"Endemics Paradise" is a specially designed adventure program for experienced birders, who want to see the rarest and most difficult to find birds of northern Peru.

On this tour we'll experience long drives along less developed roads, do some hiking, and be ready for mud, rain, and both hot and cold temperatures.  Our reward will be many endemic, very restricted-range species, among them some of the most endangered and localized birds in the Neotropics. Birding in northern Peru means not only endemic, specialized birds, but also lots of more widely-distributed yet still astonishing birds. On this tour we'll spend the night in good hotels, but in the more isolated areas our birders will spend the night in basic but comfortable hostels and lodges, which are all pre-certified by Ritual Andino Tours, are clean, and have hot water.

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PROGRAM

Day 01.  CHICLAYO

Morning flight to Chiclayo, then a transfer to the Pomac Dry Forest Preserve. Bosque Pomac is a protected area that holds the Peruvian Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher and Tumbes Swallow, among many others. Overnight in the small town of Olmos. (B,L,D)

Day 02. OLMOS

An early departure to the Quebrada Frejolillo for a chance at the White-winged Guan. In this area it's also possible to see the Cinereous Finch, Tumbes Sparrow, Tumbes Hummingbird, Red-masked Parakeet, Parrot-billed Seedeater, Ecuadorian Piculet, Tumbes Tyrant, Gray-and-gold Warbler and the White-headed Brush-Finch. Overnight in Olmos. (B,L,D)

Day 03.  JAEN

An early start for the relatively long trip to Jaen. On this drive we'll cross the Andes and enter the Marañon River Valley, while birding the whole day along the road. The first noteworthy stop is the mountain pass of Abra Porculla, a humid forest location that offers specialty species like the Piura Chat-Tyrant, Porculla Hermit, Black-cowled Saltator, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, and many others. After cresting the pass we'll enter a region of dryer vegetation, where we'll search for the Marañon Crescentchest, Little Inca-Finch and Alder Flycatcher. Spend the night in Jaen. B, L, D.

Day 4. Birding around Jaen. Among the birds that can be found only here are the Paint-billed Crake, Chinchipe Spinetail, Marañon Slaty-Antshrike, Marañon Crescenchest, Marañon Spinetail, White-lined Tanager and Red-crested Finch. Overnight in Jaen. (B,L,D)

Day 05.  POMACOCHAS

Early morning drive to the town of Pedro Ruiz to seek the Little Woodstar. Less than an hour from Pedro Ruiz we´ll arrive at La Florida, the site for the Marvelous Spatuletail. This area may also produce the Buff-bellied Tanager, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Long-tailed Sylph, Purple-collared Woodstar, Large-footed Tapaculo, Speckled-breasted Wren, Plain-tailed Wren, Green-throated Tanager, and Blue-browed Tanager. We'll spend the night in a nice hotel in Pomacochas. (B, L, D)

Day 06.  HIKING THE RIO CHIDO TRAIL/ POMACOCHAS

Hiking the Río Chido trail. A full day trek to reach the Pale-billed Antpitta site. The trail is steep and challenging but rewarding in its rich diversity of species, which can include the White-capped Parrot, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Rusty-tinged Antpitta, Bicolored Hawk, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Inca Flycatcher, Large-footed Tapaculo, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, White-capped Tanager, Red-hooded Tanager, and rarest of all, the Flavescent Flycatcher and Slaty Finch. Overnight in Pomacochas. (B, L, D)

Day 07. ABRA PATRICIA LODGE

A full day in Abra Patricia, including birding in the Valle Hermoso. We'll tart early to reach Valle Hermoso at about 7:00 a.m. This is the premier habitat for the enigmatic Long-whiskered Owl, which is a very rare bird, so we'll have to keep our expectations reasonable. In this habitat we stand better chances with the Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Royal Sunangel, White-capped Tanager, Jet Manaquin, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Cinammon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, and lots of Tanager flocks. Night in Abra Patricia Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 08.  ABRA PATRICIA LODGE

A second day in Abra Patricia, specifically the Afluente area. Here we can hope to find the Speckle-chested Piculet, Equatorial Gray-tail, Marble-faced Bristled-Tyrant, Andean Cock-of-the Rock, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, and many others. After birding in Abra Patricia we'll move on to overnight Abra Patricia Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 09.  RIOJA & AGUAS VERDES

