Grand Bolivia: Part I - September 2026
Dates: September 9 - 23 2026
Leader: Andrew Whittaker
E-bird
Total Species: 332 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
The tour’s main highlight, as always, was our excellent, prolonged studies of our two most sought-after targets: the iconic endemic macaws! The inter-Andean dry valleys are home to the Red-fronted Macaw, an artist’s dream, with a palette of outstanding, breathtaking, and vivid colors. It has to be the most beautiful of all macaws! Meanwhile, deep in the remote Bolivian Pantanal, we marveled at excellent studies of several endangered Blue-throated Macaws among the palm islands. Without a doubt, if you enjoy parrots, especially macaws, this is the trip for you, as we drooled over no fewer than SEVEN fabulous macaw species!
The birding was enthralling as we explored an incredible variety of habitats, from lush Yungas Forest and Chaco Serrano to Chiquitania, inter-Andean dry valleys, and the vast Pantanal wetlands, simply teeming with wildlife. Together, we enjoyed countless avian and mammalian highlights, including many seldom-seen South American gems amid such dramatic scenery.
On our first full day, we left bustling Santa Cruz for Refugio Los Volcanes, an isolated paradise bordering a national park, with one dirt road winding in and out of this secluded valley of breathtaking beauty. The lodge offers an incredible, gobsmacking view of giant sandstone cliffs on three sides, surrounded by a carpet of rich Yungas Forest and wild, enchanting streams. Despite heavy rains, we still enjoyed some magical species, such as Military Macaws, Channel-billed Toucan, White-throated Piping Guans, Double-toothed Kite, Blue-crowned Trogon, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Green-cheeked Parakeet, Red-necked Woodpecker, Plush-crested Jays, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Slaty Gnateater, and Short-tailed Antthrush.
Leaving this paradise, we gradually climbed in elevation, following a lush river valley with spectacular cliffs and forest before the terrain progressively became drier until we emerged into the stark inter-Andean valleys. Within this rain-shadow area, the vegetation is desert-like, causing a very dramatic change in the mix of birdlife. One of my trip highlights is always our visit to the excellent conservation lodge that protects the enigmatic, endangered Red-fronted Macaws while helping the local village community. WOW! These spectacular macaws certainly did us proud, with mega views as they came in to roost against a backdrop of such stunning sandstone cliffs! The following morning, the spectacle from the newly constructed blind was absolutely mind-blowing as we enjoyed point-blank views of a feeding flock of around 65 of these magnificent birds!
The spectacular cliffs held several communal colonies of nesting endemic Cliff Parakeets and their thorny twig nests. From the lodge’s shaded veranda, with our thirst-quenching drinks, we enjoyed non-stop activity at the feeders, which rewarded us with White-fronted Woodpecker, endemic Bolivian Blackbird and Gray-crested Finch, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, and Golden-billed Saltator. Birding our way out, we relished Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, White-tipped Plantcutter, pairs of Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, Spot-backed (Chaco) Puffbirds, Blue-tufted Starthroat, Ultramarine Grosbeak, and Black-and-chestnut and Ringed Warbling Finches.
We retraced our steps to the quaint, historic town of Samaipata and continued to our delightful, family-run lodge nestled above the town, a marvelous base. Here, we explored both the nearby cloud forest and the interesting Tucumano Forest and its delightful, isolated lake. Highlights included a trip-first Geoffroy’s Daggerbill, plus Yungas Guan, Ocellated Piculet, Moss-backed Sparrow, Bolivian Earthcreeper, Spot-breasted Thornbird, Giant Antshrike, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Masked Trogon, Yungas Manakin, Fulvous-headed Brushfinch, Bolivian Warbling Finch, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, and the rare Green-throated Tanager. We all certainly enjoyed the great hospitality and cuisine at our lodge, too.
On our way to Santa Cruz, we had good looks at the localized White-bellied Nothura before a well-earned afternoon rest in our plush hotel. Early the next morning, we explored grasslands close to the airport, finding several Greater Rheas, Whistling Heron, Burrowing Owls, and Campo Flickers. Following our flight via Cochabamba, we arrived in the bustling capital of Trinidad, the gateway to the famous Bolivian Pantanal, and checked into our comfortable base.
On our first full morning, we visited a private ranch deep in the Bolivian Pantanal, where local park guides gave us the great privilege of enjoying the fantastic endemic Blue-throated Macaws. WOW! We were extremely blessed to see several of these mega-rare endemic macaws so well! Excellent looks at the endemic Río Beni titi monkey were exceptional, too!
