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This was a combined holiday, Bolivia lowlands and Bolivia Highlands. This gave us an insight on how life changes with altitude. It also demonstrated the effort the government is putting in to create better road infrastructure and housing opportunities. The birding was as promised, lived up to expectations because the tour guides had excellent bird call recognition, a must when operating in dense habitats and low cloud conditions. very good pre-departure information from England and a determination to see as much as possible in the field. All tour members were birders and the guides bent over backwards to ensure, as far as possible, that all sightings were enjoyed by all members. Detailed explanation of why such a bird was named was always available when requested. Naturetrek had obviously researched the guides credentials and given them high grades before employing them.
A.W. Nottinghamshire, Nov 18
Tour Itinerary and Reports
- Itinerary
- Tour report - November 2018
- Tour report - October 2014
- Tour report - February 2013
- Tour report - October 2011
- Tour report - February 2011
- Tour report - November 2009
- Tour report - November 2007
- Tour report - February 2007
- Tour report - November 2006
- Tour report - November 2005
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Bolivia - Highlands
Tour Code: BOL01A 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.
£2,895 (Inc flights)
£2,295
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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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.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: All accommodation included in the price.
- Food: All food included in the price.
Reviews
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We travelled with Naturetrek on the Lowlands and then Highlands Bolivia tours in October 2016. This was an incredible holiday with amazing scenery from rainforest to mountains. We saw over 300 species of birds in just over a fortnight with excellent guiding to help us find the Bolivian rarities. The holiday was like an expedition across the country and we experienced a lot of local life and stayed in some fantastic places. We came home exhausted but glad we'd been somewhere so different and had such a wonderful time.
R.M. Conwy -
We are keen birders & booked a 2 part trip to Bolivia; the Lowlands with a guide/driver joining 2 other birders for the Highland tour with same guide plus a driver. All pre-departure arrangements were efficiently & clearly communicated, including a detailed itinerary with birding opportunities identified. The guide was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dedicated to birding. He also ensured our general questions were answered, was very good humoured & made himself available to ensure our comfort & safety. The holiday covered a good number of varied habitats enabling us to see 420 species of bird in countryside ranging from 1,200 - 4,300 metres altitude. The road travel was reduced by one internal flight and the guide had chosen the road route to maximise the opportunity to cover both number & rarity of species. It was an excellent dedicated birding holiday which we enjoyed to the full.
D. & H.R. West Glamorgan -
Just to let you know how much I enjoyed the Highlands tour. The birds found by Willie were brilliant and his driver Leo was a skilled driver who made me feel safe. The standard of accommodation and food were also excellent.
J.B. Dorset -
Nick was the best leader I've ever experienced and I've been on many birding trips... his birding knowledge and skills are without parallel. His leadership skills particularly were second to none.
C.N. Cambridgeshire -
Nick and Leo worked very hard... they deserve high praise.
S.H. & M.B. -
I very much enjoyed the tour and saw about 270 species of bird. The leader was excellent... his knowledge of the birds and their songs probably gave us more species than anticipated.
R.P. Berkshire -
Overall the holiday was excellent with plenty of birds seen (approx 270 species). The guide was excellent, particularly due to his recognition of bird calls which pinpointed where to look and for what.
D.R. Worcestershire -
The trip was very well organised, the staff excellent, and the itinerary well chosen and planned... Many thanks for a lovely trip & please pass on our good wishes to the leader and driver.
P.B. Devon -
An interesting trip with hard-working driver and guide
W.P. Norfolk -
I chose this holiday for the chance to see the natural history of the Bolivian Highlands, and wasn't disappointed. Visits to various habitats gave the opportunity for this, especially to look at the flora, of which I am particularly interested. In addition the ornithological & cultural aspects were excellent. The organisation & daily content were very good...The leader was extremely knowledgeable & competent, and high praise must go to our driver, who was always obliging and caring...Thank you for another most enjoyable Naturetrek holiday.
V.B. Devon
Dates & Prices
2020
Tour Leader: Jose 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.
2021
Tour Reports
- Tour report - November 2018
- Tour report - October 2014
- Tour report - February 2013
- Tour report - October 2011
- Tour report - February 2011
- Tour report - November 2009
- Tour report - November 2007
- Tour report - February 2007
- Tour report - November 2006
- Tour report - November 2005
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