Bolivia - Highlands

Tour Code: BOL01

A 12-day birdwatching tour visiting the temperate forests of Cochabamba and the spectacular mountains and altiplano of La Paz and Lake Titicaca in the Bolivian highlands. This tour can be combined with Bolivia - Lowlands.

12 days from
£2,695 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£2,095
book now

Highlights

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

All but two of the Neotropical bird families are represented in Bolivia’s national bird list of over 1,350 species which includes 18 endemics! Around Cochabamba we’ll look for rarities including Red-fronted Macaw, Cochabamba Mountain-finch and Bolivian Earthcreeper, while in cloudforest we’ll be hoping to see such species as Solitary Eagle and Rufous-capped Thornbill. We’ll visit the windswept altiplano, the most extensive area of high plateau on earth outside Tibet, before heading to our final stop – Lake Titicaca, Bolivia’s best-known geographical feature. Lake Titicaca provides a variety of habitats for birds such as saltflats and rolling hills, and its rich avifauna includes one of South America’s rarest birds, Berlepsch’s Canastero, plus Mountain Caracara, Bright-rumped Yellow-finch and Titicaca Grebe.

  • Explore a wide range of highland habitats along the Andean Cordillera
  • Look for waterfowl such as Cinnamon, Puna & Speckled Teals at Cochabamba
  • Sickle-winged Guan & Straw-backed Tanager among other cloudforest species
  • Crested Duck, Andean Flamingo & Andean Avocet on the altiplano
  • Visit Lake Titicaca, reputed as the birthplace of the Inca civilisation
  • In remote areas we may hear the ancient language of Aymara spoken
  • Led by expert local naturalist guides
  • Save money & combine with Naturetrek’s 'Bolivia – Lowlands' holiday

Grading

Plenty of time spent on foot, off the beaten track, with a few steep trails.

About the region

High mountains are the most dominant feature of Bolivia. The area around Cochabamba (Bolivia’s third largest city) presents a variety of highland habitats along the Andean Cordillera, from arid savannah to high montane forest. It has a pleasant climate, described as ‘eternal spring’.

Bolivia’s altiplano (literally, ‘high plain’) is a windswept plateau between two ranges of mountains and consists of valleys, rolling hills, salt flats, volcanoes, rivers, and lakes. The country’s capital, La Paz, is situated at an altitude of 3,600 metres and is the highest capital city in the world.

Lake Titicaca is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most mystical places in all of South America. Sitting high up on the altiplano on the Bolivia/Peru border, Titicaca derives much of its mystique from the ancient belief that its deep waters were the birthplace of the Incan civilisation.

The tour ‘in a nutshell’

This 12-day bird watching tour visits the temperate forests of Cochabamba and the spectacular mountains and altiplano of La Paz and Lake Titicaca in the Bolivian highlands.

What birds might I see?

All but two of the Neotropical bird families are represented in the national bird list of over 1,350 species which includes 18 endemics.

More endemic species are found in Cochabamba Department than anywhere else in Bolivia. Around Cochabamba we’ll look for waterfowl such as Cinnamon, Puna and Speckled Teal, and rarities including Red-fronted Macaw, Bolivian Earthcreeper and Rufous-faced Antpitta among many other species.

Cloudforest birds we’ll search for include Sickle-winged Guan, Stripe-faced Wood-quail, Solitary Eagle, Rufous-capped Thornbill, White-eared Solitaire and Straw-backed Tanager. The altiplano provides habitat for birds such as Crested Duck, Andean Flamingo, Cinereous Harrier, Andean Avocet, Taczanowski's Ground-tyrant and a host of other species.

Titicaca’s rich avifauna includes one of South America’s rarest birds, Berlepsch’s Canastero.

Anything else?

We’ll see villagers dressed in traditional costume descending from mountain settlements to exchange goods at one of the rural markets, and possibly even hear the ancient language of Aymara spoken in remote areas.

DETAILED INFORMATION
OUTLINE ITINERARY

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart UK
Day 2
Arrive Santa Cruz, transfer Cochabamba
Day 3/5
Birding from Cochabamba
Day 6
Birding drive to Oruro
Day 7
Birding drive to La Paz
Day 8/10
Birding from La Paz
Day 11
Depart La Paz
Day 12
Arrive UK
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WHAT'S INCLUDED

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: All accommodation included in the price.
  • Food: All food included in the price.
REVIEWS
DATES AND PRICES

DATES AND PRICES

2019

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 3rd Nov - Thu 14th Nov SPACES £2,695
BOOK TOUR SHOW DETAILS
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
 £2,095
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
 Female sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
 £320
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jose Antonio Padilla
Jose Anotonio

Tour Leader: Jose Antonio Padilla

Jose Antonio Padilla was born in Lima, Peru, three decades ago. After school he got a Licensed Degree in Nature Tourism at the Centro de Formacion en Turismo – Cenfotur, Lima. He first began working in ecotourism when he was 21 years old in the Tambopata National Reserve in south-eastern Peru in the pristine region of Madre de Dios. Since then, he has worked as a naturalist and bird guide for more than 9 years. In 2003 he took the invitation to go to Glasgow, Scotland, where he lived for over a year, studying English and working in the hospitality business. Jose Antonio then returned to Peru, and has spent most of this time travelling around Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil and guiding birding trips in the Southeastern Peruvian rainforest, specifically in Manu national Park, a paradise for birders, learning from some of the most renowned ornithologists that have visited the area in the last few years (Barry Walker, Steve Hilty, Lelis Navarrete, Tomas Valqui, Jose Ignacio – Pepe – Rojas, Renzo Zepilli, etc). He also has an intimate knowledge of the rainforest and of course of the flora and fauna that live in these complex ecosystems. He has led tours in the Tambopata – National Reserve and the Bahuaja Sonene National Park as well; both protected areas situated in the Peruvian rainforest. Portuguese was added to his fluent English and Spanish; the languages Jose Antonio speaks and writes. Nowadays Jose Antonio lives in Cusco, spending his time leading bird tours between Manu Biosphere reserve, Cusco and other interesting and remote high Andean and Central Peruvian and Bolivian localities.

WHY NATURETREK?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!