpitta, Russet-backed Softtail, Rusty-tinged Antpitta, and the schulenbergi race of Plain-tailed Wren, which possibly could be split. Rest of the day at Abra Patricia/Afluentes. A great number of good birds. Below the Abra Patricia pass at 2400m, possibilities include Rusty-tinged and Rusty-breasted Antpittas, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Peruvian Rufous-vented Tapaculo, White-collared Jay, and the recently described Lulu's Tody-Tyrant. The road then passes next to a series of low ridges cloaked in stunted forest. This is the type locality for the enigmatic Long-whiskered Owlet, one of the great ornithological mysteries of the continent and one of the few localities where Ochre-fronted Antpitta has been seen. Already this first night, we shall make a try for Long-whiskered Owlet. Night at Abra Patricia Owlet Lodge.
Day 7. Afluentes and Abra Patricia. Royal Sunangel and White-capped Tanager.
In the morning, we shall bird the trails near the lodge looking for Wattled Guan and White-faced Nunbird before getting in place to feed a Chestnut Antpitta. We continue to watch the feeders for Emerald-bellied Puffleg and Sword-billed Hummingbird. Near the lodge entrance, we shall look for Lulu's Tody-Tyrant. Later we descend to the Afluentes area, which is good for flocks with Equatorial Graytail, Gray-mantled Wren, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Ash-browed Spinetail, the endemic Speckle-chested Piculet, Versicolored Barbet, and a wide variety of tanagers including the scarce Vermilion Tanager are other possibilities. There is also a feeding station for Ecuadorian Piedtail, White-tailed Sicklebill, and Napo Sabrewing. We shall bird feeders at Fundo Alto Nieva for Royal Sunangel, Greenish Puffleg, and Rufous-vented Whitetip in the afternoon. On the trail, we look for Bar-winged Wood-Wren and Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, while noisy flocks of White-capped Tanagers may be sighted overhead. Finally, there is also a feeding station here for Ochre-fronted Antpitta. If necessary, we'll make a second attempt for the Owlet at Fundo Alto Nieva. Night at Abra Patricia Owlet Lodge.
Day 8. Abra Patricia-Rioja-Waqanki. Mishana Tyrannulet-Point-tailed Palmcreeper.
After additional birding near Abra Patricia Lodge looking for Rusty-tinged Antpitta in the morning, we shall head to Aguas Verdes. Here is another great feeding station that often rewards us with Little and Cinereous Tinamous, Rufous-breasted Wood-quail, and Orange-billed Sparrow. The hummingbird feeders have Blue-fronted and Green-fronted Lancebill, Wire-crested Thorntail, Rufous-crested Coquette, and many more. Near Rioja, we shall look for birds such as Buckley’s Forest-Falcon, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Russet-crowned Crake, Blackish Nightjar, Fiery-capped Manakin, Yellow Tyrannulet, Black-billed Seed-Finch, Pale-eyed Blackbird, Masked Duck, and many more. We may also make a stop at Morro de Calzada near Moyobamba, where the birds may include Tataupa Tinamou, Black-faced Tanager, Painted Manakin, Mishana Tyrannulet, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Cinererous-breasted Spinetail, Pale-breasted Thrush, Varzea Thrush, Blue-crowned Trogon, Red-legged Honeycreeper, and many more. Night at Waqanki Fruiteater Lodge, Moyobamba.
Day 9. Waqanki-Tarapoto. Rufous-crested Cockette and Oilbird.
The hummingbird-feeders at Waqanki are fantastic. It is often possible to get over 15 species of hummingbirds in only a couple of hours. The star species are Rufous-crested Coquette and Black-throated Hermit. We may also explore the ridge trail for Scarlet-breasted and Fiery-throated Fruiteaters, Ash-throated Antwren, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, and many others. In the afternoon, we'll drive to Tarapoto via a gorge where Oilbird can be seen without entering a cave.
Day 10. Tarapoto and Ackonabikh
Morning at tunnel area for Dotted Tanager, Purplish Euphonia, Cock-of-the-Rock and Blackish Pewee and hummingbird feeders at ACONABIKH with Kopecke's Hermit and Gould's Jewelfront and many more. There is also a lek of Golden-headed Manakin.
In the afternoon, we usually have time for some birding in dry scrub, which may produce Huallaga Slaty-Antshrike, Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, and Planalto Hermit.
