BIRDWATCHING
IN BOLIVIA - 001
AMBORO
NATIONAL PARK – Serrania Volcanes (3 D/2
N)
DAY
1
BIRDING NEAR SANTA CRUZ AND TRIP TO SERRANIA
VOLCANES.
Birding early in the morning around the city
of Santa Cruz, choosing to visit the Chacoan
thorn scrub forest and marshy savannas, a
pampa area, or some of the marshes and woodland
patches in the north. Following an early lunch
trip westward towards Amboro National Park
and Los Volcanoes, then walking down 2 hours
the entrance road birding to Los Volcanes
lodge. (L, D)
DAY
2
BIRDING IN SERRANIA VOLCANOES
Los Volcanes, in Amboro National Park is set
in a meeting point of four different bio geographical
zones: the southern rim of the Amazon Basin
(with its humid tropical rainforests), the
western edge of the Brazilian shield (with
its subtropical deciduous forests), the northern
limit of the Chaco (temperate woodlands),
and the very diverse subtropical and temperate
forests of the Andes mountains. All with a
rich diversity of plants and animals, including
no less than 830 bird species! The pace at
the lodge is normally very slow, waking up
early to have breakfast before dawn, then
will bird until late in the morning, when
temperature is hot. A perfect time to enjoy
the crystal clear waters of the streams found
near the lodge, great swim in a natural pool
formed at the base of a small waterfall. Continue
birding in the afternoon and into the early
evening when nocturnal birds such as the Spectacled
Owl will become our target. (B, L, D)
DAY
3
BIRDING / SANTA CRUZ.
Spend the morning birding by the entrance
road, take transportation making several birding
stops while returning to Santa Cruz with a
planned arrival early. (B, L)
Some
birds of the area:
BIRDWATCHING
IN BOLIVIA - 002
SEE THE REAR “BLUE THROATED
MACAW” IN THE AMAZON JUNGLE (4 D/3 N)
DAY
1
Transfer in from Trinidad airport and trip
through the savanna, to see capybaras, great
rheas, constrictors and a large variety of
water fowl, until the Hacienda house. Traditional
dinner. (L, D)
DAY
2
Drive through the savanna to “Forest
Island”, the area where the “blue
throated macaw” lives, seeing also monkeys,
toucans, others macaws, coatis and owls. Later
take launch in a lagoon, an area of wading
birds like jabirus, woodstorks, reseate spoonbills,
grey egrets, blue herons, maguari storks,
etc. Return to the main Hacienda house for
a typical dinner. (B, L, D)
DAY
3
Early departure through the savanna until
the Ipurupuro river. Take a cruise to see:
cormorants, lipkins, wood rail, wattleed jacanas,
crested caracaras, hawks, falcons, crowned
eagle woodpeckers, parakeets, parrots, macaws,
alligators, capybaras, monkeys, pink river
dolphins, etc. (B, L, D)
DAY
4
Return to Trinidad and transfer out to
the airport. (B)
BIRDWATCHING
IN BOLIVIA - 003
NOEL
KEMPFF NATIONAL PARK – Specially design
for birdwatchers (10 D/9 N)
DAY
1
SANTA CRUZ / FLOR DE ORO
Charter flight to Flor de Oro, the center
of ecotourism in Noel Kempff Mercado National
Park, located on the banks of the Rio Itenez
in the north-central section of the park.