Rioja and Aguas Verdes. We'll spend most of the day around Aguas Verdes where the following species are possible: Huallaga Tanager, Vermillion Tanager, Buckley's Forest-Falcon, Napo Sabrewing, Russet Antshrike, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Plain-backed Antpitta, Gray-mantled Wren, Foothill Antwren, Versicolored Barbet, Black-mandibled Toucan, and lots of Tanager flocks. Hotel in Rioja. (B,L,D)

Day 10.  TARAPOTO

Yacumama and Calzada. Not far from Rioja we'll encounter a good savannah habitat with the Tataupa Tinamou, Plain-breasted Ground-Dove, and Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch. Other nearby habitat types hold the Russet-crowned Crake, Olive-chested Flycatcher, Burnished-buff Tanager, Point-tailed Palmcreeper and Cobalt-winged Parakeets. There is another savannah habitat in the Calzada area that includes the Blackish Rail, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, Yellow Tyrannulet, Lesser Seed-Finch and pale-eyed Blackbird. The forest at Morro de Calzada can produce the Lafresnaye's Piculet, Mishana Tyrannulet, Fiery-capped Manakin, Stripe Manakin, Pale-breasted Thrush and Blue-crowned Trogon. In the late afternoon we'll drive to the low jungle town of Tarapoto, where we'll overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 11.  JUAN GUERRA & QUEBRADA UPAQUIHUA

Juan Guerra and the Quebrada Upaquihua. We'll leave early for the drive to Juan Guerra for the Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Stripe-chested Antwren and Marañon Slaty Antshrike. Then we'll continue on to the Quebrada Upaquihua for the Planalto Hermit, Mishana Tyrannulet and Ashy-headed Greenlet. Overnight in Tarapoto. (B,L,D)

Day 12. EL TUNEL AREA/ TARAPOTO

El Tunel area. A nice lower elevation mountain evergreen forest that offers the Dotted Tanager, Blackish Peewee, Koepke's Hermit, and Purple Euphonia. Overnight in Tarapoto. (B,L,D)

Day 13.  POMACOCHAS

Drive from Tarapoto back to the Abra Patricia area, birding along the way.  Overnight in Pomacochas. (B,L,D)

Day 14. LEIMEBAMBA

Depart along the Utcubamba River for Leimebamba. The road follows the Utcubamba where the Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Torrent Duck and Green Jay are easy to see. Birding around Leimebamba can produce the Coppery Metaltail, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Plain-breasted Hawk, and Mountain Velvetbreast. Overnight in Leimebamba. (B,L,D)

Day 15. CELENDIN

Leimebamba to Balsas. We'll drive through the Abra Cerro Negro area, where we'll seek the Coppery Metaltail, Blackish Tapaculo, Russet-mantled Softtail, White-chinned Thistletail, and Mountain Cacique. In Balsas the specialities are the Peruvian Pigeon, Yellow-faced Parrolet, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Black-necked Woodpecker and Buff-bridle Inca-Finch. Overnight in Celendin.

Day 16.  BALSAS & CELENDIN AREA

Balsas and Celendin area. We'll drive back early to El Limón and Balsas to look for the Chesnut-backed Thornbird, Gray-winged Inca-Finch, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Streaked Saltator, Marañon Thrush, Jelki's Chat-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch (very rare) and some of the species we might have missed yesterday. Overnight in Celendin. (B,L,D)

Day 17. CAJAMARCA

We'll go birding along the road from Celendin to Cajamarca, which can produce the Cajamarca Rufous Antpitta, White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Rufous-webbed Tyrant, Striated Earthcreeper and Many-stripe Canastero. Overnight in the charming colonial city of Cajamarca. (B,L,D)

Day 18.  CAJAMARCA

Early in the morning we'll drive to the Grey-bellied Comet site at El Chicche, and while here we can also find the Black Metaltail, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Giant Hummingbird, White-winged Cinclodes, Rusty-crowned Tit-spinetail, and as many as 60 other species are possible. After El Chicche we'll leave for San Marcos, the most reliable place for the Great Spinetail. Overnight in Cajamarca. (B,L,D)

Day 19.  LIMA

Morning Flight to Lima.

END OUR SERVICES

Our Birding Guides:

Jeremy N.M. Flanagan. A British ornithologist with more than 17 years of experience in northern Peru and southern Ecuador. He has organized 8 ornithological expeditions from England to Peru, and he is a leader in the conservation of birds in north Peru.

Fernando Angulo Pratolongo. A Peruvian forestry engineer with 18 years of experience in ornithology. He is the leader and director of the Recovery of the White-winged Guan Project. He has been guiding birding groups from 2005 for several Peruvian birding companies.

For more information, pricing and reservations, please send an e-mail to: info@riantours.com

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