Grand Bolivia: Part II - September 2026
Dates: September 21 -October 3, 2026
Leader: Andrew Whittaker
E-bird
Total Species: 237 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
Bolivia certainly continued to excel itself as we explored the scenically spectacular Andean realm, visiting many pristine, bird-rich habitats that produced countless cool endemics, near-endemics, and many lifers for all. From breathtaking cloud forest stretching as far as the eye could see to dry and wet Puna among towering, snow-capped Andean peaks, and finally to my favorite, the magnificent and famous Lake Titicaca (with its own flightless grebe), Bolivia’s highlands never let us down. They are certainly a botanist’s paradise, too, with colorful orchids, fascinating passion flowers, wild fuchsia, and gorgeous flowering cacti all adding an exceptional blaze of color.
We began the phenomenal second part of our Bolivian birding bonanza in the bustling city of Cochabamba. We started by birding the spectacular cloud forest along a secluded valley, where ancient trees were dripping with exotic, colorful bromeliads, orchids, and mosses. Avian gems included Andean Ibis, Golden-headed Quetzal, White-capped Dipper, Bolivian Brushfinch, and colorful tanagers, including mega views of Chestnut-bellied and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanagers. Other highlights included Tyrian Metaltail, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Gould’s Inca, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Slender-tailed Woodstar, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Pale-legged Warbler, Spectacled Redstart, Blue-backed Conebill, and Olivaceous Siskin.
Breathtaking Cerro Tunari was up next, with its magnificent scenery, as we enjoyed another two days exploring the rich, isolated agricultural valleys and highland Polylepis forests. We enjoyed a host of cool endemics and much more! Despite the dry conditions and few flowers, our most-wanted hummingbirds offered the spectacular colors of Red-tailed Comets, while the odd, almost swift-like flight of Giant Hummingbirds kept us spellbound. Other noteworthy encounters included the cool-looking, near-endemic Rufous-bellied (Saltator) Mountain-Tanager, Cochabamba Mountain-Finch, and looks at the Sierran form of Olive-crowned Crescentchest. We continued to produce with Gray-hooded Parakeet, Gray-bellied Flowerpiercer, Brown-capped and Tawny Tit-Spinetails, great looks at Puna Tapaculo, Rufous-sided, Ringed, and Bolivian Warbling-Finches, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Greenish Yellow-Finch, Black-hooded Sierra-Finch, and dainty Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrants. Climbing higher into the breathtaking scenery of the dry Puna, dotted with scarlet-flowering cacti, we enjoyed Mountain Caracara.
A stop at the city lake graced us with Chilean Flamingo, Puna Ibis, Plumbeous Rail, Slate-colored Coot, Andean Duck, Rosy-billed Pochards, Cinnamon Teal, White-cheeked Pintail, Andean Gull, and Black-winged Stilts among Wilson’s Phalaropes.
The next morning, we took our short flight to La Paz and made our way through the city to our lovely lakeside hotel on the banks of the famous Lake Titicaca. We eagerly explored the reed-fringed lake and hotel grounds, which resulted in, yes, of course, magnificent studies of the flightless Titicaca Grebe, including three cute, few-days-old young on their mother’s back, being fed by both proud parents. We also observed Cinereous Harrier, Spot-winged Pigeon, Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Black Siskin, Black-throated Flowerpiercer, and Cinereous Conebill. The reeds offered colorful Many-colored Rush Tyrant, the clicking Wren-like Rushbird, Slate-colored Coot, Andean Duck, Puna Teal, and close views of Plumbeous Rail with its multicolored bill.
The following morning, we drove past spectacular, towering, snow-capped Illampu Mountain, peaking at a massive 20,892 feet (6,368 m), on our way to bird the slopes and farmland near Sorata. En route, we enjoyed MEGA-close looks at a pair of Aplomado Falcons plucking a freshly caught pigeon! Sorata Valley rewarded us with magical views of the rare and often hard-to-see endemic Berlepsch’s Canastero and the incredible, mind-blowing endemic Black-hooded Sunbeam. Other noteworthy sightings included Andean Flicker and White-winged Black Tyrant. At an isolated high-altitude lake, we were happy to find the Andean form of Silvery Grebe, Giant Coot, and Crested Ducks. Additionally, this Andean form of Common Miner is probably a good candidate for a future split!
Exploring the shores of enchanting Lake Titicaca rewarded us with flocks of spectacular Chilean Flamingos, great looks at Darwin’s Nothura, Andean Gull, White-tufted Grebe, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Lapwing, Andean Swallow, Puna Pipit, and Yellow-winged Blackbirds.
