Arrival in Lima. Afternoon flight to Huanuco and meet the group at the hotel in Huanuco this evening. D

Two full days to explore the forests near the Carpish Pass. We will walk the famous Paty Trail. After a few days in arid habitats birding the cloud- forest here will make a pleasant change. We shall encounter some mixed feeding flocks here and the diversity of birds in these humid habitats will be evident. Yellow-whiskered and Grey-hooded Bush-Tanagers, Black-capped, Oleaginous, Black-eared and Drab Hemispingus and Beryl-spangled Tanagers, Hooded, Lacrimose and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanagers could be seen. We will be alert for another attractive flock member here as well, but the Yellow-scarfed Tanager often passes unoticed lower down as the rest of the birds utilise the higher strata of the trees. More challenging birding is required here and at other elevations to see Trilling, Large-footed and Peruvian Rufous-vented Tapaculos and Rusty-breasted Antpitta. During these periods when we diligently stalk some of these shy creatures there will undoubtedly be passing flocks that may divert our attention momentarily. Furnariids like Streaked Tuftedcheeks and Pearled Treerunners will appear in between the bromeliad festooned limbs of the moss-covered trees, Green-and-black and Band-tailed Fruiteaters give away their prescence with the high pitched calls and with luck we’ll encounter the endemic Masked Fruiteater here as well. Peruvian Tyrannulet is just one of the other endemics to be found here as well as Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Inca Flycatcher and Peruvian Wrens. Another species we will be particularly keen to find is the Masked Saltator. More widespread species typical of these subtropical forests in Central Peru that we may see include White-rumped Hawk, Powerful Woodpecker, Rufous Spinetail, Striped Treehunter, Uniform and Variable Antshrikes, Long-tailed Antbird (where bamboo is prevalent), Undulated Antpitta, White-tailed and Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulets, Streak-throated and Smoky Bush-Tyrants. A group of birds that is a great favourite of all birders - trogons - is well represented here with Golden-headed Quetzal and Masked Trogon and the irresistible Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan will add yet more colour to an impressive cast of Neo-tropical gaudy bird species! We may be brought back down to earth with some of the Basileuterus warblers such as Citrine and Russet-crowned Warblers, but the next White-eared Solitaire may be just around the next corner! On the last day we’ll head for Tingo Maria and the worlds most spectacular Oilbird Cave. This is truly a magical cave and the sight of hundreds of Oilbirds wheeling around is not to be forgotten. We’ll spotlight the birds on their breeding ledges and spend the afternoon birding a wide track possibilities include Blue-headed Macaw, Scaled Pigeon, Military Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Rufous-crested Coquette, Black-mandibled Toucan, Violaceous and White-tailed Trogons, Lafrasnaye’s Piculet, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Dot-winged Antwren, Warbling Antbird, Coraya Wren, Buff-rumped Warbler, the endemic Huallaga Tanager and more. First night in Huanuco and second night at the tropical Madera Verde Lodge in Tingo Maria B:L:D

Morning at Chinchivito Gorge or Paty Trail depending on what species we still need to see. We’ll return to Carpish for a last afternoon on the Paty Trail. Night in Huanuco. B:L:D

Early hours birding near the Carpish Tunnel then travel by bus and 4 x 4 jeep to the trailhead near Bosque Unchog. We’ll spend the afternoon nearby whilst our cook team sets up our tented camp complete with dining tent, folding tables and chairs and camp toilet facilities. Night in Camp. B:L:D

Bosque Unchog: Thanks to expeditions by the Louisiana State University, this site attained ornithological fame when 4 new species to science were discovered here in the seventies. The most attractive of these is the stunning Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager. The others are not quite so fancy but both can be found on this isolated mountain. The Bay-vented Cotinga and the strange Pardusco are just two more of the special birds of Bosque Unchog. Obviously the remoteness of the area will dictate that we will have to camp, but this will be as comfortable as possible. Our field staff will prepare camp and food for us while we use our time to go birding. There is much else to see here.. the Rufous-browed Hemispingus and Coppery Metaltail are just two more Peruvian endemics that can be found a host of other species here: At the higehr elevations we will have a chance of seeing the suitably named Elfin Forest Tapaculo and at treeline the Line-fronted Canastero. In the taller forests on the mountain we may see the Rufous Antpitta that occurs on Unchog, probably a full species in its own right and definitely worth the effort that we will be making on one day at least. Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Golden-collared Tanager, Buff-breasted and Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanagers can be seen and they will be nice additions to our potentially spectacular list of tanagers here. We shall have a very busy few days here with Swallow-tailed Nightjars near our camp, looking for Bay and Chestnut Antpittas, White-chinned Thistletail, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast and others before our descent into the valley where the endemic Brown-flanked Tanager can be found. Nights in Tented Camp. B:L:D.

A last mornings birding at this mythical birding locality, and then return to Huanuco where we stay in our comfortable hotel. B:L:D

Today we will travel to Huaraz. Crossing the divide of the two mountain ranges that dominate this part of the tour - the Cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash. In the afternoon we’ll do some late high altitude birding for Ground-tyrants, Gray-breasted and Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. We should be at the comfortable Hotel Andino just after dark. Night Hotel Andino. B:L:D

Two full days birding the Andes of the Cordillera Blanca in the shadow of Peru’s highest peak, Huascaran. We will concentrate our birding efforts at Quebrada Llanganuco above the village of Yungay and the Polylepis groves here. It is not unusual to find Tit-like Dacnis where there are Gynoxis but it will be a bird endemic to Peru that will require some effort. The White-cheeked Cotinga is associated with mistletoe so we will locate its food-source as our best means of seeing this enigmatic bird. Other birds we may see here include Ancash Tapaculo and if we are really fortunate Koepcke's Screech-Owl can sometimes be found at a day-time roost. Other rare birds to look for include Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant in the Polylepis whilst Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch (endemic), Rufous-eared Brush-Finch (endemic) and Maranon Tit-Tyrants should be encountered. We shall also make a special effort to find the endemic Pale-tailed Canastero (the cinnamon-tailed form occurs here), another endemic as well as more widespread Andean birds. Hummers like Rainbow Starfrontlet, Andean Hillstar and Blue-mantled Thornbil are possible and as in most habitats here in South America there is always a good selection of tyrant-flycatchers, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant and Jelski's Chat-Tyrant can be seen in the cover of forest patches and scrub but we’ll scan the open areas for those ground-tyrants as Spot-billed, Rufous-naped and White-browed Ground-Tyrants are here too. All nights in our comfortable hotel in Huaraz. B:L:D

Today we’ll drive to Lima but break our journey with some birding stops including Lago Conococha where Andean waterfowl will be our interest. We should see many Andean Geese, Andean Ibis as well as Giant Coots. On the way into Lima we’ll visit the Laguna Paraiso for shorebirds, terns including Peruvian tern and others. We’ll arrive in Lima in time for flights home. B:L:

Arrival at the international airport in Lima and transfer to a nearby hotel. Overnight in Lima.