You will fly over hundreds of kilometers of
pristine rainforest, as well as the magnificent
Caparu Plateau with its red cliffs and two
very impressive waterfalls Ahlfeld and Arco
Iris. In the afternoon explore gallery forests
found along the Rio Itenez and the large expanse
of savanna. An optional night hike will be
offered. (L, D)
DAY
2
OXBOW LAKES, GALLERY FORESTS, AND PERIODICALLY
INUNDATED SAVANNA
Visit some of the oxbow lakes, gallery forests,
and periodically inundated savannas located
near Flor de Oro. The exploration of these
three distinctly different habitat types should
provide good looks at a large variety of birds,
could also spot a family of Giant Otters while
traveling along one of the bays. Then another
one of the attractive bays located close to
Flor de Oro. (B, L, D)
DAY
3
PERIODICALLY INUNDATED SAVANNA AND TERRA
FIRME FORESTS
Continue exploring periodically inundated
savannas and tall humid tropical rainforests
that lie between Flor de Oro and the campsite
Lago Caiman. Following a return to Flor de
Oro by tractor, an optional night hike will
be offered to look for some of the many owls
and nightjars that can be found. (B, L, D)
DAY
4
GALLERY FORESTS AND SAVANNA
Explore the gallery forest and savanna habitat
that was visited during your first afternoon
spent in the park. The trail during the morning
will undoubtedly offer the opportunity to
see a much greater variety of species than
was seen during the afternoon. Your final
afternoon in the northern section of the park
will once again be spent on the water, expect
to be distracted by freshwater dolphins. (B,
L, D)
DAY
5
FLOR DE ORO / LOS FIERROS
Your final morning in Flor de Oro will take
you in search for the species that may have
eluded. That means you could be visiting any
of the bays or trails found before your flight
to Los Fierros, the tall wet rainforests found
on the western side of the Caparu Plateau.
Easily accessible from the lodge are large
expanses of cerrado vegetation, periodically
inundated savannas, terra firme and igapo
rainforests, semi-deciduous woodland, and
the savannas found on top of the Caparu Plateau.
Upon arrival, you’ll explore the forests
and expansive grasslands found close to the
lodge. (B, L, D)
DAY
6
TERRA FIRME - TALL HUMID TROPICAL FOREST
Your first full day at Los Fierros will be
spent birding in the tall humid tropical forests
found close to the lodge. These forests have
an Amazonian affinity and with regards to
birds, are incredibly diverse. An optional
night hike to look for owls and nightjars.
(B, L, D)
DAY
7 - 8
PERIODICALLY INUNDATED SAVANNA, CERRADO,
AND TERRA FIRME FORESTS
More than 350 bird species have been recorded
within walking distance of Los Fierros, and
your trip to the lush, hilly forests that
are found on the way to the Caparu Plateau
will provide you with some of the best birding
the park has to offer. Traveling through the
open savannas, then as you enter the forests
found on the eastern side of the large expansive
savanna you will be presented with a plethora
of opportunities to see some more of the exciting
bird species. The return trip to Los Fierros
will be equally exciting as the area supports
an abundance of large mammals, having a good
chance of seeing a large cat (jaguar and puma
are surprisingly numerous in the area!), tapir,
crab-eating fox, or even the very rare and
endangered Manned Wolf. This day promises
to be one to remember! (B, L, D)
DAY
9
PERIODICALLY INUNDATED SAVANNA AND TERRA
FIRME FOREST
The early morning will be spent traveling
through the periodically inundated savannas
on your way to the pristine forests found
near the El Encanto waterfall. The early morning
trip should give you a chance to see some
of the species that may not have been seen
during prior trips through the savanna. The
forests on the southern side of the savanna
are some of the best in the park. The return
trip to Los Fierros during the night will
give you another opportunity to see a large
cat, tapir, or the rare Manned Wolf. (B, L,
D)
DAY
10
LOS FIERROS / SANTA CRUZ / TRANSFER OUT
Your final morning in Noel Kempff will take
you in search for the species that may have
eluded you during the previous four days spent
at Los Fierros. That means that you could
be visiting any of the trails located around
Los Fierros, before your flight back to Santa
Cruz. (B, L)
Some
species of the area:
- Zigzag
Heron (Zebrilus undulatus)
- White-browed
Hawk (Leucopternis kuhli)
- Zimmer´s
Tody-Tyrant (Hemitriccus minimus)
- Long-tailed
Potoo (Nyctibius aethereus)
- Starred
wood-Quail (Odontophorus stellatus)
- Rufous-necked
Puffbird (Malacoptila rufa)
- Band-tailed
Antbird (Hypocnemoides maculicauda)
- Scarlet
Macaw (Ara macao)
- Red-and-Green
Macaw (Ara chloroptera)
- Pied
Puffbird (Notharchus tectus)
- Cream-colored
Woodpecker (Celeus flavus)
- White-chinned
Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla merula)
- Amazonian
Antshrike (Thamnophilus amazonicus)
