Birding Carpish, Unchog and Junin Lake 5 days. 

A trip that will give you some of the best birds in Peru. The critically threatened Junin Grebe and the beautiful Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager. We can organize this trip almost any time.
In recent years, the birding around the Carpish tunnel is not as good as it used to be, because of the rampant ongoing habitat destruction. We have therefore, put more focus on spending time at Unchog, to make sure to get as many of the Unchog endemics as possible. We will save any birding to the end of our stay in Huanuco, and then only focus on the trail next to the Carpish Tunnel. The once for birding famous Paty Trail is now a road.
All the Carpish endemics can be seen elsewhere in Peru. 
Here is a list:

• Chestnut Antpitta  - also occurs in Northern Peru around Abra Patricia. Sometimes, it has been available at a feeding station at Owlet Lodge, but apart from this, it is not easy anywhere unless there is a bird being fed. 
• Bay Antpitta - usually quite easy at Bosque Shollet near Oxapampa, as well as an undescribed ssp on the Satipo Road, where it is common. 
• Masked Fruiteater - is quite frequently seen on the Don Alberto trail near Oxapampa, in Aguas Calientes on the trail below Machu Picchu, and above Ipal Lodge on the Abra Malaga road in Cuzco.
• Unstreaked Tit-Spinetail - Abra Malaga in the bamboo near Canchayoc, Satipo road above Apalla on the road to Pucacocha.
• Golden-browed Chat-Tyrant - always difficult, although a few records along the trail at the Carpish Tunnel. Also Don Alberto Trail and Wayqecha canopy trail, and near the tunnel on the Manu road
• Crowned Chat-Tyrant - also always difficult, although a few records along the trail at the Carpish Tunnel. Also, Abra Malaga near Canchayoc and Wayqecha on the Manu road.
• Inca Flycatcher - common on Manu Road, around Oxapampa and Abra Malaga. 

So it is quite clear that Carpish is not where we should spend a lot of time. 

Also see our extended 17-day trip, which includes the Satipo road. This is a fantastic trip!!!!

The trip begins with a comfortable sleeper night bus, with 160-180°, foldable seats, to Huanuco on the night before Day 1.

The tour is often combined with pelagic, an easy day trip on the coast to Pantanos de Villa and Pucusana, and a day trip to Santa Eulalia Canyon. Contact us for details.

Birding Carpish with Golden-backed Mountain Tanager and Junin Grebe.

Day 0.

We recommend an easy day in Lima this morning, such as Pantanos de Villa and Pucusana, or if you want something more intense, such as a day trip to Santa Eulalia Canyon. There is a very comfortable night bus to Huanuco leaving Lima at 8.30 PM. This way, we get a gradual acclimatization over the next five days. There is also a flight service to Huanuco, but it leaves mid-morning, and you would lose a birding day, or you would need to add a hotel night in Huanuco. Let us know if this is your preferred option. 

Day 1.

We will head up to Carpish straight away, getting as many of the Unchog endemics as possible. The key species is naturally Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager. Pardusco is usually easy in the flocks. Rufous-browed Hemispingus is time-consuming, and Bay-vented Cotinga is rare but very conspicuous when perched.

Day 2.
Early 3 AM start for Bosque Unchog. We will arrive in the dark to also have a chance to hear, and perhaps also see, the displaying Jameson's Snipe. 
Other birds include Coppery Metaltail, Neblina, White-winged (recently described) and Large-footed Tapaculo, Plenge´s Thistletail, Many-striped and Line-fronted Canastero, Paramo Seedeater, White-collared Jay, recently described Chachapoyas Antpitta, and Brown-flanked Tanager.

In the afternoon, we will head to Bosque Montepotrero to try to see the recently described Panao Antpitta. 

Night in Huanuco.

Day 3.

If necessary, we shall do another 3 AM start for a repeat visit at Bosque Unchog. Perhaps we missed one of the keybirds and would like to give it another shot.

Day 4.
If we have done well in Unchog, we will bird the Carpish pass to look for the special birds mentioned in the introduction, as well as Peruvian Slaty Brushfinch, White-eared Solitaire, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan,  Buff-browed Foliage-Gleaner, Peruvian Wren, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, and Powerful Woodpecker.   

We shall be birding the dry scrub for Rufous-backed Inca-Finch and Brown-flanked Tanager, and then continue to Junin lake, via a stop at the Polylepis forests at Quichas for Stripe-headed Antpitta, Giant Conebill, Baron´s Spinetail, Thick-billed Siskin, and Striated Earthcreeper if time permits. Night in a basic hotel in Junin.

Day 5.

First, we try for Junin Rail, and then we take a short boat tour on the lake for the critically endangered Junin Grebe. As we drive back to Junin Town, we shall be looking for Dark-winged and Common Miner, as well as Puna Pipit, before we continue towards Ticlio for White-bellied Cinclodes, Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, Rufous-bellied and Gray-breasted Seedsnipes, Puna Tinamou, and Black-breasted Hillstar. We will arrive in Lima at around 8-9 pm. Please schedule flights after 11 pm if you are flying internationally, or otherwise, you will have to stay another night in Lima. 

Note: On some departures, such as on June 25, 2025, we will spend one day less at Unchog, and spend the night of Day 3 in Junin, to have time to work the lower part of Sta Eulalia Canyon on the last day with White-cheeked Cotinga, Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch and Great Inca-Finch among the targets, and perhaps even make an afternoon visit on the coast for Rufescent Flycatcher and Peruvian Diving-Petrel. The night of Day 4 would then be spent in the municipality hotel in Huachupampa.