5D/4N – Andean Valleys & Pacific Coast
DAY 1
Arrive at Cocachimba from tour 2 or Tarapoto airport. Dinner at Gocta Lodge. At night we will try Buff-fronted Owl very close to the Lodge.
o/n Gocta Lodge
DAY 2
Option 1- Birding on route
Leave Gocta, head back to Pedro Ruiz & go west along the highway beside the Utcubamba River to Jaen. Roadside stops for birding. Check in to hotel El Bosque, a quality town hotel & have lunch there. Afternoon in riverside and marsh habitat along Bellavista road north of Jaen.
Possible birds: Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Savanna Hawk, Long-tailed Mockingbird, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Collared Antshrike, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Red-crested Finch, Peruvian Pigeon, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Greater Ani, Spotted Rail, Lesser Nighthawk.
Option 2 – Gocta falls (the high road)
Another visit to the Falls today starting with a drive up to San Pablo with packed lunch, walk through varied habitat to viewpoint and on to centre point of Falls.
Possible birds: Yellow-bellied and Black & White Seedeaters, Maranon Thrush, Azara’s Spinetail, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Montane Woodcreeper, Golden-winged & Lulu’s Tody-Tyrants, Flavescent Flycatcher, tanagers, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Rusty-winged Barbtail, White-eared Solitaire.
The two options includes afternoon at San Ignacio road near Jaen to watch thousands of Sand-colored nighthawk. o/n Hotel El Bosque, Jaen
DAY 3 – Gotas de agua, Jaén to Tucume vía Abra Porculla
Morning at local reserve, Gotas de Agua with owner & local guide, Luciano Troyes. Dry bush & scrub habitat. Lunch in Jaen, then depart for Tucume via the pass at Porculla. Evening birding / spotlighting.
o/n Los Horcones de Tucume
Possible birds: Collared Antshrike, Red-crested Finch, Tataupa Tinamou, Marañon Crescentchest, Little Inca Finch, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Maranon and Chinchipe Spinetails; Fasciated Wren, Purple-collared Woodstar, Three-banded and Grey & Gold Warblers, Chapman’s Antshrike, Piura Chat-Tyrant, White-headed Brush-Finch, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Lesser Goldfinch, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Amazilia Hummingbird, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Short-eared Owl, Scrub Nightjar.
DAY 4 – Bosque de Pomac
All day in the Bosque de Pomac area & visit the Pyramids. We are now west of the Andes and within range of many new species, restricted to this dry area. Optional afternoon visit to the Museo Tumbes Reales in Lambayeque.
o/n Los Horcones de Tucume
Possible birds: Pacific Parrotlet, Grey & White Tyrannulet, Baird’s Flycatcher, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Peruvian Plantcutter, Tumbes Sparrow, Cinereous Finch, Superciliated Wren, Scarlet-backed and Guayaquil Woodpeckers, Necklaced Spinetail, Cinereous Conebill, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant.
DAY 5 – Puerto Eten & Chiclayo
Leave Tucume at 05.00 am and head for the coast via the town of Chiclayo. Explore the coastal lagoons, sand dunes and marshes between Pimentel & Puerto Eten. Sea-watching from top of hill south of Puerto Eten.
End of Tour 4 – a taxi will do a shuttle service to & from Chiclayo airport (either morning, afternoon or both) for those leaving today & those arriving for the Extension and Tour 5.
Possible birds: Cinnamon Teal, herons & egrets, Kelp, Grey & Grey-hooded Gulls, Wren-like Rushbird, Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant, Yellowish Pipit, Burrowing Owl, Peruvian Thick-knee, Tawny-throated Dotterel, shorebirds, Coastal Miner, Peruvian & Blue-footed Boobies, Neotropic, Guanay & Red-legged Cormorants, possible Waved Albatross, skuas & shearwaters, Inca, Peruvian & Elegant Terns, Harris’s & Savanna Hawks.
