Day 0: Arrive in Tarapoto on the Evening Flight
- Flight to Tarapoto at 16:59 or 20:05
- Accommodation at Hotel Cumbaza in Tarapoto
- Dinner not included
Day 1: Tarapoto to Pomacochas (Huembo Lodge) - Dotted Tanager and Oilbird
We'll travel to the tunnel area on the Yurimaguas road. Here we can find many special upper tropical species such as Blackish Pewee, Dotted Tanager, and, with luck, the localized Plumbeous Euphonia. We also frequently observe Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Swallow-tailed Kite, and Paradise Tanagers. Later, we'll continue to ACONABIKH, where hummingbird feeders attract Koepcke's Hermit, Gould's Jewelfront, Black-bellied Thorntail, and sometimes Black-throated Brilliant, among many others. A short hike takes us to a lek with Golden-headed Manakin. Several other Amazonian forest birds can also be found here.
Around noon, we'll continue toward Pomacochas with selected stops along the way. Some stops may be saved for our return journey to Moyobamba and the Waqanki Lodge. One popular stop is at the Quiscarumi gorge for Oilbirds. We'll observe this unique sole representative of the Oilbird family from the bridge on the main road. We often spot Mishana Tyrannulet here as well.
Another possible stop is near Rioja, where ponds and rice paddies harbor Pale-eyed Blackbird, Black-capped Donacobius, Least Grebe, Brazilian Teal, Masked Duck, and Black-billed Seed-Finch. We may also encounter Spotted Rail and Russet-crowned Crake.
We'll continue to Huembo Lodge to observe the Marvelous Spatuletail and other birds before dusk. At night, we can search for owls nearby, such as Cinnamon Screech-Owl and Stygian Owl.
Overnight at Huembo Lodge.
Day 2: Huembo to Owlet Lodge
Those who are physically fit may want to try for Pale-billed Antpitta up the track at San Lorenzo. It's quite a steep trail with approximately 400m of elevation gain. Other birds that may be encountered include Chestnut-crowned Cotinga, White-capped Tanager, Rusty-tinged Antpitta, the schulenbergi race of Plain-tailed Wren, and Russet-mantled Softtail.
Sometimes the Marvelous Spatuletail lek is active near Huembo, which would be an alternative to the hike. If so, you would be accompanied by the local lodge guide.
Until lunch, we'll spend the morning at Huembo practicing bird photography at the hummingbird feeders with close-up views of the Marvelous Spatuletail and other hummingbirds such as Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Sparkling Violet-ear, White-bellied Woodstar, White-bellied Hummingbird, and Bronzy Inca. A rare visitor is the Little Woodstar.
Other birds we'll look for include Silvery Tanager, Buff-bellied Tanager, Speckle-chested Piculet, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Mitred Parakeet, and many more.
After lunch, we'll continue to Owlet Lodge.
The feeders here attract Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Peruvian Rackettail, Bronzy Inca, Violet-fronted Brilliant, and Collared Inca. From the lookout, one can often spot White-capped Tanager and White-faced Nunbird.
At night, we'll visit a nearby site that is excellent for Long-whiskered Owlet and Cinnamon Screech-Owl.
Overnight at Owlet Lodge.
Note about birding from Waqanki to Owlet Lodge: Those who are physically fit may want to try the ridge trail above Waqanki for Scarlet-breasted and Fiery-throated Fruiteaters, Ash-throated Antwren, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, and many more species.
Day 3: Fundo Alto Nieva - Afluentes - Abra Patricia
We'll start the day at Fundo Alto Nieva and visit the feeding station for Ochre-fronted Antpitta and Rusty-tinged Antpitta, as well as the hummingbird feeders, which often attract Royal Sunangel and Rufous-vented Whitetip.
Mid-morning, we'll transfer to the bird-rich Afluentes area. The flocks in the subtropical roadside forest can be very impressive. Vermilion Tanager, Subtropical Cacique, Speckle-chested Piculet, Montane Woodcreeper, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Streaked Xenops, Paradise, Golden, Blue-necked, and Bay-headed Tanagers, the endemic Ash-throated Antwren, and many other birds can be found here. Sometimes we've seen Black-billed Toucan, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Umbrellabird, and Andean Cock-of-the-Rock in this area.
As we head back to Owlet Lodge for lunch, we'll search for the endearing localized Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher.
The trails at Owlet Lodge are good for Chestnut Antpitta, Barred Antthrush, Wattled Guan, and more. The feeding flocks contain Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Blue-backed Conebill, Spectacled Whitestart, Pearled Treerunner, White-throated Tyrannulet, Blue-and-Black Tanager, and Metallic-green Tanager.
We'll have a second opportunity to look for Long-whiskered Owlet if necessary, or try for Cinnamon Screech-Owl.
Overnight at Abra Patricia Owlet Lodge.
Day 4: Owlet Lodge - Arena Blanca - Waqanki
We'll try for Chestnut Antpitta at the antpitta feeder at Owlet Lodge first thing in the morning (a small additional fee is charged if available), before heading to Aguas Verdes and the small private reserve known as Arena Blanca. Here, there's a fantastic feeding station for Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail and Little and Cinereous Tinamous. Yellow-billed Sparrow also comes to the grain provided at the feeding station. There's also an area set up specifically for hummingbirds. The specialties here are Green-fronted and Blue-fronted Lancebill, as well as Wire-crested Thorntail, but numerous other hummingbird species can be found too.
The white-sand forest is very interesting, with Northern Chestnut-tailed (Zimmer's) Antbird, Varzea Thrush, Mishana Tyrannulet, and Black-bellied (Huallaga) Tanager.
After this, we'll drive to Waqanki Lodge near Moyobamba, stopping at wetlands we haven't previously visited.
The hummingbird feeders at Waqanki are fantastic. It's often possible to see over 15 species of hummingbirds in just a couple of hours. The star species are Rufous-crested Coquette and Black-throated Hermit.
Overnight at Waqanki Lodge.
Day 5: Morro de Calzada and Return to Tarapoto
A brand new birding resource is located next to Morro de Calzada. Here, Rufous-sided Crake and Blackish Rail come to a feeder, as well as Saddle-backed Tamarins and sometimes Rio Mayo's Titi-Monkey (an endemic primate).
Nearby, we'll look for Northern Chestnut-tailed (Zimmer's) Antbird and the newly described Painted Manakin.
The caretaker also has a private feeder for tanagers. It's common to see Burnish-buff and Huallaga (Black-bellied) Tanager here among several others.
If we didn't stop at the Quiscarumi bridge for Oilbirds, we'll do so on the way to Tarapoto.
We'll slowly make our way to the airport for an early afternoon flight to Lima, allowing time to connect with international flights.
If you want to add extensions for some iconic birds in Northern Peru, we recommend the Scarlet-banded Barbet and White-masked Antbird expeditions as post tours. For a longer more complete North Peru programs, see Complete Northern Peru.
