Bolivian Highlands: Oct 10—25, 2009

Epic transect from lowlands to altiplano features some of the Andes most spectacular scenery and many range-restricted birds of high deserts, cloud forests, and puna grasslands.

Often overlooked by travelers, landlocked Bolivia boasts an impressive list of more than 1,300 species. This trip concentrates on the mountainous western half of the country where most of Bolivia's endemic or near-endemic species occur, and provides a spectacular elevational survey of the Bolivian Andes from the lowlands and foothills to the high altiplano.

Our route begins in the lowlands in the surprisingly modern city of Santa Cruz and proceeds westward, climbing first into the Andean foothills and lower slopes, and finally emerging onto the stark altiplano at the capital city of La Paz. This step-by-step increase in elevation allows travelers plenty of time to acclimate to the very high elevations encountered in and around La Paz at the end of the trip.

The range of habitats on this tour is large. Beginning in grassland and scrub near Santa Cruz, the route progresses westward through dry and moist forest, a mid-elevation, rain-shadow desert, then cloud forests at around eight to nine thousand feet, upper montane scrub and stunted humid forest, polylepis woodland at treeline, and finally puna grassland at 12,000 feet.

This trip is intended to be a broad survey of the bird life of the Bolivian Andes and we believe you will be impressed by the birding. We are sure to see Andean Condors and, if water levels are favorable, we should see all three species of resident flamingos, as well as the flightless grebe on Lake Titicaca. Bolivia offers a stellar array of hummingbirds, antbirds, gnateaters, tapaculos, and funariids, as well as colorful mountain-tanagers, and many small finches. Numerous endemic or range-restricted species are possible on this trip as well. Among the many sites planned on this itinerary is one out of Cochabamba that is considered one of the best birding roads in all of South America!

Expect some terrific scenery, relatively easy walking terrain, and surprisingly good accommodations, as well as some long days. Some elevations on the final days of the tour are at or in excess of 14,000 feet.

Remarkably good accommodations; easy walking on roadsides and trails; roads generally good; travel by bus; begins in lowlands, ascends in stages to allow acclimatization to extremely high elevations.