Other species abounded here, including Jabiru Stork, charismatic and enormous Southern Screamers, Laughing Falcon, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Red-and-green, Blue-and-yellow, and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Campo Flickers, Sunbittern, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, the neat Red-billed Scythebill (always a favorite), Chotoy Spinetail, Mato Grosso Antbird, White-rumped and Gray Monjitas, Yellowish Pipit, and Orange-backed Troupial. Also present was the near-endemic Rufous (Gray-crested) Cachalote, split by Kevin and me when we elevated cristata to full species status in 2000 (in The Condor), distinguishing it from the Caatinga Cachalote of northeastern Brazil, a Brazilian endemic.
Over the next couple of days, this super-diverse region, dominated by rich marshes, really did us proud, producing a non-stop stream of more than 130 species alone! The list includes far too many highlights to name them all, but here are a few. Waterbirds were abundant, including Plumbeous, Buff-necked, and Green Ibises, Bare-faced Ibis, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, and stately Maguari Storks. Other highlights included Yellow-collared Macaw, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, Ladder-tailed Nightjar (a trip first), migrant Upland Sandpipers, Savanna Hawk, Long-winged Harrier, Scarlet-headed Blackbirds, Orange-headed and Hooded Tanagers, White-bellied Seedeater, and Rusty-collared Seedeater. Black-capped Donacobius was always a crowd-pleaser. We were extremely privileged to perhaps have been the first-ever group to see the mega-rare Beni Greenlet so well and to be able to name it—a new species only described and named in January of this year! We also enjoyed superb looks at Black Howlers.
Nearby rich gallery forest and a private reserve yielded stunning looks at Razor-billed Curassow, Blue-crowned and Black-tailed Trogons, odd Hoatzins, Black-fronted Nunbird, White-wedged Piculet, the endemic form of Plain Softtail, Band-tailed Antbird, Bolivian Slaty Antshrike, Dull-capped Attila, Yellow-browed Tody-Tyrant, and Velvet-fronted Grackle, an isolated form! We even found South America’s smallest bird, the Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, as well as the localized Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin and dazzling male Band-tailed Manakins.
Our afternoon boat trip was a great success, with magnificent encounters with Amazon Pink River Dolphins, herds of Capybara, and a group of rare Bolivian Red Howlers! Other highlights included Spix’s Guan, Sungrebe, Green Ibis, Anhinga, Gray-cowled Wood-Rail, Large-billed Tern, Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers, White-winged Swallow, and wonderful studies of a pair of threatened Orinoco Geese. We also enjoyed great studies of a family of the recently split Bolivian Pink River Dolphin, a rare, endangered species!
Day-by-Day Summary
September 9 - Fly to Bolivia.
September 10 - Arrive Santa Cruz with afternoon birding Santa Cruz Botanical gardens.
September 11 - Following breakfast drive onto the spectacular Los Volcanes Lodge with pm birding.
September 12 - Birding this impressive area.
September 13 - Drive onto Samaipata with lunch before carrying onto the Inter Andean Dry Valleys and the quaint Red-fronted Macaw Lodge. Late afternoon enjoying the macaws coming into roost.
September 14 - Spectacular hide views of Red-fronted Macaws and birding at the lodge feeders before heading back birding on route to our lovely El Pueblito Hotel in Samaipata. Late afternoon exploring scrub area near lodge.
September 15 - Birding Laguna Quirusillas all day.
September 16 - Birding the gold road cloud forests.
September 17 - Early start to avoid landslides back to Santa Cruz with birding on route at Limoncito. Afternoon arriving in Santa Cruz with nice Bolivian meal before checking into our comfortable hotel.
September 18 - Early morning birding the grasslands near the airport before catching our Trindad flight. Late afternoon birding the rich Bolivian Pantanal wetlands.
September 19 - Driving deep into the pantanal to explore the isolated Palm Islands to enjoy the magnificent Blue-throated Macaws. Afternoon birding the marshes.
September 20 - Birding the rich gallery forest of Loma Suarez. Afternoon we enjoyed a relaxing boat trip.
September 21 - Birding Loma Suarez and Chchini Ecological Reserve. Afternoon Pantanal marshes.
September 22 - Morning birding the Panatal Marshes before catching our early afternoon flight onto Cochabamba. Night hotel.
September 23 - People not on part 2 flights homebound.
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous)
Rio Beni Titi Monkey (Callicebus modestus) – A really cool look at this ENDEMIC.
Hooded (Brown) Capuchin (Cebus apela)
Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya)
Bolivian Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta sara)
Bolivian Squirrel (Sciurus ignitus)
Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
Bolivian River Dolphin (Inia boliviensis)