Birding Central Peru on Satipo Road

Satipo Road Bird Watching Tour in Central Peru

This moderately paced 5-day Birding Central Peru on Satipo Road Tour is available on request, on which you can expect to see around 250 species of birds, including a dozen or so endemics and opportunities for bird photography.

The birding on Satipo Road is considered to be every bit as good as spending time on the more famous Manu Road. The road to the town of Satipo cuts through pristine habitat in the central part of Peru, from a height of 3,600m down to around 1,000m. On this less trodden birding route you can find many of the endemic birds of Peru. Many of these have only recently been discovered for science and some have not yet even been named!

This birding Central Peru tour provides chances to view Chestnut Antpitta, Bay Antpitta, Tchudi’s Tapaculo, Junin Tapaculo, Jalca Tapaculos, Black-spectacled Brush-Finch, Marcapata Spinetail, Unstreaked Tit-Spinetail, Cerulean-capped Manakin, Masked Fruiteater, Creamy-bellied Antwren, Eye-ringed Thistletail, Mantaro Wren, Mantaro Thornbird, Fire-throated Metaltail, Yellow-scarfed Tanager and around 30 species of hummingbirds.

Hummingbird feeders have been set up in the area, as well as fruit feeders to attract tanagers and habituated antpittas. For this reason, taking photos of these iconic birds is relatively simple and five days are all you need to collect memories to last a lifetime. It is very likely that Satipo Road will eventually become a bird photography hotspot in Central Peru, so now's the time to get in at the beginning!

All-in-all, birding Central Peru offers fantastic opportunities to see an abundant selection of birds within reasonably easy reach of Lima, staying at good value, comfortable accommodation.

Birding Central Peru on Satipo Road highlights include:

A lesser known, but highly productive, alternative to Manu Road
The experience of birding in pristine Peruvian countryside
Easy access from the capital, Lima, with no need for internal flights
Great photo opportunities at specialist feeders for hummingbirds and tanagers

The price of tour is based on four people on the tour. With few participants there is a surcharge. For example with two people in the group the surcharge is $400/person and with three people in the group $150/person.

As an alternative to a purely birdwatching itinerary, why not have a look at Peru Birding and Culture Tour: Nazca, Titicaca and Machu Picchu?

Alternative tour name: Central Peru Birdwatching Tour

Day 1

Day 1 - Alto Pichita Reserve above San Ramon for Creamy-bellied Antwren, Maybe Chestnut-crested Cotinga. Oxapampa, Antenna road in late PM. Cloud forest Screech-Owl

At Alto Pichita above San Ramon we should find Tanager flocks, Cremy-bellied Antwren, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Lanceolated Monklet, Inca Flycatcher, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Blackish Pewee and Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater. In the afternoon we reach Ulcumare Lodge in Oxapampa where we shall do some additional birding and look for Cloud-Forest Screech-Owl.

Day 2

Day 2 - Antenna AM. PM. Oxapampa-Satipo road. Night in Satipo

If accessible we shall do the Antenna road, often it isn't. If not we shall bird around the lodge to start. Targets include Olive-tufted Flycatcher, Andean Guan, Scaly-naped Parrot, Black-winged Parrot, Barred Parakeet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Collared Inca, Pasco (Oxapampa) Rufous Antpitta, Bay Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Lachrymose Tanager, Peruvian Wren, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, and more.

Midmorning we shall drive on the new Oxapampa-Villa Rica road.There is remarkably good birding along this road. Birds seen here include: White-capped Tanager, Golden-headed Quetzal, Long-tailed Sylph, Olivaceous Greenlet, Bay Antpitta, Red-throated Caracara, White-winged Becard, Blue and Black Tanager. Around midday we will reach Villa Rica that has a splendid view over Laguna Oconal, which will be explored for Least Grebe, Blackish Rail and Wattled Jacana. We continue in the afternoon to Satipo passing through coffee plantations that provide additional possibilities. Night in Satipo. Hotel San Luis.

Day 3

Day 3 - Satipo road to Apaya

Targets: Blue-browed Tanager, Russet Antshrike, Lanceolated Monklet, Rufous-sided Crake, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Umbrellabird, Fasciated Tiger-Heron. Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Hairy-crested Antbird (foothill form), Peruvian Piedtail. Afternoon birding the mid section of the road to Apaya village with Peruvian Tyrannulet, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Versicolored Barbet, Solitary Eagle, Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Crested Quetazal, Torrent Duck, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer. Night in Apaya at the communal basic guest house.

Day 4

Day 4 - Andamarca valley. Return to Apaya

Early morning start for Andamarca valley. The climate is warmer and drier here. Many new species to science have been found here in recent years such as Black-spectacled Brush-Finch, a new Thryothorus wren and a new Thornbird. There may be more surprises. Since habitat is so different many species will be added to the list. Possibilities include Andean Ibis, White-winged Black.Tyrant, Black-backed Grosbeak, Golden-billed Saltator and others. Night in Apaya at the communal basic guest house.

Day 5

Day 5 - High altitude birding for Eye-ringed Thistletail, Millpo Tapaculo and Fire-throated Metaltail

Birding Carrizales in the morning for Fiery-throated Metaltail, Eye-ringed Thistletail, obscura form of Rufous Antpitta, Pardusco, Tchudis and Millpo Tapaculo, Golden-plumed Parakeet and more.

Return to Lima via Ticlio pass. Lots on highland birds en route. Don't schedule international flights from Lima airport before 11 PM. Plan your international flights accordingly. Best perhaps to add a night in Lima. If you continue with our Santa Eulalia and Marcapomacocha extension we will spend the night in Chosica. Cost: $45 for hotel and dinner.