In Flight We depart from London Heathrow today on a lunchtime British Airways or American Airlines flight to Miami. After a transit period in Miami, we board our overnight American Airlines flight to the highest capital in the world, La Paz.

Upon arrival in La Paz, we disembark and board a short domestic flight bound for Cochabamba. Following arrival in Cochabamba, our base for four nights, we meet up with those who have just participated in the lowland’s itinerary. Our first birding destination is Laguna Alalay, 30 minutes to the south of Cochabamba. Our drive to the lake will provide opportunities to look for waterfowl such as Cinnamon, Puna and Speckled Teal, Yellow-billed and Whitecheeked Pintail, Red Shoveler, Andean Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Rosy-billed Pochard, White-tufted, Least and Pied-billed Grebe, Puna Ibis. Plumbeous Rail, Many-colored Rush-tyrant and Wren like Rushbird. The surrounding scrubby habitat around the lake holds species like White-tipped Plantcutter, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Blue-andyellow Tanager and Gray-crested Finch. After a gentle first day we overnight in Cochabamba at the Hotel Regina. Located in the temperate valleys of the central Andes, Cochabamba is commonly referred to as the city of eternal spring as it enjoys what is arguably the most pleasant year-round climate of any region in the country. The Department of Cochabamba offers access to all of the important habitats found throughout the Andes; from upper tropical, subtropical, and temperate forests on the wet eastern slopes to arid temperate scrub, puna grassland, and Polylepis woodland. Therefore, it should be no surprise that although being one of Bolivia’s smallest departments, more endemic species can be found in the Department of Cochabamba than anywhere else in Bolivia.

Cochabamba The next three days will be quite flexible, with the tour leader amending plans to fit in with weather and other local considerations. On one morning we leave very early in the morning (no later than 0500) to spend the day birdwatching in temperate forests at Tablas Monte along the new highway to Santa Cruz. Although this is only 70km away, it is a journey of 1 ½ - 2 hours due to the heavy traffic on the road. Birds which may be seen during the day include Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Great Sapphirewing, Hooded Mountain-Toucan, Light crowned Spinetail, Black-throated Thistletail Tour Itinerary Bolivia - Highlands 2 © Naturetrek (Cochabamba form), Rufous-faced Antpitta, Diademed Tapaculo, Rufous-bellied Bush-Tyrant and Gray-bellied Flower-piercer. On another day will be head up to Cerro Tunari. Species to anticipate here might include Andean Condor, Mountain Caracara, Andean Lapwing, Gray breasted Seedsnipe, Andean Gull, Picui Ground-Dove, Bare-faced Ground-Dove, Black-winged Ground-Dove, Gray-hooded Parakeet, Wedge-tailed Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Green-barred Woodpecker, Andean Flicker, Slender-billed Miner, Plain-breasted Earthcreeper, Rock Earthcreeper, Maquis Canastero, Cordilleran Canastero, Rufous Hornero, Brown-capped Tit Spinetail, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, White-fronted Ground-Tyrant, Brown backed Mockingbird, Black-hooded Sierra-Finch, White-winged Diuca-Finch, Short-tailed Finch, Bolivian Warbling-Finch, Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch, Black-and-chestnut Warbling-Finch, Cochabamba Mountain-Finch, Ringed Warbling-Finch, Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch and Bolivian Blackbird. On our third day in the region another 0500 start will see us heading to Miguelito (lower Cloud Forest) 2 ½ hours away along the new highway towards Santa Cruz. Our day’s birding might reveal Sickle-winged Guan, Blue-banded Toucanet, Solitary Eagle, Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, White-throated Quail-Dove, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Upland Antshrike, Yellow-rumped Antwren (rare), Ochre-breasted Antpitta (rare), Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, White-eared Solitaire and Straw-backed Tanager.

Oruro Today we leave Cochabamba and transfer to Oruro, a beautiful drive of some 230km (5 ½ hours) through the Bolivia Altiplano, with stops en route. Altiplano means “high plain” but in reality the landscape consists of valleys, rolling hills, salt flats, volcanoes, rivers, and lakes, which together provide habitat for birds such as Crested Duck, Puna Teal, Puna Flamingo, Andean Flamingo, Cinereous Harrier, Andean Avocet, Puna Plover, Andean Gull, Taczanowski's Ground Tyrant, Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant, Puna Ground-Tyrant, Andean Swallow, Short-billed Pipit, Correndera Pipit, and Yellow-winged Blackbird.

