North-west 14 day birding tour

(For short endemic and interesting species birdlist  by area, please remit to the end of this page. Full birdlists will be given upon arrival)

 

BRIEF SUMMARY


The North-West of Venezuela is one of the world’s most biodiverse territories in the whole world. This is due to the high-altitude mountain range of The Tropical Andes, the Maracaibo Lake basin and the flooded flatlands of Los Llanos.

In this 14-day package the group is picked up from the  airport and flown the next day to the airport in el Vigia. From here, they will take a car towards the beautiful mountain city of Merida, located in the heart of the Venezuelan Andes.
 

Once there, the group will depart towards Catatumbo. On the way to this beautiful location,  the group will visit La Azulita one of the best places for bird watching in the country due to the fact that it’s a resting place for many birds undertaking either internal or external migrations.  Two days will be spent in this magical cloud forest.

Upon arrival in Catatumbo,
the birders will get on a boat and go down Concha River up to Maracaibo lake where they’ll spend the night on a Palafito (house built on top of the water). They will then to go back to Merida for the other part of the tour.
After a brief rest in Merida, the guest depart towards Los llanos. On the way, the group will cross the mountain range making several stops along the way.  La Mucuy, The Mucubaji lagoon, San Isidro, Calderas will be places of great importance
due to their different altitudinal ranges and ecosystems that hold many species of both rare and endemic species.


After in los llanos the group will spend a couple of days birding the area and then take the plane in Barinas which will take them back to Caracas to continue with their international connections.


  The pax will be accompanied at all times by our expert bilingual guide who will show them the different species of birds.

 

DETAILED ITINERARY


Day 1:

- Arrival at Caracas international Airport. Transfer to local hotel. Either Edgar or his Assistant will be there waiting for you, to take you to a local hotel for dinner and rest.


Day 2:

  1. -Transfer to national airport for domestic flight towards the city of Merida.

  2. -Arrival at Hotel Belenzate in the morning.

  3. -City tour of Merida and lunch in typical restaurant.

  4. -Return to Hotel for briefing of the entire trip and handout birdlists per region. Each member will receive a full birdlist of each area. Afternoon birding can be done in the Hotel Gardens and surroundings.

- Equipment check and preparation for La Azulita and Catatumbo trip next day.


Day 3:

- The first birding morning is done in ULA pine tree forest. This location is an experiment of the University of Los Andes to study the growing process of several species of European pine trees and their adaptability to the Andes cloud forest ecosystem. The forest has a varied range of species since it’s located in the mid range altitude in the tropical Andes.

- Arrival at Posada La Bravera. A nice calming hostel design for birding groups, a perfect hummingbird’s spot. Birding afternoon is done by the restaurant area, teaming with hummingbirds either local or from North America (depending on season).


Day 4:

  1. -Early birding in the morning in the Bravera birding trails, followed by a plentiful  lunch before the walking the Chorotal trail in the afternoon

  2. -Walk of the Chorotal road. This road goes down from an altitude of 2500 mts to about 500.   Meandering down the cloud forest. Great opportunity for mixed species flock.

  3. -Arrival at Posada El Tao.


Day 5:

  1. -Birding morning in the Tao trail.

  2. -After lunch and rest. Departure towards Catatumbo

  3. -Afternoon Birding Safari on Concha river.

  4. -In Catatumbo the group stays on a “Palafito” which is basically a house built on top of the waters of Maracaibo lake. This is a bit modest but serves well for birding purposes. In this location the group will camp out on a palafito and sleep in hammocks around the house.

  5. -After a great BBQ on the palafito’s dock, a night safari will take the group into concha river for nocturnal birding.


Day 6:

  1. -Early birding safari to la Boyera looking for Northern Screamer and Collared Aracari.

  2. -In the afternoon We drive back towards Merida. According to weather the guest might stop at Caparu Lake for afternoon birding.

  3. -Arrival at hotel for comfortable rest.


Day 7:

- Departure towards La Mucuy

  1. -La Mocuy is one of the places with the biggest bird research project in Venezuela. The birding area of la Mocuy is one of the most important birding spots in the country. After lunch we continue birding this area. Many endemic and special especies.


Day 8:

  1. -After breakfast, we go towards the high mountains and visit Laguna Mucubaji,  a beautifull little lake located at 3.600 mts altitude. Nice birding spot for the Great Thrush. Andean teal and other Anseriformes.

  2. -Lunch in Hotel Los Frailes a very famous spot for bird watchers in Venezuela. It’s the common grounds of the uncommon Swordbilled Hummingbird as well as several diglossas or flower piercers of the area. All these birds around the Hotel Gardens at 3000 mts altitude.


Day 9:

- Birding walk in the Gustavo’s birding trail for the morning session followed by a transfer to Hotel Santo domingo for lunch and rest.

  1. -In the afternoon a walk to las Piedras bridge to watch the torrent duck and torrent flycatcher at 2500 Mts.


Day 10:

- 4 am morning departure towards San Isidro to spot the Andean Cock of the Rock. The San Isidro Trail will take the group into a Andean cock of the rock reproduction lek located in the heart of the cloud forest.

- In the afternoon we visit the Altamira birding trail, which is one of Hilty’s favorite spots for bird watching.

-The night here is spent at Grados Adventure camp.


Day 11:

  1. -Birding morning in Grados birding trails.

  2. -Departure towards Los Llanos

  3. -Arrival at los llanos in the afternoon. Birding is done on the road to los llanos. A beautiful birding afternoon on horse back to finish the day in a great way.


Day 12:

  1. -Los Llanos is truly a birder’s paradise and the perfect way to spend the last two days of this trip. A boat safari on Guaritico river and its Gallery Forest open the day to one of the most beautiful ecosystem in the world. The Venezuelan flatlands. This land full of changes will definitely be a great asset to end of this trip.

  2. -In the Afternoon will go to El Picao, a place where we can see large groups of Ciconiformes flying to their resting places.


Day 13:

  1. -Final birding morning in the forest.

  2. -Brunch and final meal of the trip, cocktail and live music To celebrate the end of the birding trip

  3. -Transfer To Barinas National Airport for domestic flight towards caracas.

  4. -Transfer to Hotel for final evening.


Day 14:

  1. -Transfer to Airport for international connection.

WHAT’S INCLUDED


- All transportation either on car, boat and domestic flights.

- All domestic transportation taxes.

- All activities mentioned on the tour.

- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

- Soft drinks along transfers.

- All accommodation in hotels and camps.

- A professional English speaking guide will accompany the group at all times

- Entrance fee to National Parks


WHAT’S “NOT” INCLUDED


- Flight for Origin to Caracas

- International exit taxes.

- Alcoholics beverages.

- Entrance fees to nightclubs and bars

- Snacks along the transfers

- Tips for local guides (to tip the guide is a sign of a job well done)


WHAT TO BRING


- Mosquito repellent

- Small Sleeping Bag

- Headlight or Flashlight

- Sandals

- Water bottle

- Shorts or swimming suit

- Rain Jacket

- Fleece

- Hat or cap

- Sun Protection

- Dry bag

PAX NUMBER & PRICE

Small groups from 1 to 6 people.

2500 US$ p/p (2 or more people)

2800 US$ (one person)

For more Information read “In and Out Venezuela”

Contact us../www.pitangus.org/Contact_us.html