Bolivia
Foothill cloud forest, the condor cliffs, dry valleys and the Beni savanna
Foothill cloud forest, the condor cliffs, dry valleys and the Beni savanna
Seventeen days across the great habitat gradient of central Bolivia, from the Chiquitano dry forest around Santa Cruz up into the foothill cloud forest of Amboro and down to the flooded savannas of the Beni. The birding runs the full range of eastern-slope habitats and their near-endemics, anchored by two headline experiences: the Andean Condors that ride the thermals at the Codo de los Andes, and the conservation reserves of Asociacion Armonia, where both of Bolivia’s endemic macaws hold on. Expect roughly 350 to 450 species across cloud forest, dry valleys and palm savanna, with maned wolf and giant anteater among the mammals at Barba Azul. The route stays at low to moderate elevation throughout, so altitude is never a factor.
The Bolivian Amazon Basin Birding Expedition
Ecovoyager Experiences
Species you may spot along this route.
Critically endangered Bolivian endemic macaw with turquoise throat and bright yellow underparts.
Critically endangered Bolivian endemic macaw of the Inter-Andean Dry Valleys, smaller than the other macaws.
Sooty-brown Bolivian endemic blackbird of arid cliff country, often in small noisy flocks.
Bolivian endemic parakeet, split from the Monk Parakeet, nesting in rocky cliff crevices.
The largest flying bird in the Western Hemisphere, wings spanning up to three metres, soaring along Andean ridges.
The fastest animal on Earth, diving at over 300 km/h, slate-grey above with a black helmet.
Small black-and-white savanna tyrant, the male carrying absurdly long tail feathers held vertical in display.
Tiny cryptic savanna tyrant with a long spike-like tail, one of the most difficult Beni specialties.
Near-threatened grassland finch with a black mask, white throat, and warm buff underparts.
Large flightless ratite of South American grasslands, browsing the open savanna in small groups.
Striking upland goose with a white head, chestnut neck, and iridescent green-black wings.
Near-threatened long-distance Nearctic migrant shorebird, wintering in South American grasslands.
The tallest flying bird in South America, with a massive upturned black bill and an inflatable red neck ring.
Large grey South American heron with a black crown, the Neotropical counterpart of the Grey Heron.
Large primitive waterfowl with a long wiry forehead spike and unmistakable loud trumpeting calls.
Large grey-and-white screamer of southern South American wetlands, with a black neck ring and loud raucous calls.
Large slate-grey ibis with a white forehead patch, crown tuft, and deep resonant call, working wet grasslands.
Strange prehistoric-looking bird with a shaggy crest and blue face, placed in its own avian order.
Large white-and-black stork of South American wetlands, with a red facial skin and distinctive broken-winged flight display.
Tall red-gold canid of South American savannas with disproportionately long black legs, standing almost 90cm at the shoulder.
Large shaggy anteater with a tubular snout and bushy tail, plodding across the savanna in search of termite mounds.
The largest cat of the Americas, heavily built with a distinctive rosette coat pattern, apex predator of the Neotropical lowlands.
Medium-sized spotted cat of the Neotropics, nocturnal and solitary, regularly detected on Barba Azul camera traps.
Small reddish-brown forest deer with simple spike antlers, typically encountered singly along forest trails.
Dimorphic howler monkey, the adult male glossy black, the female buff-coloured, producing deep resonant territorial calls at dawn.
Bolivia Tour Details
Everything included in the tour, and what to budget separately.
Bolivia Tour Details
Transparent rates with no hidden costs.
| Group Size | Per Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveler | $14,200 | Per person, single occupancy |
| 2 travelers | $13,300 | Per person, double occupancy |
| 3 travelers | $10,400 | Per person, double occupancy |
| 4-6 travelers | $8,400 | Per person, double occupancyBest value |
| 7 travelers | $7,900 | Per person, double occupancy |
| 8 travelers | $7,650 | Per person, double occupancy |
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Destination
Each stop on this journey through Bolivia, and the country that ties them together.
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Everything you need to know before your journey. Can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch and we'll help.
How departures, pricing, and group size work on this expedition.
The dry season, roughly May to October, is the birding window, with the savanna firm underfoot and the condor and macaw activity at their best. October is ideal. The wet season closes many of the unpaved roads, so we do not run the trip then. Exact dates are set with you when you book.
We run it as a small-group expedition with a maximum of eight guests, four to six recommended for the best pace at the hides and on the trails. Private departures for couples, families, or photography groups can be arranged on request.
A deposit of $2,100 per person secures your place, with the balance due before departure. We confirm the full payment schedule when you book, and you can pay by whichever method suits you, whether card, bank transfer, or wire.
The hides, the trails, and the Barba Azul charter all work best with a small group, and the conservation reserves limit numbers by design. A smaller group also means better looks at skulking forest birds and a lighter footprint at sensitive sites.
What you can expect to see, and how the birding is run.
A typical count is 350 to 450 species across the cloud forest, dry valleys, and savanna, including several Bolivian endemics and near-endemics. The exact total depends on the season, the weather, and how much time the group gives to general birding alongside the headline targets.
Red-fronted Macaw at its breeding cliffs and Blue-throated Macaw at Barba Azul are both very reliable at the reserves that protect them. The Andean Condors at the Codo de los Andes are exceptional in dry-season conditions, though, as with any wild bird, never guaranteed.
The Recurvebill is the trickiest target of the trip, a bamboo specialist that can be hard to find when the bamboo is not seeding. We build two full days at Refugio Los Volcanes specifically to give the best possible chance at it and the other foothill near-endemics.
Yes. The hides at both Armonia reserves are built for photography, and the condor site offers close flight passes in good light. The pace is unhurried by design, with time at each site rather than a single night and a dash to the next.
How demanding the trip is, and what to prepare.
Most days are moderate, with forest trails, a river boat trip, and dawn and dusk sessions. The exception is the Codo de los Andes condor day, which begins before dawn and involves a steep, exposed ridge hike of several kilometres and rewards a reasonable level of fitness. It is the one strenuous day on the trip.
No. The trip runs entirely at low to moderate elevation. Santa Cruz sits at around 400 metres, Barba Azul is close to sea level, and the foothills and dry valleys reach only moderate heights, mild enough that altitude is not a concern for most travellers. If you have a heart or respiratory condition, it is always worth discussing your plans with your doctor before booking.
Yellow fever vaccination is required for the Beni lowlands, and malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the lowland portions. Confirm current requirements with a travel clinic well before departure.
Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is required, given the remote reserves and the charter flight. We can suggest providers if helpful.
Where you stay and what conditions to expect.
It ranges from boutique hotels in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba to a village-style lodge in Samaipata, a rustic ecolodge in the Amboro canyon, a community-run lodge with shared bathrooms at the Red-fronted Macaw reserve, and private river cabins at Barba Azul. All are locally owned and chosen for character and for their place in the conservation programme.
Santa Cruz, Samaipata, and Cochabamba have reliable connectivity. The reserves are off-grid by design: there is no Wi-Fi at Frente Roja or Barba Azul and mobile signal is minimal to none. Treat the reserve days as a genuine disconnection.
The dry-season window brings warm days and cooler nights, with little rain. The Beni lowlands and Santa Cruz are hot and humid, the foothills and dry valleys are warm by day and cool after dark, and the cloud forest can be misty. Pack layers for the range.
Very. It is reached by a chartered light aircraft from Trinidad over the flooded savanna, with no road access in the wet season and few visitors each year. There is no internet or phone, power is solar, and the reward is one of the wildest and least-visited reserves in the Neotropics.