La Paz is a 5- or 6-hour drive from Oruro (295km), but we will e birding and stopping in-route, taking all day over the journey. Taking a picnic lunch with us, birds en-route might include the hard to see Darwin’s Nothura, Spotwinged Pigeon and other species such as Aplomado Falcon, Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Ash-breasted Sierra finch, Puna Plover (providing Villa Villa Lake has not dried up, which it sometimes does), Cinereous Harrier (rare), several ground tyrant species and Black Siskin amongst others. Nestling in a gaping canyon at an altitude of 3,600 metres, La Paz is commonly thought of as the world’s highest capital. In fact, Sucre is the capital of Bolivia but nevertheless La Paz boasts a series of records such as the world’s highest international airport, highest football stadium and highest golf-course! The city is overlooked by the snowcapped triple peak of 6,400-meter-high Mount Illimani, providing a wonderfully scenic background to our birdwatching activities in the altiplano. During the following days we will journey from the city to explore different facets of the Andean landscape beginning with an excursion into the foothills and mountain passes at the edge of the Bolivia - Highlands Tour Itinerary © Naturetrek 3 plateau. This final phase of the tour will further emphasize the ethnic origins of the country as we meet villagers dressed in traditional costume descending from mountain settlements to exchange goods at one of the rural markets, or enter villages where the style of life seems to have changed little over the centuries. In many of these remote communities, the ancient Aymara language is spoken in preference to Spanish. As Bolivia´s largest city, accommodations in La Paz range from budget to luxury, and everything in between. The hotel we have chosen for this tour is the Residencial Rosario, which is in an excellent location close to the craft markets. This is important as we routinely arrive late in the afternoon to La Paz, to have the markets close is handy. The hotel also has one of the best restaurants in La Paz; we are assured of excellent meals! We will be based in this hotel for the next four nights.

La Cumbre and the Yungas of La Paz We have two flexible days which we will use to explore in detail many of the excellent puna and cloud forest sites around La Paz, including La Cumbre, Valle de Choquetanga, Pongo, Unduavi, Velo de la Novia, Cotapata and Chuspipata. Some of the best birding at higher altitudes might include Andean Goose, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Gray-breasted Seedsnipe, Black-hooded Sunbeam, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Streak-throated Canastero, Crowned Chat-Tyrant, Chestnutcrested Cotinga (rare), Andean Swallow, Paramo Pipit, Drab Hemispingus, Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Chestnut bellied Mountain-Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, White-browed Conebill, Blackthroated Flowerpiercer, Moustached Flowerpiercer and Plushcap. Descending the road down the wet slopes towards the town of Coroico, there are four major habitats to concentrate upon: puna grassland and bogs above the tree line at around 4,600 meters (15,100 feet); shrubby precipitous canyons; stunted temperate forest with bamboo; and the subtropical “yungas” forests lower down. Descending 4,300 meters (14,100 feet) in justmeters, the road between La Paz and Coroico is considered to be one of the most spectacular in South America and it is frequented by mountain bikers. We won’t be travelling nearly as far down as Coroico itself but, if we’re lucky enough to hit some flocks, it promises to be a good day’s birding. For those preferring a temporary break from the birding, a travel agency located in the basement of our hotel in La Paz offers tours to the impressive pre-Incan ruins at Tiwanaku ($35 extra – payable locally) or for those wanting more time to see Lake Titicaca, the agency also offers full day tours to Titicaca, Copacabana and Isle del Sol ($66 or so extra, also payable locally).

In Flight Our flight to Miami (via Santa Cruz) departs at breakfast time. After a short transit in Miami, we board our overnight flight back to London.

London We arrive in London during the morning. Grading A traditional birding tour involving some very early starts (0430 – 0500) and late finishes. As with other South American birding itineraries “off the beaten track”, one should be prepared at times for some long drives along rough roads, simple accommodation and plenty of time spent on foot, occasionally on steep trails. Weather The weather in the altiplano can be very variable. In the Andean winter (i.e. outside the rainy season), the weather is cold and dry. However the temperature is very much influenced by the sun. When the sun is out it is very pleasant (18 degrees C). When it is cloudy or you are in the shade, it is much lower (8 degrees). The Andean “summer” is a bit of a misnomer as this is the wet season: cold and much precipitation. In short: be prepared for all eventualities! Clothing Please inspect the separate clothing list, sent to you on booking, thoroughly. Food & accommodation included in the price all accommodation and meals are included.