Early the next morning, we passed La Paz before ascending the other side and climbing through the spectacular La Cumbre Mountain Pass. On a remote side road, Indio and I searched the high bogs in this desolate moonscape for seedsnipe, but sadly, we had no luck. We were happy to encounter high-altitude species such as Glacier Finch, Streak-throated Canastero, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, Cream-winged Cinclodes, and Taczanowski’s and White-fronted Ground-Tyrants.
We continued descending through this simply breathtaking, scenic valley, with its mountains and impressive scree slopes, to bird the rich Pongo Valley. First up were Scribble-tailed Canastero and White-winged Cinclodes. Stunning flowering cacti attracted Andean Hillstars. However, best of all was a pair of the poorly known Boulder Finch!
We celebrated a great morning by enjoying some of the world’s best freshly fried trout fillets and plantains. A quick stop at a new lodge provided Andean Guan, Large-tailed Dove, White-capped Dipper, and, at the feeders, striking Gould’s Inca and Tyrian Metaltail. Later, we descended through mile after mile of spectacular cloud forest until we reached the lowlands in Coroico. Adjacent to our hotel, we drooled over spectacular Versicolored Barbet, Golden-olive and Smoky-brown Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Siskin, and Southern Emerald (Black-throated) Toucanet.
Over the next three days, we eagerly explored the truly magnificent cloud forests along the Death Road, with breathtaking scenery along beautiful ridgetops cloaked in stunted cloud forest and drenched in the incredible, vibrant purple colors of Sobralia orchids. Clumps of bromeliads, dense bamboo thickets, and a wealth of wondrous passion flowers added to the magic.
All the important elevational zones blessed us with exciting mixed-species flocks and brightly colored tanagers, such as Scarlet-bellied and Hooded Mountain-Tanagers, Golden-collared and Golden-naped Tanagers, Swallow Tanager, and Saffron-crowned Tanager. Other highlights included White-throated Hawk, Barred Fruiteater, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, White-collared Jay, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Black-throated Thistletail, Diademed Tapaculo, Scimitar-winged Piha, Masked Trogon, Citrine Warbler, and many more.
On our last morning, we birded the high, stunted elfin forest. Here, we were treated to a spectacular flock of huge, colorful Hooded Mountain-Tanagers, a Great Sapphirewing attacking a Bicolored Hawk, and a Lesser Violetear to keep us happy. Two more naughty antpittas, Undulated and Stripe-headed, responded but refused to show themselves! Higher up, the seedsnipe were sadly absent. However, we were blessed with great studies of Puna, Rufous-naped, and White-fronted Ground-Tyrants. By mid-afternoon, we had returned to our pleasant hotel in La Paz, where we enjoyed our final meal and exchanged fond farewells before heading home with many wonderful memories.
Group’s Top Seven Birds:
GOLDEN-COLLARED TANAGER
TITICACA GREBE (NEAR-ENDEMIC)
BARRED FRUITEATER
VERSICOLORED BARBET
BLACK-THROATED THISTLETAIL (ENDEMIC)
GOULD’S INCA
BOULDER FINCH (tied with MANY-COLORED RUSH TYRANT)
Day-by-Day Summary
September 21 - Fly into Bolivia.
September 22 - Arrive Cochabamba.
September 23 - Cloud Forest birding at Bajo Monte Punku and nearby lake.
September 24 - Birding up the Cerro Tunari slopes, Polylepis forest. Afternoon visiting the Laguna Alalay.
September 25 - Returning up the Cerro Tunari slopes again catching up on species missed.
September 26 - Flying early onto La Paz and driving onto our pleasant lake side lodge on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Birding the famous lake side.
September 27 - Birding the Sorata valley and vicinity and high elevation lake. Afternoon birding the shores of Lake Titicaca.
September 28 - Heading through La Paz early to bird the highlands of La Cumbre pass and Pongo Valley. Fantastic trout meal before checking out a new lodge and its bird feeders before dropping down to our nice hotel in Coroico.
September 29 - Birding the famous death road and its magical lower tropical Yungas cloud forests working our way up in altitude. Lunch at Jucumari Lodge and rest of afternoon birding around the lodge its forest and feeders.
September 30 - Morning birding the middle elevations of the death road. Lunch in our excellent French restaurant. Mid -afternoon birding around the forests adjacent to our hotel.
October 1 - Upper death road birding. afternoon again around our forested hotel in Coroico.
October 2 - Leaving for La Paz with birding on route in the stunted Elfin forest and dry Paramo before arriving in La Paz and checking into our comfortable hotel with a great farewell meal.
October 3 - Homebound flights.
October 4 - Arriving in the US.
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Bolivian Squirrel (Sciurus ignitus)
Southern Viscacha (Lagidium viscacia)