Northern Peru Specials – Owlet, Barbet, White-Masked Antbird, Spatuletail & More

Lima to Tarapoto Flight and Foothill Transfer

Travel from the origin to the destination described in this service block using the confirmed Peru route. The transfer remains separate so timing, vehicle or service, luggage, and safety details can be confirmed independently.

Lunch

Afternoon Woodland Birding near Tarapoto

A slow-paced afternoon of birding in an area of woodland near Tarapoto, home to the rare and isolated Huallaga race of the Northern Slaty Antshrike, with Bluish-fronted Jacamar and Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin among the supporting cast.

Dinner

Breakfast

Road Transfer from Tarapoto to Flor de Café (Plataforma)

Scarlet-banded Barbet Site at Flor de Café (Plataforma) — Afternoon Birding

Afternoon birding on the isolated outlying ridge where the explorer Todd Mark discovered an accessible site for the almost legendary Scarlet-banded Barbet. Time is spent searching for the Barbet and birding the surrounding area.

Lunch

Optional Evening Owling Walk for Vermiculated Screech Owl (Flor de Café)

An optional evening walk around Flor de Café in search of the Vermiculated Screech Owl, for anyone still up for it after a day in the field. The source frames it as an option rather than a fixed plan.

Dinner

Breakfast

Full-Day Birding at Flor de Café (Scarlet-banded Barbet & Cordillera Azul Antbird)

A full day in the Barbet area at Flor de Café, with the Scarlet-banded Barbet and the Cordillera Azul Antbird as the main targets. The supporting avifauna is rich: foothill fruiteaters, Grey-tailed Piha, Rose-fronted Parakeet, a colourful variety of tanagers and several manakins.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Early Morning Birding at Flor de Café

Early morning birding around Flor de Café while the staff load the gear for departure. A final session on the ridge before the road transfer back to Tarapoto.

Road Transfer from Flor de Café (Plataforma) to Tarapoto with Birding Stops

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Full-Day Birding Transfer from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas via Cordillera Escalera

Cordillera Escalera Foothill Birding

From Tarapoto we explore Cordillera Escalera, working foothill forest, roadside edges, and selected birding spots for hummingbirds, tanagers, manakins, and Koepcke's Hermit. It is a warm, active day and a useful contrast to the higher Alto Mayo sites.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Small-Plane Flight from Yurimaguas to San Lorenzo (Marañón River)

Local Transport from San Lorenzo to the White-masked Antbird Forest Patch

White-masked Antbird Forest Birding near San Lorenzo

Most of the day is spent birding a highly diverse forest patch near San Lorenzo, home to the White-masked Antbird population found in 2013. Previously the species required its own expedition with hit-and-miss chances along the Morona River; this is the first time the bird is readily available.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Full-Day White-masked Antbird Search with Army-Ant Swarms (San Lorenzo)

A full day given over to the White-masked Antbird. As an obligate follower of army ants, it is usually found by locating a working swarm and waiting for it to attend; if the swarms stay quiet, playback can be tried as a fallback.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Return Small-Plane Flight from San Lorenzo to Yurimaguas

Road Birding Transfer from Yurimaguas toward Moyobamba

Oilbird Gorge Roosting-Ledges Stop

A stop at an Oilbird gorge where the birds are easily seen on their roosting ledges. It is a short, reliable stop on the road between Yurimaguas and the lodge.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Pre-Dawn Owling and Nightjar Walk at Wankanki Lodge

An optional pre-dawn walk around the lodge grounds in search of owls and nightjars. The source notes regular sightings of Rufous, Blackish and Spot-winged Nightjars and of Black-banded and Tropical Screech Owls.

Morning Birding around Wankanki Lodge Valley

Morning birding around the Wankanki Lodge valley. Daytime birds include the endemic Mishana Tyrannulet, Lesser Elaenia, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Pale-breasted Spinetail and the newly described Varzea Thrush.

Lunch

Waqanki Garden Hummingbird Session

At Waqanki we work the gardens, feeders, and nearby forest edge for hummingbirds, tanagers, butterflies, and orchids. Rufous-crested Coquette and other foothill species can make this a very productive and comfortable photography block.

Dinner

Breakfast

Birding Drive from Wankanki Lodge up to Abra Patricia

The group birds its way up to Abra Patricia. The first stop should produce Point-tailed Palmcreeper and maybe Pale-eyed Blackbird, Black-billed Seed-Finch and Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, before continuing through the lower elevations and arriving at Owlet Lodge.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Full-Day Cloud Forest Birding on the Owlet Lodge Trail System

A full day on the extensive trail system of Owlet Lodge, a famous research and collection site in cloud forest that is particularly good for antpittas and similar birds. White-throated Screech Owl and Rufous-banded Owl occur in the surrounding area, and mixed flocks may include Blue-browed and Metallic-green tanagers.

Lunch

Long-whiskered Owlet Night Search

After dark we move quietly on the forest trails around Owlet Lodge, listening for Long-whiskered Owlet and other nocturnal species. It is a patient, low-light session that depends heavily on conditions, but it adds an important nocturnal layer to the northern Peru benchmark.

Dinner

Breakfast

Afluente Roadside Forest Birding (below Abra Patricia)

Birding along the road through beautiful upper reaches of lowland tropical forest near the tiny settlement of Afluente. The standout specialties are the tiny Speckle-chested Piculet and the canopy-dwelling Ash-throated Antwren, with excellent chances of Andean Cock-of-the-Rock crossing the road and the Ecuadorian Piedtail.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

San Lorenzo Hill Trail Morning Birding (Abra Patricia)

One morning the group leaves early, eats a boxed breakfast, and ascends the San Lorenzo trail near Abra Patricia, known for Pale-billed Antpitta and Rusty-tinged Antpitta as well as Russet-mantled Softtail. Patches of good cloud forest give chances for Gray-breasted Mountain-toucan, White-collared Jay, Speckled Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Versicolored Barbet, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, White-tailed and White-banded Tyrannulets, the endemic Inca Flycatcher, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, White-capped Tanager, Andean Solitaire and Silver-backed Tanager; Johnson's Tody-tyrant has also been seen in chusquea bamboo.

Lunch

Huembo Marvelous Spatuletail Session

At Huembo we settle near the feeders and flowering habitat for the endemic Marvelous Spatuletail. The session rewards patience: we look for clean perches, natural behavior, and the possibility of photographing one of Peru's most distinctive hummingbirds without rushing the moment.

Dinner

Breakfast

Cloud Forest Birding across Altitudinal Zones at Owlet Lodge (1000–2200 m)

A full day of cloud forest birding across the altitudinal zones between 1000 and 2200 metres. Targets include Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, the endemic Bar-winged Wood-wren and Royal Sunangel, Equatorial Graytail, and possible endemic antpittas such as Ochre-fronted and Rusty-tinged.

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Morning Transport from Abra Patricia to Tarapoto Airport

Optional Birding en Route to Tarapoto before Departure

A flexible, flight-dependent window for opportunistic birding en route to Tarapoto or near the town, before drop-off for afternoon or evening flights to Lima and onward homeward connections.